Thursday, March 28, 2024
Fantasy Guru - Baseball

MLB Preview: Los Angeles Angels (21-20) at Baltimore Orioles (26-14)

LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:

LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fourth (1- 2) of seven games on a road trip to Cleveland (1-2) and Baltimore (May 15-18)…Halos went 2-4 on last homestand against the Rangers (1-2) and Astros (1- 2)…LAA was 4-2 on last road trip at Milwaukee (1-2) and St. Louis (3-0).

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels reinstated C Chad Wallach from the injured list and he rejoins the active roster…Additionally, INF Livan Soto has been recalled from Double-A Rocket City…In corresponding moves, C Chris Okey has been optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake and INF Anthony Rendon (left groin strain) has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retro to May 14).

APPROACHING MORE HISTORY: Shohei Ohtani enters today’s start with 507 career strikeouts in 395.2 IP… According to ELIAS, Ohtani would have the secondmost strikeouts all-time in his first 400 innings pitched as a starter (Corbin Burnes had 539 strikeouts through his first 400 IP for Milwaukee).

VS. BALTIMORE: Today is the first of seven matchups this season between the Angels and Orioles…In addition to the current series in Baltimore, the teams will meet again Sept. 4-6 at Angel Stadium…Last season, Halos went 1-6 against Orioles…LAA has lost eight of last nine games vs. O’s.

“O” NO: Angels are looking to snap an active six game losing streak at Camden Yards, dating back to last victory on Aug. 24, 2021 (streak is tied for Angels longest at the ballpark; also had six game losing streak at Camden Yards in 2003).

LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.143), and ranks fifth in strikeouts (66) and WHIP (0.91).

BALTIMORE MEMORIES: Mike Trout hit his first career home run on July 24, 2011 at Camden Yards (off Mark Worrell)…Trout also made one of his most memorable defensive plays of his career at the ballpark on June 27, 2012, robbing J.J. Hardy of a home run.

A LOOK AT THE STANDINGS: Angels enter play today in third place in the American League West standings (-4.5 games behind Texas; largest deficit of season).

PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 34 of 41 games played this year.

GOING DEEP: Angels have hit 53 home runs this season, which are fourth-most in the A.L, behind the Rays (81), Yankees (60) and Twins (55).

SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 35 singles this year plus four extra-base hits (three doubles & one home run)…Urshela ranks second, behind Toronto’s Bo Bichette (37), for the American League lead in singles.

ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.42 ERA (19 IP – 3 ER) and has converted all nine of his save opportunities…Is looking to become first Angels pitcher to convert his first 10 save opportunities of a season since Ernesto Frieri converted his first 12 opportunities in 2012.

WALSH ON REHAB: Jared Walsh (headaches and insomnia) has played three games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake and is batting .375 (3/8) with two runs scored and three walks. HE INJURED LIST: Halos currently have 11 players on the injured list and have used the IL 14 total times this year.

ALL OVER THE INFIELD: Gio Urshela is one of six players in the Majors to appear at all four infield positions this season…He has made 16 starts at first base, 10 starts at third base, eight at shortstop and one at second base.

FRIDAY NIGHT COMEBACK: Halos plated two runs in the 9th inning Friday night to secure a 5-4 victory over the Guardians…Marked third win this season when trailing after eight innings, which matches the Angels total from each of the last two seasons…Last time LAA had more than three wins in a season when trailing after eight frames was 2017 (5).

UNEARNED: Angels have allowed 26 unearned runs this season, which is the most in the Majors…Halos have committed 29 fielding errors this season, which is second-most in the Majors (Oakland – 30 errors).

ON THE BOARD: Halos have not been shut out since Aug. 21, 2022 at Detroit…Current streak of 82 games without being shut out is the longest active streak in the Majors and fifth-longest streak in Angels history.

NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by seven pitches this season, which is tied for third-most in the Majors… Since 1901, Neto’s seven HBP through his first 15 career games are the most in MLB…He also was the first player in Angels history to be hit a pitch in four consecutive games (April 18-21).

RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday, the Angels recalled RHP Zack Weiss from Triple-A Salt Lake…In a corresponding move, RHP Ryan Tepera was designated for assignment…Saturday, RHP César Valdez was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake.

TWINS ON DECK: Following the current series in Baltimore, the Angels will return home and begin a nine game homestand with a three game set against the Minnesota Twins…Last season, Halos went 4-2 against Minnesota to take the season series for a second consecutive year.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
4-1, 2.74 ERA
Leads the Majors with a .143 (22/154) opponent batting average this season

  • SHO TIME: Making ninth pitching start of the year and fifth on the road…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
  • LEAGUE LEADER: Enters today’s start leading the Majors in opponent batting average (.143) and ranks fifth in strikeouts (66) and WHIP (0.91).
  • LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Charged with first loss of the season in last start on Tuesday vs. Houston after tossing 7.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
  • PASSING THE BABE: With seven strikeouts in last start vs. Houston, surpassed the career total for Babe Ruth (according to ELIAS, Ruth had 501 career pitching strikeouts)…Ruth and Ohtani are the only players with 500+ pitching strikeouts and 100+ home runs in a career.
  • 10 K: Has three starts this season with 10+ strikeouts (tied with Kevin Gausman and Zac Gallen for most in Majors)… Recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 starts last season, which was the most such games in the A.L.; joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts in at least six consecutive games.
  • UNFAMILIAR: This season, is holding opponents to an .067 (4/60) average the first time through the order, a .277 (13/47) average the second time through the order and an .091 (4/44) average the third time through.
  • VS. BALTIMORE: Is making second career pitching appearance vs. Baltimore; is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA (5 IP – 4 ER) following only previous game on Aug. 25, 2021 at Camden Yards.
  • AT CAMDEN YARDS: Is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA (5 IP – 4 ER) after one previous game in Baltimore.
  • 500K: Reached 500 total MLB strikeouts for career with a 13 strikeout performance on May 3 at St. Louis…Fourth game in MLB history where a pitcher recorded 13+ strikeouts in 5.0-or-fewer innings (also, Jacob deGrom in 2022, Alex Cobb in 2013 and Zack Greinke in 2012).
  • HOME SWEET HOME: Has a career 2.10 ERA (223 IP – 52 ER) in home games, which is the second lowest total of the last 100 years (min. 30 GS)…Only Miami’s José Fernández (1.49 ERA; 272.1 IP – 45 ER) has a lower home ERA.
  • OFF THE BOARDS: Had franchise record streak of 12 straight pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs snapped on April 27 vs. Oakland (Nolan Ryan had previous record with nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)… Overall, has yielded two-or-fewer runs in 21 of last 26 starts and one-or-fewer runs in 18 of last 26 starts.
  • CAN’T HIT THIS: Had streak of 10 straight pitching starts allowing three-or-fewer hits from Sept. 17, 2022 – April 27, 2023…The streak was snapped May 3 at St. Louis and finished tied with Jacob deGrom (10 game streak for Mets in 2021) for the longest streak all-time (excluding Openers).
  • SCORELESS AT THE BIG A: Had streak of 35.0 consecutive scoreless innings pitched at Angel Stadium snapped April 27 by A’s…Finished as second longest streak in ballpark history, behind a 36.2 IP streak by Mark Clear in 1979.
  • OPENING DAY STARTER: Was Angels Opening Day starter for second consecutive season…Also made two Opening Day pitching starts in Japan for Nippon-Ham Fighters…Became first Angels pitcher to start consecutive Opening Days since Jered Weaver (2010-15)…Became fourth pitcher in Angels history with 10+ strikeouts on Opening Day, joining Nolan Ryan (12 SO; 1973 & 1975), Andy Messersmith (11 SO; 1970) and Jered Weaver (10 SO; 2012).
  • ONE AND ONLY: Last season, became only player to ever qualify for the league leaders as both a hitter and a pitcher in one season…Was the first A.L/N.L. player since Babe Ruth (1918) with 10+ wins and 10+ HR in the same season and the only player in MLB history with 10+ wins & 30 + HR.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles fell to the Pirates, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at Oriole Park…Cedric Mullins went 2-for-4 while Gunnar Henderson recorded the only extra-base hit by an Oriole with a double…The O’s bullpen fired 4.0 scoreless innings.

The Birds struck out 17 times, the most since September 16, 2021 vs. New York-AL (17 in 10 innings) and the most in a nine-inning game since August 12, 2018 vs. Boston (18).

Despite the loss, the Orioles still won their 10th series of the year; In 2022, the Birds didn’t win their 10th series until the 23rd series from June 23-26 at Chicago-AL (10-9-4) and didn’t secure their 10th series of at least two games until the 25th series from July 4-6 vs. Texas (10-11-4).

Austin Hays extended his hitting streak to a season-high seven games with a single in the seventh inning.

WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won four of their last five games, 17 of 24, 20 of 28, and 22 of 31…The 26-14 overall record is the second-best in MLB to start the season (see box at right).

The start to the year is tied for the fourth-best start in O’s history (since 1954) through 40 games with 1979, 1981, 2005, and 2012, and trailing the 28-12 start in 1970 and 27-13 starts in 1969 and 1997; six previous teams in club history have won 27 of their first 41 games, last done in 2012 (27-14).

Last season, the Birds did not reach 26 wins until the 61st game on June 12 (26- 35); they did not reach 27 wins until the 63rd game on June 14 (27-36).

The Orioles are 88-63 since June 1, 2022, a 94-win pace; the .583 winning percentage during that time is the second-best in the AL and fourth- best in MLB, trailing the Braves (.678, 103-49), Dodgers (.675, 104-50), and Astros (.625, 95-57).

AGAINST THE ANGELS: The O’s and Angels begin a seven-game season series tonight with the first of four games at Oriole Park through Thursday…The Orioles will travel to Angel Stadium for three games from September 4-6…The Birds went 6-1 against the Angels in 2022, including sweeping a four-game series from July 7-10 at Camden Yards for the first time against the Angels since 2003.

FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME: The Orioles are in the midst of a 11-day, 10-game homestand, their longest of the season, continuing tonight with the first of four games against Los Angeles-AL…The O’s have gone 4-2, winning four straight games from May 9-13.

The 13-6 start at home is tied for the sixth-best home start in team history (since 1954) while trailing 2017 (15-4) and 2016, 1997, 1981, and 1972 (14-5).

LOOKING AHEAD: Baltimore hits the road for seven-day, six-game road trip beginning on Friday in Toronto, the first meeting between the O’s and Blue Jays this season… After an off day next Monday, the Orioles make their first trip to Yankee Stadium this year with three games against the Yankees from May 23-25.

OPENING STATEMENTS: Baltimore starting pitchers have a 2.26 ERA (13 ER/51.2 IP) in nine games since May 5, the third-best starter ERA in the majors during that time behind the Dodgers and Blue Jays (2.02)…Through May 4, O’s starters had a 5.65 ERA (98 ER/156.0 IP), ranked 12th in the AL and 25th in MLB…

WHAT A RELIEF: The Baltimore bullpen owns a 3.05 ERA (51 ER/150.1 IP), second-best in MLB behind Seattle (2.81)…Baltimore’s 2.45 reliever ERA (19 ER/69.2 IP) at home ranks as the second-best in the AL and third-best in the majors…O’s relievers have 12 wins this season, tied with Arizona, Cincinnati, and Miami for the most in the majors… The Orioles are second in MLB with 179 strikeouts from the ‘pen and they have struck out 28.7 percent of batters faced, highest in MLB this year.

CED AND DONE: Cedric Mullins became the seventh player in Orioles history (since 1954) to hit for the cycle on Friday night…Mullins capped off his historic night with a three-run homer in the eighth inning after singling in the third, tripling in the fifth, and doubling in the seventh.

Mullins joined Austin Hays (6/22/22 vs. WSH), Jonathan Villar (8/5/19 vs. NYY), Félix Pié (8/14/09 vs. LAA), Aubrey Huff (6/29/07 vs. LAA), Cal Ripken, Jr. (5/6/84 at TEX), and Brooks Robinson (7/15/60 at CWS) as Orioles to hit for the cycle; he is the second MLB player to hit for the cycle this season, along with Miami’s Luis Arraez (4/11 at PHI).

His 31 RBI rank sixth in the AL and tied for seventh in MLB; the 30 RBI as the center fielder lead the majors.

He leads the O’s with 1.4 fWAR, per FanGraphs.

BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman has appeared in all 40 Orioles games this season, the most by any player who has played at least half of his games at catcher this season…He has reached base safely three times in back-to-back starts, his 12th such games of the year, third-most in MLB…His 73 times on base lead the AL and are tied for third in MLB…He leads the AL and is tied for second in MLB with 32 walks while ranking fourth in the AL and eighth in the majors with a .412 on-base percentage.

Rutschman snapped an 0-for-his-last-19 stretch with a two-run homer onto Eutaw Street in the third inning on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, the first Eutaw Street home run by an Oriole since Anthony Santander on September 5, 2022 (G1) vs. Toronto; marked his first career Eutaw Street homer, the 119th in ballpark history, 56th by an Oriole, and the second this season (BOS’ Devers on 4/24); the 111.1 mph blast was the hardest-hit ball of his career.

THE CANO SHOW: Yennier Cano has surrendered just four hits and one hit batter in 19.2 scoreless innings over 15 appearances to begin the season after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on April 14…He allowed his first extra-base hit of the year on a one-out double from Pittsburgh’s Tucupita Marcano on Saturday…Opponents are slashing .067/.082/.083 (4-for-60), all of which lead MLB pitchers with at least 10 appearances…His .165 OPS against is less than half of the next closest player (CIN’s Lucas Sims, .356).

He leads all O’s and ranks tied for sixth among all MLB pitchers with 1.9 bWAR, per Baseball Reference.

Cano’s 15-game scoreless streak is the third-longest to begin a year by an O’s pitcher in team history (since 1954), trailing Donnie Hart (18G) in 2016 and Will Ohman (25G) in 2010.

ROSTER MOVES: The Orioles today recalled Logan Gillaspie from Triple-A Norfolk… In a corresponding move, Kyle Stowers was optioned to the Tides after yesterday’s game.

STARTING PITCHER – #30 GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ – RHP
2-0, 5.08 ERA

QUICK HITS: Slated to make his eighth start of the season, fourth at home, and first career start against the Angels tonight…Worked 5.0 shutout innings on April 23 vs. Detroit and April 29 at Detroit to become the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to toss 5.0-or-more scoreless innings in back-to-back games since Dave Ford (21-259) from September 2-14, 1978, and the youngest O’s starter to accomplish the feat since Jack Fisher (21-188) did so in three straight starts from August 29 to September 8, 1960…Made his MLB debut on April 5 at Texas, becoming the first Oriole to make his debut this season…Thirteen players (7 pitchers) made their debut for the O’s in 2022…Also became the first O’s pitcher to start his Major League debut since DL Hall on August 13, 2022, and the youngest O’s pitcher (23-140) to start his debut since Kevin Gausman (22-137) on May 23, 2013 at Toronto…Had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022…Originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.

LAST TIME OUT: Earned his first win at Oriole Park in his last start on May 9 vs. Tampa Bay…Allowed two runs on seven hits (2 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in a career-high 5.2 innings of work…Pitched into the sixth inning for the first time in his career…Left with a runner on first base, who was stranded… Threw a career-high 101 pitches, 59 strikes.

PACKING A PUNCH: Rodriguez’s 41 strikeouts through his first seven career starts are the most by an O’s hurler in his first seven games in franchise history (since 1954)…Recorded a career-high nine punchouts on April 29 (G2) at Detroit, becoming the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to record nine-or-more strikeouts in a start since John Parrish (22-241) also fanned nine batters on July 24, 2000 vs. New York-AL…Entering today’s games, he ranks among rookie leaders (min. 21.0 IP) in K/9 (2nd, 10.96), strikeouts (3rd, 41), and innings pitched (8th, 33.2).

AGAINST THE ANGELS/AL WEST: Making his first career start against the Angels and third career start against the AL West tonight…Has not factored into the decision in either of his first two starts against the division, pitching to a 6.75 ERA (7 ER/9.1 IP) in those games…Made his Oriole Park debut in his last start against the AL West on April 11 vs. Oakland, allowing five runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a career-high four walks in 4.1 innings…Threw 99 pitches, 65 strikes.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Making his fourth career start at Oriole Park tonight…Earned his first win at Oriole Park in his last start on May 9 vs. Tampa Bay…Has pitched to a 4.20 ERA (7 ER/15.0 IP) in his first three home starts… Recorded his first career scoreless start on April 23 vs. Detroit; also pitched a scoreless first inning for the first time in his career.

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