LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today marks the sixth (3-2) and final game on the Angels opening road trip of the 2023 season against Oakland (2-1) and Seattle (1-1; April 3-5).
SHO DAY: Shohei Ohtani makes his second pitching start of the regular season today…On Opening Day, he worked 6.0 scoreless innings and tallied 10 strikeouts…With 10 strikeouts today, he would join Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in Angels history with 10+ strikeouts in each of his first two starts of season; Ryan did so three times: first three starts in 1973 and first two starts in 1975 & 1978.
ANGELS RECENT RECORDS TO BEGIN SEASON
AFTER FIVE GAMES: AFTER SIX GAMES:
2023: 3-2 2023: ???
2022: 2-3 2022: 3-3
2021: 4-1 2021: 4-2
2020: 2-3 2020: 2-4
2019: 1-4 2019: 1-5
ON WITH THE SHO: Dating back to last season, Shohei Ohtani has reached base safely (via hit, walk, or HBP) in a career-high 28 consecutive games…It’s the second-longest active streak in the Majors, behind Aaron Judge (38 games).
RENDON SUSPENDED: On Monday, Major League Baseball issued a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine to Anthony Rendon for his actions involving a fan last Thursday in Oakland…The suspension was ultimately been reduced to four games…Today will be the third game served of the four game suspension…The Angels will play with 25 active players during the suspension.
PITCHING POINTS: Through the first five games of the season, Angels pitching has combined to post a 3.14 ERA (43 IP – 15 ER) with 43 strikeouts…The ERA ranks fourth in the A.L., behind Minnesota (1.23 ERA; 44 IP – 6 ER), Tampa Bay (2.00 ERA; 45 IP – 10 ER) and New York (2.40 ERA; 43 IP – 15 ER).
VS. SEATTLE: Today is the third (1-1) of 13 meetings this season between the Angels and Mariners (six in Seattle and seven at Angel Stadium)…Last season, Halos went 10-9 against Seattle, including a 6-3 record at T-Mobile Park…Mike Trout is a career .325 (209/644) hitter vs. Seattle and is the all-time leader in career home runs against the Mariners, with 54…His 143 career runs scored vs. Seattle are second all-time, behind Rickey Henderson (145).
MOST CAREER RUNS SCORED vs. MARINERS
- Rickey Henderson – 145
- Mike Trout – 143
- Rafael Palmeiro – 140
MOST CAREER HOME RUNS vs. MARINERS
- Mike Trout – 54
- Rafael Palmeiro – 52
- Manny Ramirez – 39
RIB EYE STREAK: Logan O’Hoppe drove in at least one run in each of the Angels first three games this season…He was the first player to do so since Mike Trout in 2017…Before Trout, it last happened in 2007 by both Vladimir Guerrero and Casey Kotchman.
OPENING SHO: On Thursday, Shohei Ohtani made his second MLB Opening Day start as a pitcher and tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts… He became the 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).
THE 11 SPOT: Saturday afternoon at Oakland, the Angels plated 11 runs in the top of the third inning, marking the Halos highest scoring frame since July 2, 2016 (11 runs in the 7th inning at Boston)…It was the sixth 11+ run inning in franchise history.
A UNIQUE SAVE: Saturday at Oakland, Tucker Davidson earned his first career save after tossing 4.0 scoreless frames to finish off the Angels 13-1 win over the A’s…The 12-run victory marked the largest run differential in a save for an Angels pitcher since Chris Bootcheck (4 IP) in a 14-1 win vs. Royals on May 28. 2005.
VETERAN ROSTER: The Angels Opening Day active roster featured just one rookie: Logan O’Hoppe.
BABY BACKSTOP: With his start on Thursday, Logan O’Hoppe (23 years, 49 days) became the youngest Opening Day catcher in Angels history (previous was Buck Rodgers – 23 years, 237 days in 1962)…He was the first Angels rookie catcher to start on Opening Day since Bengie Molina in 2000.
WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE: With Anthony Rendon, Hunter Renfroe & Luis Rengifo hitting 4-6 in the Angels Opening Day batting order, it was the first lineup in franchise history to feature three straight players who have the same first three letters of their last name…The last MLB occurrence was by Detroit on July 20, 2015 (Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez, Jefry Marte).
THE NEW GUYS: Angels Opening Day roster featured eight players new to the organization in 2023: LHP Tyler Anderson, INF Brandon Drury, RHP Carlos Estévez, INF Jake Lamb, LHP Matt Moore, OF Brett Phillips, OF Hunter Renfroe and INF Gio Urshela
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
• SHO TIME: Making second start of the season (both on the road)…Is in sixth Major League season with Angels.
• 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).
• LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Did not factor in decision in Opening Day start at Oakland after tossing 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts…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).
• 10 K: Tallied 10 strikeouts in first start of season; only pitcher in Angels history with 10+ strikeouts in each of first two starts of a season was Nolan Ryan (1973, 1975, 1978)…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.
• VS. SEATTLE: Is 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA (38 IP – 7 ER) in six career pitching starts vs. Mariners…Last season, was 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA (19 IP – 2 ER) in three starts vs. Seattle…Enters today’s game with active streak of 10.0 consecutive scoreless innings vs. Mariners.
• AT T-MOBILE PARK: Today marks third career pitching appearance in Seattle…Is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (12 IP – 2 ER) in the two previous starts…Only start at T-Mobile last year came on June 16, 2022 (W; 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO).
• WBC MVP: Named Most Valuable Player of the 2023 World Baseball Classic…Made three pitching appearances (two starts) for Japan, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts and earned the save in the Championship Game against the United States…Marked first relief appearance since October 16, 2016 in Game 5 of the Final Stage of the 2016 Pacific League Climax Series for Fighters.
• 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.
• 2022 ON THE MOUND: Was the runner-up in 2022 A.L. MVP voting after winning the award in 2021…Finished 2022 with a 15-9 record, a 2.33 ERA (166 IP – 43 ER) and 219 strikeouts in 28 pitching starts, while holding opponents to a .203 average (124/610)…Led A.L. with an 11.87 SO/9 innings rate…Allowed two-or-fewer runs in 22 of 28 starts…Ranked among league leaders in strikeouts (219; 3rd), whiff% (33.0%; 4th), ERA (2.33; 4th), wins (15; T4th), WHIP (1.01; 5th) and opponent batting average (.203; 6th).
• 200K: Was the first Angels pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts since Jered Weaver in 2010 and the only player in MLB history with 200+ pitching strikeouts and 8+ home runs in one season.
• M V P: Was unanimously named the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player…Marked Angels sixth MVP award in franchise history, following Don Baylor (1979), Vladimir Guerrero (2004) and Mike Trout (2014, 2016 & 2019)…He is the second Japanese-born player to receive MVP honors in the Major Leagues, joining Ichiro Suzuki (2001).
• JAPANESE HALOS: Is one of five Japanese-born players to play for Angels, along with Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Hideki Matsui, Hisanori Takahashi and Junichi Tazawa.
• PITCHING CAREER IN JAPAN: In 85 career games (82 starts) as a pitcher for Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japanese Pacific League, went 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA (543 IP – 152 ER) and 624 strikeouts.
• THE OHTANI RULE: In the event the starting pitcher will bat for himself, the player will be considered two separate people…If the starting pitcher is replaced, he can continue as the Designated Hitter, and if the Designated Hitter is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for himself)…Was the Angels DH in all of his pitching starts in 2022.
• MLB CAREER NOTES: Signed with Angels as international free agent, Dec. 10, 2017…Made Major League debut as a DH on March 29, 2018 at Oakland and had first start as a pitcher on April 1, 2018 at Oakland…Named the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year and unanimous 2021 American League Most Valuable Player…First MLB player to ever be selected to the All-Star Game as both a pitcher and position player (2021 & 2022).
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners wrap up a 3-game series (1-1) today with a rubber match against the Los Angeles Angels…Seattle began the regular season with a 4-game series (1-3) against the Cleveland Guardians to begin the 7-game homestand (2-4)…following today’s game, the Mariners will embark on a 6-game road trip against the Guardians (3 G, 4/7-4/9) and Chicago Cubs (3 G, 4/10-4/12)…today’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners defeated the Angels by an 11-2 score in last night’s middle game…Seattle goes for its first series victory of the season today.
• Complete Win – Seattle’s 11-2 win marked its largest margin of victory (+9) in a game since defeating Oakland by a 9-0 score on June 22 last season.
• Rubber Soul – The Mariners went 10-9 in rubber games last season.
• Daylight Come And… – Seattle went 37-27 (.578) in 64 day games in 2022.
• Swing & A Miss – Luis Castillo induced 17 swing and misses in last night’s start.
OFFENSIVE BREAKOUT…the Mariners tallied a season-high 11 runs and 13 hits in last night’s 11-2 win over the Angels…7 different Mariners recorded a hit, while 6 recorded multi-hit games…Teoscar Hernández and AJ Pollock led the charge with 2 home runs apiece, while Julio Rodríguez registered a pair of doubles…Seattle’s 8 extra-base hits (4 doubles, 4 home runs) are the most they have had in a game since registering 8 on June 22, 2022 at Oakland.
ONE THROUGH SIX GETTING IN THE MIX…Seattle’s 1-through-6 in their starting lineup all registered 2 hits in last night’s win: Julio Rodríguez, Ty France, Teoscar Hernández, Eugenio Suárez, Cal Raleigh and AJ Pollock…it marked the first time the 1-through-6 in the Mariners starting lineup all recorded multi-hit games since June 29, 2008 in a 9-2 win at San Diego…in that game, the 1-through-7 in Seattle’s order all recorded multihit games: Ichiro Suzuki, José López, Raúl Ibañez, Jose Vidro, Adrián Beltré, Jeremy Reed and Jeff Clement.
MULTI-HOMER DUOS…Teoscar Hernández and AJ Pollock both hit 2 home runs in last night’s win…Jarred Kelenic and Mitch Haniger both hit 2 homers for Seattle on Sept. 29, 2022 vs. Texas, while Julio Rodríguez and Eugenio Suárez did it for the Mariners on Sept. 11, 2022 vs. Atlanta…the Mariners have accounted for each of the last 3 multi-homer teammate duos in the same game across the Majors…they are the first team to account for 3 consecutive around the Majors, without any other team doing it in that span, since the Houston Astros did it on July 23, 2000 (Lance Berkman, Bill Spiers), Aug. 13, 2000 (Moises Alou, Jeff Bagwell) and Sept. 9, 2000 (Berkman, Tim Bogar, Richard Hidalgo).
LA PIEDRA “ROCKS”…Luis Castillo tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in last night’s start, earning the win and allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts…Castillo has opened his season with back-to-back scoreless outings, leading the Mariners to each of their 2 victories…Castillo is the third pitcher in Mariners history to open a season with consecutive scoreless outings of at least 5.0 innings, joining Félix Hernández (2007) and James Paxton (2017)…Paxton tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings in each of his first 3 starts to begin 2017.
FLEX-IBLE…Chris Flexen is set to make his first start of the season (second overall appearance)…in his season debut on March 31, the right-hander tossed 4.0 innings out of the bullpen…he allowed just one run on 4 hits, walking 3 and striking out one batter on 66 pitches (39 strikes)…in 65 games with the Mariners (2021-c), Flexen has either started (53) or finished (12) all 65 games that he has appeared in.
HOT START FOR JULIO…Julio Rodríguez went 2-for-5 with 2 runs and 2 doubles in last night’s victory…in 6 games this season he is batting .308 (8×26) with 6 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases and 2 walks, getting on base at a .357 clip, slugging .577 with a .934 OPS and 157 OPS+…Julio has reached base at least twice in each of his last 5 games, registering multiple hits in 4 out of his last 5 games.
THE J-ROD SHOW BEGINS IN THE FIRST…Julio Rodríguez doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the 1st inning last night…in the 1st inning this season, Julio has reached base in 5 of 6 games and each of his last 5, going 4-for-5 with a walk in total…he is a .446 career hitter (41×92) in the 1st inning of games…in 103 career plate appearances in the 1st inning, Julio is batting .446 with 31 runs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 14 RBI, 6 stolen bases and 10 walks, getting on base at a .505 clip, slugging .848 with a 1.353 OPS and 78 total bases.
GENO GENO…Eugenio Suárez went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored last night…in 6 games this season he is batting .333 (8×24) with 4 runs, 3 doubles and 3 RBI with a .792 OPS and 119 OPS+…Geno has started all 6 games at third base for the Mariners.
TY TY HE’S OUR GUY…Ty France went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored last night, raising his season batting average to .360 (9×25)…on the season France has 5 runs, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 1 stolen base and 1 walk with a .985 OPS and 171 OPS+.
CAL THE CRUSHER…Cal Raleigh went 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI last night…in 5 games this season the Mariners backstop is hitting .333 (6×18) with 3 doubles and 5 RBI, slugging .500 with an .833 OPS and 130 OPS+…Cal has the Mariners hardest-hit batted ball in 3 of their 6 games this season.
TODAY’S MARINERS STARTER – RHP CHRIS FLEXEN
ABOUT FLEXEN…
• 28-year-old right-hander is making his first start (2nd appearance) of 2023 and first start against the Angels this season…he is also making his 65th career start (93rd appearance) and 8th career start against Los Angeles-AL.
• Signed with the Mariners as a free agent, agreeing on a 2-year con- tract with an option for 2023 on 12/18/20.
• Was originally selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Newark Memorial (CA) High School…made his ML debut with New York-NL on 7/27/17 at SD.
• Graduated from Newark Memorial High School (CA) in 2012…played 4 years of baseball and was a quarterback on the football team for 2 years…was committed to Arizona State University before signing with the Mets.
• Appeared in parts of 8 minor league seasons with Mets organization (2012-19)…overall, went 43-31 with a 3.61 ERA (236 ER, 588.0 IP) with 192 walks and 513 strikeouts in 122 games (105 starts)…in 2013, was named Topps Appalachian Player of the Year.
• In his Mariners debut on 4/3/21, became the 900th Seattle Mariners player in franchise history. • Recorded his 100th career strikeout when he struck out Cavan Biggio on 6/29/21 against Toronto (in Buffalo).
LAST START…ND in game one of a doubleheader on 10/04/22 vs. Detroit Tigers…tossed 4.0 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits (1 HR), and 1 walk with 2 strikeouts.
I’M A RELIEVER…made his first appearence out of the Mariners bullpen this season on 3/31…pitching 4.0 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout.
NEXT MAN UP…after beginning the season as a member of the bullpen, Flexen is making his first start of the season in place of the injured Robbie Ray… Ray was placed on the 15-day IL on 4/1 with a left flexor strain.
LOS BOMBEROS…made 11 appearences as a reliever in 2022 going 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA (3 ER, 16.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts and recording 2 saves out of the bullpen.
BIRTH MONTH BOOM…in 5 July starts in 2022, Flexen went 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA (6 ER, 27.2 IP) with 18 strikeouts…his 3.57 ERA (25 ER, 63.0 IP) in 12 career July starts is his lowest ERA in any individual calendar month…Chris celebrates his birthday on July 1.
FLEX ON ‘EM…tied for the longest winning streak by a Mariners starting pitch- er in 2022 after winning 4 consecutive decisions (6/24-7/13)…Logan Gilbert and Robbie Ray also recorded 4 game win streaks last season.
HIGH QUALITY…recorded 9 quality starts last season, the 5th most on the team…his last quality start was on 7/25/22 against Texas when he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (1 HR) and 2 walks while striking out 5.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS…had decisions in each of his first 7 starts of the
2022 season (1-6)…the last Mariners pitcher to start the season with 7-ormore decisions in a row were Aaron Harang (2-5) and Brandon Maurer (2-5), both in 2013.
SEASON-HIGH PUNCHIES…struck out a season-high 8 batters on 7/4/22 at San Diego, matching his career high…this marked the third time Flexen has struck out 8 batters in one game.
HOME IS WHERE THE START IS…since he joined the Mariners, Flexen is 12-9 with a 3.56 ERA (63 ER, 159.0 IP) with 113 strikeouts and 38 walks in 32 appearances at T-Mobile Park and 10-6 with a 3.75 ERA (66 ER, 158.1 IP) with 108 strikeouts and 56 walks in 33 games on the road.
WINNING WAYS…Flexen’s 8 wins last season was tied for 4th on the team with George Kirby…he trailed Logan Gilbert (13), Robbie Ray (12), and Marco Gonzales (10)…7 of his wins came as a starter and 1 win came as a reliever.
ANGEL EYES…has a 3.27 ERA (15 ER, 41.1 IP) in 7 career starts against the Angels…his 3.27 ERA is the 3rd-lowest ERA against any single team that he has made at least 2 starts against, trailing only Kansas City (1.32 ERA/ 2 ER, 13.2 IP) and Texas (2.36 ERA/ 12 ER, 45.2 IP).
2022 RECAP…went 7-9 with a 3.92 ERA (51 ER, 117.0 IP) with 81 strikeouts and 43 walks as a starter in 2022…moved to the Mariners bullpen in August…made his first relief appearance of the season on 8/13/22 at Texas…as a reliever Flexen went 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA (16.2 IP, 3 ER) with 12 strikeouts and 7 walks.
CAREER…has appeared in 6 Major League seasons with New York-NL (2017-19) and Seattle (2021-23)…was originally selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Newark Memorial (CA) High School…made his Major League debut with New York-NL on July 27, 2017 at San Diego.
