LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the sixth (4-1) of seven games on a road trip against the Texas Rangers (3-1) and Kansas City Royals (1-0; June 16-18)…Halos went 5-1 on last homestand against the Chicago Cubs (3-0) and Seattle Mariners (2-1)…LAA was 3-4 on last road trip against the Chicago White Sox (2-1) and Houston Astros (1-3).
ON THE AIR: In addition to the Angels home market broadcast on Bally Sports West, tonight’s game will air nationally on Fox Sports 1, with Kevin Kugler and Tom Verducci on the call.
HEATING UP: Angels have won 10 of last 12 games… The stretch includes a five game win streak from June 4-9, which matched the longest win streak of season (also won five straight from April 30-May 5).
HIGH WATER MARK: At 40-32, Angels have are a season-high eight games over .500…First time at eight games over .500 since May 26, 2022 (27-19)…This is also the first time the Angels are eight games over .500 this late in a season since finishing the 2015 season with an 85-77 record…With a win today, LAA would move to nine games over .500 for the first time since May 25, 2022 (27-18).
SATURDAY SCARIES: Angels are looking to snap a nine game Saturday losing streak (last Saturday victory came on April 8 vs. Toronto)…It is the second-longest Saturday losing streak in franchise history (had an 11 game Saturday losing streak from Aug. 10, 1996 – April 26, 1997).
‘PEN PALS: Since June 4, the Angels bullpen leads the Majors with a 1.43 ERA (44 IP – 7 ER).
LEAGUE LEADER: As a pitcher, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.178) and ranks third in strikeouts (105)…With the bat, he also leads the Majors in total bases (167), XBH (39), slugging percentage (.621) and OPS (1.006), is tied for first in home runs (22) and is fourth in RBI (54).
SHO BUSINESS: During last series at Texas, Shohei Ohtani batted .583 (7/12) with six runs scored, one double, four HR, eight RBI, seven walks and a 2.367 OPS.
4+ HOME RUNS & 7+ WALKS IN A FOUR-GAME SERIES (since 1901 – Sportradar) Hank Greenberg, DET (Sept. 18-19, 1940 vs. Phi. A’s) Ralph Kiner, PIT (Aug. 3-5, 1951 vs. Phillies) Shohei Ohtani, LAA (June 12-15, 2023 at Rangers)
SHO OFF: Thursday, Shohei Ohtani made the start on the mound for the Angels while also leading the American League in home runs as a batter…It was his first start of 2023 while leading the league in homers… In 2021 he made 14 pitching starts with at least a share of the MLB home run lead, and became the first player with multiple pitching starts in a season while leading Majors in homers since Babe Ruth in 1919.
THE INJURED LIST: Halos currently have 12 players on the injured list and have used the IL 18 total times this year.
VS. KANSAS CITY: Angels lead the season series 3-1 after taking two of three from Royals from April 21- 23 at Angel Stadium and winning last night’s contest… Since 2018, Angels hold a 20-9 record vs. KC…Halos have won or tied the last five season series vs. Royals.
THE DRAGON: Over his last 11 games, Chris Devenski has tossed 13.0 scoreless innings and has stranded 15 of 16 (94%) inherited runners…In that span, he’s allowed two hits with four walks with 14 strikeouts.
CATCHING ON: This season, Angels catchers rank second in the Majors with an .810 OPS and are third in the Majors with 12 home runs.
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 58 of 72 games played this year (81%).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.80 ERA (30 IP – 6 ER) and has converted all 18 of his save opportunities (the 18 saves are a new career high)…He is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 18 save opportunities of a season since Lee Smith set the Club record with 19 consecutive successful save chances to start the 1995 campaign.
IT HAS HAPPENED!: Tuesday night, Zach Neto recorded the Angels first sacrifice bunt since the penultimate game of the 2022 season (Max Stassi – Oct. 4, 2022 at Oakland)…The streak of 69 games without a sacrifice set a new franchise record (previous was a 66-game streak from May 30 – Aug. 13, 2019).
ROBBED: Mickey Moniak robbed Ezequiel Duran of a home run in Tuesday night’s game at Texas…According to Sports Info Solutions, the Angels lead the Majors with five HR robberies this season…Moniak is tied with Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Luis Robert Jr. for the individual lead in HR robbing catches this year, with two each.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday, the Angels recalled INF Michael Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake… Stefanic had a Salt Lake franchise record 62 game onbase streak snapped last Friday…In a corresponding move, INF Gio Urshela (left pelvis fracture) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP GRIFFIN CANNING
5-2, 4.56 ERA
In last four starts, is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA (24 IP – 7 ER)
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 11th start of the season and sixth on the road…Is in fourth Major League season with Angels.
- STREAKING: Has won each of last three decisions, which is tied for longest career streak of consecutive winning decisions (also won three straight decisions from June 9, 2021 – May 4, 2023).
- CURRENT TRENDS: Has allowed three-or-fewer earned runs in eight of 10 starts this season, including each of last five appearances…In last four games, is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA (24 IP – 7 ER).
- LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in last start on Sunday vs. Seattle after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.
- VS. KANSAS CITY: In three career starts vs. Royals, is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA (18.2 IP – 3 ER) and 16 strikeouts… Today is first start vs. Royals since April 14, 2021…Recorded first career quality start and second career win on May 18, 2019 vs. Royals. at Angel Stadium (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO).
- AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM: Today is second career appearance at Kauffman Stadium…Is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA (5 IP – 2 ER) following only previous start at the ballpark on April 14, 2021 (L; 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO).
- SEVEN SCORELESS: Earned win on May 23 vs. Boston after tossing a season-high 7.0 scoreless innings; matched longest scoreless appearance of career (also, 7.0 shutout frames on May 18, 2019 vs. KC).
- FOURTH FRAME: Has yielded 13 of 28 (46%) runs this season in the 4th inning.
- GETTING AHEAD: Recorded a first pitch strike on 65.2% (147/226) of his batter faced this season.
- UNFAMILIAR FOES: In his career as a starter, has held opponents to a .212 average (84/397) in opposing batter’s first plate appearances of a game.
- OVER SEVEN HITS: Allowed career high nine hits in start on May 17 at Baltimore…Was first time allowing more than seven hits in his career…Streak of 46 straight starts with seven-or-fewer hits allowed was second-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark had a 50 game streak between the 1967-1971 seasons).
- HE’S BACK: Made season debut on April 12 vs. Washington; first Major league appearance July 2, 2021… Missed Angels first 11 games of the season on injured list with a left groin strain…Spent entire 2022 season and final two months of 2021 season on IL with a low back stress reaction.
- ON REHAB: Made one rehab appearance on with Low-A Inland Empire on April 6 in the 66ers season opener…Took the loss after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
SHOOTING BLANKS: The Royals were shut out in a 3-0 decision vs. the Angels last night at Kauffman Stadium, their 9th shutout loss of the season, breaking a tie with five other teams for the most in the Majors…it was also their 10th straight loss—in which they’ve been outscored 61-26 (-35)—their longest since an 11-game skid from May 2-13, 2021…the losing streak is tied for the 2nd longest in the Majors this season, trailing the A’s 11-game skid from May 17-28…they are 33 games under .500 (18-51) for the first time since ending the 2019 season 59-103.
The Royals twice last night had two on and no outs—in the 1st and 5th innings—but grounded into double plays both times…they were held to 4 hits, stranded seven and went 0-for-5 in scoring situations.
Brady Singer allowed 2 earned runs or fewer for the fifth time in his last 7 starts, but suffered his 6th loss.
The Royals are 0-9 following an off day—including 4 shutout losses—and have been outscored 52-24 (-28).
RISPY BUSINESS: The Royals went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in last night’s loss, continuing a season-long struggle in big moments…their .219 average in scoring position for the season ranks 28th in the Majors, ahead of only Detroit (.217) and San Diego (.199), and that includes a 10-for-69 (.145) skid with just 3 extra-base hits and 22 strikeouts in scoring situations during their current 10-game losing streak.
LEADS LOST: The Royals led 1-0 Tuesday night before Cincinnati’s 5-run 2nd inning, which led to Kansas City’s 24th blown lead loss of the season, which are now tied with St. Louis for the most in the Majors…the Royals have held a lead in 27 of their last 40 games (67.5%) since the start of May, but they’re 11-29 during that stretch with 16 blown lead losses, including 5 blown lead losses during their current 10-game losing streak.
The 24 blown lead losses through 69 games are two-thirds of the way to matching their 36 from last year.
The Royals are 5-20 when scoring in the 1st inning with 10 consecutive losses—including 3 of their last 5 games since last Sunday—and have not won when scoring in the 1st since May 10 vs. the White Sox.
On the flip side, Kansas City’s 6 comeback wins this season are the fewest in the Majors, and this weekend’s opponent, the Angels, have 24 comeback wins, tied with Baltimore for the most in the Majors.
VS. ANGELS: The Royals are 9-20 (.310) vs. the Angels since 2018, a stretch in which they’ve lost three completed season series (2018-2019, 2021) and split the 6-game season series last year…the Royals are just 1-3 vs. the Angels this year with 2 games left, meaning they can do no better than a split, which will make the 2023 edition of this matchup the Royals fifth consecutive winless season series since their last win in 2017 (6-1).
The Royals are 3-10 vs. American League West teams this season and have been outscored 83-53 (-30).
ON DECK: Last night began a stretch in which the Royals will play a game on 23 of 24 days, a run which will end with the All-Star break…their only break in the schedule over the next 24 days will come on Monday, June 26, following their next trip…last night also began a stretch in which the Royals are playing an American League opponent in 20 of their next 23 games until the All-Star break, after playing National League foes in 20 of their previous 29 games…their only Interleague action between now and the break will come two weekends from now, when the Royals host the Dodgers for a 3-game series from June 30-July 2.
Following tomorrow’s homestand finale, the Royals will fly to Detroit to begin a 7-game road trip, including 3 games vs. the Tigers starting Monday night and a 4-game set vs. the Rays starting next Thursday night.
WHAT A RELIEF!: Royals rookie Austin Cox pitched 2.0 scoreless innings last night, including a called strikeout of Shohei Ohtani in the 9th inning…through his 1st 4 big league appearances, Cox has recorded 7.2 scoreless innings with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts, and has not allowed a hit to any of the 25 batters he’s faced…according to Elias, it’s the longest streak of batters faced by a Royal without allowing a hit to begin a Major League career, surpassing the previous mark held by D.J. Carrasco, who faced 23 batters before allowing a hit in 2003.
Taylor Clarke last pitched on Monday night vs. the Reds, when he worked around 2 hits and a walk in the 7th to extend his scoreless streak to 16.0 innings over 15 appearances since May 3, a stretch in which opponents are batting .200 (11-for-55)…it’s the longest scoreless streak of his career, is tied with Bobby Miller for the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors behind Andrew Abbott’s 17.2-inning streak, and is the longest by a Royal since Brady Singer’s 18.2-inning scoreless streak from April 10-May 28 of last season.
ROYALS ON THE MEND: Center fielder Kyle Isbel, who has missed the last six-plus weeks with a strained left hamstring, continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha last night and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a 2-run double, while playing 7.0 innings in center field…left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa, who has been on the 60-day Injured List since March 15 with left rotator cuff tendinitis, began a rehab assignment Thursday night with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and allowed 1 hit and 1 walk with 1 strikeout in a scoreless 1st inning, during which he threw 26 pitches.
The Royals announced on Wednesday that Vinnie Pasquantino will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will miss the
rest of the season…he and Kris Bubic, who had Tommy John Surgery in April, are two Royals who have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Royals currently have a season-high 11 players on the Injured List, including six players who were on the Opening Day roster…as of this morning, only four teams in the Majors have more players listed on the Injured List: the Dodgers (14), Reds (12), Yankees (12) and Tigers (12).
AFTERNOON DELIGHT: Today’s 3:05 p.m. CT start marks the 1st of 2 day games this weekend and the Royals 30th matinee through 70 games this season (42.9%)…the Royals are scheduled for 64 day games this season, which would match 2021 for their 2nd most in a single season, trailing only the 2022 Royals (69)…the Royals are 9-20 in day games this year, but have outhomered opponents 33-28 (+5) despite being outscored 144-97 (-47).
TODAY’S STARTERS: RHP MIKE MAYERS (1-2, 5.06)
MIKE MAYERS (like Myers) is making his 6th appearance (2nd start) of the year and the 204th outing of his career today vs. the Angels…Mayers, 31, was selected by the Cardinals in the 3rd round of the 2013 Draft, and signed with Kansas City as a minor league free agent on Dec. 22, 2022, with an invitation to Spring Training.
From 2020-21, his 101 appearances ranked tied for 4th in the Majors and his 101.1 innings as a reliever ranked 6th in the Majors, 4th in the American League.
OUCH KABIBBLE: Mike suffered an 11-3 loss last Sunday in Baltimore, in which he was charged with 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 5.0 innings, with 1 strikeout… he entered in the 2nd inning after opener Carlos Hernández allowed 3 runs in the 1st, and started with a scoreless 2nd…but the first three batters reached vs. Mayers to begin the 3rd, all of which scored on a 2-run single by Josh Lester and a sacrifice fly by James McCann…the Orioles plated an additional run in the 4th inning as a 2-out walk to former-Royal Ryan O’Hearn proved costly, as he came around to score on a double by Aaron Hicks just 4 pitches later…after working a 1-2-3 5th and a scoreless 6th, Mayers exited trailing 7-3, before Jackson Kowar and Nick Wittgren, combined to allow 4 runs over the final 2.0 innings.
WE’RE NOT WORTHY!: Mayers earned his 1st win as a Royal on May 29 in St. Louis, a game in which he relieved opener Josh Staumont, who threw a 1-2-3 1st inning… Mayers followed with 6.0 perfect innings, as the duo combined to retire the first 21 batters before Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras had back-to-back hits to begin the 8th inning, ending the Royals perfect game bid…Taylor Clarke relieved Mayers and stranded both baserunners, and Amir Garrett pitched a perfect 9th to complete the 2-hit shutout, the Royals 1st shutout vs. the Cardinals since May 22, 2015.
Staumont (3) and Mayers (18) combined to retire the first 21 batters, matching Bret Saberhagen for the 2nd-most batters retired to begin a game in Royals history…Sabes retired his first 21 batters on June 21, 1985 vs. Seattle…the longest perfect game bid in franchise history belongs to Jorge López, who retired the first 24 batters he faced en route to a 4-1 win on Sept. 8, 2018 at Minnesota.
OH, BEHAVE: Mike finished the month of May with a sparkling 1.35 ERA (2 ER in 13.1 IP) with 14 strikeouts in 3 games (1 start)…his ERA tied Félix Bautista for 4th in the American League (min. 13.0 IP), trailing only Jaime Barria (0.51), Phil Maton (0.66) and Nathan Eovaldi (0.96)…there were 46 pitchers who started and relieved at least once last month, and only five of those had a better ERA than Mayers.
After allowing just 2 runs on 10 hits in 13.1 innings in May, Mayers has yielded 11 runs (10 ER) on 16 hits through 8.0 innings in his 1st 2 outings this month.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE MAN OF MYSTERY: Mike was built up as a starting pitcher down in Omaha, despite pitching out of the bullpen in 196 of his 203 Major League outings…in 8 starts with the Storm Chasers, he went 2-1 with 29 strikeouts in 34.0 innings, but was tagged for a 6.88 ERA (26 ER in 34.0 IP) and a 1.68 WHIP.
THERE’S JUST ME AND MY SWAMP: Mayers is making his 2nd appearance of this season at Kauffman Stadium today and 1st since May 23 vs. the Tigers, when he spun 4.2 innings of 1-run ball with a career-high 8 strikeouts…he has made 2 scoreless appearances here, once on April 12, 2021 with the Angels (1.1 IP) and Aug. 12, 2018 with St. Louis (1.0 IP)…in 106 career outings (5 starts) in his home ballpark, he’s 5-5 with 2 saves and a 6.19 ERA (88 ER in 128.0 IP).
THAT’LL DO, DONKEY…THAT’LL DO: Mayers is set to face the Angels for the first time since leaving them last offseason to sign a minor league
deal with the Royals in December…he spent each of the last three seasons with the Angels, posting a 4.10 ERA (71 ER in 155.2 IP) in 125 games (5 starts)…despite pitching in the Royals organization this season, Mike still leads all Angels relief pitchers since the start of 2020 in innings (137.1), appearances (120), strikeouts (164), is tied for 1st in holds (23), ranks 2nd in wins (8) and 5th in opponents’ batting average (.231). 2022, FAR FAR AWAY: In 24 games (3 starts) with the Angels last season, Mayers went 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA (32 ER in 50.2 IP)…he pitched to a 3.28 ERA (9 ER in 24.2 IP) in 12 road outings (1 start), but struggled at Angel Stadium, where he pitched to a 7.96 ERA (23 ER in 26.0 IP) in 12 outings (2 starts).
SO, I MARRIED A CUTTER THROWER: Last season with the Angels, Mike featured a cut fastball 8.1% of the time and induced a 24.3% whiff rate on it… he learned the grip he uses for his cutter from this video from the 2008 All-Star Game, where Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera taught his legendary cut fastball to the late Hall of Famer Roy Halladay and three-time All-Star, Scott Kazmir…since 2020, Mayers has recorded a 25.3 whiff% with the cutter.
According to reporting by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Rivera ended up tracing his grip position onto a baseball and giving the ball to Halladay after that All-Star Game, and in 3 games against the Yankees that year after the All-Star break, Halladay went 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA (7 ER in 23.0 IP)
