LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the ninth (5-3) and final game on a road trip against the Detroit Tigers (3-0), Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) and Atlanta Braves (1-1;
July 31-Aug. 2)…Halos went 6-3 on last homestand against the Astros (1-2), Yankees (3-0) & Pirates (2-1).
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today, RHP Dominic Leone reported to the active roster after being acquired yesterday from the Mets…In a corresponding move, RHP Victor Mederos was optioned to Double-A Rocket City.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Yesterday, the Angels selected the contract of OF Jordyn Adams…He was the Halos first round selection (17th overall) in the 2018 Draft out of Green Hope HS (Cary, NC).
STREAKING: C.J. Cron has hit safely in each of his last 11 games…It’s the longest active hit streak in the Majors and is tied for the second-longest streak of his career…His only longer streak was a 12-game hit streak for the Angels from Aug. 24-Sept. 5, 2016.
DEADLINE DAY: Yesterday the Angels acquired RHP Dominic Leone from the New York Mets in exchange for minor league INF Jeremiah Jackson…Additionally, LHP Tucker Davidson was traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.
WINNING MONTHS: Angels secured a winning record for July (12-11), after going 14-13 in June, 15-13 in May and 15-14 in March/April (15-13 in April)…Halos have a record above .500 in four straight months for the first time since April – July 2015.
YEARS BETWEEN ANGELS DRAFT SELECTION & DEBUT Player LAA Draft Year LAA Debut Span 1. Randal Grichuk 2009 2023 14 years T2. Martín Maldonado 2004 2017 13 years T2. Jim Barr 1966 1979 13 years
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 18 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 27 times this year for 25 different players…The 18 players currently on the IL are the most in the Majors.
PUSHING 40: Shohei Ohtani is one home run shy from recording his second career 40+ HR season (he hit 46 HR in 2021)…Would become the third player in Angels history with multiple 40+ HR seasons, joining Troy Glaus (2000 & 2001) and Mike Trout (2015, 2019 & 2022).
LEAGUE LEADER: As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in home runs (39), total bases (269), XBH (63), slugging percentage (.676) and OPS (1.082) and is tied for the MLB lead in triples (7)…On the mound, he leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.185), is tied for fourth in strikeouts (156) and is ninth in WHIP (1.07).
BACK ON TRACK: Angels have won 10 of their last 14 contests and are tied for third-best record in the Majors since the All-Star Break.
BEST RECORDS SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK
T1. Cubs 12-6 (.667)
T1. Orioles 12-6 (.667)
T3. Angels 11-6 (.647)
T3. Astros 11-6 (.647)
- Twins 10-7 (.588)
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 166 home runs this season…Only the Braves (203) and Dodgers (169) have homered more.
VS. ATLANTA: The Angels are making their second ever visit to Truist Park…Braves won two of three head-to-head games last season at the ballpark…The all-time
series is tied 10-10 (5-6 in Atlanta)…Halos are looking to win a series in Atlanta for the first time since taking two of three at Turner Field in 2005.
SPARKPLUG: With Zach Neto in the starting lineup, the Angels have a 36-26 record, including a 14-5 record in his last 19 starts.
RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 39 home runs through the first 108 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (Ohtani held the previous record with 37 HR through 108 (and 109) team games in 2021).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.88 ERA (43 IP – 9 ER) and has converted all 23 of his save opportunities this year…He set the franchise record for consecutive save chances converted to begin a season (previously Lee Smith converted his first 19 chances in 1995)…The only player in Angels history with a longer save streak without a blown save at any point in a season is Francisco Rodriguez (25 game streak in 2008).
THE MICK: Since July 2, Mickey Moniak is batting .330 (31/94) with five doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI…He had his career-high 18-game hit streak snapped on Saturday at Toronto
STRANDED: Over the last five games, Angels are 2-for44 with runners in scoring position and have left 52 total runners on base.
SO EXTRA: Following Sunday’s 3-2 victory in 10 innings at Toronto, the Angels have now won each of their last five extra-inning contests (started the year 1-4 through first five extra-inning games)…This is Halos longest extra inning win streak since a five-game streak from Aug. 4, 2012 – April 23, 2013.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP LUCAS GIOLITO
6-7, 3.85 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in seven of 10 starts since June 6
TODAY’S GAME: Making 23rd start of the season and 13th on the road…Making second start as an Angel since being acquired via trade from Chicago (A.L.) on July 26…Is in eighth Major League season.
- LAST TIME OUT: Took loss in last start on July 28 at Toronto in Angels debut after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
- HOT STOVE: Acquired in a trade with the White Sox on July 26, alongside RHP Reynaldo López in exchange for minor league C Edgar Quero and LHP Ky Bush.
- GET SETTLED: This season, 18 of 58 (31%) of runs have come in the 1st inning and 22 (38%) in the 4th inning.
- IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown changeups 23.3% of the time and is holding opponents to a .235 (27/115) average with 33 strikeouts…Throws sliders 30.2% of the time, with opponents batting .232 (35/151) with 42 strikeouts against the pitch.
- VS. ATLANTA: Is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA (9.1 IP – 6 ER) and 10 strikeouts in two career appearances (one start) against Atlanta…Took the loss in last outing vs. ATL, pitching 6.0 innings and surrendering four runs on four hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts on September 1, 2019 for White Sox.
- AT TRUIST PARK: Is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA (6 IP – 4 ER) and seven strikeouts in one career appearance at Truist Park (9/1/19 for White Sox).
- STRIKEOUT ARTIST: Ranks 10th in the American League with 136 strikeouts this season…Since start of 2021, is fourth in the American League with 514 strikeouts; 26.4% strikeout rate ranks third (min. 450 IP) in the A.L. during that time.
- JUNE BLOOM: Posted a 2-1 record and 2.32 ERA (31 IP – 8 ER) with a .198 opponent batting average in the month of June…31.2% strikeout rate ranked third in the A.L. in the month… Surrendered two-or-fewer runs in four of five June starts, and struck out eight or more batters in three of five starts.
- WORKHORSE: 466.2 IP since 2021 ranks fifth in the A.L…Has made at least 20 starts each year dating back to 2018 (2020 excluded) and has made at least 30 starts in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022.
- BETTER WITH TIME: Opposing hitters are batting .268 (48/179) this season against Giolito in their first appearance of the day; .214 (37/173) in their second PA; and .213 (26/122) in their third PA.
- GOOD DAY: This year, has a 3.17 ERA (71.0 IP – 25 ER) in day games, compared with a 4.72 ERA (55.1 IP – 29 ER) at night…Has a 3.70 ERA (359.2 IP – 148 ER) in 64 day games in his career, versus a 4.61 ERA (596.0 IP – 305 ER) in 105 career night games.
- SPOTLESS STARTER: Has pitched six innings without giving up a hit in two starts this season: April 18 (2) vs. PHI (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO) and June 6 vs. NYY (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO).
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Former Rockies
With Atlanta’s acquisition of Brad Hand yesterday afternoon, there are now five players who appeared for the Rockies as recently as July that are playing in this series. Atlanta traded for RH Pierce Johnson on July 24 prior to acquiring Hand yesterday, while Los Angeles has acquired INF Mike Moustakas (June 24), INF C.J. Cron (July 30) and OF Randal Grichuk (July 30). Colorado completed six trades since first dealing Moustakas, and four of the six were with either Atlanta or Los Angeles. Johnson has yet to allow a run in three appearances with Atlanta, while Hand’s first outing will mark his Braves debut.
TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and Angels today conclude a three-game series in what are the only scheduled meetings between the clubs this season… Atlanta and Los Angeles last met here at Truist Park last year.
- The Braves took two-of-three from the Angels last season, in what was their first series since 2017… This marks this first time in history that Atlanta and Los Angeles have met in consecutive seasons.
- Atlanta and Los Angeles have met just 20 times since the advent of interleague play in 1997, with the Braves going an even 10-10 (.500) against the Angels following last night’s win…Neither club has ever swept the other, and the two have alternated series wins, two-games-to-one, in each of the six total series they have played.
- The Braves’ series versus the Angels here at Truist Park last year was the only set between the two clubs here since the stadium was built in 2017…Atlanta is 6-5 all-time in its home stadium against Los Angeles.
- RH Yonny Chirinos is set to make his first career appearance against the Angels, but has pitched against three members of Los Angeles’ current roster…The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander made his Braves debut in his last start, July 28 vs. Milwaukee, and allowed six hits and four runs over 3.2 innings…In 16 games and five starts this season between the Braves and Rays, Chirinos is 4-4 with a 4.34 ERA (32 ER/66.1 IP).
- RH Lucas Giolito is set to make his second start and third career appearance against Atlanta, and is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA (6 ER/9.1 IP) over his first two outings…The 6-foot-6, 245-pound native of Santa Monica, CA, last faced the Braves in 2019 while with the White Sox, and allowed four hits and four runs over 6.0 innings to take the loss. WIN: Atlanta evened the series with a win, 5-1, over Los Angeles last night, and the two clubs will play the rubber match this afternoon…The Braves are 8-1 in rubber games this season.
- Atlanta opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, and improved to 52-17 (.754) when scoring first.
- Spencer Strider struck out Shohei Ohtani, the game’s second batter, for his 200th strikeout of the season…In doing so, he broke his own record – becoming the fastest pitcher, by innings pitched (123.1), to reach the 200 strikeout plateau within a single season since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893…Last year, he recorded 200 strikeouts in 130.0 innings.
- Raisel Iglesias pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning on six pitches last night…It was his first appearance against his former club since being dealt by Los Angles (AL) to Atlanta on August 2, 2022 in exchange for RHP Jesse Chavez and LHP Tucker Davidson
TRADE DEADLINE: Major League Baseball’s trade deadline passed yesterday at 6:00 p.m., and Atlanta completed one trade yesterday afternoon…The Braves acquired LH Brad Hand from Colorado in exchange for minor-league pitcher RH Alec Barger.
- The Braves completed four trades over the last nine days, acquiring relievers RH Pierce Johnson (Colorado), LH Taylor Hearn (Texas) and Hand (Colorado), as well as INF Nicky Lopez (Kansas City).
- Hand, 33, made 40 relief appearances for the Rockies this season, pitching to a 3-1 record and a 4.54 ERA (18 ER/35.2 IP)…He struck out 41 batters and walked 16.
- A three-time All-Star, Hand is in his 13th major league season…In 559 career games, he has gone 38-53 with a 3.80 ERA (307 ER/754.0 IP)…In 2016, the left-hander led the majors with 82 games pitched…During the abbreviated 2020 season, he led baseball with 16 saves and paced the American League with 21 games finished…Among active players, the native of Chaska, Minn., ranks 14th in games pitched.
TEN HOMERS: Michael Harris II went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs last night, his 10th and 11th of the season…In his last 45 games dating to June 7, Harris II is batting .365/.389/.629 with nine homers, 27 runs and 22 RBI.
- With his first home run of the night, Harris II became the ninth Brave to reach double figures in home runs this season; matching the franchise record for most players with at least 10 home runs within a single-season.
- Four Atlanta clubs also had nine such players – 2007, 2018-19 and ’22.
- The members of this year’s club: Matt Olson (36), Ronald Acuña Jr. (24), Ozzie Albies (24), Austin Riley (24), Marcell Ozuna (22), Sean Murphy (17), Eddie Rosario (16), Orlando Arcia (11) and Harris II (11).
- Travis d’Arnaud has nine homers for Atlanta this season, and with one more would establish a new franchise record.
BACK-TO-BACK: Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II hit back-to-back home runs in last night’s seventh inning, Atlanta’s second pair of consecutive homers this homestand and its 12th set in total this season.
- The Braves’ 12 pairs of back-to-back home runs are most in the majors, three more than any other club…Today’s opponent, Los Angeles, ranks second with nine.
- Dating to the start of the 2019 season, no club in baseball has gone back-to-back more often than Atlanta…The Braves have 52 sets of consecutive homers in that span, three more than any other team (Los Angeles-NL, 49).
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #56 Yonny Chirinos RHP
2023 Record: 4-4, 4.34 ERA • 2022 Record: 1-0, 0.00 ERA
vs. RHB: .269 (35-130), 6 HR • vs. LHB: .238 (29-for-122), 4 HR
Home: 1-2, 6.41 ERA (19/26.2) • Away: 3-2, 2.95 ERA (13/39.2)
Tonight’s Game
- Set to make his second start for Atlanta.
- Was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on July 23.
- Went 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA in four starts and 11 relief appearances for the Rays.
- Is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA over his last seven games.
- Went 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA in his first eight appearances this season.
- Allowed six hits and four runs with three strikeouts in his Braves debut against Milwaukee in his last start.
- Chirinos recorded 10 swing in misses; the most for him this season.
- Only pitched in two games last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Missed the enitre 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on August 24, 2020, performed by Dr. Koco Eaton in St. Petersburg.
- Underwent surgery on September 30, 2021 after he fractured his elbow.
- On September 7, 2022 made his first appearance in the maors since August 16, 2020; 1…Went 751 days between apps and 1,129 days between wins.
