LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the second (0-1) of six games on a road trip against the Houston Astros (0-1; Aug. 11-13) and Texas Rangers (Aug. 14-16)… Halos went 2-5 on last homestand against the Mariners (0-4) and Giants (2-1)…LAA was 5-4 on last road trip against Detroit (3-0), Toronto (1-2) and Atlanta (1-2).
WINS AND LOSSES: Halos have won two of last three contests following a season-high seven game losing streak to begin the month of August…Angels won 10 of previous 13 contests before the losing streak.
HELLO, MY NAME IS…: Last night, Kenny Rosenberg made his season debut and became the 59th different player to appear in a game for the Angels in 2023… The 59 players used are the most in the Majors this season…LAA set franchise record last year with 66 players used.
GETTING BACK TO .500: With a 58-59 record, the Angels are looking to get back to exactly .500 for a 16th time this season (previously: 1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-
10, 11-11, 12-12, 14-14, 22-22, 30-30, 45-45, 48-48, 56-56 & 58-58)…Halos low water mark of the season is two games under .500 (three times; last, 56-58).
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Last night, C.J. Cron hit his first home run in an Angels uniform since Sept. 20, 2017… The 5 years, 325 days between homers are the third-longest span in Halos history: Wally Joyner: 9 years, 216 days (9/1/91- 4/5/01) & Paul Schaal: 5 years, 352 days (5/26/68-5/13/74) (ELIAS).
VS. HOUSTON: Houston leads the 2023 season series 8-3 (third straight year Astros have won season series)…This series marks the final meetings of the regular season between the clubs.
SETTING THE TONE: The Angels rank second in the Majors with eight leadoff home runs this season (four by Mickey Moniak and two each from Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo)…Only the Dodgers (10 – all by Mookie Betts) have hit more this year…The eight leadoff homers are tied for the third-most in a season in Halos history (LAA had 10 leadoff HR in 1986 and nine in 2021).
BACK-TO-BACK: Shohei Ohtani was named American League Player of the Month for July, marking his second straight month taking home those honors…Since 2013, he is the only MLB player to win consecutive Player of the Month Awards and has now done so twice (also, June/July 2021)…In Angels history, only Mike Trout (5) has more Player of the Month Awards for a career.
DOUBLE DIGITS: After recording his 10th win of the season on Wednesday night vs. San Francisco, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to have multiple seasons with 10+ home runs and 10+ pitching wins.
SHO BUSINESS: Shohei Ohtani is the first player in MLB history with 15+ SB & 40+ HR through his team’s first 114 games (ESPN Stats & Info).
ON REHAB: Logan O’Hoppe, José Marte and Davis Daniel are all currently on a rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Empire.
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 175 home runs this season…Only the Braves (218) and Dodgers (182) have homered more.
HEATING UP: During his current seven-game hit streak, Luis Rengifo is batting .407 (11/27) with three doubles, one home run and a 1.097 OPS…Over his last 19 games, he’s batting .338 (26/77) with 12 XBH.
RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 40 home runs through the first 117 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (the previous record was 38 HR through 117 team games by Ohtani in 2021 and Mike Trout in 2019)…Club record through 118 games was 39 HR by Ohtani in 2021 and Trout in 2019.
THE MOOSE: In his 35 games since joining the Angels, Mike Moustakas has totaled seven home runs and 23 RBI…In 47 games earlier this year for Colorado, he had four home runs and 17 RBI.
BACK ON TRACK: Carlos Estévez recorded his 24th save of the season on Wednesday night vs. San Francisco after suffering back-to-back blown saves earlier in the homestand…The two blown saves were his first of the season after a franchise record streak of 23 consecutive save conversions to begin the season…The streak was
the second-longest save streak at any point in a season in Angels history (Francisco Rodriguez had a 25 game streak in 2008).
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 18 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 28 times this year for 25 different players…The 18 players currently on the IL are the most in the Majors.
FIRST TO 40: Shohei Ohtani has recorded his second career 40+ HR season (he hit 46 HR in 2021) and is the first player in the Majors to reach 40 HR this year…Is the third player in Angels history with multiple 40+ HR seasons, joining Troy Glaus (2000 & 2001) and Mike Trout (2015, 2019 & 2022).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP TYLER ANDERSON
5-3, 4.92 ERA
Has a 2.84 ERA (25.1 IP – 8 ER) in last five starts.
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 21st appearance (20th start) of the season and 11th road start of the year…Is in eighth Major League season and made seventh straight Opening Day roster…Signed a three-year contract with Angels, Nov. 16, 2022.
- SUPPORTED: This season has a run support average of 5.95 (runs per 9 innings pitched), which ranks eighth in the American League (min. 100 IP).
- VS. HOUSTON: In six career games (all starts) vs. Houston, is 0-1 with a 6.37 ERA (29.2 IP – 21 ER) and 23 strikeouts…Took a no decision in only previous start against Astros earlier this season, after pitching 3.0 innings and surrendering one earned run on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts on July 16 at Angel Stadium.
- AT MINUTE MAID PARK: Is 0-1 with a 8.84 ERA (19.1 IP – 19 ER) and 14 strikeouts in four career starts at Minute Maid Park…Making first start at Houston since tossing 4.2 innings and surrendering four earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts for the Mariners on September 8, 2021.
- THE COUNTS: Opponents are batting .177 (37/209) in two strike counts this season, but have a .426 (23/54) average on the first pitch.
- LEFT OUT: This season, is holding left-handers to a .256 average (21/82) compared with a .281 (92/327) average against right-handers.
- LAST TIME OUT: Last start came on August 5 vs. Seattle and worked 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
- KEEPING IT IN THE PARK: Has allowed just five home runs across last 15 games (14 starts), after allowing six homers in first five starts.
- CHANGE CHANGE: Last season, held opponents to a .179 (41/229) average against his changeup, but opponents are batting .260 (38/146) this year.
- UPS AND DOWNS: Pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in Angels debut on April 2 at Oakland, before allowing 5+ runs in each of next three starts…Followed that with a five start stretch with a 3.14 ERA (28.2 IP – 10 ER) and 19 strikeouts, before yielding 15 runs across his next three outings…Has pitched to a 3.54 ERA (40.2 IP – 16 ER) across his last eight starts dating back to June 18.
- DECISIONS: Is 4-3 in last 10 starts after a streak of seven consecutive starts with a no-decision…The seven game streak tied for the second-longest in franchise history…Angels record streak was eight straight no-decisions by Jim McGlothlin between the 1966-67 seasons.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros will host the Angels for Game 2 of Astros Hall of Fame Weekend, presented by Methodist, tonight in what is a nationally televised game on FOX…the national audience will get to watch a pitching matchup of Astros rookie RHP J.P. France, who enters tonight’s start on a six-game winning streak, opposite Angels veteran LHP Tyler Anderson.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: The Astros are celebrating Hall of Fame Weekend this series, which will include an induction ceremony today for Astros 2B Bill Doran and longtime play-byplay broadcaster Bill Brown…prior to the ceremony, Brown and Doran will be available to the media at 4:30 p.m. in the press conference room…a few notes on each inductee:
- Doran was a fan favorite during his time with the Astros (1982- 90) and was known as a tough, hard-nosed player that was admired for both his hustle and ferocity and for his production on the field…during the 1980’s, the switch-hitting Doran led all Astros players in runs scored, stolen bases and walks, was second in hits and third in games played and was voted as the Team MVP on two occasions (1985, 1987).
- Brown served as the primary television voice of the Houston Astros for 30 wonderful seasons, becoming one of the most popular and well-respected broadcasters in all of baseball… his professionalism and knowledge of the game, along with his powerful voice and relentless preparation, made him one of the top play-by-play men of his generation.
AT THE HELM: Astros manager Dusty Baker now has 2,160 career managerial victories, which ranks seventh in MLB history…Baker, who surpassed Bucky Harris (2,158) on that list earlier this week, along with Rangers manager Bruce Bochy are the only two managers on the top 10 wins list not yet in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
WINNING WAYS: The Astros have moved to a season-high tying 17 games over .500 by going 26-14 since June 25…since then, the Astros and Mariners own the best record in the AL and are just a half game back on the Dodgers (26-13) in the Majors.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE: The Astros are 11-6 thus far while in the midst of a month-long stretch of games (July 24-Aug. 24) in which seven of their nine scheduled opponents are currently at .500 or better…in this stretch, the Astros will see TEX (2-1), TB (1-2), CLE (3-0), NYY (2-2), BAL (2-1), LAA (1-0), MIA, SEA and BOS.
VS. THE ANGELS: This is the Astros and Angels fourth and final series this year…the Astros are 8-3 so far vs. their AL West rival and have won all three series, including winning three-of-four at Minute Maid Park in early June…OF Chas McCormick has been phenomenal vs. the Halos in ‘23, batting .481 (13×27) with a double, four homers and seven RBI in eight games.
LAST NIGHT’S BIG WIN: The Astros enjoyed a laugher last night, topping the Angels 11-3 in the opener of this three-game series…the offense came up huge, collecting 15 hits on the night, including three-hit games from their trio at the bottom of the order: 1B Jon Singleton (3×4, 2HR, 5RBI), SS Jeremy Peña (3×4, RBI) and C Martín Maldonado (3×5, 2RBI)…that was more than enough for RHP Justin Verlander (3ER/6IP), who picked up the win, his first as an Astro in 2023.
TUVE-METER: 2B Jose Altuve, who has an active 13-game hitting streak, is closing in on 2,000 career hits, as he enters tonight’s game just 10 hits shy of the mark…Altuve is also 10 doubles shy of 200 and 10 stolen bases shy of 300 for his career…on the last road trip, Altuve (722 RBI) surpassed Jimmy Wynn (719 RBI) for seventh-place in club history in RBI and connected for his 200th career home run.
JON HOMER-TON: 1B Jon Singleton hit two homers last night, his first Major League homers since going deep for the Astros on July 29, 2015 vs. LAA…a few notes on that gap:
- he went eight years and 13 days between homers, which is the longest span between MLB homers since RHP Jake Peavy went nine years between homers from the 2006-2015 seasons.
- excluding pitchers, the last position player to go as long between home runs was IF Rafael Belliard, who went 10 years, 144 days between homers from the 1987-97 seasons.
- lastly, according to ESPN Stats & Info, Singleton is the first player in MLB history to go six-plus years between homers to then snap that streak with a two-homer game…that previous distinction was held by 1B Jim Breazeale, who went five years and 292 days between such events from the 1972-78 seasons.
JV’S RETURN: In what was his 2023 debut as an Astro at Minute Maid Park last night, RHP Justin Verlander made his 500th career regular season start and picked up his 251st career win…a few notes on the Astros returning ace:
- Verlander, 40, was officially re-acquired on Aug. 1 from the Mets, along with cash considerations in exchange for prospects OF Drew Gilbert and OF Ryan Clifford.
- this marks Verlander seventh season with the club (2017-23), in which he’s gone an incredible 62-20 with a 2.29 ERA (169ER/665IP) with 836 strikeouts in 104 starts.
- according to Elias, Verlander is the 48th pitcher all-time to make 500 career starts and just the second active pitcher, also RHP Zack Greinke (536).
- according to STATS, Verlander moved into a tie with Bob Gibson and CC Sabathia for 45th in MLB history in wins last night.
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: The Astros are working through a couple day-to-day injuries and have one player working his way back to the active roster:
- 1B Jose Abreu has missed the last two games with lower back discomfort…he underwent an MRI yesterday, and is being further evaluated today.
- RHP Phil Maton was removed from last night’s game after a comebacker struck him on his right elbow…he will be re-evaluated today.
- OF Chas McCormick missed Thursday’s game with a left knee bruise and was not in yesterday’s starting lineup…he did pinch hit last night and played 2.0 innings defensively.
- OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery), who’s missed the entire season, has progressed back to taking BP off the high-speed pitching machine…today, he is scheduled to participate in baserunning and individual defensive drills.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP J.P. FRANCE
LAST START – 7/31 VS. CLE: allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts in a season-high tying 7.0 innings…amassed his 3rd straight quality start and 10th quality start this season…it was his 5th 7-inning outing of the season and has 11 starts of 6.0 plus innings in his 15 career starts.
LAST APPEARANCE- 8/6 AT NYY: allowed 1 run (0 earned) on 3 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief…entered the game with the game with bases loaded and 2 outs with the score tied at 5 and stranded all 3 runners after NYY 2B Gleyber Torres flew out to center field…marked his first relief outing of his Major League career.
ROOKIE LEADERBOARD: among AL rookies (min. 90 IP), ranks 1st in ERA (2.75)…is also 1st in walks-per-9-innings (2.75), 2nd in WHIP (1.24) and 2nd in opponent OPS (.675).
QUALITY STUFF: logged 6 consecutive quality starts from June 4-July 5 and logged 6+ innings in 7 straight starts from May 29-July 5…the last Astros rookie with 7 straight starts of 6.0+ was RHP Chris Sampson, who had a 9-game streak in 2007…the last Astros rookie with a streak of at least 6 straight quality starts in a single season was also Sampson, who went on a 7-game streak (May 11, 2007-June 13, 2007)…the only other Astros pitcher with a longer quality start streak this season was a 7-game streak from LHP Framber Valdez (April 4-May 9)….is tied for the third most quality starts (10) through his first 16 career outings in Astros franchise history behind only RHP Brian Williams (12 quality starts) and RHP Mark Lemongello (11 quality starts)…is 2nd of MLB rookies with 10 quality starts this season, trailing only teammate RHP Hunter Brown (11).
SOLID START: his 2.75 career ERA is the lowest by an Astros pitcher through their first 16 career appearances (min. 90 IP), directly ahead of RHP Dan Larson who recorded a 2.84 ERA in his first 16 career appearances.
VS. LAA: will be making his 3rd career start against the Halos…has recorded a 2.38 ERA (3ER/11.1IP) with 5 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP.
- in his first career start against the Angels on June 4th at Minute Maid Park, he allowed 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
THE FIRST FRANCE: rookie right-hander made his Major League debut with his start on May 6 at Seattle…allowed 1 earned run in 11.2 IP through his first two MLB starts…he became the 4th pitcher in club history to work 5.0-plus innings, allowing 1-or-fewer runs in each of his first 2 Major League starts… joining LHP Dallas Keuchel (2012), LHP Carlos Hernández (2001) and RHP Manny Hernández as the only other Astros pitcher to record this feat.
ON THE ROAD: has posted a 1.92 ERA (11ER/51.2IP) through the first 9 road games of his career…has held opponent’s to a .638 OPS in those starts… is the lowest road ERA in the Majors from a starting pitcher. (min. 40 IP).
