LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fifth (1-3) of six games on a road trip against the Houston Astros (1-2) and Texas Rangers (0-1; 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).
FAMILIAR FOE: Eduardo Escobar is a .429 (3/7) career hitter with two home runs and five RBI against today’s Texas starter Jordan Montgomery…Hunter Renfroe is a .389 (7/18) lifetime hitter vs. Montgomery.
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 177 home runs this season…Only the Braves (229) and Dodgers (186) have homered more.
BLANKED: Last night was just the fifth time that the Angels have been shut out this season…Only the Astros (4) and Rays (4) have been blanked fewer times among A.L. teams in 2023.
LOW WATER MARK: With a 59-61 record, Angels have matched season-low mark at two games under .500 (fifth time at two games under .500 in 2023)…LAA has not been three games under .500 since finishing the 2022 season with a 73-89 record.
SILLY STATS: In four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on July 19, Chase Silseth has gone 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA (22.2 IP – 4 ER) and 31 strikeouts… On Aug. 6 vs. Seattle, he became the fifth rookie in Angels history with a 12+ strikeout game, joining Jorge Rubio (1966), Tim Fortugno (1992), Shohei Ohtani (2018) and Reid Detmers (2022).
WINS AND LOSSES: Halos have won three of last six 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…: The Angels 59 players used this season are the most in the Majors…LAA set a franchise record last year with 66 players used.
VS. TEXAS: Season series between Angels and Rangers is tied 4-4…Halos are 3-2 at Globe Life Field this year… LAA has won seven of last 11 games vs. Texas, dating back to last season…Following the current series in Arlington, the clubs will face off in one additional series at Angel Stadium from Sept. 25-27.
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).
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Friday night at Houston, 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).
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 17 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 28 times this year for 25 different players…The 17 players
currently on the IL are the most in the Majors.
RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 41 home runs through the first 120 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (the previous record was 39 HR through 120 team games by Ohtani in 2021 and Mike Trout in 2019)…Club record through 121 games was also 39 HR by Ohtani in 2021 and Trout in 2019.
THE MOOSE: In his 38 games since joining the Angels, Mike Moustakas has totaled seven home runs and 24 RBI…In 47 games earlier this year for Colorado, he had four home runs and 17 RBI.
THE CLOSER: Carlos Estévez has converted 25 of 27 save opportunities this season…His save Sunday at Houston was the 50th of his career…Estévez established a franchise record streak of 23 consecutive save conversions to begin the season before his first blown save on Aug. 3 vs. Seattle…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).
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.
ON REHAB: Logan O’Hoppe has played in six games on a rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Emprie, he hit .316 (6/19) with three doubles and three RBI and played 12 innings behind the plate.
HEATING UP: Over his last 21 games, Luis Rengifo is batting .299 (26/87) with 12 XBH…He had his season-high seven-game hit streak snapped on Saturday night.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP LUCAS GIOLITO
7-8, 4.34 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in seven of 12 starts since June 6
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 25th start of the season and 14th on the road…Making fourth 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: Claimed the win in last start on August 8 vs. Giants, pitching 6.0 innings and surrendering three runs on three hits with three walks and seven 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 70 (26%) of runs have come in the 1st inning and 28 (40%) in the 4th inning.
- IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown changeups 23.6% of the time and is holding opponents to a .238 (31/130) average with 39 strikeouts…Throws sliders 30.5% of the time, with opponents batting .236 (38/161) with 44 strikeouts against the pitch.
- VS. RANGERS: Is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA (21.1 IP – 8 ER) and 20 strikeouts in four career starts against the Rangers…Went 0-2 with a 12.10 ERA (9.2 IP – 13 ER) in two starts against Texas with the White Sox in 2022.
- AT GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA (10.1 IP – 2 ER) and nine strikeouts in two career starts at Globe Life Field.
- STRIKEOUT ARTIST: Ranks ninth in the American League with 145 strikeouts this season…Since start of 2021, is sixth in the American League with 523 strikeouts; 26.2% strikeout rate ranks fourth (min. 470 IP) in the A.L. during that time.
- BOUNCED BACK: Notched first career win as an Angel on August 8 against the Giants, in his third start since joining the team…Held San Francisco to three runs and struck out seven following two starts where he surrendered a combined 12 runs and seven strikeouts in his first two outings for the Halos…Won first career home outing at Angel Stadium.
- 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: 476.1 IP since 2021 ranks 10th 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 .262 (51/195) this season against Giolito in their first appearance of the day; .226 (42/186) in their second PA; and .221 (29/131) in their third PA.
- GOOD DAY: This year, has a 4.10 ERA (74.2 IP – 34 ER) in day games, compared with a 4.70 ERA (61.1 IP – 32 ER) at night…Has a 3.89 ERA (363.1 IP – 157 ER) in 65 day games in his career, versus a 4.60 ERA (602.0 IP – 308 ER) in 106 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).
- 1,000 CLUB: Reached 1,000 career strikeouts with a third inning punchout of Twins INF Edouard Julien in his last start on July 23…Enters today with 1,004 strikeouts in his career.
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas shut out the Angels yesterday, 12-0 as club is now 1-0 to begin a 7-day, 6-game homestand vs. LAA (1-0 + 2 G) and MIL (3 G)…club has 71 wins, 3 more than team’s 2022 win total (68)…TEX has won 3 of 4 and 11 of its last 13 G, including a season-best 8-G win streak (8/1- 8), longest for Texas since going 10-0, 5/9-19/17…Rangers are A.L.-best 11-2 (.846) in August, 2nd-best in MLB to only LAD (12-1, .923)…have gone 12-7 in last 19 G and 13-9 in last 22 G since a 6-G win streak (7/14-19) out of the break… team is 19-9 (.679) in the 2nd “half”, 2nd-best in MLB (LAD is 20-8, .714), and 19 wins are T3rd in MLB (20-BAL/LAD, 19- TEX/CHC)…TEX is 20-11 in last 31, 21-15 in last 36 G, and 22-17 in last 39 G…team was 12-19 over a 31-G span from 6/7-7/9 to end the 1st “half”…TEX is 57-37 in last 94 G, 61-42 in last 103 G and 66-44 last 110 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 71-48 (.597), TEX owns the 2nd-best record in the A.L., 4th-best in MLB (.644-ATL, .622-BAL, .607-LAD, .597- TEX)…71 wins rank 3rd in A.L., T4th-most in MLB (76-ATL, 74-BAL, 72-TB, 71-TEX/LAD).
- The 71-48 mark is the best 119-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
WITH A WIN TONIGHT, Texas would:
- Notch the best 120-G record in franchise history at 72-48.
- Reach season-high 24 G above .500 for just the 6th season in franchise history (1977, 1999, 2011, 2012, 2016).
- Win their 5th straight series, the 2nd-best streak this season after winning 6 straight from 5/19-6/7.
- Improve to a 42-20 record at Globe Life Field, the best 62-G start to a season at home in franchise history.
- Win 9 consecutive games at home, T3rd-longest home winning streak in team history (last 7/4-23/11).
STANDINGS: Texas owns a lead of at least 3.5-games in A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU for the 1st time since 7/20 (+4.0)…held leads of 2.0+ G in the division for 63 consecutive days from 5/23-7/24 before it dropped to 0.5 G for 3 straight days 7/31-8/2…season-best 6.5-G lead in West after win 6/23 at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place for 100 straight, 107 of 108, and 120 of the last 122 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 136 of the season’s first 137 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: After securing a series win in San Francisco last weekend (2-1), the Rangers have won 4 straight series, T2nd-best streak in ’23 (6, 5/19-6/7; and 4, 4/10-23)…club is 6-3-0 in series since break…club is 6-6-0 in last 12 series…is now 23-13-2 overall in series this year, going 12-5-2 at home and 11-8-0 on the road…team has won 2 straight and is 5-1-0 in series at home since the All-Star break… • All 5 series wins at Globe Life Field since the break have been sweeps.
AT HOME: TEX is an MLB-best 41-20 (.672) at home…the record is TEX’s best 61-G start at home in team history (see chart)…MLB-best 14-2 (.875) in 2nd “half”, and owns a 19-7 mark in Arlington beg. 6/17…club has won 8 straight, the longest active home win streak in MLB and tied for longest ever at GLF (also 8-0, 5/19-6/6/23)…has won 22 of 34, 27 of 39, 31 of 46, and 36 of last 54 at home (beg. 4/11).
BEST 61-G TEX HOME RECORDS
W-L YEAR(S)
41-20 2023
40-21 2004, 2016
39-22 2009, 2011
38-23 1996, 1999, 2010, 2012
BEST 62-G TEX HOME RECORDS
W-L YEAR(S)
41-21 2004, 2016
40-22 2009
39-23 1996, 2010, 2011, 2012
38-24 1986, 1999
SHUTOUT SQUAD: Max Scherzer and Martín Pérez combined for the Rangers’ 10th shutout of 2023 yesterday, the team’s 1st blanking since a 6-0 win on 8/6 vs. MIA…TEX’s 10 SHO are 6th-most in the American League, and their 3 SHO since the beginning of August (also 2-0, 8/1 vs. CWS) lead the A.L. and rank T1st in MLB w/ ATL.
- The team’s 12-0 win yesterday was the largest shutout victory for TEX since 8/5/14 at CWS (16-0) and the biggest at home since 4/18/14 vs. CWS (also 12-0).
- The one hit allowed last night (Mike Moustakas 2nd inning single) marks the 2nd time this season that TEX has allowed 1 H in a game (also 4/17 at KC), 1st time in Globe Life Field history and the 1st at home since 8/23/10 vs. MIN.
TO THE MAX: Max Scherzer secured his 3rd win as a Ranger last night (in 3 GS) since being acquired from NYM on 7/30…he is now 3-0, 1.80 ERA (4 ER/20.0 IP) and 26 SO/5 BB w/ TEX…he became the 4th pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1901) with 20+ IP, 4-or-fewer runs allowed, and 26+ SO over their first 3 outings with a new franchise (also HOU’s Verlander in 2017, HOU’s Randy Johnson in 1998, and PHI’s Jim Bunning in 1964)…Scherzer’s 11 SO in 7.0 SHO IP marked his 112th career 10+ SO game, good for 3rd all-time behind Nolan Ryan (215) and Randy Johnson (212).
ADVANTAGE ADOLIS: Adolis García’s 7th inning HR last night was his 30th of the campaign, as this is his 2nd career 30-HR season (career-high 31 HR in ’21)…the A.L. leader in RBI became the 2nd player this season to reach 30+ HR and 90+ RBI (also ATL’s Matt Olson)…in fact, García is now the 4th player in MLB to hit 88+ HR and 282+ RBI since ’21, and the 1st player to turn the trick with one team in the A.L.:
PLAYERS WITH 88+ HR AND 282+ RBI
IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (2021-2023)
Player/Team HR/RBI
Matt Olson (OAK/ATL) 116/321
Pete Alonso (NYM) 112/313
Nolan Arenado (STL) 88/290
Adolis Garcia (TEX) 88/282
POSITIVE VIBES: In the last 4 games, the Rangers’ season run differential has grown by 18 runs to +193, the highest R/D at any point in any season in Rangers history (club record was +178 on 9/28/11)…TEX’s R/D leads the A.L. and ranks 2nd in MLB to ATL (+201 thru 118 G)…in fact, the +193 R/D thru 119 G is the 6th-highest in the A.L. during the Expansion Era (since 1961), highest since a +195 R/D by HOU in ’18.
OFFENSE FOR DAYS: Texas scored 10+ runs yesterday for an MLB-high 23rd game this season, now only 2 G from tying the club record (25 G in 2008)…club has also notched 10-or-more hits in 57 of the team’s 119 G in ’23, tops in the Majors…after notching 7 XBH yesterday, TEX extended its XBH streak to 78 straight G, the 4th-longest such streak in franchise history (see chart below)…the streak is the 2nd-longest active XBH streak in MLB (HOU, 81 G).
LONGEST EXTRA BASE HIT STREAKS
IN WSH/TEX FRANCHISE HISTORY (since 1961)
Games Date
93 6/8-9/24/01
89 4/24-8/1/02
80 9/18/02-6/18/03
78 5/16/23-current
VS. ANGELS: TEX is 4-4 vs. LAA this season, winning 2 of last 3 G…TEX has won season series vs. LAA in 3 of last 4 years…TEX is 4-6 in last 10 G vs. LAA…Rangers are 17-14 vs. LAA all-time at GLF, winning 7 of last 11 after a 5-10 span.
SHORTS: TEX faced a position player pitching last night for the 10th time this season, tying the single season record set by ATL in 2021…J.P. Martínez has a 4-G on-base streak to begin his MLB career (since 8/11), along with 3 consecutive multi-hit games, good for a .400/.389/.467/.856 slash line… Marcus Semien notched a season-high 5 RBI last night.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #52 Jordan Montgomery, LHP (7-10, 3.38)
TONIGHT: The 30-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his 24th start of the season tonight (3rd with TEX) vs. LAA…owns a 1-1 record with a 3.00 ERA (4 R-ER/12.0 IP) in 2 GS (both quality starts) since being acquired on 7/30 in a trade with STL, along with RHP Chris Stratton and international bonus pool money, in exchange for LHP John King, INF/OF Tommy Saggese, and RHP T.K. Roby… will pitch today on regular 4 days’ rest after after taking his 1st loss in a Ranger uniform on Wed. at OAK (L, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 95 pitches/61 strikes)…went 6-9 with a 3.42 ERA (46 ER/121.0 IP) in 21 G/GS for STL this season, posting 108 SO with 35 BB allowed…at time of the trade, ranked among N.L. leaders in quality starts (T7th, 12), ERA (9th, 3.42), HR/9 (10th, 0.89), opp. GIDP per 9 (11th, 0.97), and WHIP (17th, 1.25)…acquired by STL from NYY on 8/2/22 in exchange for outfielder Harrison Bader…the Sumter, S.C. native finished sixth in the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team after leading the A.L. in starts (29), strikeouts (144), and innings (155.1) that season…selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft out of the U. of South Carolina, Montgomery owns a 35-33 record with a 3.76 ERA (292 ER/699.1 IP) in 132 G/131 GS across 7 MLB seasons with New York-AL (2017-22), St. Louis (2022-23), and Texas (2023)…his teams are 8-15 in his 23 starts this season.
LAST START: Posted a quality start in his 2nd outing with Texas, despite taking his 1st loss as a Ranger on Wed. at Oakland (L, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 95 pitches/61 strikes)…it marked his 2nd consecutive quality start as a Ranger, 3rd overall (also on 8/4 vs. MIA: W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 80 pitches/56 strikes)…Montgomery has lasted 6.0 innings and allowed exactly 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 1 HR in his 1st 2 starts as a Ranger, striking out at least 5 batters in both outings.
VS. LOS ANGELES-AL: Owns a 2-0 record and a 2.13 ERA (3 ER/12.2 IP) in 2 G/GS vs. LAA in his career…tomorrow will mark his 3rd start against the Angels in his home stadium (none at LAA)…faced LAA last season w/ NYY, earning the win after tossing 7.0 IP and allowing 1 ER-R on 4 H (solo HR to L. Rengifo).
AT GLOBE LIFE FIELD / HOME: Earned the win in his Globe Life Field debut in his 1st outing as a Ranger on 8/4 vs. MIA (W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 80 pitches/56 strikes)…previously, his only career outing in Arlington came at Globe Life Park in Arlington on 9/10/17 w/ NYY (ND, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R-ER)… that 2017 start came toward the end of his rookie campaign, as he took ND in an eventual 16-7 Yankees win.
- Has seen slightly better ERA results in 11 road starts (2-6, 3.30) than in 13 home starts (5-4, 3.45) this season…opponents are batting .262/.312/.432/.744 (71-271) with 7 HR at home this season vs. .242/.298/.404/.702 (58-240) with 7 HR on the road…for his career, has performed far better at home (24-14, 3.51 ERA in 69 G/GS) than on the road (11-19, 4.04 ERA in 63 G/62 GS).
WITH TEXAS: Montgomery owns a 1-1 record with a 3.00 ERA (2 R-ER/12.0 IP) over 2 GS since being acquired by TEX on 7/30…has lasted 6.0 IP and allowed 2 R-ER in both starts with TEX, striking out 11 batters (8.25 SO/9) and recording a 45.9 groundball pct…Montgomery (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER on 8/4 vs. MIA) and Max Scherzer (6.0 IP, 3 R-ER on 8/3 vs. CWS) are the only TEX pitchers in the last 4 seasons (beg. 2020) to notch quality starts in their 1st outing with the club.
WITH ST. LOUIS: Went 12-12 with a 3.31 ERA (68 ER/184.2 IP) over 32 G/GS with St. Louis after being acquired from the Yankees in a trade on 8/2/22 in exchange for OF Harrison Bader…during his time with STL, led the staff in wins and strikeouts (169), posting easily the lowest ERA among any of the 8 Cardinals with 65+ IP in that span…his 184.2 IP ranked 2nd to only Miles Mikolas (197.1)…St. Louis won 10-of-his-first-13 starts as a Cardinal, but went 5-14 over his last 19.
- STL was shut out in 3 of his 1st 4 losses in 2023, and dropped each of 10 consecutive starts by Montgomery from 4/13-6/3…Montgomery was 0-7 in that span (4/13-6/3), longest losing streak of his career.
- Went 7 consecutive starts (4/13-5/16) with 3-or-fewer runs of support, including 3 starts with no support (4/13, 4/24, 4/29).
- Opened start 7/2 vs. NYY with 5.2 no-hit innings, longest span to open a start in his career.
VS. LEFTIES: Has 2 walks against LH batters in the past 2 seasons, and they each came in his final starts for NYY and STL…issued a walk to Cubs’ Cody Bellinger in the 4th inning of last start with STL on 7/28 vs. CHC…it was his only walk to a left-handed batter in his Cardinals career (32 starts), as he had not issued a free pass to a LHB since 7/31/22 vs. KC (Vinnie Pasquantino in 5th inning), which was his final start as a Yankee.
- LHB have slashed .219/.259/.321/.580 with 11 HR, 19 BB/119 SO in his career. 2023: Opponents are batting .252 (129-511), with a .282 BA from LHB and a .247 BA from RHB…lefties have never batted higher than .250 in any season in his MLB career…has gone 3-1, 2.50 (11 ER/39.2 IP) over 7 starts against A.L. clubs this season…BA by time through the order: 1st (.257), 2nd (.236), 3rd (.273), 4th (0-1)…finished June ranking among N.L. leaders in ERA (7th, 1.71) and opp. BA (12th, .212)…won 3 straight decisions to end June.
