LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fifth (2-2) of nine games on a road trip against the New York Mets (2-1), Philadelphia Phillies (0-1; Aug. 28-30) and Oakland A’s (Sept. 1-3)…Halos went 1-5 on last homestand against Tampa Bay (1-2) and Cincinnati (0- 3)…Halos went 2-4 on last road trip against Houston (1-2) and Texas (1-2).
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels recalled LHP Kenny Rosenberg from Triple-A Salt Lake…In a corresponding move, RHP Chase Silseth was placed on the 7-day injured list (retro to Aug. 27). VS. PHILADELPHIA: Angels lead the all-time series 12-5…Halos had won 12 straight against the Phillies between the 2003-17 seasons, but Philadelphia has won the last four meetings, including a three-game sweep last season at Citizens Bank Park.
FAMILIAR FACES: Mickey Moniak makes his return to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded to the Halos at last year’s trade deadline; he was the first overall pick in the 2016 Draft by the Phillies and played in 47 games across parts of three seasons in Philadelphia…Logan O’Hoppe makes his first career appearance in Philadelphia…He was a 23rd round pick by Phillies in 2018.
HOMECOMING: Three-time A.L. MVP Mike Trout returns to Philadelphia for a third time since debuting with the Angels (also, 2014 & 2022)…Trout is a native of Millville, NJ, which is approximately 40 miles from Citizens Bank Park.
45/20: With 44 home runs and 19 stolen bases on the season, Shohei Ohtani is one HR and one SB shy of his second career season with 45+ HR and 20+ SB (Ohtani had 46 HR & 26 SB in 2021)…He would join Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez as the only players with multiple 45 HR/20 SB seasons.
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 17 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 32 times this year for 27 different players.
SCHANUEL IN THE SHOW: Nolan Schanuel has hit safely in each of his first eight MLB games…The rookie made his MLB Debut on Aug. 18 vs. Tampa Bay, just 40 days after being selected in the first round (11th overall) by the Angels in the 2023 Draft from Florida Atlantic University…He joined LHP Brian Anderson (1993) and DH Danny Goodwin (1975) as the only Halos to debut in their draft year.
SETTING THE TONE: The Angels are tied (with the Phillies) for 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 (11 – 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).
HELLO, MY NAME IS…: The Angels have used 60 different players this season (most in the Majors)…LAA set a franchise record last year with 66 players used.
UNEARNED: The Angels lead the Majors this season with 68 unearned runs allowed…Patrick Sandoval leads all MLB players with 13 unearned runs allowed in 2023…
Halos have committed 80 errors this year, which are fifth-most in the Majors.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP TYLER ANDERSON 5-5, 5.35 ERA
Has surrendered two-or-fewer earned runs in four of last seven starts.
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 24th appearance (22nd start) of the season and 12th 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.
- LAST TIME OUT: Last outing came on August 23 in the front leg of a doubleheader against Reds…Appeared in relief and pitched 4.2 innings and surrendered four runs (one earned) on three hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.
- SUPPORTED: This season has a run support average of 5.81 (runs per 9 innings pitched), which ranks 10th in the American League (min. 115 IP).
- VS. PHILADELPHIA: Is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA (29 IP – 15 ER) and 26 strikeouts in five career starts against the Phillies.
- VS. CITIZENS BANK PARK: Is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA (17 IP – 6 ER) in three career starts at Citizens Bank Park.
- INTERLEAGUE: Is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA (37.2 IP – 16 ER) with 39 strikeouts in seven games (five starts) against Interleague opponents this season…Is 8-7 with a 4.43 ERA (156.1 IP – 77 ER) and 134 strikeouts in 29 career appearances (26 starts) in Interleague matchups.
- THE COUNTS: Opponents are batting .177 (43/243) in two strike counts this season, but have a .433 (26/60) average on the first pitch.
- KEEPING IT IN THE PARK: Has allowed just seven home runs across last 18 games (16 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 .259 (42/162) this year.
- STUCK IN THE MIDDLE: Has allowed 49/75 (65%) of runs in innings 3-5 this season, and has surrendered 23/75 (30%) of runs in the 4th inning.
- HOT SUMMER: Pitched to a 3.28 ERA (24.2 IP – 9 ER) with 20 strikeouts across five games in July, and posted a 2.66 ERA (20.1 IP – 6 ER) with 15 strikeouts in his four starts in the month.
- 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…Pitched to a 3.54 ERA (40.2 IP – 16 ER) across next eight starts before surrendering 12 runs in his last two starts.
- DECISIONS: Is 4-4 in last 11 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.
- HALO DEBUT: Earned the win in Angels debut on April 2 at Oakland after working 6.0 shutout frames,
allowing four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #131 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 6-4, as they opened up a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park … Starter Taijuan Walker (W, 14-5) went 5.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts … Trea Turner (2 HR) and Bryce Harper both homered for the Phillies as they moved to a season-best 15 games over .500 … Jeff Hoffman got two outs and helped the Phillies escape a jam in the 7th inning – he has stranded the last 12 runners he has inherited (since 8/8).
HATS OFF TO YOU, THOMS: Since he was named manager on June 3, 2022, Rob Thomson has the Phillies 34 games over .500 at 138-104 with a .570 winning percentage that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.671), LAD (.656), HOU (.607), BAL (.596) and SEA (.591) … The Phillies are 75-44 under Thomson at CBP and their .630 winning % at home in that span ranks 4th in MLB behind only ATL (.714), LAD (.697) and TB (.653) … Thomson reached 75 wins at CBP last night in only his 119th game at the helm – he ranks T-3rd in fastest to 75 wins at home among the 56 managers in Phillies history (with Pat Corrales at Veterans Stadium) – only better were Bill Shettsline at the Baker Bowl (75-38 in 113 G) and Steve O’Neill at Shibe Park/Connie Mack (75-40 in 115 G).
STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON THE WAY HOME: Since Aug. 1, the Phillies have hit a major league best 31 home runs with runners on base (next: ATL, 23) – Of Philadelphia’s 52 home runs this month, 59.6% have come with runners on base … Over the first four months of the season (Opening Day-7/31), the Phillies hit 42 home runs with runners on base which ranked T-22nd in MLB … The Phils have hit eight 3-run home runs this month which is T-1st in MLB (with BOS) – from Opening Day through July 31, they hit only five 3-run home runs which ranked T-28th in MLB.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS: The Phillies have hit 23 home runs as left handed batters off left handed pitchers this year which is tied for 1st among all MLB clubs (with LAD) … Philadelphia’s lefty hitters have drawn 67 walks off left-handed pitchers which is tops in MLB (next: SD, 58 BB) – interestingly, Philadelphia’s righthanded hitters have drawn 46 walks off left-handed pitching which is the fewest of any team in MLB (next: KC, 51) – that said, Philadelphia’s right-handed hitters have a .478 SLG against LHP which ranks 3rd among MLB clubs … Combined (LHH & RHH), the Phillies are slashing .259/.322/.448 with a .771 OPS off lefties that ranks 7th in MLB … The Phils are 24-17 (.585 win %) in games they have faced a left-handed starter this year and have won three straight.
BALL GO BOOM: The Phillies have hit an MLB-best 52 home runs in the month of August (next: ATL, 46 HR) and have set a franchise record for home runs in any single calendar month (previous: 46 in Sept. of 2019) … The Phillies have 2 games remaining in August and they are averaging 2.08 home runs per game this month … In August, the Phils are slashing .281/.352/.534 with an .886 OPS – among all clubs in MLB, their .534 SLG during the month ranks 1st in MLB (next: ATL, .521) and their .886 OPS ranks 2nd (ATL, .891) … Philadelphia’s .534 SLG this month would set a record for any calendar month in franchise history (previous: .526 SLG in July of 2007) and their .886 OPS would be the highest during any month since they posted a .911 OPS that same July … The Phils lead MLB with 110 extra-base hits during August which are their most in a month since May of 2009 (114 XBH).
BASH BROS: Of Philadelphia’s 52 home runs this month, 32 have been hit by four players (62%): Kyle Schwarber (9 HR), Bryce Harper (8), Nick Castellanos (8) and Trea Turner (7) … Among all NL players in August, Schwarber ranks T-2nd in homers, Harper and Castellanos rank T-4th and Turner ranks T8th … This is the first time in club history the Phillies have had four different players with seven or more homers in a single month … Should Turner hit another, it would mark the first time any MLB team had four or more players with eight home runs in a calendar month since Atlanta in Sept. of 2020 (4 with 8+).
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: Should they win tonight, the Phillies would improve to 49-26 since June 3 this season and match their record of 49-26 from June 3-Aug. 26, 2022, Rob Thomson’s first 75 games as manager … The Phillies are 48-26 over their last 74 games (since 6/3) with a +116 run differential (393- 277) and their .649 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (52-21, .712 win %) … The Phils opened the 2023 season on the road and went 1-5 in six games through TEX (0-3) and NYY (1-2) … Since then (4/7-current), they are 72-53 with a .576 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.642) and LAD (.618) and 6th in MLB.
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Over his last 22 games (since 8/4), Trea Turner is slashing .356/.394/.690 with a 1.083 OPS, 18 R, 8 2B, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 6 walks and 2 stolen bases – he has hit safely in all 17 games at CBP since 8/4 (27-68, .397 AVG) … Over his last 49 games at CBP (213 PA, since 5/6), Turner is slashing .303/.357/.538 (.895 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 25 extra-base hits (14 2B, 3B, 10 HR), 35 RBI, 15 walks and 10 stolen bases.
HARP ON IT: Over his last 7 games (since 8/21), Bryce Harper is 13-for-26 with 7 runs, a double, a triple, 4 home runs, 12 RBI and 4 walks to only 4 strikeouts … In the month of August, Harper is slashing .360/.448/.742 with a 1.189 OPS in 105 plate appearances over 24 games – as it stands now, Harper’s 1.189 OPS would be the 6th highest of his career in any calendar month (min. 100 PA), behind only May of 2015 (1.379), April of 2017 (1.281), Sept. of 2015 (1.244), July of 2017 (1.234) and August of 2021 (1.231) – denotes MVP months… Harper has 8 home runs this month in 89 at bats and is averaging a home run every 11.1 at bats … Harper returned from “Tommy John” surgery on May 2 this season, only 160 days after the procedure – from May 2-July 31, he totaled five home runs in 273 at bats, and averaged a homer every 54.6 at bats.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – MICHAEL LORENZEN • RHP #22
2023: 7-8, 3.57 ERA Career: 38-37, 4.00 ERA
LAST START: 8/23 vs SF: ND, 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 4 SO … Lorenzen vs Cobb … The Phillies lost a wild one, 8-6, in 10 innings against the Giants at CBP … Down 4-0 in the 6th, the Phillies crept back into it with back-to-back solo homers from Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner … The Giants added another run in the 7th to make it 5-2 and that held until the bottom of the 9th … After Schwarber and Turner both walked, Bryce Harper stepped to the plate and smashed a 112.9 MPH homer off the foul pole in right to tie the game … The Giants scored 3 runs (2 ER) in the top of the 10th off Craig Kimbrel and held on to avoid the sweep … San Francisco used 10 pitchers in the game
TONIGHT’S START:
- How Long Has It Been?: Lorenzen will be making his second start against Los Angeles this season and first as a Phillie … Lorenzen spent all of 2022 with LAA, where he was as a full-time starter for the first time since his rookie season in 2015 … Last season, he posted a 4.24 ERA (46 ER, 97.2 IP) in 18 starts
- Go the Distance: Last outing marked a career-high 22nd start of the season for Lorenzen … It surpassed his previous high of 21 starts in his rookie season (2015) … Lorenzen has also tossed a career-high 131.2 IP so far this year, which is the 2nd time in his career he has surpassed 100.0 IP, along with 2015
- Dog Days: Since the start of July, Lorenzen has gone 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA (15 ER, 49.2 IP) … His ERA since the start of July is the 13th best in MLB (min. 45 IP)
- Shut Down and Shut Out: Lorenzen has posted a scoreless outing in 4 of his last 8 starts … His 3 starts from 7/6-20 marked the first time in his career that he had a 3-game streak in which he tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings and his 22.2 inning scoreless streak from 6/30-7/27 was the longest of his career… He is one of 11 pitchers this year to have a 3-game scoreless streak with at least 5.0 IP in each game and only Zac Gallen has a longer streak (4)
- Left in Charge: Lorenzen is holding left-handed batters to a .194 AVG (53-273) this season which ranks 5th in MLB and only 11 pitchers are holding LHH to a sub-.200 average (min. 150 batters faced)
- Life in the Fast Lane: This season, Lorenzen’s .190 OPP AVG (28-147) against his 4-seamer ranks 5th in MLB and his OPP SLG (.306) ranks 3rd (min. 150 PA) … His fastball is averaging 94.3 mph and he has struck out 38 batters with it … He is also in the 87th percentile in fastball spin
- In Play? No Problem: Lorenzen’s .257 BABIP is T-9th for the best mark in baseball among pitchers with at least 100.0 IP (best: Tyler Wells, .206)
- Pitch Usage: 4-Seam Fastball (34.8%), Slider (23.8%), Changeup (21.7%), Sinker (11.4%), Sweeper (6.7%), Cutter (1%) and Curveball (0.6%)
- vs AL West: 6-5, 2 SV, 3.75 ERA (34 ER, 81.2 IP) in 24 games (14 starts)
HOME:
- 2023: 4-4, 3.63 ERA (29 ER, 72.0 IP) in 12 starts
- Career: 20-15, 10 SV, 3.72 ERA (155 ER, 375.1 IP) in 168 games (35 starts)
2023 SEASON:
- No-No Notes: On 8/9, Lorenzen threw the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history and the 13th by a single pitcher … It was the first Phillies no-hitter since Cole Hamels threw one in his last start as a Phillie on 7/25/15 … It was the first Phillies no-hitter at home since Roy Halladay tossed one on 10/6/10 and it was the second Phillies no-hitter at Citizens Bank Park … Lorenzen became the 5th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter in a home debut and the first since Don Cardwell did so for the Cubs on 5/15/60 … He also became the 6th pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to throw a nohitter in his 1st or 2nd start with a club, joining ARI’s Tyler Gilbert (8/14/21 vs SD), SD’s Joe Musgrove (4/9/21 at TEX), BOS’ Clay Bucholz (9/1/07 vs BAL), BOS’ Hideo Nomo (4/4/01 at BAL) and CWS’ Wilson Alvarez (8/11/91 at BAL)
- Per Elias, Lorenzen became the 7th Phillies pitcher in the expansion Era to throw 8.0+ innings in each of their first two starts with the club and the first since Paul Byrd did so in his first two starts in 1998 … Lorenzen became the fourth pitcher in MLB to do so in the last 20 seasons and the first since Shane Greene did so for DET in 2015
- Was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career … Representing the AL, he tossed a scoreless 0.2 IP with 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout
- Set a career high for quality starts in a single season on 8/9
