LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fourth (0-3) of seven games on a road trip against the Boston Red Sox (0-3) and New York Yankees (April 18-20)…Halos went 2-3 on opening homestand of the year vs. Toronto (1-2) and Washington (2-1)…LAA was 4-2 on first road trip of year against Oakland (2-1) and Seattle (2-1).
PLAYING ON PATRIOTS’ DAY: Today’s game vs. Boston is scheduled for an 8:10 a.m. PT first pitch and will mark the second time the Angels face the Red Sox on Patriots’ Day (also, 2007).
STARTING EARLY: According to ELIAS, today would be the Angels third game since 1997 with a first pitch before noon local time:
Sept. 11, 1999 at Minnesota: 11:06 a.m. CT
Sept. 28, 2013 at Texas: 11:07 a.m. CT
SHO DAY: Shohei Ohtani enters today’s start with a 12-inning scoreless streak and a season ERA of 0.47 (19 IP – 1 ER)…He has allowed two-or-fewer runs in 10 consecutive pitching starts, which established a new franchise record (Nolan Ryan had a nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons).
BACK AT FENWAY: Last season, in his start on May 5, Shohei Ohtani became the fourth visiting pitcher in Fenway Park history to throw 7.0+ scoreless innings with 10+ SO and 0 BB, joining Mike Mussina (9/2/2001 & 9/24/2000), Stan Bahnsen (8/1/1968) and Walter Johnson (7/1/1920)…Ohtani also induced a career high 29 swings and misses and became the first starting pitcher to record a hit at Fenway since Roger Clemens on 5/23/1996.
HEY BABE: Today, Shohei Ohtani is set to become the first starting pitcher to bat second in his team’s order in a game at Fenway Park…Last season, he batted third on May 5 and became the first starting pitcher to bat in one of the top four spots in the order at Fenway since Babe Ruth was the Red Sox cleanup hitter, on Sept. 20, 1919 (Game 1) vs. White Sox.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday, the Angels recalled RHP Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Salt Lake and placed RHP Ryan Tepera (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day injured list…Saturday the Angels selected the contract of INF Zach Neto…In corresponding moves, INF David Fletcher has been optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake and RHP Chris Rodriguez was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
ON WITH THE SHO: Yesterday, Shohei Ohtani’s career-best streak of reaching base safely (via hit, walk, or HBP) in 36 consecutive games came to an end…It was the longest active streak in the Majors and finishes tied for the third-longest in Angels history:
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES REACHING BASE SAFELY
In Angels history (via H, BB, or HBP)
Rank Player Year(s) # of Games
- Orlando Cabrera 2006 – 63
- Mike Trout 2013 – 40
T3. Shohei Ohtani 2022-23 – 36
T3. Erick Aybar 2011 – 36
T3. Chili Davis 1995 – 36
WINS AND LOSSES: Halos have lost three straight games for the first time this year…Yesterday, LAA fell below .500 for first time since Opening Day loss…Halos have held leads in seven of this season’s eight losses.
MORE OHTANI HISTORY?: Shohei Ohtani has pitched 5+ innings and allowed three-or-fewer hits in each of his last seven pitching appearances, which is tied with Johan Santana (2004) for the second-longest MLB streak since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893…Only Jacob deGrom (2021) has had a longer streak (ESPN Stats & Info).
NETO IN THE SHOW: Zach Neto is ranked by Baseball America as the Angels #2 overall prospect (behind Logan O’Hoppe)… In seven games this season for Double-A Rocket City, Neto batted .444 (12/27) with 10 runs scored, one double, three HR, 10 RBI, six walks, three stolen bases and a 1.374 OPS… At the time of his promotion, he led the Southern League in average, OPS, hits and runs, while reaching base 19 times
across seven games.
2022 VALEDICTORIAN: Zach Neto became the first player from the 2022 Draft class to make his MLB Debut…He was the Angels first round pick (13th overall) in the 2022 Draft out of Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC)…Last season, Angels RHP Chase Silseth became the first player from the 2021 Draft to make his MLB Debut.
ROOKIE RAKING: Logan O’Hoppe has driven in a run in seven of his 12 starts this season…His four home runs lead the team and his 11 RBI are tied with Hunter Renfroe for the team lead.
LEGENDARY COMPANY: Mike Trout recorded his 300th and 301st career doubles on Saturday and became the fourth player in MLB history with 300+ doubles, 300+ home runs and 200+ stolen bases by his age-31 season, joining Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.
VS. BOSTON: Today is the fourth (0-3) of seven meetings this season between the Angels and Red Sox…LAA is looking to avoid being swept in a four game series at Fenway Park for the first time since May 3-6, 2010…The teams will meet again for three games at Angel Stadium from May 22-24…Red Sox won the 2022 season series 4-3, but Halos won two of three games at Fenway.
THE SHUTOUT: Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani, José Quijada and Carlos Estévez combined on a one-hit shutout of the Nationals…It marked the 26th one-hit shutout in franchise history and the first at Angel Stadium since June 5, 2018 vs. Kansas City.
WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE: Angels have had three lineups this season with Anthony Rendon, Hunter Renfroe & Luis Rengifo hitting consecutively in the order…On Opening Day, the trio hit in the 4-6 spots, marking the first lineup in franchise history to feature three straight players who have the same first three letters of their last name…The last MLB occurrence was by Detroit on July 20, 2015 (Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez, Jefry Marte).
YANKEES ON DECK: Following today’s game, the Angels will head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees…Halos are looking to snap a four-game losing streak in the Bronx…Last year, Yankees won the season series 4-2… The series will serve as a homecoming for several Angels players: Logan O’Hoppe (West Islip, NY), Mike Trout (Millville, NJ), Matt Thaiss (Jackson, NJ).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
2-0, 0.47 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer runs in each of last 10 starts (Angels record)
• SHO TIME: Making fourth pitching start of the year and third on the road…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
• OFF THE BOARDS: Has allowed two-or-fewer runs in each of his last 10 pitching starts, which is a new franchise record (Nolan Ryan had a nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)…Overall, has yielded two-or-fewer runs in 19 of last 22 starts and one-or-fewer runs in 16 of last 22 starts.
• ANOTHER STREAK IN SIGHT : Has pitched 5+ innings and allowed three-or-fewer hits in each of last seven pitching appearances, which is tied with Johan Santana (2004) for the second-longest streak in MLB since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893…Only Jacob deGrom (2021) has had a longer streak (ESPN Stats & Info).
• LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Earned the win in last start on Tuesday vs. Washington after tossing 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and five walks with six strikeouts
• VS. BOSTON: In four career pitching starts vs. Boston, is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA (23 IP – 6 ER) and 22 strikeouts…Last season was 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA (14 IP – 1 ER) in two starts against the Red Sox.
• AT FENWAY PARK: Only previous pitching outing at Fenway came on May 5, 2022…Earned the win and tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts…Was the fourth visiting pitcher in Fenway Park history to throw 7.0+ scoreless innings with 10+ SO and 0 BB, joining Mike Mussina (9/2/2001 & 9/24/2000), Stan Bahnsen (8/1/1968) and Walter Johnson (7/1/1920)… Also induced a career high 29 swings and misses and became the first starting pitcher to record a hit at Fenway Park since Roger Clemens on 5/23/1996.
• OPENING DAY STARTER: Was Angels Opening Day starter for second consecutive season…Also made two Opening Day pitching starts in Japan for Nippon-Ham Fighters…Became first Angels pitcher to start consecutive Opening Days since Jered Weaver (2010-15)…Became fourth pitcher in Angels history with 10+ strikeouts on Opening Day, joining Nolan Ryan (12 SO; 1973 & 1975), Andy Messersmith (11 SO; 1970) and Jered Weaver (10 SO; 2012).
• 10 K: Tallied 10 strikeouts in first start of season at Oakland…Recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 starts last season, which was the most such games in the A.L.; joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts in at least six consecutive games.
• WBC MVP: Named Most Valuable Player of the 2023 World Baseball Classic…Made three pitching appearances (two starts) for Japan, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts and earned the save in the Championship Game against the United States…Marked first relief appearance since October 16, 2016 in Game 5 of the Final Stage of the 2016 Pacific League Climax Series for Fighters.
• ONE AND ONLY: Last season, became only player to ever qualify for the league leaders as both a hitter and a pitcher in one season…Was the first A.L/N.L. player since Babe Ruth (1918) with 10+ wins and 10+ HR in the same season and the only player in MLB history with 10+ wins & 30 + HR.
• 2022 ON THE MOUND: Was the runner-up in 2022 A.L. MVP voting after winning the award in 2021… Finished 2022 with a 15-9 record, a 2.33 ERA (166 IP – 43 ER) and 219 strikeouts in 28 pitching starts, while holding opponents to a .203 average (124/610)…Led A.L. with an 11.87 SO/9 innings rate…Allowed two-or-fewer runs in 22 of 28 starts…Ranked among league leaders in strikeouts (219; 3rd), whiff% (33.0%; 4th), ERA (2.33; 4th), wins (15; T4th), WHIP (1.01; 5th) and opponent batting average (.203; 6th).
• 200K: Was the first Angels pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts since Jered Weaver in 2010 and the only player in MLB history with 200+ pitching strikeouts and 8+ home runs in one season.
• M V P: Was unanimously named the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player…Marked Angels sixth MVP award in franchise history, following Don Baylor (1979), Vladimir Guerrero (2004) and Mike Trout (2014, 2016 & 2019)…He is the second Japanese-born player to receive MVP honors in the Major Leagues, joining Ichiro Suzuki (2001).
• JAPANESE HALOS: Is one of five Japanese-born players to play for Angels, along with Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Hideki Matsui, Hisanori Takahashi and Junichi Tazawa.
• PITCHING CAREER IN JAPAN: In 85 career games (82 starts) as a pitcher for Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japanese Pacific League, went 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA (543 IP – 152 ER) and 624 strikeouts.
• THE OHTANI RULE: In the event the starting pitcher will bat for himself, the player will be considered two separate people…If the starting pitcher is replaced, he can continue as the Designated Hitter, and if the Designated Hitter is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for himself)…Was the Angels DH in all of his pitching starts in 2022.
• MLB CAREER NOTES: Signed with Angels as international free agent, Dec. 10, 2017…Made Major League debut as a DH on March 29, 2018 at Oakland and had first start as a pitcher on April 1, 2018 at Oakland…Named the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year and unanimous 2021 American League Most Valuable Player…First MLB player to ever be selected to the All-Star Game as both a pitcher and position player (2021 & 2022).
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have won each of their last 3 games, after being swept in a 4-game series at TB. The Sox have won the 4-game series vs. LAA to improve to 3-2 in series play, including 2-1 at home. With a win today, the Red Sox would complete their 2nd sweep of the season (also 4/6-9 at DET). The Sox are looking to complete their first 4-game sweep during Marathon Weekend since 2009 (vs. BAL).
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Red Sox beat LAA yesterday, 2-1, despite falling behind 1-0 in the 2nd inning. Garrett Whitlock earned the win, allowing 1 run over a career-high 7.0 IP (3 H, 2 BB, 5 SO). Justin Turner (2-for-4) hit a 2-run HR in the 3rd inning to give the Sox the decisive 2-1 lead. Yesterday’s time of game was 1:57, the Sox’ fastest 9-inning game since 4/22/1999 at DET (1-0 loss in 1:49)…It was their fastest 9-inning game at Fenway Park since 10/1/1989 vs. MIL (5-1 win in 1:50).
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox have won the first 3 games of their 7-game homestand vs. LAA (4 games) and MIN (3 games). Friday’s and Saturday’s games were sold out, with an attendance of 34,790 yesterday…The total attendance for this series, entering today, is 108,064. In home games, the Sox rank 2nd in the AL in OBP (.342) and OPS (.782), and rank 3rd in SLG (.440). The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 19 games
in 19 days, from 4/8-26 (5-4 so far).
NINE IS FINE: Over their first 16 games, the Red Sox have scored 9+ runs 5 times (4-1 record), 4-8 runs 5 times (3-2 record), and 0-3 runs 6 times (1-5 record). Since 1950, the only other seasons in which the Sox scored 9+ runs in as many as 5 of their first 16 games was 1995 and 2012 (also 5 games)…Their only season with more such games was 1924 (6). The Sox’ 5 games with 9+ runs scored rank 2nd in MLB, trailing only TB (7).
CLOSE SHAVES: 12 of the Sox’ first 16 games have been decided by 3 runs or fewer…The only team in MLB with more such games is CLE (14). 6 of the Sox’ 8 losses have come by 3 runs or fewer, including 4 losses by 2 runs or fewer. The only teams with more losses by 3 runs or fewer
are KC (9), COL (7), HOU (7), and LAA (7). They have come from behind in 6 of their 8 wins.
LEADERS OF THE PACK: The Red Sox are tied with ATL for 3rd in MLB in runs scored (87), trailing TB (114) and BAL (94). Rafael Devers leads the AL in HR (7). The Sox also rank in the AL’s top 5 in various offensive categories (see below).
RED SOX OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
Stat AL Rank
87 R………………………… 3rd
52 XBH……………………. 4th
21 HR ……………………… 4th
21.0 SO%………………… 4th
Stat AL Rank
.418 SLG …………………….. 4th
.741 OPS …………………….. 4th
9.4 BB%……………………… 5th
23.5 Whiff%………………… 3rd
WHAT A RELIEF: Red Sox relievers have allowed 2 runs over 12.0 innings in the last 3 games (12 H, 2 BB, 12 SO). 5 of the 9 pitchers the Red Sox have used in relief this season have posted an ERA of 3.00 or lower (see below).
RED SOX PITCHERS WITH A RELIEF ERA BELOW 3.00
Pitcher Relief ERA IP ER
Kenley Jansen 0.00 5.0 0
John Schreiber 1.13 8.0 1
Josh Winckowski 1.50 12.0 2
Chris Martin 2.57 7.0 2
Kutter Crawford 3.00 3.0 1
PATRIOTS DAY: Today’s game will begin at 11:10 a.m., as is the tradition on Patriots’ Day, a holiday in Massachusetts and Maine that celebrates the anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride and the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775…The day is traditionally marked by the running of the Boston Marathon, which goes through nearby Kenmore Square. Patriots Day at Fenway Park has traditionally been a single game with an 11:00/11:05/11:10 a.m. start since 1968 with a few exceptions, last in 2007 (10:05 a.m. scheduled start)…On a number of occasions prior to that time, the Sox played a split doubleheader on Patriots Day with 2 admissions…Fans would watch the finish of the Boston Marathon between games.
PATRIOTS DAY (2): Boston has been scheduled to play at home on Patriots Day every year since 1959, with games postponed due to weather (1959, ‘61, ‘65, ‘67, ‘84, 2018), a players strike (1995), and the coronavirus pandemic (2020). The Sox are 71-54 (.568) all-time on Patriots Day, with 26 doubleheaders played between 1903-66. This will be the 2nd time the Red Sox have hosted the Los Angeles Angels on Patriots Day…The other matchup came in 2007, a 7-2 Red Sox win.
RED SOX ALL-TIME PATRIOTS DAY OPPONENTS
TEAM W-L TEAM W-L
Baltimore Orioles 6-3 New York Yankees 22-11
Chicago White Sox 3-2 Oakland A’s 0-1
Cleveland Indians 2-5 Philadelphia A’s 10-10
Detroit Tigers 5-4 Seattle Mariners 1-0
Kansas City Royals 0-1 Tampa Bay Rays 1-3
Los Angeles Angels 1-0 Texas Rangers 3-0
Milwaukee Brewers 1-2 Toronto Blue Jays 2-4
Minnesota Twins 1-1 Washington Senators 13-7
ON THE RUN: Five members of the Red Sox front office or Fenway Sports Management today are running the 2023 Boston Marathon for the Red Sox Foundation (see below). Justin Turner’s wife, Kourtney, is running the Marathon as part of the Red Sox Foundation’s Team…Former Red Sox players Ryan Dempster and Brock Holt will also be running the Marathon.
TODAY’S STARTER: 66 BRAYAN BELLO – RHP
Was activated from the 15-day IL prior to today’s game. Allowed 1 run over 6.0 IP in his lone rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on 4/11 (4 H, HB, 4 SO). Made his MLB debut last season, going 2-8 with a 4.71 ERA (30 ER/57.1 IP) in 13 outings (11 starts) over 2 stints with BOS. Has given up only 1 HR in 57.1 IP…Allowed 0 HR in his first 44.1 IP, the longest homer-less streak by a Sox pitcher to begin their career since Rick Jones in 1976 (52.0 IP) (source: Elias). Joined Eduardo Rodriguez, Henry Owens, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz as the only pitchers since 2000 to make 11+ starts in a season for the Sox at the age of 23 or younger. Named Red Sox Rookie of the Year by the Boston Baseball Writers and Red Sox Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year.
