LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fifth (1-3) of seven games on a road trip against the Boston Red Sox (1-3) 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).
SHO OFF: Yesterday at Boston, Shohei Ohtani extended his franchise record streak to 11 consecutive pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs (Nolan Ryan had a nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons for the previous record)… The 11-game streak is also the longest active streak in the Majors.
VS. NEW YORK (A.L.): Today is the first of six games this season against the Yankees…Halos are looking to snap a four-game losing streak in the Bronx…In addition to the current three game series, the teams will meet again at Yankee Stadium from July 17-19…Last year, Yankees won the season series 4-2.
HOMECOMING: The Angels trip to New York serves as a homecoming for several Angels players: Logan O’Hoppe (West Islip, NY), Mike Trout (Millville, NJ), Matt Thaiss (Jackson, NJ)…Additionally, the roster features several former members of the Yankees, including INF Gio Urshela, Manager Phil Nevin, Hitting Coach Marcus Thames and Bullpen Catcher Jason Brown.
LOCAL CATCH: In 23 career games at Yankee Stadium, Mike Trout is batting .326 (28/86) with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBI and 12 walks.
HIGHEST CAREER OPS AT (NEW) YANKEE STADIUM
(min. 100 PA)
- José Ramírez – 1.344
- Mike Trout – 1.106
- Aaron Judge – 1.027
EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY FINE: José Suarez is set to make his third start of the season tonight…In his last three games against the Yankees, is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA (16.1 IP – 5 ER) and 17 strikeouts
WINS AND LOSSES: Halos snapped season-high three game losing streak yesterday afternoon in Boston…Halos have held leads in 15 of 16 games played this year and have scored first in 12 of the 16 games.
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.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Sunday, 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.
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.
ROOKIE RAKING: Logan O’Hoppe has driven in a run in seven of his 13 starts this season…His four home runs lead the team and his 11 RBI rank second, behind Hunter Renfroe (15).
ON WITH THE SHO: On Sunday, 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:
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).
THE SHUTOUT: Last 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.
ROYALS ON DECK: Following the current series against the Yankees, the Angels will return to Southern California and open the next homestand with a three game series against the Kansas City Royals…Last year, the teams split the season series 3-3…Since 2018, the Angels hold a 17-8 record vs. KC, including a 9-3 mark at The Big A.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP JOSÉ SUAREZ
0-1, 10.80 ERA
In last three games vs. Yankees, is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA (16.1 IP – 5 ER) and 17 strikeouts
• TODAY’S GAME: Making third start of the season and second on the road…Is in fifth Major League season with Angels…Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season.
• LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor in decision in last start on April 10 vs. Washington after tossing 4.0 innings and allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts; the 10 hits allowed tied single-game career high (also, Aug. 6, 2019 at CIN)
• VS. NEW YORK (A.L.): In four career games (two starts) against the Yankees, is 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA (19 IP – 11 ER) and 20 strikeouts…Last season won only start vs. New York (A.L.) on Aug. 29 at Angel Stadium (6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO).
• AT YANKEE STADIUM: In three career games (one start) at Yankee Stadium, is 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA (13 IP – 9 ER)…Today marks first appearance at the ballpark since Aug. 16, 2021…Earned the win on June 28, 2021 in the Bronx in relief (5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO).
• FIRST TIME THROUGH: This season, opponents are batting .278 (5/18) the first time through the order…After the first time through, opponents are batting .520 (13/25).
• SPRING RECAP: Totaled three starts for Angels during Cactus League season and went 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA (8.2 IP – 4 ER) with six strikeouts…Was winning pitcher in each of last two spring starts.
• CHASING PERFECTION: Carried a perfect game through 5.1 innings in home start on Aug. 16, 2022 vs. Seattle, before allowing four consecutive singles and exiting the game.
• AVOID THE TOP: Last season, hitters in the top three spots in the opposing batting order hit .319 (51/160), while batters in the 4-9 spots batted .198 (52/263).
• GOOD NIGHT: Last season, made 13 appearances (12 starts) in night games and went 6-4 with a 2.96 ERA (67 IP – 22 ER), compared with a 2-4 record and 5.57 ERA (42 IP – 26 ER) in day games.
• THE COMPLETE GAME: Tossed first career complete game on Sept. 4, 2021 vs. Texas…Allowed one earned run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts…Carried shutout into 9th inning; only run allowed came on RBI groundout for second out of 9th inning…Marked first career winning decision at Angel Stadium (13th start)…Had not pitched more than 5.2 innings prior to that start.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their season-high 10-game homestand tonight with the first game of a three-game series vs. Los Angeles-AL (through Thurs.)…are 2-2 on the homestand after splitting their four-game set with Minnesota…will also play a three-game set vs. Toronto (Fri.-Sun.). Their +25 run differential is tied for the fourth-best in the Majors.
Their 10-6 (.625) record is tied for the second-best in the AL and tied for the fifth-best in the Majors.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Yankees shut out the Twins, 2-0, on Sunday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Gerrit Cole (9.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 10K) tossed his fourth career shutout…did not allow a hit to his first 14BF (1BB) before surrendering a two-out single to Donovan Solano in the fifth inning…retired his final 11BF…3B DJ LeMahieu (2-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit an RBI single in the third inning and his second HR of the season with a solo HR in the sixth inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-3, 1HP) and 2B Gleyber Torres (1-for-3, 1BB) both reached base twice… SS Anthony Volpe (1-for-4, 1SB) recorded his seventh stolen base of the season in the fifth inning.
SERIES BUSINESS: According to Elias, the Yankees have won or split each of their first five series of a season for just the fourth time in the last 67 years (since 1957)…went undefeated in their first five series in 2010, first nine series in 2003 and first six series in 1976.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankee pitchers have allowed just 49R in 16 games this season (3.06 R/G), their second-fewest runs allowed in their first 16 games of a season in the last 42 years since 1982 (44R in 2022).
Threw their third shutout of the season on Sunday…their three shutouts are their most within their first 16 games of a season in the last 20 years (since 2004).
Have not allowed a run in their last 11.0 innings (since the eighth inning on Saturday) and just 1R in their last 19.0 innings.
Have allowed 3R-or-fewer in 11-of-16 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in eight of those games.
Rank third in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.212), opponents’ OBP (.285), opponents’ OPS (.629) and WHIP (1.10), fourth in ERA (3.04), strikeouts (157), opponents’ SLG (.344), K/9.0IP (9.95) and K/BB (3.34).
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has hit safely in each of his last five games, batting .313/.421/.563 (5-for-16) with 2R, 1 double, 1HR, 1RBI, 3BB and 4SB in that span…has reached base in 8-of-19 plate appearances over that stretch.
Is just the fourth Yankee in the last 34 years (since 1990) to record at least 7SB through the Yankees’ first 16 games of a season.
His 7SB are tied for the fourth-most in the Majors.
Is 7-for-7 in stolen bases attempts…joins Cedric Mullins (8- for-8) as the only two players in the Majors to be 7-for-7-orbetter in stolen base attempts.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 15 of their first 16 games of a season for the first time in franchise history (previous: 14G, four times)…their 26HR are the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (37HR in 17G) and Los Angeles-NL (30HR in 17G).
Their 26HR matches their sixth-most through their first 16 games of a season in franchise history.
Have hit multiple HR in eight of their 16 games this season.
ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge has reached base in 15-of-16 games this season, batting .286/.388/.589 (16-for-56) with 13R, 2 doubles, 5HR, 8RBI, 10BB and 2SB.
Has hit .404/.543/.827 (21-for-52) with 12R, 1 double, 7HR, 14RBI, 17BB/3IBB, 1SF and 2SB in his last 16 games vs. the Angels (since 5/26/18)…has reached base in each of his last 17 games vs. Los Angeles-AL.
Has reached base in 48 of his last 49 games (since 8/29/22), batting .352/.493/.739 (58-for-165) with 45R, 10 doubles, 18HR, 30RBI, 47BB, 4SB and 1HP in that span…has reached base multiple times in 33 of those 49 games.
CENTURY MARK: Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Original Yankee Stadium opening…on April 18, 1923, the Yankees defeated Boston, 4-1…starter Bob Shawkey recorded the win and Babe Ruth hit the park’s first home run, a three-run shot in the third inning…all guests in attendance for tonight’s game will receive a commemorative ticket.
TROPHY CASE: Prior to tonight’s game, INF DJ LeMahieu and C Jose Trevino will be presented with their 2022 Gold Glove awards…Trevino will also receive his Platinum Glove award.
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole was named the AL “Player of the Week” for 4/10-16 after going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (16.0IP, 7H, 2ER, 3BB, 13K, 0HR) in two starts…he led the Majors in innings pitched and tied for first in wins (also tied for first in AL)…also ranked third in the AL in opponents’ OBP (.185) and opponents’ OPS (.365)…marked Cole’s second career “Player of the Week” honor (also 9/23-29/19)…was just the third Yankees starting pitcher (fourth time) to win the award since 2004, joining Corey Kluber (5/17-23/21 and 4/26-5/2/21) and Michael Pineda (5/4-10/15).
Tossed his fourth career shutout on Sunday vs. Minnesota (9.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 10K)…also tossed a CGSHO on 7/10/21 at Houston (9.0IP), Game 1 on 9/11/20 vs. Baltimore (7.0IP) and 5/4/18 at Arizona (9.0IP)…marked his seventh career complete game (first since 7/17/21 vs. Boston–6.0IP) and his fourth career nine-inning complete game (also 7/10/21 at Houston, 5/4/18 at Arizona and 7/27/16 vs. Seattle).
Is 4-0 with a 0.95 ERA (28.1IP, 3ER) and 32K in four starts this season…is the first Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 30K through his first four appearances of a season (since ER became an official stat in 1913).
Is just the second Yankees starting pitcher in the last 65 years (since 1959) to post as low of an ERA through his first four appearances of a season, joining Tommy John (0.83 ERA in 1979)…Rob Gardner had a 0.90 ERA through his first four starts in 1972 but made relief appearances in between those starts.
Two of his four starts this season have been scoreless…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in three of his four starts.
Was the first Yankee to throw a shutout since Nestor Cortes threw a rain-shortened shutout on 9/25/22 vs. Boston (6.0IP)…is the first Yankee to throw a nine-inning shutout since his own shutout on 7/10/21 at Houston.
Was just the third Yankee (fourth time) in the last 22 years (since 2002) to throw a nine-inning shutout and allow three-or-fewer baserunners, joining Corey Kluber (1BB in his no-hitter on 5/19/21 at Texas) and Masahiro Tanaka (2H and 1BB on 6/17/19 vs. Tampa Bay and 3H on 4/27/17 at Boston).
Sunday marked his 58th career double-digit strikeout game and second of the season (also 11K on Opening Day)…also marked his 23rd double-digit strikeout game as a Yankee, tying Ron Guidry (23) for the most in franchise history.
Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 44 games since the start of 2019, marking the most in the Majors over that span (next: Max Scherzer-28)…his 52 games with at least 10K since the beginning of 2018 are also the most in the Majors in that span (next: Max Scherzer-46).
Has recorded at least 8K in three of his four starts this season.
Has won his first four starts of a season for the second time in his career (also won his first four starts in 2013)…is just the third Yankees pitcher in the last 39 years (since 1985) to win each of his first four starts of a season, joining Mike Mussina (won his first seven starts in 2003) and David Cone (won his first four starts in 1995).
Is just the fourth Yankees pitcher in the last 42 seasons (since 1982) to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 2R-or-fewer in each of his first four starts of a season (Andy Pettitte won his first four in 2010, Darrell Rasner won his first four in 2008 and Orlando Hernández won his first four in 2002).
Has not allowed a home run this season…his 28.1IP mark the most among Major League pitchers who have not surrendered a HR this season.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu drove in both of the Yankees’ runs on Sunday, hitting an RBI single in the third inning and his second HR of the season with a solo HR in the sixth inning… is 4-for-10 (.400) with 1 double and 4RBI with RISP this season.
Has hit safely in 10-of-11 starts this season.
FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners have 5SB in their last three games and 17SB in 16 games this season…matches their second-most stolen bases through their first 16 games of a season in the last 25 seasons since 1999 (18SB in 2010 and 17SB in 2016)…their 17SB are the fourth-most in the AL.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo reached base twice on Sunday…has reached base in 14 of his first 15 games this season, batting .315/.406/.574 (17-for-54) with 8R, 2 doubles, 4HR, 9RBI, 6BB, 3HP and 1SF.
In 20 career games vs. the Angels, has hit .304/.385/.652 (21-for-69) with 18R, 6 doubles, 6HR, 18RBI and 9BB/1IBB.
Was hit by a pitch in the third inning on Sunday…marked his 204th career hit by pitch, tying Chase Utley for the eighth-most in Major League history.
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have tossed at least 5.0IP and allowed 2R-or-fewer in 10 of their 16 starts this season.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP CLARKE SCHMIDT (0-0, 8.44 ERA)
RHP Clarke Schmidt will make his fourth start of the season in tonight’s series opener vs. Los Angeles-AL…the 27-year-old will make the start on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…made his third start of the season on Wednesday at Cleveland, allowing 3ER in 4.0IP without recording a decision (6H, 1BB, 3K, 1HR)…made his second career Opening Day roster in 2023 (also 2022)…went 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA (19.2IP, 16H, 11ER, 4BB, 25K, 2HR, 1HP) in six spring games (five starts)…in 2022, went 5-5 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA (57.2IP, 46H, 23R/20ER, 23BB, 56K, 5HR) in 29 appearances (three starts) over four stints with the Yankees…in three starts, went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 13H, 6ER, 2BB, 14K, 0HR)…as a reliever, went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA (46.0IP, 33H, 17R/14ER, 21BB, 42K, 5HR) in 26 games…tossed at least 2.0 innings in 13 of his relief appearances and at least 3.0 innings in five of those relief appearances…was selected by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his third start of the season on Wednesday at Cleveland, allowing 3ER over 4.0IP without recording a decision (6H, 1BB, 3K, 1HR)…issued RBI singles to Josh Naylor and Josh Bell in the first inning, and a solo HR to Amed Rosario in the third…retired nine of his final 12 batters faced.
VS. LOS ANGELES-AL: Has made one career appearance vs. the Angels, tossing 0.2 innings in relief in Game 1 on 6/2/22 at Yankee Stadium (2H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K).
Has made three career appearances (one start) vs. AL West opponents (all in 2022), going 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA (7.0IP, 5ER) and 11K…made his one start on 8/28/22 at Oakland (L, 4.1IP, 8H, 4ER, 1BB, 7K)…also tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in relief in Game 2 on 10/4/22 at Texas (2K).
HOME SWEET HOME: Has made 16 appearances (three starts) in his career at Yankee Stadium (one in 2023, 13 in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020)…has gone 2-2 with one save and a 3.89 ERA (34.2IP, 29H, 17R/15ER, 17BB, 35K, 5HR).
Made his 2023 debut on 4/1 vs. San Francisco at Yankee Stadium, allowing 3ER over 3.1IP without recording a decision (5H, 1BB, 5K, 2HR).
In 13 games (one start) at home in 2022, went 2-1 with one save and a 2.49 ERA (25.1IP, 16H, 8R/7ER, 12BB, 22K, 3HR)…allowed 1R-or-fewer in 12 of those appearances…tossed at least 2.0 innings in eight appearances and 3.0 innings in four of those games (all of which were scoreless).
FOR STARTERS: Will be making his ninth career start…over his first eight career Major League starts (three in 2023, three in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020), is 0-3 with a 6.16 ERA (30.2IP, 40H, 24R/21ER, 12BB, 31K, 4HR).
Has posted an 8.44 ERA (10.2IP, 10ER) and 11K without recording a decision in three starts in 2023…has tossed 4.0IP-or-less in each start.
Went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 6ER) and 14K in his three starts in 2022 (6/16 vs. Tampa Bay, 8/28 at Oakland, 9/3 at Tampa Bay).
THE RIGHT STUFF: Right-handed batters are hitting just .176/.211/.353 (3-for-17) vs. Schmidt this season and .200/.286/.288 (34-for-170) in his career.
