LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S STARTER at CARDINALS: RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD (1-3, 5.94 ERA in 8 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Earned his first win as a Dodger in his start on April 30 against St. Louis, firing 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits and three runs…he is 1-3 on the season with a 5.94 ERA with 26 strikeouts
- Struck out a season-high nine batters on April 14 vs. the Cubs
- Pitched in five games (four starts) during spring ball, going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA (12 ER/18.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts against just two walks…held a 1.13 WHIP
VS. CARDINALS:
- He earned his first win as a Dodger in his start on April 30 against the Cardinals, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up eight hits and three runs
- In his career against the Cardinals, he owns a record of 3-3 with a 4.22 ERA (20 ER/42.2 IP) and a 1.27 WHIP along with 41 strikeouts and eight walks in seven starts
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers play the third game of a four-game series tonight at Busch Stadium … Both the Cardinals and first place Dodgers are an MLB best 9-3 in their last 11 games … St. Louis opened it’s seven-game homestand by taking two-of-three from division-rival Milwaukee for its third consecutive series win … After tomorrow’s homestand finale, the Cardinals embark on a seven-game Ohio road trip through Cinicnnati (May 22-25) and Cleveland (May 26-28).
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in fifth place in the NL Central, 6.0 games behind first place Milwaukee/Pittsburgh and 1.0 game back of fourth place Cincinnati … Since May 6, St. Louis has won nine of their last 12 to improve 4.0 games in the division … The Cardinals have been in last place for 24 straight days (April 25-present) … Tonight is the 8th of a season-high 19 consecutive games without an off-day (May 12-30).
ANGRY BIRDS: Since May 7, the Cardinals have gone 9-3 and paced MLB in runs (85), runs per game (7.08), RBI (81), slugging (.514), and OPS (.859), while ranking 2nd in homers (27), total bases (214), and stolen bases (15).
BURGER PHONE HOTLINE: The Cardinals are 5th in MLB in home runs (65) this season while ranking 3rd in the month of May (33) to the Yankees (35) and Braves (34) … St. Louis sports a 16-13 record in games when it homers this season, but 3-14 mark in homerless games.
GOING STREAKING WITH THE NOLANS: Nolan Arenado (15-41, .366/.400/.854) and Nolan Gorman (14-33, .412/.487/.941) are both riding 10-game hitting streaks, tied for the 5th-longest active hitting streaks in MLB … Gorman’s 10-gamer is a career best while Arenado’s hit streak ties for his longest in a Cardinals uniform (2021-present).
STORMIN GORMAN: Nolan Gorman, ranks among NL leaders in slugging pct. (.618, 1st), RBI (36, 2nd), OPS (1.000, 2nd), OPS+ (172, 2nd), wOBA (.419, 2nd), and wRC+ (170, 2nd) … Only Ronald Acuña Jr. has a higher OPS (1.043), OPS+ (1879), wOBA (.442), and wRC+ (179) than Gorman in the NL … Today is the one-year anniversary of Gorman’s Major League debut (May 20, 2022 at Pittsburgh).
THE HEAT IS ON: The Cardinals have swiped 20 consecutive stolen bases and now boast MLB’s top stolen base percentage (87.5, 35-for40), which currently is their best single-season mark in franchise history, topping the 2021 Redbirds (80.2%, 89-for-111).
GOLD RUSH: Last night, Paul Goldschmidt swiped his team-leading 7th bag of 2023 and his 30th consecutive stolen base without being caught (Aug. 11, 2019-present), longest stolen base streak among active Major Leaguers and the 2nd-longest in franchise history to Vince Coleman (50 straight stolen bases from Sept. 18, 1988-July 26, 1989) since caught stealing was first compiled in the NL in 1951 – Elias
CORNERSTONE COMBO: Paul Goldschmidt (33 HR, 103 RBI) and Nolan Arenado (30 HR, 97 RBI) are the top two active leaders in home runs and RBI against the Dodgers … The duo is attempting to continue where Hall of Famer Stan “The Man” Musial left off, the all-time MLB leader against the Dodgers in runs (299), hits (522), RBI (270) and 3rd in home runs (74) … Goldy’s 33 dingers are his most against any opponent.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP MILES MIKOLAS (2-1, 4.91 ERA)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Hits Allowed (61, 2nd), ER allowed (26, T9th)
- The 2022 N.L. All-Star is making his team-high 10th start of 2023, 153rd career appearance & 125th career start.
- Enters off two straight starts allowing just one run. Has held his opposition to one run or less in 3 of his last 4 starts (2.01 ERA, 22.1 IP) after starting the season with a 7.46 ERA in his first five starts (25.1 IP).
- Ranks 2nd behind only Adam Wainwright (2,578.0 IP) in most innings pitched (679.1) as a Cardinal among actives.
- Leads all Cardinals pitchers with two wins since April 27.
- Has received no more than three runs of support in 7 of his 9 starts this season.
- Has allowed eight of his 27 runs in the 1st inning (8.00 ERA, .405 BA).
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2018, Mikolas ranks 2nd in MLB (min. 600 IP) in fewest walks (125) behind only Justin Verlander (114). His 1.66 walks/9 IP in that span ranks 3rd tied behind Zack Greinke (1.63) and Verlander (1.62).
- Was one of 10 MLB pitchers and two Cardinals (Wainwright) with a perfect 1.000 fielding pct. (31 total chances) in 2022. Hasn’t made an error since 8/2/18 vs. COL, and he’s 9th among MLB pitchers in fielding pct. (.986) since 2018. (min. 100 TC).
- Signed a two-year contract extension through 2025 on March 24.
LAST TIME OUT
- Posted his second straight start allowing just one run as the Cardinals rolled to a 9-1 win in a three-game sweep of Boston at Fenway Park. Did not strike out a batter of a start of 6.0 innings or more for the first time in his career and the 3rd pitcher to do that in 2023 (Kyle Gibson & Rich Hill). Was the first Cardinals pitcher since Adam Wainwright (6/5/22 at CHI), 7.0 IP, 0 SO.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
5/14 @BOS W 9-1 W-2 6.0 4 1 1 2 0 0 98-63
2023
- Has held his opposition to one run or less in 3 of his last 4 starts (2.01 ERA, 22.1 IP) after starting the season with a 7.46 ERA in his first five starts (25.1 IP).
- Allowed at least 5 runs and 9 hits in each of his first three starts – first pitcher in MLB to begin a season with three such starts since Alex Cobb (2018, BAL). Became the 16th pitcher in Cardinals history to start a season allowing five or more runs in his first three starts and first since Brett Tomko (2003).
- Received a no decision on 4/11 at COL, departing the game after 5.0 IP and trailing 6-2 after allowing three HR’s tying his career-high. Tied his season-high with 10 hits allowed
- Recorded his 500th career strikeout in the National League on Opening Day.
- Drew his 2nd career Opening Day start (3/30) and had a no-decision in the Cardinals 10-9 loss to Toronto that featured five lead changes.
- Was a 3-0 with 0.00 ERA in three Grapefruit League starts this season, allowing just one unearned run in his 12.0 IP. 123 of his 133 pitches thrown this spring were strikes
- Pitched for Team USA during World Baseball Classic, totaling 6.0 IP in two relief appearances, including a 4.0 inning stint in the American’s semi-final win over Cuba
