MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 2-3 through five games on their six-game, seven-day road-trip, going 1-2 at Dodger Stadium this week followed by a loss and a win the last two nights at Angel Stadium…today, the Twins will complete the trip/series with the three-game series finale in Anaheim…after today’s game, the Twins will travel home to begin a six-game, seven-day homestand with three against the San Francisco Giants from Monday-Wednesday, followed by an off-day on Thursday, then three against the Toronto Blue Jays next weekend…the Twins have gone 14-8 at Target Field and 11-13 on the road.
HOWDY PARTNER, TWINS EVEN UP COUNTRY WEEKEND IN ANAHEIM: The Twins beat the Angels last night by a score of 6-2…Louie Varland (2-0) was the starter and winner, allowing two runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched with one walk and four strikeouts…the bullpen combined for 4.0 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, no walks and six strikeouts…the offense recorded 12 hits, three from Kyle Farmer, who drove in one run and scored twice… Joey Gallo hit his team-leading 11th home run in the sixth inning.
SEEING RED: Today marks the third of six meetings with the Angels this season…these two teams will continue the season series at Target Field for three games from September 22-24… Twins are just 5-10 vs. the Angels since the start of 2021, including 3-5 at Angel Stadium.
Since 2021, the Angels have won 10 of 15 games vs. the Twins, including five of eight in Anaheim.
Carlos Correa is hitting .302 (104-for-344) with 24 doubles, 17 home runs, 68 RBI, a .383 on-base percentage, a .520 slugging percentage and a .903 OPS in 93 career games against the Angels…the 68 RBI are his most vs. any opponent and the 17 home runs are his second most (Texas – 20)…additionally, his 68 RBI are tied for fifth most among actives.
The Twins have faced Shohei Ohtani twice in his career…the first was on May 13, 2018 as the Angels won 2-1…the lineup that day was Brian Dozier – 2B, Max Kepler – CF, Eduardo Escobar – 3B, Eddie Rosario – LF, Mitch Garver – DH, Logan Morrison – 1B, Robbie Gross- man – RF, Gregorio Petit – SS, Bobby Wilson – C // Fernando Romero – P…the second was on September 23, 2022 at Target Field as the Angels won 4-2…the Twins lineup that day was: Luis Arraez – DH, Jose Miranda – 1B, Nick Gordon – 2B, Gio Urshela – 3B, Jake Cave – LF, Gary Sánchez – C, Matt Wallner – RF, Mark Contreras – CF, Jermaine Palacios – SS // Louie Varland – P.
GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Twins have 81 hits in their last seven games (11.6 H/G), 34 going for extra-bases (.543 SLG)…below are the Twins first 39 games from March 30-May 12 and their last seven games since May 13:
AVG R/G H 2B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG OPS
FIRST 39 .218 4.2 281 58 47 157 131 367 .298 .381 .679
LAST 7 .301 7.6 81 18 15 50 29 78 .375 .543 .918
NOTE: Since May 13, the Twins lead baseball in hits (81), batting average (.301), on-base (.375), slugging (.543) and OPS (.918).
TOUCHING BASE WITH ‘LOS: After drawing three more walks last night, Carlos Correa has now walked six times in nine plate appearances this series…Correa has reached safely in each of his last 10 games, posting a .413 on-base percentage in that span (9 walks and 9 hits).
KIRILLOFF THE HOOK: Since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on May 5, Alex Kirilloff has hit .350 (14-for-40) with six walks, a .458 on-base percentage and an 1.033 OPS in 13 games.
Kirilloff is back in the starting lineup today for the first time since Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium…against right-handed pitching this season (with Minnesota), he is hitting .394 (13-for-33) with six walks, a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.167 OPS… against lefties, he is hitting .143 (1-for-7).
LAND OF 10,000 RAKES: After hitting one home run last night, the Twins have now hit 15 homers in their last seven games…they have homered 62 times on the season, the third most in the AL and seventh most in baseball…52 of their home runs have come in their last 34 games since April 13, tied for fourth in baseball since that date.
Today’s starter, Pablo López, is the man behind the “Land of 10,000 Rakes” home run celebration fishing vest and pole…López went to a sporting goods store after a day game on April 29, buying the vest along with a Paw Patrol kids fishing pole…the next day the Twins won over the Royals 8-4 as Byron Buxton hit a 453-foot homer, becoming the first to wear the new celebration attire…Twins have hit 25 home runs since the vest’s debut, homering in all but three games.
SERIES FINALE: The Twins are looking to win their eighth series of the season today, going 7-6-1 in series play in 2023 (results to the right)…they have gone 1-5-1 in seven road series this season; their one win was a three-game sweep of Kansas City to open the season…a victory today would mark the Twins’ first series victory over the Angels since a three-game sweep in Anaheim from May 20-23, 2019, going 0-4-0 since.
JOEY LONGBALLS: Joey Gallo hit his team-leading 10th home run of the season last night…he has a hard hit percentage of 60.6%, third best in baseball, trailing Matt Chapman (62.7%) and Aaron Judge (61.1%)…additionally, he ranks eighth in baseball in barrels-per-plate appearance percentage at 12.1% and ninth in average exit velocity at 93.7 mph.
Gallo has a .976 OPS against right-handed pitching, compared to .642 vs. lefties.
STARTING PITCHER – PABLO LóPEZ 49
2023: 2-2, 4.00 ERA CAREER: 30-33, 3.94 ERA
Making his 10th start and appearance and sixth road start of 2023 in his sixth major league season (Miami – 2018-22)…also his 104th career appearance (all starts).
Facing Los Angeles-AL for the first time in his career; marks the 26th team he has faced since his debut in 2018.
Acquired by the Twins from Miami on January 20, 2023, along with infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio, in exchange for infielder/outfielder Luis Arraez
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in the Twins 9-8 defeat in 12 innings vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 15 at Dodger Stadium, opposite Noah Syndergaard; marked his third-straight no-decision…pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts…allowed a career-high-tying three home runs, a two-run shot by catcher Will Smith in the first inning and two homers from infielder Max Muncy (solo homer in the first inning, two-run homer in the third)…was relieved by Brock Stewart with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Twins trailing 5-2; marked his second-shortest start of 2023 (4.0 innings pitched vs. Washington on April 22)…Twins scored five runs in the final three innings to force extras; both teams scored one run in the 10th and failed to score in the 11th, but the Twins fell in the 12th inning when Jorge López issued a bases-loaded walk to designated hitter Trayce Thompson.
Did not issue a walk for the first time in a start this year; last start in which he did not issue a walk was on September 27, 2022 at New York-NL.
Tied his career-high with three home runs allowed, for the fourth time and first since May 24, 2022 at Tampa Bay.
Through nine starts this season, López is among the American League leaders in several statistical categories, including strikeouts (66 – T-5th), WHIP (1.07 – 13th), WAR (1.0 – 16th) and FIP (3.83 – 17th).
TWO STARTS AGO: Took a no-decision in the Twins 4-3 victory in 11 innings vs. the San Diego Padres at Target Field on May 10…pitched opposite right-hander Seth Lugo, who also did not factor into the decision…López went 6.1 innings, allowing one earned run and two hits, issuing a season-high four walks and striking out eight batters…issued one walk in each of his first three innings but held the Padres scoreless through his first 6.0 innings of work…allowed his first hit in the top of the fifth inning when shortstop Xander Bogaerts reached on an infield single…benefitted from two double plays, a 7-3 DP in the first inning and a 3-unassisted DP in the fourth…yielded a solo home run to leftfielder Juan Soto to lead off the seventh inning…was relieved by Brock Stewart with one out in the seventh and Minnesota leading 2-1 after López struck out Bogaerts to end his outing…San Diego evened the score at 2-2 in the eighth inning via third baseman Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly off Jorge López…each team scored once in the 10th inning, and the Twins won in the 11th on a walk-off RBI single by leftfielder Alex Kirilloff.
Recorded six-or-more strikeouts in nine-straight starts from October 4, 2022 – May 10, 2023, the longest streak of his career…his eight-start streak from March 30 – May 10, 2023 is the second longest in baseball this season, trailing only Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (9).
CALLING ALL ANGELS: Facing Los Angeles-AL for the first time in his career; Angels will become the 26th team he has faced since he debuted in 2018 and his third new opponent of the season (April 5 at Miami and April 11 vs. Chicago-AL); yet to face Detroit, Boston, Seattle and Minnesota in his career…in 25 previous starts when facing an opponent for the first time, López is 9-6, 3.33 ERA (146.0 IP, 54 ER) with 30 walks and 142 strikeouts; since the start of 2020, he is 4-1, 2.42 ERA (52.0 IP, 14 ER) with 13 walks and 58 strikeouts in nine starts against new teams.
In three career starts vs. American League West opponents, López has gone 1-1, 4.11 ERA (15.1 IP, 7 ER) with seven walks and 16 strikeouts; started at Houston, vs. Texas and at Oakland during the 2022 season with Miami.
WRAPPING UP THE ROADTRIP: Tonight is López’s sixth road start of the year…Minnesota has gone 2-3 in his five road starts, with López going 1-1, 3.00 ERA (30.0 IP, 10 ER) with six walks and 35 strikeouts…in his four home starts this season, López has gone 1-1, 5.25 ERA (24.0 IP, 14 ER) with eight walks and 31 strikeouts, with the Twins winning three of those four starts…over his career, López is 15-17, 4.36 ERA (256.0 IP, 124 ER) with 69 walks and 256 strikeouts in 49 road starts…in 54 home starts, he is 15-16, 3.59 ERA (308.0 IP, 123 ER) with 87 walks and 299 strikeouts.
Looking for his first road win since earning the Opening Day victory at Kansas City on March 30 (5.1 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K).
Pitching at Angel Stadium for the first time in his career; will become the 25th ballpark he has appeared at since debuting in 2018…is 10-5, 3.49 ERA (136.2 IP, 53 ER) with 34 walks and 142 strikeouts in 24 previous starts at a new venue.
LEFT/RIGHT: López has limited right-handed hitters to a .217 (26-for-120) batting average this season…left-handed hitters are batting at a .231 (18-for-78) clip…his 43 strikeouts against righties are eighth most in the American League…overall, opposing hitters are batting .222 (44-for-198) vs. López this year, tied for the 15th-lowest opponent batting average among qualified American League pitchers…over his career, he has better numbers against right-handed hitters (.662 OPS) than left-handed hitters (.745 OPS).
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Used a five-pitch mix in his first nine starts this season, according to Baseball Savant…has exclusively used his sinker against right-handed hitters, favoring his changeup and curveball when facing left-handed hitters…recorded three strikeouts with his four-seam fastball and one strikeout with his sweeper in his last start on May 15 at Los Angeles-NL…here is a look at his 2023 arsenal:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (94.9)……………..35.5% (298 pitches, 156/142)….. .233 (14-for-60), 3 2B, 5 HR, 22 K
Changeup (88.2)………………………22.0% (185 pitches, 74/111) …… .098 (5-for-51), 1 2B, 1 HR, 21 K
Sweeper (83.7)…………………………21.7% (182 pitches, 165/17) .. .205 (8-for-39), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 K
Sinker (94.3) ………………………………11.7% (98 pitches, 98/0) ……………. .308 (8-for-26), 2 2B, 2 K
Curveball (81.4)…………………………..9.2% (77 pitches, 8/69) …….. .409 (9-for-22), 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 K
Lopez’s changeup has accumulated a run value of -7 this year, tied with ARI’s Merril Kelly for the best run value on a changeup in baseball, according to Baseball Savant (min. 25 plate appearances).
In his first nine starts, López has an average fastball velocity of 94.8 mph, a 2.1 mph increase from last season and the largest year-to-year jump of his career.
SHAKY STARTS, THEN SMOOTH SAILING: López allowed three runs on three hits, including two home runs, in the first inning of his last start at Los Angeles-NL on May 15; marked the sixth time in his nine starts this year that he allowed at least one run in the first inning…nine of López’s 24 runs allowed (37.5 percent) this season have come in the first inning…here are his numbers in the first inning compared to all other innings combined:
STATISTIC 1ST INNING #s 2ND-8TH INNING #s
ERA ………………………………………………………… 9.00 ………………………………………………………. 3.00
Opponent Batting Average…………………………. .395 ……………………………………………………….. .181
Opponent OPS …………………………………………. 1.152 ………………………………………………………. .575
Home Runs-Per-9.0 Innings……………………….. 3.00 ………………………………………………………. 1.00
Hits-Per-9.0 Innings…………………………………. 15.00 ……………………………………………………… 5.80
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the third (1-1) of nine games on a homestand against the Minnesota Twins (1-1; May 19-21), Boston Red Sox (May 22-24) and Miami Marlins (May 26-28)…Halos went 3-4 on last road trip to Cleveland (1-2) and Baltimore (2-2)… LAA was 2-4 on last homestand against the Rangers (1- 2) and Astros (1-2).
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels reinstated LHP Aaron Loup from the injured list and selected the contracts of RHP Reyes Moronta (#52) and RHP Jacob Webb (#71)…In corresponding moves, the Angels optioned RHP Jimmy Herget, RHP Andrew Wantz and RHP Zack Weiss to Triple-A Salt Lake.
WALSH IS BACK: Yesterday, the Angels reinstated INF Jared Walsh (headaches and insomnia) from the injured list after missing the first 46 games of the year…He played seven games on rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake and hit .440 (11/25) with nine runs scored, one double, one home run, six RBI, seven walks and a 1.176 OPS…In a corresponding roster move, OF Brett Phillips was designated for assignment.
ABOVE .500: With a 24-23 record, Halos are looking to avoid falling back to exactly .500 on the season for an 11th time (previously 1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11- 11, 12-12, 14-14 & 22-22).
DINGER DUO: Thursday at Baltimore was the 25th time that Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani homered in the same game…It’s the fourth highest total among duos in Angels history (club record is 48 games – Trout/ Pujols).
LEAD ASSISTANT: Hunter Renfroe is tied for the American League lead with five outfield assists this season…Sine 2017, his 61 outfield assists lead the Majors (Starling Marte is second with 51 assists).
LATE COMEBACKS: Halos have three wins this season when trailing after eight innings, which matches the Angels total from each of the last two seasons…Last time LAA had more than three wins in a season when trailing after eight frames was 2017 (5).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.29 ERA (21 IP – 3 ER) and has converted all 11 of his save opportunities…He was the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 10 save opportunities of a season since Ernesto Frieri converted his first 12 chances in 2012.
LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.145), and ranks fifth in strikeouts (71) and WHIP (0.91).
VS. MINNESOTA: Today is the third (1-1) of six matchups this season between the Angels and Twins… In addition to the current series, the teams will meet again Sept. 22-24 at Target Field…Last season, Halos went 4-2 against Minnesota to take the season series for a second consecutive year.
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 38 of 47 games played this year.
SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 42 singles this year plus six extra-base hits (five doubles & one home run)…Urshela is tied with Toronto’s Bo Bichette (42), for the American League lead in singles.
ALL OVER THE INFIELD: Gio Urshela is one of six players in the Majors to appear at all four infield positions this season…He has made 16 starts at first base, 15 starts at third base, eight at shortstop and one at second base.
UNEARNED: Angels have allowed 26 unearned runs this season, which is the second-most in the Majors (Colorado has allowed 28 unearned runs)…Halos have committed 32 fielding errors this season, which is tied with Atlanta for the most in the Majors.
ON THE BOARD: Halos have not been shut out since Aug. 21, 2022 at Detroit…Current streak of 88 games without being shut out is the longest active streak in the Majors and fifth-longest streak in Angels history (fourth longest streak was 90 games in 1995).
LEAD OFF MICK: Mickey Moniak has hit leadoff home runs in two of his five starts for the Angels this season… Friday night, he finished a home run shy of the cycle… He’s one of seven players in the Majors with multiple leadoff HR this year and became the first player in MLB history to make his season debut on his birthday and hit a leadoff home run
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SHO: Monday night at Baltimore, Shohei Ohtani became the first pitcher to reach base safely five times in a game since Mel Stottlemyre for the Yankees on Sept. 26, 1964 at Washington…He finished a double shy of becoming the first starting pitcher in MLB history to hit for the cycle.
MORE HISTORY: Shohei Ohtani reached the 400 career innings pitched threshold on Monday night… According to ELIAS, his 509 strikeouts in his first 400 innings as a starter are the second-most all-time (Corbin Burnes had 539 strikeouts through his first 400 IP for Milwaukee).
NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by seven pitches this season, which is tied for fourth-most in the Majors… Since 1901, Neto’s seven HBP through his first 15 career games are the most in MLB…He also was the first player in Angels history to be hit a pitch in four consecutive games (April 18-21).
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Angels will host two Adopt-A-School visits this week: Tomorrow at Acacia Elementary School in Fullerton and Tuesday at Orange Grove Elementary School in Whittier.
RED SOX ON DECK: Following the current series vs. Minnesota, the Angels will continue the homestand with a three game series against the Boston Red Sox… Angels went 1-3 against Boston during trip to Fenway earlier this season from April 14-17.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
5-1, 3.23 ERA
Leads the Majors with a .145 (26/179) opponent batting average this season
- SHO TIME: Making 10th pitching start of the year and fifth at home…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
- LEAGUE LEADER: Enters today’s start leading the Majors in opponent batting average (.145) and ranks fifth in strikeouts (71) and WHIP (0.91).
- LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Earned the win in last start on Monday at Baltimore after tossing 7.0 innings and allowing five earned runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
- PASSING THE BABE: With seven strikeouts on May 9 vs. Houston, surpassed the career total for Babe Ruth (according to ELIAS, Ruth had 501 career pitching strikeouts)…Ruth and Ohtani are the only players with 500+ pitching strikeouts and 100+ home runs in a career.
- 10 K: Has three starts this season with 10+ strikeouts (tied for second-most in Majors)…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.
- UNFAMILIAR: This season, is holding opponents to an .088 (6/68) average the first time through the order, a .250 (14/56) average the second time through the order and an .096 (5/52) average the third time through.
- VS. MINNESOTA: In two career starts against Minnesota, is 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA (11.1 IP – 3 ER) and 18 strikeouts… Last season, won only start vs. Twins on Sept. 23, 2022 at Target Field (W; 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 7 SO).
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 37 career starts at The Big A, is 18-6 with a 2.10 ERA (223 IP – 52 ER) and 284 strikeouts…This season, is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA (27 IP – 8 ER) and 32 strikeouts after four starts…In 14 starts last season, was 7-4 with a 1.82 ERA (89 IP – 18 ER)…In 2021, went 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA (78.1 IP – 17 ER) and 93 strikeouts after 13 home starts.
- 500K: Reached 500 total MLB strikeouts for career with a 13 strikeout performance on May 3 at St. Louis…Fourth game in MLB history where a pitcher recorded 13+ strikeouts in 5.0-or-fewer innings (also, Jacob deGrom in 2022,
Alex Cobb in 2013 and Zack Greinke in 2012). - HOME SWEET HOME: Has a career 2.10 ERA (223 IP – 52 ER) in home games, which is the second lowest total of the last 100 years (min. 30 GS)…Only Miami’s José Fernández (1.49 ERA; 272.1 IP – 45 ER) has a lower home ERA.
- OFF THE BOARDS: Had franchise record streak of 12 straight pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs snapped on April 27 vs. Oakland (Nolan Ryan had previous record with nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)… Overall, has yielded two-or-fewer runs in 21 of last 26 starts and one-or-fewer runs in 18 of last 26 starts.
- CAN’T HIT THIS: Had streak of 10 straight pitching starts allowing three-or-fewer hits from Sept. 17, 2022 – April 27, 2023…The streak was snapped May 3 at St. Louis and finished tied with Jacob deGrom (10 game streak for Mets in 2021) for the longest streak all-time (excluding Openers).
- SCORELESS AT THE BIG A: Had streak of 35.0 consecutive scoreless innings pitched at Angel Stadium snapped April 27 by A’s…Finished as second longest streak in ballpark history, behind a 36.2 IP streak by Mark Clear in 1979.
