MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 5-1 on their current seven-game, West Coast road-trip, sweeping the A’s in Oakland last weekend, followed by two wins in three games in Seattle so far…today, the Twins will play the four-game series finale vs. the M’s at T-Mobile Park…after today’s game, Minnesota will fly home to being a six-game homestand with three against the divi- sion rival Chicago White Sox over the weekend, then host the Mariners for three games from Monday-Wednesday…the Twins have gone 26-22 at home and 24-25 on the road.
The Twins are 7-2 in their last nine road games and 11-7 in their last 18 away from Target Field.
The Twins are three games over .500, their highest water mark since June 3 (31-28).
Minnesota now has 50 wins…they reached the 50-win mark last season on July 16 (50-43), two games before the All-Star break.
LATE NIGHT WIN IN THE NORTHWEST: The Twins beat the Mariners last night by a score of 6-3 at T-Mobile Park…Kenta Maeda was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings pitched…Kenta did not issue a walk and struck out nine, tying his season-high as the Twins improved to 4-1 over his last five starts…the offense recorded nine hits and were led by Edouard Julien, who went 2-for-2 with two walks and a home run, his ninth of the season…Alex Kirilloff (7) and Max Kepler (14) each added home runs.
SERIES CONVERSATIONS: The Twins are seeking their 15th series victory this season…they are 14-13-3 in series play in 2023, going 8-5-2 at home and 6-8-1 on the road.
Minnesota is looking to win its second-straight series vs. Seattle after taking two of three here from June 13-15, 2022.
The Twins have won two consecutive road series (2-1 at BAL from June 30-July 2 and 3-0 at OAK from July 14-16)…since May 29, they have gone 5-2 in series play on the road, earning wins in Houston, Toronto, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland, and dropping series’ in Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
BATTLE IN SEATTLE: The Twins and Mariners are playing each other for the fourth of seven meetings this season…after this four-game series at T-Mobile Park, the two teams will face off for three games at Target Field next week from July 24-26…Twins have gone 13-10 vs. Seattle since the start of the 2019 season, after going 12-14 against the M’s from 2015-18.
The Twins are 6-2 in their last eight vs. Seattle, dating back to April 10, 2022.
Carlos Correa has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games at Seattle…during that span, he’s hitting .315 (17-for-54) with six doubles, one home run, five RBI, four walks, 10 runs scored, a .362 on-base percentage and an .844 OPS…his 56 career hits at T-Mobile Park are his most in a visiting ballpark in his career.
Donovan Solano is a career .348 (16-for-46) hitter with three doubles, one triple, four RBI, three walks, nine runs scored and an .844 OPS in 12 games vs. the Mariners…he has multiple hits in three of his six career games at T-Mobile Park, going 8-for-20 (.400) with two doubles, two RBI, two walks and five runs scored in those games.
Byron Buxton is slashing .333/.412/.822 (15-for-45) with four doubles, six home runs, 11 RBI, three walks, 10 runs scored and a 1.234 OPS in his last 11 games against the Mariners, since April 8, 2021.
AIR MAX: Max Kepler has hit safely in a season-long six-straight games, hitting .360 (9-for-25) with a 1.073 OPS in that span…he has multiple hits in his last three games; his career high for a multi-hit streak is six, done from May 20-27, 2019…in his last 15 games, he is hitting .304 (17-for-56) with two doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI and a .908 OPS…last night’s home run was the 143rd of his career, tying Joe Mauer for 12th on the Twins all-time list (since 1961):
TWIN HR TWIN HR TWIN HR
1) Harmon Killebrew……….475 8) Gary Gaetti ………………..201 15) Jacque Jones………… 132
2) Kent Hrbek………………..293 9) Brian Dozier……………….167 16) Eddie Rosario………. 119
3) Justin Morneau…………..221 10) Tom Brunansky…………163 17) Byron Buxton………. 113
4) Tony Oliva………………….220 11) Miguel Sanó……………..162 18) Roy Smalley…………. 110
5) Torii Hunter ……………….214 12) Max Kepler………………143 19) Jason Kubel …………. 105
6) Bob Allison………………..211 Joe Mauer…………………143 20) Jorge Polanco……… 103
7) Kirby Puckett……………..207 14) Michael Cuddyer……….141 21) Corey Koskie………… 101
ROAD RULES: Through six games on this current roadtrip, the Twins have posted a +14 run differential (42-28)…they have hit .287 (62-for-216) with 10 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 7.0 runs-per-game and a .935 OPS.
Five wins on this trip are their most since going 5-1 over a six-game roadtrip from May 16- 22, 2022, taking two of three at Oakland, followed by a three-game sweep in Kansas City.
The last time the Twins won at least six games on a roadtrip was August 27-September 5, 2019, when they went 8-2 on a 10-game trip…the last time they went 6-1 on a trip was May 16-23, 2019, taking three of four in Seattle, followed by a three game sweep in Anaheim.
MANIFESTING ‘WBC EDOUARD’: Edouard Julien has reached base safely in 18 of his last 26 plate appearances…in 10 games since July 3, he is hitting .607 (17-for-28) with three doubles, five home runs, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, four walks and a 1.906 OPS…since being recalled on June 10, he’s hitting .384 (33-for-86) with nine doubles, five home runs, eight RBI, 12 walks, 17 runs scored, a .455 on-base percentage and a 1.117 OPS in 29 games; since that date, he ranks among the major league leaders (minimum of 80 at-bats) in batting average (1st), on-base percentage (2nd) and OPS (2nd).
Julien leads all major league rookies this season (minimum of 150 plate appearances) in OPS (.968, 1st), batting average on balls in play (.432, 1st), slugging percentage (.574, 1st) and on-base percentage (.394, 1st).
LIVING HIS BEST KIRIL-LIFE: Alex Kirilloff is hitting .357 (20-for-56) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, 14 RBI, four walks, seven runs scored, a .413 on-base percentage, a .607 slugging percentage and a 1.020 OPS in his last 16 games, since June 26.
In 31 road games this season, Kirilloff is hitting .324 (33-for-102) with six doubles, one triple, four home runs, 16 RBI, 12 walks, 10 runs scored, a .417 on-base percentage and a .936 OPS…his road on-base percentage ranks third in the AL (minimum 100 plate appearances), while his batting average ranks fourth.
PEN-T UP POWER: The Twins’ bullpen is 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA (47.1 IP, 10 ER), 15 walks, 50 strikeouts, a .164 (27-for-165) opponent batting average and a .519 opponent OPS in the club’s last 15 road games, since June 23…on this trip, they have gone 4-0, 2.14 ERA (21.0 IP, 5 ER) with five walks and 20 strikeouts.
STARTING PITCHER – PABLO LóPEZ #49
2023: 5-5, 4.24 ERA CAREER: 33-36, 3.99 ERA
Making his 20th start and appearance and 11th road start of 2023…also his 114th career ap- pearance (all starts) in his sixth major league season (Miami – 2018-22).
Facing Seattle for the first time in his career; was originally signed by the Mariners as an inter- national free agent on July 4, 2012.
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: Took a no-decision in the Twins’ 10-7 win on July 15 against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum…pitched 5.2 innings and allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits (2 HR), with three walks and seven strikeouts, tossing a season-high 106 pitches…pitched 2.0 score- less innings to start his outing and received six runs of support through the first three innings… allowed an RBI groundout to shortstop Nick Allen in the third inning after third baseman Zack Gelof tripled…allowed two home runs in the fourth inning, one to first baseman Ryan Noda (solo) and one to centerfielder JJ Bleday (2-run)…yielded three-consecutive singles in the fifth inning as Oakland score two runs, one on an RBI single by leftfielder Tony Kemp and one on a wild pitch…allowed a sacrifice fly to Allen in the sixth inning before being relieved by Jovani Moran with two outs and the score tied 7-7…Twins bullpen fired 3.1 scoreless innings and Minnesota scored three runs in the final three innings to claim the win and the series victory.
Allowed seven-or-more runs for just the fifth time in his career and first time since September 10, 2022 vs. New York-NL with Miami (8 runs).
Allowed multiple home runs for the third time this year (also, 3 on May 15 at Los Angeles-NL and 2 on May 27 vs. Toronto)…also allowed multiple stolen bases (3) for the first time in his career.
Threw a season-high 106 pitches, his fourth most in any start in his career (110 on June 4, 2022 vs. San Francisco, 108 on August 7, 2018 vs. St. Louis, 107 on June 22, 2022 vs. Colorado)… has thrown 100-or-more pitches in five-straight starts, the longest such streak of his career.
TWO STARTS AGO: In his final start before the All-Star break, López pitched his first career complete- game shutout on July 5 against the Kansas City Royals, in the Twins’ 5-0 win at Target Field…set career highs in innings pitched (9.0) and strikeouts (12), allowing just four hits and issuing no walks…yielded three hits in the first three innings, then retired 19 of the final 20 batters he faced to end his outing, allowing only an eighth-inning double to centerfielder Kyle Isbel in that span…retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, inducing a lineout from leftfielder MJ Melendez to conclude the complete game.
Joined Joe Ryan (June 22 vs. Boston) as the first pair of Twins teammates to both throw a complete-game shutout in the same season since Brian Duensing, Francisco Liriano (no-hitter) and Carl Pavano all did so in 2011.
His career-high 12 strikeouts surpassed his previous career best of 11, done twice previously (May 13, 2022 vs. Milwaukee and July 26, 2022 at Cincinnati).
Recorded an out in the ninth inning for the first time in his career; his previous career high in innings pitched in a start was 8.0, done twice previously (June 8, 2021 vs. Colorado and May 7, 2022 at San Diego).
SIX STRIKEOUT STREAK: López has recorded six-or-more strikeouts in seven-consecutive starts since June 7, marking the second-longest such streak of his career (9-start streak from October 2, 2022 to May 10, 2023)…his current streak is the fourth-longest active streak in baseball, trailing ATL’s Spencer Strider (19 starts), SD’s Blake Snell (10 starts) and TB’s Tyler Glasnow (9 starts).
Has recorded 59 strikeouts in his last seven starts, becoming just the eighth pitcher in Twins history (since 1961) to record 59-or-more strikeouts in a seven-game span…is the first Minnesota pitcher to achieve the feat since Kenta Maeda also struck out 59 in a seven-start stretch from August 18-September 23, 2020.
NICE TO SEA YOU: Facing the Mariners for the first time in his career…began his professional career in Seattle’s organization after signing with them as an international free agent on July 4, 2012…the Mariners will be the 29th team he has faced in the majors; has yet to face Seattle and Minnesota in his career…in 28 career starts when facing a new opponent, he is 9-9 with a 3.46 ERA (163.2 IP, 63 ER), 35 walks and 170 strikeouts…has lost his last three starts against new teams (May 21 at Los Angeles-AL, June 19 vs. Boston, June 24 at Detroit) but owns a 3.34 ERA in five starts vs. new opponents this year.
Pitched in parts of four seasons with four Seattle minor league affiliates, combining to go 21-11 with a 3.37 ERA (288.1 IP, 108 ER), 39 walks and 209 strikeouts in 60 appearances (47 starts).
In five career starts against the American League West division (OAK – 2, HOU – 1, TEX – 1, LAA – 1), he is 1-2, 5.33 ERA (27.0 IP, 16 ER) with 13 walks and 32 strikeouts.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Making his team-leading 11th road start of 2023 today in the Twins’ final game of their seven-game roadtrip…is 2-3, 3.56 ERA (60.2 IP, 24 ER) with 17 walks and 73 strikeouts in 10 previous road starts this year…has recorded a quality start in four of his last five road outings and has seven quality road starts on the season, tied with seven other pitchers for the second most in baseball and trailing only SEA’s George Kirby (8), who opposes López today…the Twins are 4-6 in his road starts in 2023, having won each of the last two (June 30 at Baltimore, July 15 at Oakland) after dropping the previous four…in nine home starts this year, he is 3-2, 4.98 ERA (56.0 IP, 31 ER) with 16 walks and 72 strikeouts; Twins have gone 7-2 in his nine starts at Target Field.
Pitching at T-Mobile Park in a regular season game for the first time in his career…appeared in the All-Star Game on July 11 at the venue, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning (2 H, 0 BB, 2 K).
In 54 career road starts, he is 16-19, 4.33 ERA (286.2 IP, 138 ER) with 80 walks and 294 strikeouts…is 17-17 with a 3.71 ERA (340.0 IP, 140 ER), 95 walks and 340 strikeouts in 59 career home starts.
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners continue the 10-game homestand (2-4) today with the series finale against the Minnesota Twins (1-2)…they recently wrapped up a 3-game series vs. the Detroit Tigers (1-2)…the Mariners will also welcome the Toronto Blue Jays (3 G, 7/21-7/23) to T-Mobile Park on the homestand…tonight’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM).
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners dropped last night’s game to the Twins by a 6-3 score…despite the loss, Seattle is 9-6 over its last 15 games…the Mariners are 36-17 when scoring at least 4 runs and 11-31 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 26-24 at T-Mobile Park and 21-24 on the road this season…they are 15-18 in day games and 32-30 at night.
- That’s Got to Hurt – Julio Rodríguez’s hit-by-pitch by Jhoan Duran in the 9th inning of last night’s game was tied for the 3rd fastest pitch (102.7 mph) to hit a batter in the Statcast Era.
- Hot Out of the Gates – Luis Castillo recorded 7 strikeouts through 3 innings in last night’s game, the most a Mariners pitcher has recorded through the first 3 innings of a start this season.
- W’s in July – Seattle is 40-23 (.635) in July games since 2021, including 9-6 so far this season.
- Series Record – The Mariners own a 13-16-1 series record (8-7 at home) this season.
- Roster Moves – Yesterday, the Mariners recalled RH Prelander Berroa and selected RH Devin Sweet from Double-A Arkansas…to make room on the active roster, RH Ty Adcock and RH Isaiah Campbell were optioned to Double-A Arkansas.
GENORMOUS PERFORMANCE…Eugenio Suárez has homered in 3-consecutive games dating back to 7/17, the 6th time in his career he has homered in 3+ consecutive games (last: 4 G, 8/25-28, 2019 w/CIN)…he has also reached base in 10-consecutive games (7/6-c)…over his last 33 games since June 10, Geno is batting .268 (30×112) with 18 runs, 8 doubles, 8 home runs, 23 RBI, 13 walks and 6 hit-by-pitch, while reaching base at a .360 clip and slugging .554 with a .914 OPS…his .914 OPS ranks 11th-best in the American League during that span (6/10-c), trailing only J.P. Crawford (.925) for the club lead.
CATCHING BARRELS…Tom Murphy hit his 6th home run of the season in last night’s game… Murphy has now homered 5 times in his last 11 games dating back to June 12, batting .394 (13×33) with 7 runs, 2 doubles, 5 home runs, 8 RBI, getting on base at a .410 clip and slugging .879 (1.289 OPS)…during that span, his 1.356 OPS leads Major League catchers by a wide margin, ranking ahead of Wilson Contreras-STL (1.045) and Sean Murphy-ATL (.994)…overall this season, Murphy is batting .275 (28×102) with 12 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs and 11 RBI, getting on base at a .330 clip and slugging .539 with a .869 OPS in 34 games.
KIRB’S ENTHUSIASM…George Kirby leads the Majors this season in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.45) and walks-per-9-innings (0.9), while ranking tied for second in the Majors with 14 quality starts, trailing only Marcus Stroman-CHC and Logan Webb-SF who each have 15 quality starts…overall, he is 8-8 with a 3.43 ERA (43 ER, 112.2 IP), 11 walks, 93 strikeouts and a 1.074 WHIP…Kirby was named to his 1st career All-Star Game this season.
JARRED IS SHINING BRIGHT ON THE DIAMOND…Jarred Kelenic has hit safely in 7 consecutive games dating back to July 9, batting .333 (8×24) with 3 runs, 3 doubles, 6 RBI, 1 walk and 1 stolen base, while reaching base at a .360 clip and slugging .458 with a .818 OPS during the streak…the 7-game hitting streak is the 2nd-longest of Kelenic’s career, trailing only a 10-game streak set earlier this year from April 5-16.
FORD TOUGH…since his first game with the Mariners on June 2, Mike Ford leads the Mariners and ranks T-16th in the American League with a .898 OPS (min. 100 PA)…overall, Ford is batting .260 (26×100) with 17 runs, 5 doubles, 9 home runs, 18 RBI, 7 walks and 2 hit-by-pitch, while reaching base at a .318 clip and slugging .580…since June 2, Ford’s 11.11 AB/HR ratio ranks 6th-best in the Majors (min. 100 PA), trailing only Shohei Ohtani-LAA (7.30), Josh Donaldson (10.00), Luis RobertJr.-CWS (10.13), Francisco Álvarez-NYM (10.18) and Mookie Betts-LAD (10.64).
PAUL WILL SAVE US…Paul Sewald has tallied 19 saves this season, 1 shy of his career-high 20 saves in 2022…he has picked up a save in 5 of his last 6 appearances, converting each of his last 5 save opportunities…with his next save, Sewald will become the first Mariners reliever to record 20+ saves in back-to-back seasons since Edwin Díaz recorded 57 saves in 2018 and 34 saves in 2017… Paul has struck out multiple batters in 13 of his 19 saves this season…his 13 multi-strikeout saves are 2nd-most in the Majors, trailing only Félix Bautista (19)…Sewald recorded his 50th career save with Seattle on Monday.
POWER-SPEED THREATS…Seattle is 1 of 8 clubs to have multiple players with 10+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases this season…Julio Rodríguez (13 HR, 22 SB) and Jarred Kelenic (11 HR, 12 SB) have reached those marks for the Mariners, who are accompanied by Tampa Bay (4 players), San Diego (4), Milwaukee, Toronto, Cincinnati, Los Angeles-NL and Philadelphia.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Eugenio Suárez hit a game-tying home run in the 7th inning of last night’s game, and has now homered in 3-consecutive games dating back to July 17, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Suárez has hit 8 go-ahead or game-tying home runs in the 7th inning or later since the start of last season, tied for the most in the Majors during that span?…he is joined by Aaron Judge-NYY, Kyle Schwarber-PHI and Josh Naylor-CLE, who each have 8 such homers during that span.
MARINERS STARTER – RHP GEORGE KIRBY
2023 MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 8-8 3.43 18/18 112.2 110 45 43 11 93 13
Home 3-3 3.28 13/13 71.1 77 29 26 10 77 9
Road 5-2 3.53 12/12 58.2 58 25 23 12 56 4
vs. MIN 0-0 0.00 0/0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 16-13 3.41 43/43 242.2 245 99 92 33 226 26
Home 8-6 3.51 22/22 125.2 126 53 49 15 131 17
Road 8-7 3.31 21/21 117.0 119 46 43 18 95 9
vs. MIN 0-0 0.00 0/0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ABOUT KIRBY…
- 25-year-old right-hander is making his 19th start of the season, 1st against Minnesota…he is also making his 44th career start, and 1st career start against the Twins.
- Selected by the Mariners in the first round (20th overall) of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Ty Holub.
- Played 3 seasons (2017-2019) at Elon University (NC), going 19-8 with a 3.30 ERA (88 ER, 240.0 IP) in 45 games (34 GS) with the Phoenix.
- Became the first rookie in MLB history to record a save in the postseason in his first career relief appearance.
- Graduated from Rye HS (Rye, NY) where he was named to the all-metro, all-state, all-section and all-league baseball teams 3 times.
LAST TIME OUT…L#8 in last start on 7/15 vs. DET…allowed 6 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.
THESE BOOTS WERE NOT MADE FOR WALKING…leads all qualified pitchers in the Majors with a 8.45 strikeouts-to-walk ratio, ranking ahead of Zach Eflin-TBR (7.00).
NOTHING BUT STRIKES…had not given up more than 1 walk in his first 15 starts this season…this is the longest streak of giving up 1-or-fewer walks in a game among starters in the Majors this season.
CAREER-HIGH STRIKEOUTS…set a new career high in strikeouts for a single game with 10 on 6/13 against Miami…this was the 5th instance this season of a Mariners pitcher recording 10 strikeouts in a start…he joined Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Luis Castillo…Castillo has recorded 10 strikeouts in a game twice this season.
CAREER-HIGH INNINGS…in his outing on 5/31 against NYY he threw 8.0 innings which matched a career high set earlier this year (4/27 at PHI).
LUCKY NUMBER 7…pitched 7.0 innings in his outing against Tampa Bay on 7/1…this marked the 7th time this season Kirby has pitched at least 7.0 innings in a game…he is tied for the 4th most 7.0+ inning games in the Majors this season.
NO WALKS ALLOWED…he did not give up a walk in 4 consecutive starts (5/26- 620)…this was a new career-high in consecutive games without giving up a walk…Kirby has only allowed 11 walks all season.
QUALITY KIRBY…pitched 8 consecutive quality starts (4/9-5/26), his longest quality start streak in his career…his previous high in consecutive quality starts was 2 (last: 9/10-9/17/22)…his 8-game quality start streak is tied for the longest streak in the Majors this season with Logan Webb-SFG…his 14 quality starts this season are tied for the 3rd most in the Majors.
TRIPLE SEVENS…pitched at least 7.0 innings in 3 consecutive starts (4/27-5/9)…this marked a career high in consecutive games with at least 7.0 innings pitched…prior to the streak, Kirby had never pitched 7.0+ innings in consecutive games…during the streak Kirby was 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA (4 ER, 22.0 IP) and allowed 2 walks while striking out 18.
KIRBY’S COMPLETE…pitched his first career complete game on 4/27 against Philadelphia, tossing 8.0 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 1 walk with 7 strikeouts…he became the first Mariners pitcher to lose a complete game since Taijuan Walker on Sept. 24, 2014 in a 1-0 loss at Toronto.
MAKING MARINERS HISTORY…his 12.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio in March/April was the best to start a season in Mariners history among starting pitchers with at least 2 starts…he ranks ahead of Taijuan Walker who had an 8.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2016.
MISSION CRITICAL…the Mariners own a 17-8 record in games that Kirby tosses at least 6.0 innings…in games Kirby goes 5.2 innings or less, the Mariners are just 8-8.
GOING ON STRIKE…began his outing on 8/24/22 vs. Washington by throwing 24-consecutive strikes, the most to start a game since the pitch tracking era (1988-current), passing the 21 thrown by Joe Musgrove on 8/30/18 vs. STL with PIT.
WALK LESS, LISTEN MORE…did not allow more than 1 walk in each of his first 22 career starts, the longest streak to begin a career in MLB history…it was the 2nd-longest streak to begin a season in MLB history trailing the 27 done by Carlos Silva-MIN in 2005.
A HISTORIC SEASON…his 6.05 strikeout to walk ratio was the highest in a rookie season in MLB history since the start of the Modern Era (1900-c.), ranking ahead of Chris Paddack-SD (4.94) in 2014 (min. 25 GS).
BY GEORGE!…his 7.79 SO/BB ratio through his first 20 starts is the highest mark in MLB history, ranking ahead of Roy Oswalt-HOU (7.65 in 2001) (excludes openers)
