MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: The Twins have gone 1-4 through five games on their current seven-game roadtrip, going 1-3 in Detroit, followed by a loss in the opener last night in Philadelphia…tonight, the Twins will play the second of three at Citizens Bank Park and wrap the series and roadtrip tomorrow afternoon…after tomorrow’s game, Minnesota will travel back home to enjoy an off-day on Monday, then begin a six-game, seven-day homestand with two against the Tigers (August 15-16) and three against the Pirates (August 18-20)…the Twins have gone 33-24 at home and 27-34 on the road…they are just 3-9 in their last 12 away from Target Field.
PHILLY GETS DALLAS: The Twins lost to the Phillies last night at Citizens Bank Park by a score of 13-2…Dallas Keuchel (0-1) was the starter and loser, allowing six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings pitched, with two walks and no strikeouts…the offense recorded seven hits and walked four times…Jorge Polanco went 2-for-4 and hit his seventh home run of the season… Max Kepler went back-to-back with Polanco in the second inning and hit his team-leading 19th homer of the season.
ROSTER MOVE: The Twins have recalled right-handed pitcher Cole Sands from Triple-A St. Paul…Sands appeared in four games for the Saints during his most recent stint at St. Paul, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings, with four hits allowed, one walk, 10 strikeouts, one save and a .200 opponent batting average…over three stints with the Twins this season, Sands has gone 0-0, 4.50 ERA (14.0 IP, 7 ER), nine walks and 14 strikeouts in 10 relief appearances…to make room for Sands on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned left-handed pitcher Brent Headrick to St. Paul…Headrick appeared in relief last night in Philadelphia, allowing two runs on four hits in 3.1 innings pitched, with two walks and five strikeouts, throwing 67 pitches.
US AND THEM: Twins starters have combined to go 34-38, 3.90 ERA (662.2 IP, 287 ER) with 166 walks, 725 strikeouts and a .241 opponent batting average…below are other Twins starting pitching ranks among the MLB teams:
INNINGS QS BAA BB/9.0 FIP WHIP K’s OPS
MIN – 662.2 MIN – 59 SEA – .234 SEA – 2.07 TB – 3.51 SEA – 1.12 MIN -725 TB – .677
HOU – 658.1 SEA – 57 TB – .236 SF – 2.25 MIN – 3.68 TB – 1.17 TOR – 669 SEA – .678
TEX – 650.0 TOR – 55 MIL – .236 MIN – 2.25 SEA – 3.82 MIN – 1.17 CWS – 666 MIN – .694
SEA – 648.2 SD – 55 SD – .240 PHI – 2.44 PHI – 4.00 PHI – 1.19 LAA – 648 PHI – .701
PHI – 648.0 HOU – 54 MIN – .241 TB – 2.45 MIA – 4.05 MIL – 1.22 MIA – 634 TEX – .702
LIFE OF PABLO: Pablo López enters today third in baseball in strikeouts with 173, trailing Spencer Strider (211) and Kevin Gausman (183)…he is one strikeout short of matching his single-season career high of 174, done last season with Miami…he is on pace to strike out 237 batters, which would land him sixth on the Twins’ single-season all-time list: Johan Santana — 265 in 2004, Bert Blyleven — 258 in 1973, Blyleven — 249 in 1974, Santana — 245 in 2006 and Santana — 238 in 2005…the last Twin with 200+ Ks was José Berríos with 202 in 2018.
Since the start of last season, López ranks ninth in baseball in strikeouts, with 347.
TWINS AND PHILS: The Twins are playing the Phillies for the 22nd, 23rd and 24th time in their history this weekend…they are 11-11 all-time against Philadelphia, going 2-1 at Veterans Stadium in 2002, 1-2 at the Metrodome in 2004, 5-4 at Target Field in 2012, ’13 and ’16, and 3-4 at Citizens Bank Park in 2010, ’19 and ’23.
Max Kepler has hit safely in all seven career games against the Phillies, hitting .370 (10-for-27) with one double, four home runs, eight RBI and a 1.252 OPS…he has homered in each of his last four games against Philadelphia, all at Citizens Bank Park.
Jorge Polanco has eight hits in 15 career at-bats (.533) against the Phillies (all in Philly), with one double, one triple, two home runs and a 1.667 OPS.
NATIONAL ATTENTION: The Twins have gone 15-15 in Interleague Play this season, going 1-2 at Miami, 1-2 vs. Washington, 2-1 vs. San Diego, 2-1 vs. Chicago-NL, 1-2 at Los Angeles-NL, 1-2 vs. San Francisco, 2-0 vs. Milwaukee, 0-3 at Atlanta, 2-1 at St. Louis, 3-0 vs. Arizona and 0-1 at Philadelphia…despite last night’s loss, the Twins have gone 4-1 in their last five in IL Play and 8-5 in their last 13.
The Twins’ most wins against NL opponents came in 2006, when they went 16-2 (chart to the right).
Max Kepler has six home runs against NL opponents this season, including one in each of his last four games…he has 21 career IL home runs, tied with Justin Morneau for fourth most in club history, trailing Torii Hunter (33), Eddie Rosario (23) and Joe Mauer (22).
RUN THE JULS: Despite his current 0-for-last-9, Edouard Julien is hitting .312 (24-for-77) with 15 walks, a .430 on-base percentage and an .898 OPS in 25 games since the All-Star break…on the season, he ranks in the top five among all rookies overall in several offensive categories (minimum of 225 plate appearances):
AVG OBP SLG OPS OPS+ wOBA
Yoshida – .301 Julien – .380 Y. Díaz – .522 Julien – .870 Julien – 140.6 McLain – .381
McLain – .295 Noda – .375 Carroll – .510 McLain – .868 Carroll – 131.9 Julien – .377
Julien – .286 Outman – .362 McLain – .506 Carroll – .863 McLain – 128.4 Yoshida – .374
M. Garcia – .286 McLain – .362 N. Jones – .503 N. Jones – .861 Noda – 125.4 N. Jones – .372
Y. Díaz – .278 Yoshida – .359 Julien – .490 Casas – .841 Casas – 124.6 Carroll – .369
MAX POWER: Max Kepler hit his team leading 19th home run last night…one more home run will match the second-best of his career (36 in 2019, 20 in ’18, 19 in ’17 and 19 in ’21)… in his last 23 games, since July 17, Max Kepler is hitting .305 (25-for-82) with six doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBI, 18 runs scored, five walks, a .348 on-base percentage, a .634 slugging percentage and a .982 OPS.
Kepler has an expected slugging percentage on the season of .505, leading the Twins and ranking 15th-best in the American League…his xSLG ranks in the 88th percentile in MLB.
He has a barrels-per-plate appearance percentage of 8.8 on the season, 14th-highest in the AL (minimum of 200 batted ball events).
C4, EXP-’LOS-IVE: Carlos Correa has hit safely in a season-high-tying seven-straight games, previously done June 8-15…his career high is 16, done in 2019 with Houston…during the current streak, he is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and a 1.087 OPS.
Correa’s hard hit percentage this season is at 45.1%, the highest of his career.
Correa has an average exit velocity of 90.1 mph, his personal second-best figure since 2018 (90.2 in 2021, 89.9 in ’22, 89.0 in ’19, 88.8 in ’20 and 88.2 in ’18).
LEWWWWWWWW!!: Former Twins outfielder Lew Ford is celebrating his 47th birthday today…Ford is currently a player/hitting coach in independent ball for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League…Ford is hitting .291 (16-for-55) with four doubles and five RBI in 16 games for the Ducks this season…Ford recorded two hits, with two RBI and two runs scored against the Gastonia Honey Hunters last night.
STARTING PITCHER – #49 PABLO LóPEZ
2023: 7-6, 3.81 ERA CAREER: 35-37, 3.91 ERA
Making his 24th start and appearance and 14th road start of 2023…also his 118th career appearance (all starts) in his sixth major league season (Miami – 2018-22).
Facing Philadelphia for the ninth time in his career…is 3-1, 3.09 ERA (43.2 IP, 15 ER) with eight walks and 34 strikeouts in eight previous starts vs. the Phillies.
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: Recorded his 14th quality start of 2023, tying his single-season career high, and earned the win on August 7 at Detroit in the Twins’ 9-3 victory at Comerica Park…pitched 7.0 scoreless innings with five hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts…took the mound with a 4-0 lead and received nine total runs of support, his most in any start this year…scattered five singles, allowing just one runner in scoring position in his 7.0 innings of work (Zach McKinstry, fifth inning)…retired 15 of the final 18 batters he faced…was relieved by Brent Headrick to begin the bottom of the eighth inning with Minnesota leading 9-0; Headrick pitched the final 2.0 innings (3 H, 3 R) and the Twins cruised to a win in the four-game series opener.
Won in back-to-back starts for the second time this season, also doing so on June 30 at Baltimore and July 5 vs. Kansas City.
Marked his ninth career start of 7.0-or-more scoreless innings, recording his second such start of 2023 (CGSO on July 5 vs. Kansas City).
TWO STARTS AGO: Snapped a three-start winless streak on August 1 at St. Louis in the Twins’ 3-2 victory at Busch Stadium, earning his sixth win of 2023…recorded his 13th quality start, allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with no walks and five strikeouts…retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced, allowing just two singles to Taylor Motter…allowed one run on three singles in the bottom of the sixth, with Nolan Arenado’s RBI single breaking up the shutout bid; Matt Wallner and Jorge Polanco both recorded assists on the RBI single to cut down Lars Nootbaar, who was attempting to advance to third base…López was relieved by Emilio Pagán to start the bottom of the seventh with Minnesota leading 3-1; three relievers held the lead as the Twins took the three-game series opener.
Snapped his career-high-tying nine-game streak with six-or-more strikeouts, recording his lowest strikeout total since June 1 vs. Cleveland (also 5 strikeouts).
STRIKEOUT SAVANT: López ranks second in the American League with 173 strikeouts this season (TOR’s Kevin Gausman – 183)…enters tonight one strikeout away from matching his single-season career high of 174, done in 2022 (180.0 IP)…his 10.99 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings ratio is the high- est single-season ratio in Twins history (since 1961) among qualified pitchers…has struck out 30 percent of batters faced in 2023.
PABLO VS. PHILLY: Facing the Phillies for the ninth time in his career tonight…is 3-1, 3.09 ERA (43.2 IP, 15 ER) with eight walks and 34 strikeouts in eight previous starts vs. Philadelphia…last faced the Phillies on September 15, 2022 with Miami, earning the win in the Marlins’ 5-3 victory at loanDepot Park; pitched 6.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits (1 HR), with one walk and five strikeouts… his last five starts against Philadelphia have come at home…last pitched at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2019, taking a no-decision in the Marlins’ 5-4 loss (4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 K). AIs 0-1, 4.91 ERA (11.0 IP, 6 ER) with three walks and 14 strikeouts in two starts vs. National League East opponents this year (ND on April 5 at Miami, L on April 22 vs. Washington)…is 14-16, 4.96 ERA (236.0 IP, 130 ER) with 73 walks and 212 strikeouts in 47 career starts vs. the NL East, the division where he began his career.
NO BUMPS ON THIS ROAD: Has recorded nine quality starts in his 13 road outings this season, going 4-4, 3.09 ERA (78.2 IP, 27 ER) with 19 walks and 93 strikeouts away from Target Field this year… Twins are 6-7 in his 13 road starts…his 93 road strikeouts are the most in baseball in 2023, and he is tied with SEA’s George Kirby and MIL’s Corbin Burnes for the most quality road starts in the majors… is 3-2, 4.71 ERA (63.0 IP, 33 ER) with 17 walks and 80 strikeouts in 10 home starts this season. AIs 18-20, 4.17 ERA (304.2 IP, 141 ER) with 82 walks and 314 strikeouts in 57 career road starts… in 60 home starts, he is 17-17, 3.68 ERA (347.0 IP, 142 ER) with 96 walks and 348 strikeouts.
RIGHT ON: López has limited right-handed hitters to a .204 (56-for-275) batting average this season, with righties going 1-for-11 with six strikeouts against him in his last start on August 7 at Detroit…his 102 strikeouts against righties are the fifth most in the American League this year…his .204 opponent batting average vs. righties this season ranks seventh in the AL (min. 15 GS)…left-handed hitters are batting .251 (64-for-255) against him in 2023, going 4-for-15 against him in his last outing.
Has better career numbers against righties (.648 OPS) than lefties (.739 OPS).
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Has used a five-pitch mix in 2023, per Baseball Savant…has primarily used his sweeper and sinker against right-handed hitters, favoring his changeup and curveball against left-handed hitters…threw 21 curveballs in his last start on August 7 at Detroit, his second-highest curveball total in any start this season (22 on June 19 vs. Boston); used the pitch 21.9 percent of the time in his last outing, his highest single-game usage rate with his curveball this year…here is a look at his 2023 arsenal:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (94.9)………….35.4% (779 pitches, 357/422)……. .234 (39-for-167), 9 2B, 7 HR, 64 K Changeup (88.3)…………………..20.9% (459 pitches, 169/290).. .224 (30-for-134), 4 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 34 K Sweeper (84.3)…………………….. 20.6% (453 pitches, 339/114).. .178 (18-for-101), 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 38 K Curveball (82.4)……………………. 12.8% (282 pitches, 63/219) … .239 (17-for-71), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 33 K Sinker (94.4) ………………………….10.2% (225 pitches, 220/5)……. .286 (16-for-56), 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 K
AIn his first 23 starts this year, 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.
AOpponents are batting .183 against López’s curve and slider combined since last season, 12th best in that span among starting pitchers with at least 110.0 innings (Inside Edge).
HEAVENLY ELEVEN: In his last 11 starts since June 7, López is 4-3, 3.07 ERA (70.1 IP, 24 ER) with eight quality starts, 15 walks, 87 strikeouts, a 1.04 WHIP and a .220 (58-for-264) opponent batting average…ranks first among American League starters (min. 10 GS in span) in strikeouts in that span and is second in innings pitched, while his strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.80) ranks sixth.
CUTTING TO THE CHASE: López has a career-high 34.8 chase percentage in 2023, placing him in the 96th percentile in baseball, according to Baseball Savant…his chase rate ranks first on the Twins staff and 14th in the majors…also has a career-high 51.9 percent swing rate and 29.6 percent whiff rate in 2023, while his zone percentage (50.0) is the second highest in his career (50.1 in 2021 with Miami).
QUALITY ASSURED: Has recorded a quality start in six of his last eight outings and has posted 14 quality starts this season, the most on the Twins’ staff and tied for the fifth most in the American League with HOU’s Framber Valdez…his 14 quality starts are the most by a Twin since José Berríos had 21 in 2019…also matches his single-season career high, done last season with Miami (32 total starts).
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #117 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the Minnesota Twins, 13-2, and kicked off Alumni Weekend at Citizens Bank Park … Starter Cristopher Sanchez (W, 1-3) went 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts … The Phillies had 7 extra-base hits on the night (4 2B, 3 HR) as Bryson Stott, J.T. Realmuto and Johan Rojas all homered.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: Last night’s win moved the Phillies to a season-best 13 games over the .500 mark at 65-52 … The Phils are 40-20 over their last 60 games (since 6/3) and their .667 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (40-17, .702 win %) … The Phillies are 65-52 for the second straight season and their record since June 3rd this year matches their same record through the first 60 games under Rob Thomson last season, which also started on June 3rd (6/3-8/11/22) … The Phils opened the 2023 season on the road and went 1-5 in six games through TEX (0-3) and NYY (1-2) … Since then (4/7-current), they are 64-47 with a .577 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.626) and LAD (.593) and 6th in MLB.
PHILLY SPECIAL: Over his last 7 games (8/5-current), Trea Turner is slashing .429/.448/.857 with 5 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI and a 1.305 OPS … In terms of 7-game stretches in his career, his 6 doubles are the most he has ever had, his 8 extra-base hits are the most since Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2021 (also 8), his 1.305 OPS is the highest since Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2021 (1.500 OPS) and his 9 RBI are the most since July 10-21, 2022 (also 9) … Over his last 40 games at CBP (173 PA, since 5/6), Turner is slashing .283/.341/.503 (.844 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 20 extra-base hits (12 2B, 3B, 7 HR), 27 RBI, 12 walks and 9 stolen bases … He carries an active 8-game hitting streak into play tonight (since 8/4, 13-32, .406 AVG).
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE: Last night, Kyle Schwarber set a career-high with his 87th walk of the season in his 519th plate appearance of the year … His previous high in walks was 86 last season in 669 plate appearances … Schwarber ranks 2nd in the majors this season in walks and walk rate (16.8%), trailing only Juan Soto in both (99 BB, 19.4 % BB rate) … Over his last 20 games, Schwarber has more walks (26) than strikeouts (24) – his 26 walks are the most by a Phillies player over a 20-game span in a single season since Ryan Howard, Sept. 9-30, 2006 (27 BB in 20 G) … The last MLB leadoff hitter with as many walks (26) over a 20-game span in a single season was SD’s Rickey Henderson, May 24-June 16, 1996 (27 BB in 20 G).
BALL GO BOOM: The Phillies have homered in all 11 games this month which matches their longest home run streak this season (other: 11 G, 7/5-19) – last year they had a 12-game home run streak from Sept. 3-16 … Over the last 7 games (since 8/5), the Phillies have hit 20 home runs with 14 doubles (34 XBH), and they have a .629 SLG in 265 plate appearances … Philadelphia’s 20 home runs in their last seven games ties a franchise record for a period of 7 games (also hit 20 HR over three different 7-game spans in July of 2018) … Philadelphia’s .629 SLG is their best over a 7-game span since May 5-12, 1999 (also .629) and their 34 extra-base hits are the most in 7 games since June 3-10, 2022 (also 34) … Overall this month, the Phillies are slashing .279/.354/.537 with an .891 OPS in 424 combined plate appearances … Among all clubs in MLB in August, they rank 1st in runs (75), home runs (21) & XBH (49) and 2nd in OPS, SLG, doubles (25) & runs per game (6.82), ARMS RACE: Over the last 60 games (since 6/3), the Phillies’ starting rotation has gone 24-12 with a 3.22 ERA (129 ER, 360.1 IP) … During this current run, they have the lowest OPS among all starting staffs in MLB at .6667 (next: SD, .686), the lowest opponents AVG at .22804 (next: MIL, .22818), the lowest opponents OBP at .281 (next: SEA, .285), the lowest WHIP at 1.11 (next: SEA, 1.14) and the most innings pitched at 360.1 (next: HOU, 339.1) – their 3.22 ERA ranks 2nd in MLB (best: SD, 3.18) and their .385 opponents SLG ranks 2nd in MLB (best: SD, .383) … The staff has gone at least 6.0 innings in 39 of those 60 games (65%), at least 7.0 innings in 17 of those 60 games (28%) and of their 60 starts, 32 have been quality starts (53%) … Since June 3, the Phillies bullpen has tossed the fewest innings of any relief corps in MLB at 186.2 (29th is SEA at 191.2 and most is SF at 289.1) but have the 3rd-lowest ERA in the sport at 3.28 … Philadelphia’s starters and relievers have combined for 17.2 fWAR this season which leads MLB (next: SEA, 15.9) and is more than four full wins clear of the next closest NL club (MIA, 13.1 fWAR) … Philadelphia’s starters lead MLB in fWAR at 12.7 and the bullpen ranks 5th at 4.5.
AMERICA’S TEAM: The Phillies have won 18 of their last 22 games against the American League (.818 win % since 5/7) – they have outscored the AL 114-63 in those 22 games (+51 run differential) … With a 25-14 record overall against the AL this season, the Phillies have the best Interleague winning percentage of any National league team at .641 and the 2nd-best Interleague record in MLB behind only TOR (22-11 vs NL, .667 win %) … The Phillies have a 9-4 record in series play against the AL and have won nine of their last 11 series dating back to April 18-19 at CWS … Earlier this year, the Phils had a franchise-record 12-game winning streak against the AL (5/7-7/6), which included wins over BOS (1), TOR (2), DET (3), at OAK (3) and at TB (3) … The streak is tied for the 2nd-longest Interleague winning streak in MLB history (13 is the record) and was the longest since 2017 when the Dodgers won 13 straight against the AL.
HARP ON IT: Over his last 16 games, two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper is slashing .290/.357/.516 with an .873 OPS in 70 plate appearances (7/25-current) … Harper has scored 10 runs and has 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 10 RBI during this stretch … At Citizens Bank Park this season, Harper is slashing .322/.408/.490 with an .898 OPS and 23 walks to 33 strikeouts … Per Statcast, Harper has a .487 xSLG this season which is 59 points higher than his actual SLG entering play tonight of .428 – that 59 point difference is the 13th-largest of any qualified player in MLB this season.
HATS OFF TO YOU THOMS: Since Rob Thomson was named manager of the Phillies on June 3, 2022, the Phils are 32 games over .500 at 130-98 with a .570 winning % that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.665), LAD (.646), HOU (.614), BAL (.587) and SEA (.580) … The Phillies are 69-41 all-time under Thomson at CBP and their .627 winning percentage at home since June 3, 2022 ranks 4th in MLB behind ATL (.709), LAD (.681) and TB (.646).
TONIGHT’S STARTER – TAIJUAN WALKER • RHP #99
2023: 13-4, 3.98 ERA Career: 67-54, 3.90 ERA
LAST START: 8/6 vs KC: W, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, HR, BB, 2 SO … Walker vs Greinke … The Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals, 8-4, as they took two of three games in a weekend set at Citizens Bank Park … Down 3-0 after the top of the 1st, the Phils rallied back and scored 7 runs through the first 5.0 innings – they hit three home runs on the day (Schwarber, Castellanos, Stott) and moved back to a season-best 10 games over .500
TONIGHT’S START:
- All I Do Is Win: In his last start, Walker earned his 13th win of the season, which is tied for the ML lead with Justin Steele … He was the first ML pitcher this year to reach 12 wins … Walker is the first Phillies starter to earn at least 13 wins in his first 23 starts of the season since Cole Hamels did so in 2012 … Since 6/6, he has earned a win in 9 of his 11 starts, making him the first Phillies starter to earn at least 9 wins in an 11-game span since Roy Halladay (9/10/10-5/5/11) … He has recorded double-digit victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career … Walker went 5-0 at CBP to start the year (8 games) and was the 1st starter since Zack Wheeler (2020-21) to begin ones Phillies career without a loss in their first 8+ starts at home; Wheeler was 7-0 through his first 13 starts at home for the Phillies
- 2 or Fewer: Walker has had 13 starts this year in which he’s allowed 2 or fewer ER … Walker is 10-0 in those starts and the Phillies are 12-1 … He has accomplished this in his 7 of his last 10 outings, allowing just 20 ER in that span … Walker is T-14th in the NL for such starts
- Quality Control: On 7/31, Walker earned his 10th quality start of the season … It is the 5th season in his career in which he earned 10 or more quality starts and the 3rd season in a row … The Phillies are 1 of 7 teams to have at least 3 pitchers with 10 or more quality starts
- Homebody: This season, Walker has posted a 2.92 ERA (20 ER, 61.2 IP) at CBP … His home ERA is 6th in the NL (min. 10 starts) and it’s currently the best home ERA he’s had in any season of his career (min. 10 starts) … He is also tied for 4th in the NL for wins at home
- Hold On: Walker’s 4 pickoffs in 2023 are tied with 6 others for 3rd in MLB … His 22 successful pickoff attempts since the start of the 2015 season are 7th-most among active ML pitchers in that span and 3rd most among active righties
- Much Better: Walker has used his splitter 33.6% of the time in 2023, the highest rate of his career (previous: 27.6% in 2022) … 49 of his 104 strikeouts have come via the splitter
- Pitch Usage: Splitter (33.6%), Sinker (24.4%), Cutter (17.2%), 4-Seam Fastball (16.7%), Curveball (4.5%), Sweeper (3.5%)
- vs AL Central: 12-4, 3.28 ERA (44 ER, 120.2 IP) in 20 starts
HOME:
- 2023: 6-1, 2.92 ERA (20 ER, 61.2 IP) in 11 starts
- Career: 30-22, 3.70 ERA (207 ER, 503.0 IP) in 91 games (89 starts)
2023 SEASON:
- Registered a career-high 7-game winning streak from 6/6-7/15 and became the 9th Phillie in the modern era (since 1901) to win at least 7 straight starts in a single season (last, Cliff Lee, 7/30-9/5/11)
- His 1.50 ERA in June was 6th-lowest among starters for the month, while he was the only ML pitcher to tally 5 wins. He is the 1st Phillies pitcher since Zach Eflin (5 in 2018) with 5 wins in the month of June
- Allowed 1 run or less in a career-high 5 straight starts from 6/6-29. Tossed consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 IP on 6/6 and 6/11 for the 1st time in his career
- Threw a career-high 14.0 scoreless innings from 6/6-16, surpassing 2 scoreless 13.0-inning stretches from 7/4-16/22 and 6/26-7/7/15 … Completed 8.0 innings on 6/16 for the 1st time since 4/27/17 vs SD while with ARI
- Made his Phillies debut on 4/3 at NYY after signing a 4-year contract with the club in December
- Pitched for Team Mexico in the 2023 WBC, making 1 start in Pool Play against Great Britain … He threw 4.0 scoreless IP with 2 baserunners allowed and recorded 8 of his 12 outs via strikeout.
