NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees begin a seven-game road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game set at Minnesota (through Wed.)…will also play a four-game series at Texas from Thurs.-Sun…went 5-5 on their recent season-high 10-game homestand, going 2-1 vs. Los Angeles-AL, 2-2 vs. Minnesota and 1-2 vs. Toronto.
Are 7-1 following a loss this season…have lost backto-back games just once (4/13-14).
Have won five of their last eight games.
Are in a 16-day stretch without an off day (4/18-5/3)… are 3-3 so far over that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Blue Jays, 5-1, on Sunday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Clarke Schmidt (5.2IP, 3H, 3R/0ER, 1BB, 8K, 2HR) started and took his second loss of the season despite setting career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched…retired his first 13BF…
DH Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) recorded his 1,500th career hit and 900th career RBI with a solo HR in the ninth inning…1B DJ LeMahieu (3-for-4, 1 double) recorded three of the Yankees’ six hits…CF Isiah KinerFalefa (1-for-3, 1SB) singled in the third inning and stole his third base of the season…RHP Michael King (1.1IP, 2H, 1ER, 1K) allowed 1ER in 1.1 innings of relief…RHP Ian Hamilton (2.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K) allowed 1ER in 2.0IP.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Yankees lost their first series of the year this past weekend vs. the Blue Jays…were the last Major League team to lose a series this season…had won or split each of their first six series of a season for just the third time in the last 67 years since 1957 (first nine series in 2003 and their first six series in 1976) -credit: Elias.
Are 11-1 in games this season when facing a series loss.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.06 ERA this season, the second-lowest in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s 2.71 ERA.
Have allowed just 72R in 22 games this season (3.27 R/G), marking their fourth-fewest runs allowed through their first 22 games in a season in the last 59 years since 1965 (65R in 2022, 66R in 1981, 71R in 2003)…have allowed 3R-or-fewer in 14-of-22 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in 10 of those games.
Also rank second in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.213), third in strikeouts (214), WHIP (1.12), opponents’ OBP (.290), opponents’ SLG (.354), opponents’ OPS (.644) and fifth in K/9.0IP (9.78).
TWINNING: The Yankees are 100-40 (.714) vs. Minnesota since 2002, the Majors’ best record by any team vs. an opponent in its own league in that span… including the postseason, have gone 116-42 (.734) vs. the Twins since 2002.
Are 15-5 in their last 20 games vs. the Twins (since 7/23/19) and 25-9 in their last 34 games vs. Minnesota (since 9/18/17).
Have won or split each of their last eight series vs. the Twins (are 7-0-1 since 2019) and 15 of their last 17 series against Minnesota (are 14-1-2 since 7/3/14).
Own a 27-13 (.675) record at Target Field, the highest winning percentage by any team at the venue (min. 10G).
CENTRAL PERK: Since 2022, the Yankees are 29-11 (.725) vs. the AL Central…are 40-15 in their last 55 games vs. the division (since 6/23/21) and 53-21 in their last 74G (since 9/12/19).
Have won or split 21 of their last 24 series vs. the AL Central (going 20-3-1 since 9/10/19), 24 of their last 27 series (going 21-3-3 since 6/13/19) and 27 of their last 31 series (going 24-4-3 since 4/18/19).
MESSIN’ WITH THE KING: RHP Michael King has recorded at least four outs in each of his seven appearances this season…his seven relief appearances of at least four outs are the most in the AL and the second-most in the Majors, trailing only Colorado’s Brent Suter.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo recorded his 1,500th career hit, 900th career RBI and 850th career run scored with a solo HR in the ninth inning on Sunday…was his fifth HR of the season.
Has reached base in 19 of his first 21 games this season, batting .316/.411/.566 (24-for-76) with 11R, 4 doubles, 5HR, 11RBI, 9BB, 4HP and 1SF.
Has recorded a hit in 18-of-21 games this season.
Is batting .346/.424/.635 (18-for-52) with 8R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 7RBI, 4BB and 3HP in his last 14 games (since 4/9).
Is tied for fourth in the AL in HP (4), ranks fifth in OPS (.977), and sixth in OBP (.411) and SLG (.566).
FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners rank third in the AL and fifth in the Majors with 23SB…their 23SB mark their most through their first 22 games of a season in the last 22 years (since 2002) and match their second-most through their first 22 games of a season in the last 34 years (since 1990)…recorded 40SB in 1998 and 23SB in 2001.
Have 11SB in their last nine games…the Yankees had 11SB through their first 22 games of 2022.
Did not record their 23rd stolen base in 2022 until their 44th game on 5/25/22 vs. Baltimore.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe had his 10- game on-base streak snapped on Sunday…had reached base in 17-of-42 plate appearances (9H, 8BB) over that stretch (.405 OBP).
Is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts…joins Cedric Mullins (9-for-9) and Corbin Carroll (8-for-8) as the only three players in the Majors to be 8-for-8-or-better in stolen base attempts.
His 8SB are tied for the fourth-most in the Majors.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu recorded three of the Yankees’ six hits on Sunday vs. Toronto…his 3H were a season high and his most since 8/7/22 at St. Louis (also 3H). Is batting .333/.429/.533 (10-for-30) with 6R, 3 doubles, 1HR, 5RBI, 3BB and 2HP in his last nine games.
Has reached base in 14-of-18 games this season.
Is hitting .375/.444/.500 (6-for-16) with 2 doubles, 6RBI and 2BB with RISP this season.
In 22 career games vs. Minnesota, has hit .326/.362/.500 (28-for-86) with 14R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 15RBI, 5BB and 1HP.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 19 of their first 22 games of a season for just the sixth time in franchise history (20G in 2001 and 19G in 2003, 2011, 2012 and 2020).
Their 30HR are tied with Atlanta (30HR in 22G) and Boston (30HR in 23G) for the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (48HR in 22G), Los Angeles-NL (43HR in 23G) and San Francisco (33HR in 21G).
ON A ROLL: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa has hit safely in six of his last seven starts, batting .286 (6-for-21) with 1R, 2RBI, 2BB and 3SB in that span.
Over his last six games, has reached base in 6-of-14 plate appearances (4H, 2BB, .429 OBP).
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have allowed 3R-orfewer in 12 of their last 15 starts and 17 of their 22 starts this season…their 3.53 ERA (112.1IP, 44ER) is the fourth-lowest in the AL and sixth-lowest in the Majors.
Also rank third in the Majors in WHIP (1.10), fourth in opponents’ BA (.221) and opponents’ OBP (.285), and sixth in opponents’ OPS (.665) and K/9.0IP (9.45).
Have posted a 2.52 ERA (53.2IP, 15ER) in their last nine starts (since 4/14)…have allowed 2ER-or-fewer in six of those nine starts.
PEN PAL: RHP Ron Marinaccio owns a 0.93 ERA (9.2IP, 1ER) and 14K in eight appearances this season…has allowed just 2H to 37BF this year, holding opponents to a .067 BA (2-for-30) this season.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JHONY BRITO (2-1, 5.40 ERA)
RHP Jhony Brito will make his fifth career Major League start in tonight’s series opener at Minnesota…the 25-year-old will pitch on regular four days’ rest…last pitched on Wednesday vs. Los Angeles-AL and did not record a decision (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K)…marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…is the third Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record three starts with 1R allowed-or-fewer in their first four career starts… marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…is just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts…is the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 3/30 and made his first career Opening Day roster… over parts of five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-17, ’19, ’21-22), has gone 26-21 with two saves and a 3.71 ERA (392.2IP, 375H, 196R/162ER, 81BB, 344K, 28HR) in 86 career appearances (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 11/9/15.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 3-2, extra-innings victory over Los Angeles-AL on Wednesday (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K).
Marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…is the third Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record three starts with 1R allowed-or-fewer in their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021; Chase Whitley, three such starts in 2014).
Marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…is just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021).
2023: Is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA (15.0IP, 9ER) and 11K in four starts this season.…has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in three of his four starts.
Is just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…was just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever).
Is the 15th starting pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first two career games and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.
Took his first career loss in the Yankees’ 11-2 defeat on 4/13 vs. Minnesota, allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 0K, 1HR)…marked the shortest outing by a Yankees starter (not including openers) since Jameson Taillon on 6/12/21 at Philadelphia (0.1IP)…were the most runs allowed by a Yankees starter who didn’t make it out of the first inning since Nathan Eovaldi on 6/16/15 at Miami (8R/ER in 0.2IP).
Earned his second career win in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory on 4/8 at Baltimore, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…retired 14 of his final 17BF after surrendering two singles and a sacrifice fly to his first 3BF.…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts (also 5.0IP, 2H, 0R in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco).
VS. MINNESOTA: Made his third career start on 4/13 vs. the Twins at Yankee Stadium and took his first career loss after allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 1HR).
BIG LEAGUE BRITO: Made his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 6K) to earn his first career win…is the first Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allow 2H-or-fewer and allow 1BB-or-fewer in his Major League debut…struck out his first batter faced (LaMonte Wade Jr. swinging) for his first Major League strikeout.
Was just the 12th Yankees pitcher in franchise history (and fifth since 1935) to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut, joining Luis Gil (6.0IP on 8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), Jonathan Loáisiga (5.0IP on 6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), Sam Militello (7.0IP on 8/9/92 vs. Boston), Hank Borowy (5.0IP on 4/18/42 vs. Boston), Vito Tamulis (9.0IP on 9/25/34 at Philadelphia-AL), Russ Van Atta (9.0IP on 4/25/33 at Washington-AL), Neal Brady (5.2IP on 9/25/1915-G1 vs. Cleveland), Pete Wilson (9.0IP on 9/15/1908 at Boston), Tacks Neuer (9.0IP on 8/28/1907-G2 vs. Boston), Slow Joe Doyle (9.0IP on 8/25/1906-G1 vs. Cleveland) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP on 4/24/1903 at WashingtonAL)…among the group, joins Luis Gil (6.0IP, 1BB), Hank Borowy (5.0IP, 1BB) Vito Tamulis (9.0IP, 1BB) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP, 0BB) as the only five to issue 1BB-or-fewer.
Is the ninth Yankees starting pitcher to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut and just the fourth since 1935.
Became the seventh Yankees pitcher to start against a National League opponent in his Major League debut, joining RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL: ND, 6.0IP, 1R/0ER), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona: L, 4.0IP, 6R/4ER), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL: ND, 4.2IP, 0ER), RHP Tyler Clippard (5/20/07 at New York-NL: W, 6.0IP, 1ER), LHP Brad Halsey (6/19/04 at Los Angeles-NL: W, 5.2IP, 2ER) and LHP Brandon Claussen (6/28/03-G2 at New York-NL: W, 6.1IP, 1ER).
Became the seventh Yankee to draw a start at the current Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut, joining RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12)…was the third starter to also record the win, joining Gil and Loáisiga.
At 25 years, 44 days old, became the seventh starter age 25-or-over to make his Major League debut for the Yankees since 1999, joining RHP Chien-Ming Wang (25y, 30d), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (25y, 154d), Christian Parker (25y, 277d), Alex Graman (26y, 155d), Matt DeSalvo (26y, 238d) and Kei Igawa (27y, 268d).
HITTIN’ THE ROAD: Will make his second career Major League road start…earned the win in his first career road start on 4/8 at Baltimore (5.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K)…in 13 road games (11 starts) with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, went 5-3 with a 4.10 ERA (52.2IP, 24ER) and 48K.
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: After completing their seven-game, eight-day road-trip with a record of 3-4 (2-2 at Yankee Stadium and 1-2 at Fenway Park), the Twins began their 10-game homestand with a 2-1 series loss to the Nationals over the weekend…tonight the Twins will continue the homestand with the first of three against the Yankees…after this series, the Twins will host the Royals for four games from Thursday-Sunday…the Twins have gone 5-4 at Target Field and 7-6 on the road…Twins have gone just 2-6 in their last eight after starting the season 10-4 in their first 14.
OBER AND THE BOYS RALLY FOR ROCCO: The Twins beat the Nationals yesterday afternoon by a score of 3-1, earning Rocco Baldelli his 300th career managerial victory…Bailey Ober (1-0) made his 2023 debut, allowing one run on three hits in 5.2 innings pitched…Caleb Thielbar (1.1 IP) and Jorge López (1.0 IP) each recorded a hold, while Jhoan Duran (1.0 IP) earned his fifth save…the offense recorded nine hits, highlighted by Jorge Polanco, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI…Ryan Jeffers and Jose Miranda each had two hits and Michael A. Taylor hit his fourth home run of the season, a 444-foot shot, the fourth longest of his career and longest for a Twin this season…the game was played in 2:13, the fifth-fastest game for the Twins this season.
TWINS AND YANKEES: The Twins have gone 2-2 against the Yankees this season, splitting a four-game series to start the last road-trip, from April 13-16…the Twins outscored the Yankees 15-5 in the first two games, then were outscored 1-8 in games three and four.
The last time the Twins hosted the Yankees was from June 7-9, 2022, winning the middle game of the three-game series.
Since 2002, the Twins have gone 40-100 against the Yankees in regular season play.
Carlos Correa is hitting .306 (48-for-157) with nine doubles, 13 home runs, 33 RBI, 17 walks, a .371 on-base percentage, a .611 slugging percentage and a .983 OPS in 41 career regular season games against the Yankees.
Jose Miranda is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBI, two walks and an .832 OPS in 11 career games vs. the Yankees.
Jorge Polanco is hitting .333 (18-for-54) with three doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.151 OPS in his last 13 games against the Yankees…he has homered in three of his last five vs. New York.
Tonight’s starter, Sonny Gray, pitched parts of two seasons with the Yankees, going 15-16, 4.51 ERA (195.2 IP, 98 ER), with 84 walks and 182 strikeouts in 41 games (34 starts)… he was originally acquired by the Yankees in a trade with Oakland on July 31, 2017, in exchange for Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian and Jorge Mateo…he was dealt by the Yankees to the Reds on January 21, 2019, with Reiver Sanmartin, in exchange for Shed Long Jr. and a competitive balance round A pick.
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: Since the two wins in Yankee Stadium on April 13 and 14, the Twins have hit just .207 with 3.6 runs-per-game…below are their offensive comparisons from the first 14 games and the last eight games:
AVG H 2B HR R/G BB K OBP SLG OPS
4/1-14 (14 G): .243 116 19 16 4.4 40 130 .311 .396 .707
4/15-23 (8 G): .207 54 12 9 3.6 21 80 .278 .356 .635
BRI-PEAT?: The Twins faced Jhony Brito in game one of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium on April 13, scoring nine runs in the first inning and chasing Brito after 0.2 innings… he faced the lineup exactly one time through and was relieved by Colten Brewer…the Twins won the game 11-2…nine runs marked the Twins’ most runs scored in an inning against the Yankees ever…Twins lineup vs. Brito that night to the right
POLO ON THE MARK: Jorge Polanco has hit safely in all three games since his return from the IL (left knee inflammation) and is hitting .385 (5-for-13) with a 1.077 OPS…yesterday afternoon, he hit his 99th career home run…below are the Twins to reach 100 (since 1961):
TWIN HR TWIN HR TWIN HR
1) Harmon Killebrew……….475 8) Gary Gaetti ………………..201 15) Max Kepler………….. 131
2) Kent Hrbek………………..293 9) Brian Dozier……………….167 16) Eddie Rosario………. 119
3) Justin Morneau…………..221 10) Tom Brunansky…………163 17) Roy Smalley…………. 110
4) Tony Oliva………………….220 11) Miguel Sanó……………..162 18) Jason Kubel …………. 105
5) Torii Hunter ……………….214 12) Joe Mauer ………………..143 19) Byron Buxton………. 101
6) Bob Allison………………..211 13) Michael Cuddyer……….141 Corey Koskie………… 101
7) Kirby Puckett……………..207 14) Jacque Jones…………….132 21) Jorge Polanco……….. 99
NOTE: Buck hit his 100th on April 11 vs. Chicago-AL.
DO YOU EVEN LIFT, JOE?: Joey Gallo did not appear against the Yankees during the four-game series at Yankee Stadium (IL – right intercostal strain)…Gallo played parts of two seasons in New York, hitting .159 (67-for-421) with 25 home runs, 46 RBI, 77 walks and 194 strikeouts in 140 games…he hit his fifth home run of the season on Friday night and now has an at-bat-per-home run ratio of 6.80, second highest in baseball (minimum 30 plate appearances), trailing Max Muncy (6.45)…despite missing 10 games (right intercostal strain — April 11-19), he still leads the club in homers and ranks tied for 10th in the American League.
He leads baseball in average exit velocity at 100.3 mph (minimum 30 PA)…additionally, he ranks fifth in baseball in average distance of balls put in play at 237 feet.
BUCK TRUCK GETS A TUNE-UP: After an 0-for-15 stretch from April 13-18, Byron Buxton has hit safely in four straight, hitting .313 (5-for-16) with two doubles, one home run, three runs scored, two walks and just four strikeouts in that span with a .625 slugging percentage and a 1.014 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – SONNY GRAY #54
Will face New York-AL for the seventh time in his career; is 1-2, 4.04 ERA (35.2 P, 16 ER) with 14 walks and 33 strikeouts…last faced the Yankees on September 8, 2022.
Making his 252nd career appearance, 243rd career start.
Making fifth start of the year, third at home…is is 5-2, 2.37 ERA (79.2 IP, 21 ER) with 28 walks and 96 strikeouts in 15 starts at Target Field with the Twins.
Acquired by the Twins on March 13, 2022 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, along with righthanded pitcher Francis Peguero, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chase Petty.
LAST START: Did not factor into the decision in the series opener against the Red Sox on April 18 at Fenway park, opposite Chris Sale…pitched 5.0 innings, allowed one run on seven hits, walked two batters and fanned seven… his seven hits were the most Gray has allowed since August 8, 2022 vs Los Angeles-NL when he also allowed seven hits…the lone run came from an RBI single to Rafael Devers in the first inning…relieved by Jorge López in the sixth inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 5.0 innings…Griffin Jax allowed one run in the eighth…Jovani Moran entered in the 10th inning and took the Twins 4-3 loss after a walkoff RBI single by Alex Verdugo. TWO STARTS AGO: Was the winner in the rubber match against the Chicago White Sox on April 12 at Target Field, opposite Lucas Giolito…pitched 5.0 scoreless innings with three hits, two walks issued and five strikeouts…relieved by Jorge Alcala to start the sixth inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 3.2 scoreless innings until Jhoan Duran gave up a solo home run to Lenyn Sosa in the ninth inning…Twins won 3-1, securing the series victory to finish the homestand.
AGAINST NEW YORK-AL: Gray is facing the Yankee for the seventh time in his career, going 1-2, 4.04 ERA (35.2 IP, 16 ER) with 14 walks and 33 strikeouts in his six previous appearances…last faced New York-AL on September 8, 2022 at Yankees Stadium…did not factor into the decision despite a quality start, after pitching 6.0 innings, surrendering one run, six hits, one walk and striking seven batters…relieved by Griffin Jax as the bullpen allowed one run over three innings…the lone blemish came from Jorge López who gave up a solo home run to Miguel Andújar in the eighth…the Twins went on to win 4-3 after a two-run eighth-inning homer homer from Carlos Correa. AGray pitched parts of two seasons with the Yankees, going 15-16, 4.51 ERA (195.2 IP, 98 ER), with 84 walks and 182 strikeouts in 41 games (34 starts)…he was originally acquired by the Yankees in a trade with Oakland on July 31, 2017, in exchange for Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian and Jorge Mateo…he was dealt by the Yankees to the Reds on January 21, 2019, with Reiver Sanmartin, in exchange for Shed Long Jr. and a competitive balance round A pick.
Has not pitched against the Yankees in a home game since June 15, 2017 as a member of Oakland…pitched 5.1 innings, allowed three runs on eight hits, walked three batters and struck out six…is 1-2, 4.76 ERA (22.2 IP, 12 ER) with 10 walk and 21 strikeouts in home games against the Yankees in his career.
Earned his last win against the Yankees on July 7, 2015.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: After his first two home starts of the year, Gray is 1-0, 0.75 ERA (12.0 IP, 1 ER) with three walks and 18 strikeouts…Gray went 4-2, 2.66 ERA (67.2 IP, 20 ER) with 25 walks and 78 strikeouts in 13 starts at home in 2022…is now 51-39, 3.79 ERA 740.1 IP, 312 R) with 250 walks and 719 strikeouts in his career at home, including 5-2, 2.37 ERA (79.2 IP, 21 ER) in 15 starts at Target Field (Twins are 10-5 in those games).
Among American League pitchers, Gray is ranked fourth in home ERA ,trailing Shohei Ohtani (0.00), Gerrit Cole (0.33) and Jeffrey Springs (0.56)…tied with Jeffrey Springs for second in home strikeouts-per-nine (13.50), just behind Jacob DeGrom (15.09)…tied for sixth in opponent batting average (.197)…his .460 opponent OPS ranks fifth (min. 10.0 IP).
THE RIGHT WAY: So far this season, Gray has seen more success against right-handed hitters as opposed to lefties…in his four starts, Gray has held righties to .177/.222/.255 (9-for-51) with 22 strikeouts as opposed to lefties who are slashing .258/.378/.355 with just four strikeouts.
Tied for sixth among American League pitchers in opponent batting average against righties…is tied for eighth in all of baseball with JP Sears in strikeouts versus righties (min. 20.0 IP).
However, since 2019, is holding left-handed hitters to a .203 (177-for-870) batting average, ranking fourth among major league right-handed pitchers (min. 750 AB) in that span, trailing Gerrit Cole (.188), Zac Gallen (.194) and Lucas Giolito (.201).
THE ARSENAL: Gray is currently using a six-pitch mix, per Baseball Savant…continues to use his curveball the most at 26.3 percent…after throwing 24 fastballs in his last start, his fastball has become his second most used pitch at 17.6 percent…continues to exclusively use the slider against righties and has only used his changeup against lefties…here’s a look at his repertoire so far:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
Curveball (79.0)……………………………….26.3% (94 pitches, 39/55) ……………………………….. .263 (5-for-19),2 2B, 4 K
4-Seam Fastball (92.7)……………………..17.6% (63 pitches, 22/41) ………………………………. .385 (5-for-13), 2 2B, 1 K
Slider (83.0)……………………………………..16.2% (58 pitches, 58/0) …………………………. .111(2-for-18), 2 2B, 12 K
Sinker (92.2) …………………………………….14.8% (53 pitches, 45/8) ………………………….. .286 (4-for-14), 1 2B, 5 K
Cutter (87.6) …………………………………….14.6% (52 pitches, 48/4) ………………………………….. .083 (1-for-12), 3 K
Changeup (87.1)……………………………….10.4% (37 pitches, 0/37) ………………………………………….. .000 (0-for-6)
