NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their six-game road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game set at St. Louis (through Sun.)…are 2-1 on the road trip after winning two-of-three games at Oakland.
With a 45-36 (.556) record, the Yankees own the fourth-best record in the American League.
Have won four of their last five games and six of their last nine games (since 6/20).
Have won each of their last three series…have won or split 11 of their last 15 series (since 5/8) and 12 of their last 17 series (since 5/1).
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees clinched a series win with a 10-4 victory over the Athletics on Thursday at Oakland… RHP Clarke Schmidt (5.1IP, 5H, 3ER, 3BB, 3K, 0HR) started and earned the win…Yankees batters scored at least 10R for their second straight game…LF Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 3RBI, 1SF) drove in three runs hitting, a game-tying solo HR in the second inning, a sac fly in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth inning…3B Josh Donaldson (1-for-5, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit a go-ahead two-run HR in the sixth inning… DH Gleyber Torres (2-for-5, 1R, 2RBI) hit a two-run single in the sixth…RF Giancarlo Stanton (1-for-4, 1R, 1 double, 2RBI) hit a two-run double in the sixth inning…CF Harrison Bader (3-for-4, 2R, 1 double, 1RBI, 1BB) reached base a career-high-tying four times…SS Anthony Volpe (2-for-4, 1R, 1BB) recorded his career-high third straight multi-hit game…2B/1B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-4, 1R, 2BB) reached base three times… RHP Ron Marinaccio (0.2IP, 1K), RHP Ian Hamilton (1.0IP, 1H) \and RHP Albert Abreu (1.0IP, 2K) were scoreless in relief… LHP Nick Ramirez (1.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB) allowed a run in the
eighth inning.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters scored 10R on Thursday, marking their second straight game with double-digit runs and their ninth such game of the season…have scored at least 10R in consecutive games three times this season (also 3G from 5/28-30 and 2G from 5/9-10).
Scored 8R in the sixth inning on Thursday, their most runs in an inning this season and most since 9/21/22 vs. Pittsburgh (8R in the eighth).
Have scored 21R in their last two games after scoring 21R in their previous nine games (6/18-G1-6/27).
Have hit .304 (14-for-46) with 4 doubles, 19RBI, 4BB, 2SF and 2HP with RISP in their last five games (since 6/24).
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.62 ERA this season, the third-lowest ERA in the Majors, trailing only Houston (3.58) and Tampa Bay (3.59)…also rank second in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.228) and fifth in WHIP (1.21).
Have allowed 3ER-or-fewer in eight of their last 10 games (since 6/18-G2), posting a 2.53 ERA (89.0IP, 25ER) in that span…have also allowed 3ER-or-fewer in nine of their last 13 games (since 6/14), 13 of their last 18 games (since 6/8- G2), 16 of their last 22 games (since 6/3) and 18 of their last 25 games (since 5/30)…own a 3.28 ERA in their last 25 games.
Have allowed 2ER-or-fewer in six of their last nine games (since 6/20).
OH MY JOSH: INF Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead two-run HR in the sixth inning on Thursday at Oakland…has 2HR in his last three games and 8HR in 24 games this season.
Has driven in a run in a season-high three straight games, recording 5RBI in that span.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has recorded multiple hits in a career-high three straight games…has reached base in 12 of his last 14 games (since 6/13), batting .349/.440/.535 (15-for-43) with 6R, 5 doubles, 1HR, 2RBI, 7BB and 2SB over that span.
STANTON ISLAND: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton hit a tworun double in the sixth inning on Thursday at Oakland…has recorded 5RBI in his last two games…has hit safely in four of his last five games, batting .294/.368/.529 (5-for-17) with 3R, 1 double, 1HR, 6RBI and 2BB in that span.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: OF Aaron Judge was named to his fifth career All-Star team (also 2017-18, ’21-22) on Thursday…is the fourth player in Yankees history to earn at least five fan elections, joining Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (9), Hall of Famer Dave Winfield (7) and Alex Rodriguez (6).
Is one of five position players drafted by the Yankees to make the All-Star team multiple times as a Yankee (also Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada).
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader reached base a career-high-tying four times and recorded a season-high-tying 3H on Thursday at Oakland…is batting .381/.409/.571 (8-for-21) with 4R, 4 doubles, 3RBI and 1BB in his last five games (since 6/24).
Has multiple hits in three of his last four games.
Will face his former team for the first time this weekend… Bader was originally selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft…spent parts of six Major League seasons with the Cardinals (2017-22), batting .246 (376-for-1,530) with 226R, 72 doubles, 11 triples, 52HR, 168RBI, 135BB and 55SB in 523 games.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo is batting .333/.500/.444 (9-for-27) with 5R, 3 doubles, 1RBI, 7BB/1IBB and 2HP in his last nine games (since 6/20).
Has reached base in a season-high-tying 15 straight games since 6/11 (also 15G from 5/1-17)…his last longer on-base streak was a 17-game streak from 4/28-5/17/21 with Chicago-NL.
Is batting .364/.453/.491 (20-for-55) with 4 doubles, 1HR, 8BB and 1HP vs. left-handed pitchers this season…among Major League left-handed batters, his .453 OBP is the highest vs. left-handed pitchers and his .364 BA ranks second-highest… among all Major League hitters, is first in the Majors in OBP and sixth in BA (second in AL) vs. left-handed pitchers.
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 10 of their last 11 games (since 6/18-G1), 11 of their last 13 games (since 6/14), 15 of their last 18 ames (since 6/8-G2), 18 of their last 22 games (since 6/3) and 20 of their last 25 games (since 5/30).
Have allowed 2ER-or-fewer in seven of their last 11 starts and 12 of their last 18 starts.
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in three runs on Thursday at Oakland, hitting a game-tying solo HR in the second inning, a sac fly in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth inning…his 5HR this season (64 games as a position player) have already surpassed his 2022 total (4HR in 142 games).
Is batting .400/.444/.800 (6-for-15) with 4R, 2HR, 7RBI, 2BB and 1SF in his last six games (since 6/22).
SCHMIDT’S CREEK: RHP Clarke Schmidt earned the win on Thursday after allowing 3ER in 5.1IP…has posted a 2.55 ERA (42.1IP, 12ER) over his last eight starts (since 5/19)…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in each of his last eight starts, 10 of his last 11 starts (since 5/3) and 11 of his last 13 starts (since 4/23).
NATIONAL TREASURE: The Yankees are 12-5 (.706) in 17 Interleague games this season…marks the second-best record in Interleague games this season, trailing only Miami (20-7, .741)…have won or split each of their six series vs. the National League this season, winning five of those series.
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT: The Yankees will face a lefthanded starting pitcher for the third straight game…prior to this stretch, had faced just one lefty starter in their previous 38 games from 5/14-6/27 (faced Los Angeles-NL’s Clayton Kershaw on 6/2 at Dodger Stadium).
WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a Major League-best 2.82 ERA (302.2IP, 95ER) and a .212 opponents’ BA this season…the Yankees are one of only three Major League bullpens that currently own an ERA below 3.50 (Cleveland – 2.98; San Diego – 3.45).
Also own a Major League-best .333 opponents’ SLG, .631 opponents’ OPS and 0.71 HR/9.0IP…also rank second in WHIP (1.17) and opponents’ OBP (.299).
Have posted a 1.42 ERA (31.2IP, 5ER) and 36K in the Yankees’ last 10 team games (since 6/18-G2)…have held opponents to a .183 (20-for-109) BA in that span.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games since 6/8-G1.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP LUIS SEVERINO (1-2, 5.25 ERA)
RHP Luis Severino will make his eighth start of the season in tonight’s series opener at St. Louis…the 29-year-old will make the start on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…last started on Saturday vs. Texas and earned his first win of the season in the Yankees’ 1-0 victory, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (5H, 2BB, 4K)…marked his first scoreless start of the season and first since 10/3/22 at Texas (7.0IP)…missed the first 48 games of the season with a right lat strain…went 7-3 with a 3.18 ERA (102.0IP, 72H, 37R/36ER, 30BB, 112K, 14HR) in 19 starts for the Yankees in 2022…allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 15 of his starts, 2ER- or-fewer in 12 of those starts and one-or-zero earned runs in nine of those games…missed 59 team games in 2022 with a low grade right lat strain (7/14-9/20)…the two-time AL All-Star (2017, ’18) ranked third in the Majors in 2018 with 19 wins (19-8), tied for second-most by a Yankee in the last 14 seasons (since 2009) behind CC Sabathia (21-7 in 2010)…has two of the top-eight single-season strikeout totals in Yankees history (230K in 2017, 220K in 2018)…is one of four pitchers in Yankees history with multiple 200-strikeout seasons (also Gerrit Cole from 2021-22, David Cone from 1997-98 and Ron Guidry from 1978-79)…finished third in 2017 AL Cy Young Award voting…was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 12/26/11…signed to a four-year contract extending through the 2022 season with a club option for the 2023 season on 2/15/19…the Yankees exercised his club option for the 2023 season on 11/7/22.
LAST START: Recorded his first win of the season in the Yankees’ 1-0 victory on Saturday vs. Texas, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (5H, 2BB, 4K)…marked his first scoreless start of the season and first since 10/3/22 at Texas (7.0IP)…snapped a four-start streak with 4R-or-more allowed (6/2-18).
2023: Will make his eighth start of the season tonight…is 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA (36.0IP, 21ER) and 32K in seven starts this year…has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in three of his seven starts this season and 3ER-or-fewer in four starts…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in five of his seven starts this season…each of his last six starts have come after a Yankees’ loss…the Yankees are 4-3 in his seven starts this season.
Took his second loss of the season in Game 2 of a doubleheader on 6/18 at Boston, allowing 4R/3ER over 5.0IP (7H, 3BB, 6K)…his 6K matched a season high (also 6K on 6/8-G1 vs. Chicago-AL).
Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 7-6 win on 6/13 at New York-NL, despite allowing 6R/5ER over 4.2IP (7H, 3BB, 4K, 1HR, 1HP, 2BK).
Allowed at least 3HR in back-to-back starts on 6/2 at LAD and 6/8-G1 vs. CWS…marked just the third time in his career he allowed multiple HR in consecutive starts (also three starts from 7/7-23/18 and two starts from 5/3-8/16).
Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 6-5 loss in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 6/8 vs. Chicago-AL despite allowing 4ER and a career-high-tying 3HR over 5.0IP (6H, 2BB, 6K, 1HP)…his 6K marked a season high.
Took his first loss of the season on 6/2 at Los Angeles-NL after allowing 7ER and a career-high-tying 3HR over 4.0IP (9H, 1BB, 2K)…marked his most ER in a game since he allowed a career-high 8ER on 8/12/17 vs. Boston…surrendered six of his seven ER in the first inning.
Did not record a decision on 5/27 vs. San Diego despite allowing just 2R/1ER over 6.2IP (1H, 3BB, 5K, 1HR)…surrendered his only hit on a solo HR by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the fourth inning.
Did not record a decision in his first start of the season on 5/21 at Cincinnati (4.2IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K, 0HR)…was returned from rehab and reinstated from the 15-day injured list on 5/21 prior to his start.
Allowed 1ER-or-fewer in three straight starts (10/3/22-5/27/23), tied for the second-longest such streak of his career (trails only a five-start streak from 7/15-8/6/17…allowed 2ER-or-fewer in five straight starts from 9/21/22-5/27/23, tied for the second-longest such streak of his career (trails only a nine-start streak from 9/12/18-4/20/22)…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in seven of his last 10 starts (since 6/30/22).
Missed the first 48 games of the season with a right lat strain…combined to make two rehab starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (5/10) and
Double-A Somerset (5/16), posting a 4.05 ERA (6.2IP, 8H, 3ER, 2BB, 6K, 1HR).
VS. ST. LOUIS/INTERLEAGUE: Will make his first career appearance vs. the Cardinals tonight.
In four Interleague starts this season, is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA (20.0IP, 14ER) and 16K…three of those four starts have come on the road.
Is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA (23.2IP, 21H, 7ER, 5BB, 25K, 4HR) in his last five starts vs. NL Central clubs (since 6/10/22)…is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA (44.2IP, 11ER) and 53K in eight career starts vs. the NL Central.
In 19 career appearances (17 starts) against NL teams, is 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA (100.2IP, 80H, 36R/30ER, 28BB, 114K, 14HR, 2HP)…has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 13 of his 17 career Interleague starts.
The Yankees are 14-3 all-time in Interleague games that he has started.
ROAD RULES: Will make his fifth road start of the season tonight…is 0-2 with a 7.85 ERA (18.1IP, 16ER) in four road starts this season…tonight’s game will mark his fourth road start vs. an NL opponent this season.
In 67 career games (57 starts) on the road, is 23-17 with a 3.56 ERA (339.0IP, 134ER) and 361K.
Has surrendered 3ER-or-fewer in 43-of-57 career starts on the road and 2ER-or-fewer in 33 of those starts.
From 4/7/17-6/26/18, recorded at least 6K in 23 consecutive road starts…at the time, was the fourth-longest streak in Major League history (Randy Johnson-33GS from 8/22/98-8/14/00; Pedro Martinez28GS from 8/24/99-6/21/01 and Randy Johnson-25GS from 8/30/00-5/11/02)…was later surpassed by Shane Bieber (28GS from 4/27/19-5/27/21).
START ME UP: The Yankees are 63-29 in his 92 starts since 2017…has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in 43-of-92 starts
(46.7%) over that span.
From 7/8/17-7/12/18, the Yankees went 31-4 in his 35 starts, the first time the Yankees won at least 31 games in a pitcher’s 35-start span since going 31-4 over 35 Ron Guidry starts from 8/10/77-8/15/78
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
FLIGHT PATTERN: The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees kick off a three-game weekend Interleague series tonight at Busch Stadium … St. Louis opened its six-game homestand by dropping two-of-three to the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros … The Cardinals enter today in last place in the NL Central, 9.5 games behind the 1st place Reds/Brewers and 4.5 games behind the 4th place Pirates … St. Louis has spent 66 of 93 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since beginning 33-47 (.413) in 1990.
NAILE RECALLED: The Cardinals announced today that they recalled RHP James Naile from Memphis (AAA) and placed RHP Jake Woodford on the 15-Day Injured List with a right shoulder strain … Naile is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA (38.2 IP) and 43 strikeouts in 16 games (three starts) for Memphis.
START SPREADING THE NEWS: This weekend’s series marks only the 4th regular season visit to St. Louis by the Bronx Bombers (2005, 2014, 2022, 2023), with their six total games at Busch III tying Texas & Seattle for 3rd-fewest among all visitors behind Boston (5) & Baltimore (3) … The Cardinals have won three straight vs. the Yanks after last season’s sweep at Busch.
COME FLY WITH ME: The Cardinals (15, 2008-present) and Yankees (30, 1993-present) are the only MLB teams with consecutive winning seasons each of the past 15 years.
FALL CLASSICS: The Yankees (27) and Cardinals (11) rank 1-2 all-time in World Series titles, with St. Louis winning three (1926, 1942 & 1964) of their five head-to-head Series meetings, and losing in 1928 & 1943 … The Cardinals (134) are 2nd only to the Yankees (244) in all-time postseason wins, and 3rd in postseason games (262) to the Yankees (423) and Dodgers (273).
HEIR JORDAN: Twenty-one year-old rookie Jordan Walker has a hit in 35 of his first 41 career games, 2nd-most with a hit in any Cardinal’s first 41 games behind Enos Slaughter (37 in 1938) … Walker’s career-high 17-game hitting streak (.386/.470/.649, 22-57) since June 6 is:
- MLB’s longest active, tied for the 4th-longest by any Major Leaguer this season, and the longest by any MLB rookie this season.
- his 2nd double-digit game hitting streak, putting him in company with Albert Pujols (three in 2001) and Rogers Hornsby (two in 1916) as one of only three Cardinals age 21 or younger with multiple double-digit game hitting streak in the same season.
- tied with 2001 Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols (17) for the 2nd-longest rookie hit streak in franchise history behind and Cardinals Bench Coach “Super” Joe McEwing, whose 25-gamer in 1999 stands as the 8th-longest overall hit streak in franchise history.
- the longest by any Major Leaguer age 21 or younger since Atlanta 21-year-old Freddie Freeman (20 in 2011) and tied with 21-year-old Albert Pujols (17 in 2001) for the 2nd-longest by a Cardinal age 21 or younger behind 21-year-old Frank Snyder (18 in 1915).
LIBBY: Matthew Liberatore tonight becomes the 3rd rookie pitcher in Cardinals franchise history to start against Yankees and first to do so in the regular season … RHP Johnny Beazley won Game 2 at Sportsman’s Park and Game 5 at Yankee Stadium of the 1942 World Series, while LHP Al Brazle lost Game 3 of the 1943 World Series at Yankee Stadium.
MVP: Both a Cardinal and Yankee have won Most valuable Player awards during the same season five times in MLB history: 2022 (Paul Goldschmidt & Aaron Judge), 2005 (Albert Pujols & Alex Rodriguez), 1985 (Willie McGee & Don Mattingly), 1943 (Stan Musial & Spud Chandler), and 1942 (Mort Cooper & Joe Gordon).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP MATTHEW LIBERATORE (1-2, 5.60)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Making his 7th start of the season (8th app.) and 14th career start (17th app.).
- Former 1st round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays is making his first career start vs. an American League East appearance, the only division remaining, he hasn’t pitched against a team.
- Is 3-0 career in his home starts. Is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in three home starts (4th app.) at home this season.
- All three of his career wins have come against N.L. Central opponents and all were scoreless starts allowing just three hits.
- Has made 10 of 13 career starts on the road. Still looking for his first career winning road decision (0-4, 8.41 ERA, 35.1 IP); or win away from Busch Stadium.
- Holding opposing LHB to .167 BA (4-24) and RHB .314 (27-86). Issued his first walk of the 2023 season to a left-handed batter (29 TBF) in his start vs. SF (6/12) – M. Conforto.
- The Cardinals are 8-5 in his 13 career starts and 11-5 overall in his 16 total appearances.
LAST TIME OUT
- Allowed four unearned runs in the 1st inning on two defensive errors vs. the Cubs in London. Did not allow a run for the next five outs before being removed with a no decisions the Cardinals rallied to win 7-5. Was named the starting pitcher less than 15 hours prior as Jack Flaherty was scratched from his start.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/25 CHI^ W 7-5 ND 2.1 4 4 0 2 3 0 56-33
2023 SEASON
- Made an International start in London vs. CHI (6/25), announced as the starting pitcher less than 15 hours prior. Received a no decision after allowing four unearned runs in the 1st inning, but clamped down and did not allow another run for the next five outs.
- Allowed his 1st HR of the 2023 season in his start at TEX (6/6). The 3rd inning solo HR by the Rangers’ Nathanial Lowe snapped his string of 13.0 homerless innings pitched to begin the season.
- Began the season with Memphis (AAA) and made eight starts before getting recalled to St. Louis for a May 17 start vs. Milwaukee.
- Made his 2023 debut and threw 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball with three walks and six strikeouts. Posted the exact same line in each of his first two starts vs. the Brewers (5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
- Was leading all Minor League pitchers at any level with 46.0 innings pitched and all Triple-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts (3rd in MiLB) at the time of his recall.
- Posted a 10-strikeout game at Gwinnett (4/12).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
