NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees complete their six-game road trip today with their final game of a three-game set at St. Louis (1-1 thus far)…are 3-2 on the road trip so far after winning two-of-three games at Oakland and splitting their doubleheader on Saturday.
With a 46-37 (.554) record, the Yankees own the fourth-best record in the American League.
Have won five of their last seven games and seven of their last 11 games (since 6/20). Have won each of their last three completed series…have won or split 11 of their last 15 completed series (since 5/8) and 12 of their last 17 completed series (since 5/1).
Are 10-4 in rubber games this season…with a win today, it would mark the ninth time this season the Yankees won a series after dropping the series opener.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees split their doubleheader at St. Louis on Saturday.
The Yankees fell to the Cardinals, 11-4, in Game 1…RHP Luis Severino (4.0IP, 9H, 9R/7ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR) started and took the loss after allowing 9R, the second-most he has allowed in his career…3B Oswaldo Cabrera (3-for-4, 1R, 1RBI) tied his career high in hits and drove in the Yankees’ first run with an RBI single in the seventh inning…LF Jake Bauers (1- for-5, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit a two-run HR in the ninth inning… DH Anthony Rizzo (0-for-2, 3BB) recorded a season-high tying 3BB…LHP Matt Krook (1.1IP, 2H, 2ER, 3BB, 1K, 1WP) allowed 2ER in 1.1IP…RHP Albert Abreu (0.2IP, 1K) and LHP Nick Ramirez (1.0IP, 1H) were both scoreless in relief…Josh
Donaldson (1.0IP) made his first career pitching appearance and tossed a perfect eighth inning.
The Yankees defeated the Cardinals, 6-2, in Game 2…RHP Ian Hamilton (1.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2K, 1HR) opened the game… CF Harrison Bader (0-for-3, 1RBI, 1SF) drove in the Yankees’ first run with a sac fly in the first inning, marking his 200th career RBI…SS Anthony Volpe (2-for-4, 2R, 1 triple, 1RBI) recorded his fifth straight multi-hit game and hit a go-ahead RBI triple in the second inning…DH DJ LeMahieu (1-for-3, 1R, 1RBI, 1BB, 1SF) hit a sac fly in the second inning…C Jose Trevino (1-for-3, 1R, 1 double, 1RBI, 1SH) drove in a run in the ninth with a sac bunt…2B Gleyber Torres (1-for-4, 2RBI, 1BB) hit a two-run single in the ninth inning…Yankees relievers allowed just 1ER in 8.0IP (4H, 5BB, 8K, 1HP).
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have recorded double-digit hits in a season-high four straight games, their longest such streak since a five-game streak from 6/6-12/21…are batting .308/.391/.455 (44-for-143) with 31R, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4HR, 28RBI, 19BB, 4SF, 3HP and 1SB in that span.
Have scored at least 4R in each of their last four games after doing so just once in their previous five games and just twice in their previous nine games…the Yankees are 37-10 this year when scoring at least four runs.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.67 ERA this season, the fourth-lowest ERA in the Majors, trailing only Houston (3.58), Minnesota (3.62) and Tampa Bay (3.65)…also rank third in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.229) and fifth in WHIP (1.22).
Have allowed 3ER-or-fewer in nine of their last 12 games (since 6/18-G2), posting a 3.06 ERA (106.0IP, 36ER) in that span…have also allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 10 of their last 15 games (since 6/14), 14 of their last 20 games (since 6/8-G2), 17 of their last 24 games (since 6/3) and 19 of their last 27 games (since 5/30)…own a 3.46 ERA in their last 27 games.
Have allowed 2ER-or-fewer in seven of their last 11 games (since 6/20).
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached base a career-high-tying four times in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader (12th time and second of the season)…is batting .455/.519/.727 (10-for-22) with 7R, 2HR, 7RBI, 4BB and 1SF in his last eight games (since 6/22).
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo is batting .303/.489/.394 (10-for-33) with 5R, 3 doubles, 1RBI, 10BB/1IBB and 2HP in his last 11 games (since 6/20).
Has reached base in a season-high 17 straight games (since 6/11), his longest streak since a 17-game streak from 4/28- 5/17/21 with Chicago-NL…his last longer on-base streak was a 23-game streak from 6/26-7/24/19 with Chicago-NL.
Is batting .368/.455/.491 (21-for-57) with 4 doubles, 1HR, 8BB and 1HP vs. left-handed pitchers this season…among all Major League hitters, owns the second-highest OBP in the Majors vs. lefties and ranks fifth in BA vs. left-handed pitchers…his .455 OBP the highest in the Majors among lefthanded batters vs. left-handed pitchers and his .368 BA is the second-highest among left-handed batters.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has recorded multiple hits in a career-high five straight games…is just the third Yankee in the last four seasons (since 2020) to record multiple hits in at least five straight games, joining Aaron Judge (5G from 8/23-28/21) and Giancarlo Stanton (5G from 8/3-7/21)…is batting .550/.571/.700 (11-for-20) with 5R, 1 double, 1 triple, 1RBI, 1BB and 1SB in that span…with a multi-hit game today, would be just the third Yankee in the last nine years (since 2015) to record multiple hits in at least six straight games…would join Didi Gregorius (6G from 6/24- 7/3/19) and DJ LeMahieu (6G from 6/23-30/19).
Has reached base in 14 of his last 16 games (since 6/13), batting .373/.448/.569 (19-for-51) with 9R, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1HR, 3RBI, 7BB and 2SB over that span.
Owns a career-high 11-game on-base streak (since 6/20), batting .441/.513/.647 (15-for-34) with 8R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1HR, 2RBI, 5BB and 1SB over that stretch.
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 18th start of the season today…is 8-1 with a 2.78 ERA (103.2IP, 32ER) and 113K in 17 starts this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 13 of his first 17 starts, the third-most such starts in the Majors, trailing only Chicago-NL’s Marcus Stroman (14) and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (14).
His 8-1 record (.889) is tied with Cincinnati’s Ian Gibaut (also 8-1, .889) for the second-best in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (11-1, .917). Is one of seven Yankees pitchers to win at least eight of his first 17 starts of a season while recording one-orzero losses, joining Ron Guidry (13-0 in 1978), Jimmy Key (12-1 in 1994), Roger Clemens (11-1 in 2001), Whitey Ford (10-1 in 1964), Allie Reynolds (9-1 in 1949) and Ralph Terry (8-1 in 1961).
The Yankees are 13-4 in his starts this season…is one of three starting pitchers this season to have his team win at least 13 of his starts…joins Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (club is 14-3 in 17GS) and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (club is 14-2 in 16GS).
NATIONAL TREASURE: The Yankees are 13-6 (.684) in 19 Interleague games this season…marks the third-best record in Interleague play this year, trailing only Miami (20-7, .741) and Toronto (16-7, .696).
WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a Major League-best 2.80 ERA (314.2IP, 98ER) and a .211 opponents’ BA this season…the Yankees are the only Major League
bullpen with an ERA under 3.00 and are one of only three bullpens that currently own an ERA below 3.50 (Cleveland – 3.02; Minnesota-3.49).
Also own a Major League-best .329 opponents’ SLG, .629 opponents’ OPS and 0.69 HR/9.0IP…also rank second in WHIP (1.17) and opponents’ OBP (.300).
Have posted a 1.65 ERA (43.2IP, 8ER) and 46K in the Yankees’ last 12 team games (since 6/18-G2)…have held opponents to a .181 (27-for-149) BA in that span.
FUN IN THE SUN: The Yankees are 22-8 (.733) in day games this season, the best record by any Major League team in day games this season.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has reached base in 20 of his last 21 games since 6/8-G1.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP GERRIT COLE (8-1, 2.78 ERA)
RHP Gerrit Cole will make his 18th start of the season in today’s series finale at St. Louis…the 32-year-old will pitch on extended six days’ rest…last started on Sunday vs. Texas and did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 5-3 win (4.2IP, 9H, 3ER, 1BB, 7K, 1HR, 1BK)…reached 10 years of Major League service on 5/29…recorded his 2,000th career strikeout on 5/23 vs. Baltimore (Jorge Mateo swinging), becoming the third-fastest pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone (in terms of games and innings pitched)…is 8-1 with a 2.78 ERA (103.2IP, 32ER) and 113K in 17 starts this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 13 of his first 17 starts, the third-most such starts in the Majors…the Yankees are 13-4 in his 17 starts this season…his Major League-leading 257K last season were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Ron Guidry’s previous record of 248K in 1978…the five-time All-Star (2015, ’18-19, ’21-22) has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting five times (second in 2021, fourth in 2020, second in 2019, fifth in 2018, fourth in 2015)…his career 10.48 K/9.0IP ratio (2,043K/1,753.2IP) is the eighth-highest in Major League history (min. 1,000.0IP)…in 92 starts with the Yankees, is 44-20 with a 3.19 ERA (558.2IP, 198ER) and 707K…since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (79) and strikeouts (1,309), ranks second in K/9.0IP (12.13) and innings pitched (971.1), third in opponents’ BA (.205), winning percentage (.725, 79-30, min. 60 decisions) and WAR among pitchers (25.5 – FanGraphs), fifth in WHIP (1.01) and K/BB (5.22), and sixth in ERA (2.97)…was originally selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play at UCLA for three seasons (2009-11)…was the first overall pick of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the 15th pitcher (and 11th right-hander) to be chosen first…is the fifth player selected first overall to play for the Yankees, joining Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Foli and Ron Blomberg…signed a nine-year contract extending through the 2028 season with a player opt-out following the 2024 season on 12/18/19.
LAST START: Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 5-3 win on Sunday vs. Texas (4.2IP, 9H, 3ER, 1BB, 7K, 1HR, 1BK)…his 4.2IP marked his shortest start of the season and his shortest since 6/9/22 at Minnesota (2.1IP)…marked just the fourth time in 17 starts this year he allowed more than 2R…his season-high 9H were his most allowed in a game since 7/23/22 at Baltimore (also 9H)…allowed an RBI single to Corey Seager in the first inning and two runs in the second inning with a solo HR to Jonah Heim and an RBI double to Leody Taveras. 2023: Is 8-1 with a 2.78 ERA (103.2IP, 32ER) and 113K in 17 starts this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 13 of his first 17 starts…his 13 such starts are the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Chicago-NL’s Marcus Stroman (14) and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (14).
Is tied for second in the Majors in winning percentage (.889, second in AL), ranks ninth in ERA (2.78, fifth in AL) and strikeouts (113, sixth in AL), and 10th in innings pitched (103.2, fifth in AL)…is tied for fourth in the AL in wins (eight).
His 2.78 ERA is the fifth-lowest ERA by a Yankees starter through his first 17 games of a season in the last 26 years (since 2000), trailing only Luis Severino’s 2.10 ERA in his first 17GS in 2018, Masahiro Tanaka’s 2.27 ERA in his first 17GS in 2014, Nestor Cortes’ 2.63 ERA in his first 17GS in 2022 and Andy Pettitte’s 2.70 ERA in his first 17GS in 2010.
Has allowed 1R-or-fewer in eight of his 17 starts…has recorded four scoreless starts.
Has started after a Yankees’ loss seven times this season…the Yankees are 7-0 in those games with Cole going 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA (43.1IP, 9ER) in those starts.
17 of his 34R allowed have come in three starts: 6R on 5/7 at Tampa Bay, 5R on 5/23 vs. Baltimore and 6R on 5/28 vs. San Diego.
Has recorded at least 8K in eight of his 17 starts this season.
Has allowed just 2HR in his last five starts (since 6/3) after allowing 8HR in his previous five starts (5/7-28)…eight of his 10HR allowed this season have been solo home runs… his seven-start homerless streak to start the season (3/30-5/2) was the third-longest homerless streak of his career (10G from 5/26-8/13/16 and 8G from 7/9-8/20/18).
Has received 3R-or-fewer of support in 12 of his 17 starts…has received 2R-or-fewer of support in eight of his starts.
Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 12 of his 17 starts…his 12 such starts are tied for the sixth-most in the AL and tied for the 10th-most in the Majors.
Reached 10 years of Major League service on 5/29.
Tossed his fourth career shutout on 4/16 vs. Minnesota (9.0IP, 2H, 1BB, 10K)…marked his seventh career complete game (first since 7/17/21 vs. Boston–6.0IP) and his fourth career nine-inning complete game.
Posted a career-high 25.2 scoreless inning streak from 4/11-27…was the second-longest scoreless streak by a Yankees starting pitcher in the last 63 years (since 1961), trailing only Catfish Hunter’s 26.0 scoreless inning streak from 8/30-9/11/75…also posted a season-opening 12.0 scoreless inning streak (3/30-4/5).
Was named the AL “Pitcher of the Month” for March/April after going 5-0 with a 1.11 ERA (40.2IP, 23H, 5ER, 11BB, 44K, 0HR) in 6GS…was also named the AL “Player of the Week” for 4/10-16.
WINNING WAYS: His 8-1 record (.889) is tied with Cincinnati’s Ian Gibaut (also 8-1, .889) for the second-best in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (11-1, .917)…his eight wins are tied for the fourth-most in the AL.
Is one of seven Yankees pitchers to win at least eight of his first 17 starts of a season while recording one-or-zero losses, joining Ron Guidry (13-0 in 1978), Jimmy Key (12-1 in 1994), Roger Clemens (11-1 in 2001), Whitey Ford (10-1 in 1964), Allie Reynolds (9-1 in 1949) and Ralph Terry (8-1 in 1961).
The Yankees are 13-4 in his starts this season…is one of three starting pitchers this season to have his team win at least 13 of his starts…joins Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (club is 14-3 in 17GS) and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (club is 14-2 in 16GS).
Has left just two games this season with the Yankees trailing.
Went undefeated in his first 13 starts of the season…his 13-start season-opening undefeated streak was tied for the third-longest by a Yankees starter in franchise history, trailing only Ron Guidry’s 17-start streak to begin the 1978 season and Allie Reynolds’ 15-start streak to begin the 1954 season…Orlando Hernández (2004), Bob Wickman (1993), Jim Coates (1960) and Monte Pearson (1937) also recorded 13-start streaks…his 13-start undefeated streak was also the second-longest undefeated streak of his career, trailing only a 28-start streak from 5/27/19-8/19/20.
His season-opening seven-game winning streak from 3/30-6/3 was the longest winning streak by a Yankees pitcher to start a season since Aaron Small’s season-opening 10-game winning streak in 2005…was also tied for the third-longest winning streak of his career.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals come to the end of a six-game homestand that included the 2022 defending World Champion Houston Astros (1-2) and New York Yankees (1-1) with an afternoon tilt at Busch Stadium today against the Bronx Bombers. Over a 29-day stretch through the All-Star Break (June 15-July 13), Busch Stadium is hosting six Cardinals home games and three concerts: Luke Combs (June 17) and Morgan Wallen (July 6 & 7).
FISHING TRIP: Following today’s game, the Cardinals will depart St. Louis for their final road trip before the All-Star Break, with four games in Miami (July 3-6) and three games on the Southside of Chicago against the White Sox (July 7-9). This will be the Cardinals first games in 2023 against their Spring Training roommates and their new manager, former Cardinal Skip Schumaker.
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 9.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and Milwaukee and 4.5 games behind 4th place Chicago. St. Louis has spent 68 of 95 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 also beginning 34-48 in 1990.
VERHAGEN TO INJURED LIST; ROMERO RECALLED: Today the Cardinals placed RHP Drew VerHagen (right hip impingement) on the 15-day Injured List and recalled LHP JoJo Romero from Memphis (AAA). Romero was with the Cardinals in London on the Taxi Squad. He most recently pitched last night for the Redbirds, and is averaging 14.0 strikeouts/9 IP (33 K/21.0 IP) this season. RHP Dakota Hudson was returned to Memphis after serving as the 27th player for yesterday’s doubleheader.
CROSSING JORDAN: Today’s starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery is making his second career start against his original drafting team, the New York Yankees. Last season, Montgomery was traded to the Cardinals for OF Harrison Bader on August 2. Four days later, Montgomery fired 5.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a 1-0 Cardinals win over the Yankees at Busch Stadium en route to a three-game sweep.
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 seven of 11 games against the Yankees in St. Louis, including three straight (Aug. 5, 2022-present).
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).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (5-7, 3.52)
TODAY’S GAME
NL Leaders: ERA (3.52, 13th); Quality Starts (9, T-10th); Losses (7, T-5th); Hits (94, 10th), HR/9 (0.88, 12th)
- Makes his 17th start of the season and his 125th career (28th as a member of the Cardinals). It’s his 2nd career start against his former team the NY Yankees.
- Has won a season-high 3-straight decisions since snapping his 7-game losing skid.
- Is 8-5, 3.46 ERA at Busch Stadium in 17 starts, including a 3-3, 4.14 mark in 2023.
- Ranks among MLB lefty pitching leaders in innings pitched (92.0, 6th), Quality Starts (9, T-5th) & ERA (3.52, 6th).
- Finished 7th in NL in ERA (1.71) for June & 12th in opp. BA (.212). Owns a career mark of 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA in June, his most total wins in any calendar month.
- Is 11-10 with a 3.35 ERA in 27 starts as a member of the Cardinals. St. Louis won 10-of-his-first-13 starts as a Cardinal, but have gone 3-11 over his last 14.
- The Cardinals have lost 9 of the 16 games he has started by one-run and/or shutout.
- Posted a 6.04 ERA in the month of May, his highest of any month in his career with more than one start and highest since a 5.90 ERA in five starts with the Yankees in September 2020.
- Went seven consecutive starts (4/13-5/16) with three runs of support or fewer and three with zero (4/13, 4/24, 4/29).
- Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 146 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22); Miles Mikolas ranks 2nd with 123.
- Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (94 total batters faced). Is the only pitcher in MLB who has faced 90+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.
- Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (98-of-124) of his career starts.
LAST TIME OUT
- Capped off month of June with 3rd-straight winning decision on Tue. in a 4-2 win over the Astros. Posted his team-high 9th quality start as he improved to 5-7 on the season.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/27 HOU W 4-2 W-5 6.2 6 2 1 1 6 1 91-62
2023
- Won on the road for the 1st time since April 9 at MIL in a 9-3 win over Washington on 6/20 at Nationals Park, matching his season-high with 7.0 IP.
- Came away with a no-decision in the Cardinals 8-5 loss to the Giants in 10 innings at Busch Stadium on 6/14. Twirled his second consecutive quality start (7th overall) as the Cardinals lost for the 11th time in his 14 starts this season.
- Threw 6.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball on 6/9 vs. CIN for his first win since April 9 at MIL. Snapped a stretch of 10 straight starts without a winning decision. Received more than four runs of support for the 3rd time this season and first since 4/9 at MIL.
- Surpassed 600 strikeouts vs. CIN (6/9), fanning Elly De La Cruz in the first inning.
- Snapped a career-high seven game losing streak vs. CIN (6/9) and 10 straight starts without a Cardinals win dating back to April 13 vs. Pittsburgh. Had never gone 10 consecutive starts without a winning decision in his MLB career (9 starts without a win to begin 2022 season w/NYY).
