PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #39 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the Colorado Rockies, 7-4, at Coors Field in Denver … 2022 Postseason hero Ranger Suarez made his 2023 debut and tossed 4.0 innings – he allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts … The Phillies bullpen combined for 5.0 innings of 1 run (0 ER) relief of Suarez as Connor Brogdon (W), Andrew Bellatti, Jeff Hoffman and Gregory Soto (SV) were summoned from the pen … Offensively, Trea Turner walked twice and scored twice, Bryce Harper went 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a home run, 2 RBI & a walk and Nick Castellanos had 3 hits.
LET THE GOOD VIBES ROLL: The Phillies have won five straight games (since 5/7) which marks their longest winning streak this season as they have outscored the opposition 29-13 in those five games (+16 run differential) … The last time the Phillies had a five-game winning streak was Sept. 9-14, 2022 … Over the current streak, the Phils are averaging 5.8 runs per game offensively as Philadelphia’s pitchers have combined to post a 1.96 ERA (10 ER, 46.0 IP) with 49 strikeouts to 6 walks (8.17 SO/BB ratio).
RIDING THE SEESAW: The Phillies have won a season-best five straight games (since 5/7), which comes after a season-worst six-game losing streak (4/30-5/6), which was preceded by a four-game winning streak (4/26-29) … Per Elias, this marks only the fourth time in franchise history that the Phillies bookended a single-season losing streak of six or more games with two single-season winning streak of four or more games … Prior to this season, it last happened in 1991 (7/15-8/12) and before that in 1979 (7/30-8/10) and 1962 (7/28-8/15) … The Phillies lost their first five games this month only to rebound and win their next five to move to 5-5 in May entering play today … This marks only the fourth time in franchise history the Phils lost the first five games (or more) in a month only to win their next five in that same month in the same calendar year – others: June of 1969, Sept. of 1911 and June of 1909.
COLD HARD FACTS: The Phillies take the field today winners of 10 of their last 11 games against the Rockies (since 4/20/2022) and in that span, have outscored Colorado 71-36 (+35) … Last night’s win clinched the Phils their first series win in Denver since July 13-15, 2012 (2 of 3) … A win today would secure the Phils their first sweep in Denver since Aug. 1-3, 2011 (3-0) … In that series, Cole Hamels started the first game, Kyle Kendrick the second and Roy Halladay the third as he picked up his 14th win of the season … Ryan Howard hit three home runs in that series and had six RBI.
GO NOLES: The Phillies have won four of the last five games started by Aaron Nola (since 4/16) after losing each of his first three starts this year … In those last five games, Nola has gone 6.0 innings in each and has posted a 3.24 ERA (12 ER, 33.1 IP) and a 0.96 WHIP (8 BB, 24 H).
THEY DON’T BOO NOBODIES: In his first game back from Tommy John Surgery (160 days from the procedure), Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts on 5/2 at Dodger Stadium … Since then, he is 13-for-32 at the plate with 11 runs scored, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI and 5 walks to 7 strikeouts … He is slashing .406/.486/.688 with a 1.174 OPS in 37 plate appearances in that span (since 5/3) … Last night, Harper hit a 2-run 9th inning home run to put the Phils up 7-4 (110.2 MPH/439 feet) … In “Close & Late” situations (7th inning or later with the batting team ahead by one run, tied, or with the tying run on base, at bat or on deck), Harper is 5-for-10 with a 1.400 OPS this season … Since the start of last season (regular and postseason combined), Harper has come to the plate 77 times in close and late situations – he is 21-for-65 with 6 doubles, 6 home runs, 21 RBI and 10 walks to 16 strikeouts (.323/.416/.692) … His 1.108 OPS ranks 1st among 214 players in MLB with at least 75 PA in close and late situations since 2022 (regular and postseason combined).
GLOVELY: Second baseman Bryson Stott has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 144 total chances at second base … Stott leads the Phillies this season with 6 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and ranks T-2nd among all MLB second basemen, trailing only SD’s Ha-seong Kim (7 DRS) … Stott has played 83 career games at second base (77 GS) and has not made an error in 313 total chances to begin his career … Per Elias, Stott has the longest errorless streak at second base to begin a Phillies career – he eclipsed Tomas Perez’s previous streak of 57 games, April 2, 2001-August 2, 2002 … The last major league second baseman to start his career at second base with 82 consecutive errorless games was Christian Arroyo who went 108 straight games from May 16, 2017-Sept. 28, 2022.
CASTY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND: Phils right fielder Nick Castellanos has gotten ahead 1-0 in 53 plate appearances this season – after taking ball one, Castellanos is slashing .468/.528/.787 with a 1.316 OPS that ranks 5th out of 215 MLB players with at least 40 plate appearances that start 1-0 … He has nine extra-base hits (6 2B, 3 HR) after getting ahead 1-0 … Last season, Castellanos got ahead 1-0 in 174 plate appearances and totaled only 10 extra-base hits as he slashed .197/.276/.299 with a .575 OPS that ranked 201st out of 203 qualified hitters.
BULLISH ON THE PEN: Since April 16, the Phillies bullpen has combined to post a 2.68 ERA (24 ER, 80.2 IP) in 24 games with 98 strikeouts (10.93 SO/9.0 IP) … The bullpen is 10-for-12 in save opportunities in that span … This stretch includes three games at Dodger Stadium from May 1-3 – in those three games, the bullpen allowed 18 ER in 11.1 IP (14.29 ERA) with a blown save … If you subtract those three games from the bullpen’s totals, since April 16, they have a 0.78 ERA (6 ER, 69.1 IP) in 21 games.
ON THE DOORSTEP OF HISTORY: Right-hander Craig Kimbrel has 1,122 career strikeouts which currently ranks 12th all-time among MLB relievers – Kenley Jansen ranks 11th at 1,124 and Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman ranks 10th at 1,133 … Over his last 11 appearances (since 4/16) Kimbrel has struck out 20 of the 39 batters he has faced (51.3%) while walking only three (7.7%) … Kimbrel is two saves away from 400 for his career as he looks to become only the 8th pitcher in MLB history to reach 400.
TODAY’S STARTER – AARON NOLA RHP #27
2023: 3-2, 4.44 ERA Career: 81-64, 3.64 ERA
LAST START: 5/9 vs TOR: W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, HR … Nola vs Manoah … The Phillies beat the Jays in the opener of their 2-game set at CBP … Extended his season-best winning streak to 3 with the victory … Was his 5th quality start in 8 times out in 2023 … A 2-run HR Nick Castellanos erased a 1-0 Jays lead in the 4th inning … Phils had a 5-2 lead through 6.0 innings, but the Blue Jays got within 1 in the 7th … Phils sealed the win with 3 insurance runs in the 8th.
TODAY’S START:
Philly Value: Since 2018, Nola is the only pitcher in baseball to accrue more than 20.0 fWAR (22.4) and pitch for only one team … In that span, he ranks 5th overall in fWAR behind only Jacob deGrom (27.1), Max Scherzer (25.5), Gerrit Cole (24.7) and Zack Wheeler (23.7) … His 30.8 fWAR as a Phillie is 8th-most in franchise history among pitchers and he trails Hall-of-Famer Jim Bunning (31.2) for 7th place.
2023 NL Ranks: Quality starts (T-6th; 5), IP (9th; 49.2), BB/9.0 IP (10th; 2.03), SO/BB ratio (11th; 3.55)
Road Scholar: Since the start of the 2022 season, among all ML in road games, Nola ranks 2nd in IP (138.0), SO (148) and SO/BB ratio (8.22), while his 0.99 WHIP is 7th … Nola has made 21 starts on the road in that span (T-5th most)
Move on Over, Jim and Grover: In his start on 5/3 at LAD, Nola passed Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander (1,409) for 6th on the Phillies all-time strikeout list … Alexander reached that mark in 2,513.2 IP as a Phillie – Nola surpassed it in 1,271.0 … On 4/28 at HOU, Nola also passed Hall of Famer Jim Bunning for 9th place on the Phillies all-time starts list with 209 and now, with 211, is 9 shy of tying Larry Christenson (220) for 8th place
Walk Talk: Nola has not walked a batter in 3 of his 8 starts this season … His 2.03 BB/9.0 IP ranks 12th among NL pitchers … Since the start of last season, Nola’s 4.0% walk rate (40 BB, 1,003 BF) is 3rd lowest among all pitchers with at least 750 batters faced
Top of the Class: Since 2018, Nola leads all ML pitchers in starts (151) and ranks 2nd in IP (920.1) and is 3rd in SO (1,046)
vs NL West: 11-9, 4.57 ERA (102 ER, 200.2 IP) in 34 starts
ROAD:
2023: 2-1, 4.50 ERA (15 ER, 30.0 IP) in 5 starts
Career: 36-39, 4.07 ERA (285 ER, 630.2 IP) in 107 starts
2023 SEASON:
Recorded his 1,400th career strikeout on 4/21 vs COL, the 5thyoungest to reach the mark among the 20 active pitchers to do so at the time
Made his 6th straight Opening Day, extending his MLB-best active streak of Opening Day starts
Was the first pitcher in baseball to make 6 straight Opening Day starts since Julio Teheran in made his 6th consecutive for ATL in 2019, and joins Robin Roberts (12) and Steve Carlton (10) as the only Phillies to do
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY
- The Colorado Rockies continue their six-game homestand today with the final game of a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies … host the Cincinnati Reds for three games Monday-Wednesday to close the homestand.
- Last night’s loss gave the Rockies their first series loss in the month of May … are now 7-11 at Coors Field, having been outscored 122-88 at home.
- The Rockies are coming off of a 4-2 road trip to New York and Pittsburgh, taking two of three in each stop … lost each of the series openers in those two series before winning the next two to win the series.
- With the Phillies clinching the series victory last night, three-series winning streak was snapped after losing or splitting each of their first seven series of the season, their longest series winning streak since winning three-straight July 7-17, 2022 … Colorado has not won four-straight series since winning the first five series of the 2020 season.
MAY FLOWERS
- The Rockies are off to a 7-4 start in May, a .636 winning percentage that is tied for the fourth-best mark in baseball this month, and second in the NL trailing only the Dodgers (9-2, .818) … Colorado went 9-20 in April, their worst record in the month of April in franchise history.
- The Rockies have won eight of their last 12 and are 10-7 through their last 17 since April 24, a .588 winning percentage that is tied for the fourth-best mark in the NL over that span.
- Colorado has posted a 3.78 team ERA (150.0 IP, 63 ER) over their last 17 games, fifth-lowest mark in the NL over that span … Rockies starters have posted a 4.32 ERA (81.1 IP, 39 ER) with six quality starts over this span after posting five quality starts over the first 23 games of the season.
- Relievers have posted a 3.15 ERA (68.2 IP, 24 ER) with 28 walks and 77 strikeouts since April 24, the third-lowest ERA in the Majors … have allowed just two home runs, tied for the second-fewest in the Majors over this span.
- Since April 24, Colorado hitters are slashing .270/.331/.414 with 13 home runs while going 47-for144 (.326) with runners in scoring position which leads the NL during that span … in the first 23 games of the season through April 23, the Rockies slashed .256/.318/.392 with a .268 average with RISP.
THROW THE BALL
- The Rockies bullpen has posted a collective ERA of 3.16 (111.0 IP, 39 ER) over the last 27 games since April 14, the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the NL over that span (Cincinnati, 3.09) … have allowed eight home runs with 47 walks and an NL-leading 124 strikeouts over that span.
- Jake Bird is leads the NL with 26.0 innings and is second in the NL with 28 strikeouts out of the bullpen … has posted a 0.89 ERA (20.1 IP, 2 ER) with five walks and 24 strikeouts over his last 13 appearances since April 11.
- Brent Suter’s 25.0 innings of relief are third in the Majors and second in the NL behind Bird … his 1.08 ERA (25.0 IP, 3 ER) is the lowest in the Majors among relievers with at least 20 innings pitched … it is also the third-lowest through a Rockies pitcher’s first 15 games (min. 15 IP) with the club, trailing Chuck McElroy’s 0.55 ERA in 1998 and Jose Mesa’s 0.60 ERA in 2006.
CATCH THE BALL
- From Opening Day through the end of April, the Rockies’ 21 errors and 20 unearned runs were the most in the National League … since May 1, the Rockies have made just two errors, tied with three other teams for the fewest in the Majors during that span … they have allowed just one unearned run in the month, tied for the second-fewest unearned runs this month in the Majors.
- Rockies catchers have thrown out 13 of 31 attempted base stealers, the most catcher caught stealings in the Majors and the best caught stealing percentage (48.6) in the Majors.
PHILLY (NOT SO) SPECIAL
- Last night the Phillies clinched their first series win in Denver since July 13-15, 2012 … have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Rockies since April 20, 2022.
- Colorado has dropped 10 of the last 11 to the Phillies since April 20, 2022, with eight of those
games coming at Citizens Bank Park.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #21 KYLE FREELAND LHP
DENVER KID
- Kyle Freeland will make his ninth start of the season today, his sixth at home.
- The 30-year-old Denver native graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, 15 minutes south of Coors Field … selected in the first round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft (eighth overall), the third player in University of Evansville history to be drafted in the first round.
- The Rockies announced on April 19, 2022 that they agreed to a five-year contract extension with Freeland covering the 2022-26 seasons … the extension includes two arbitration years and three years of free agency.
SLIGHT SKID
- Has taken the loss in four of his last five games, posting two quality starts during that span with a 5.40 ERA (25.2 IP, 16 ER) … registered a 0.96 ERA (18.2 IP, 2 ER) in his first three outings.
- Took the loss in his last start on May 8 at Pittsburgh despite allowing two runs over seven innings.
- Snapped a three-game losing streak with his start May 3 vs. Milwaukee, tossing
five scoreless innings with just three hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts
… was the 20th start of his career logging at least five scoreless innings, just his
second without issuing a walk … 10th career start of five or more scoreless
frames and three or fewer hits allowed.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS - Has gone 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA (26.1 IP, 12 ER) in five starts at home this season
… quality starts in three of his first four. - Career record of 30-26 with a 4.73 ERA (439.2 IP, 231 ER) in 83 appearances (80
starts) at Coors Field … ERA eighth all-time at Coors Field among pitchers with
at least 40 starts.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEELS - Making the 159th start of his career tonight, 12 shy of tying teammate Germán
Márquez for the fourth-most in franchise history … passed Jason Jennings (156)
for the fifth-most starts in franchise history in his May 3 start vs. Milwaukee. - His 52 career wins rank ninth in franchise history, one behind Jon Gray and
Pedro Astacio with 53 each. - His 671 strikeouts are the seventh-most in franchise history … trails Jeff Francis
in sixth with 742 strikeouts. - Career 4.23 ERA ranks fourth all-time among Rockies starting pitchers (min. 75
starts) … 109 career opponent grounded into double plays are the third-most
in franchise history.
PHREELAND - Faced the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 22, taking the loss while allowing
four runs on five hits over six innings, walking one and striking out six. - Is 1-3 (Rockies 3-4) all-time against the Phillies, posting a 4.20 ERA (30.0 IP, 14
ER) in seven career starts. - Last faced the Phillies at Coors Field on April 19, 2022 in a Rockies 6-5 win … took a no-decision while allowing two runs over five innings.
- In his three career starts against Philadelphia at Coors Field, the Rockies are 3-0, with Freeland going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (11.1 IP, 2 ER).
- Phillies shortstop Trea Turner has struck out 10 times in 30 career at bats against Freeland, hitting .200 against the southpaw (6-for-30).
ROAD WARRIOR
- 1-2 in three starts on the road this season, tossing six scoreless innings on Opening Day in San Diego and tallying another quality start in his last road outing in Pittsburgh, allowing two runs over seven innings in a Rockies 2-0 loss.
- Has gone 5-7 with a 3.04 ERA (106.2 IP, 36 ER) in 19 starts on the road over the past three seasons, the 10th-lowest road ERA in the NL over that span.
- Posted a 2.23 road ERA (60.2 IP, 15 ER) in 10 road starts since last year’s All-Star Break, the third-lowest road ERA in the Majors over that span (min. 40 IP).
THE HOME RUN HIGHWAY
- Ten of his 18 earned runs this year have come off of home runs, with six of them being solo homers.
- His 19 home runs allowed in 2022 were his fewest since 2018 (17) … his 0.98 HR/9 was the 13th-lowest in the National League in 2022 … his lowest HR/9 rate since he posted a 0.76 clip in 2018.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
- Began his season with two scoreless outings, the first pitcher in franchise history to toss at least six scoreless innings in each of his first two appearances of the season … allowed his first run of the season in the first inning of his third start, ending a 13.0 inning scoreless streak to begin the season, tied with Jason Jennings (2001) for the second-longest streak to begin a season in franchise history, behind Jhoulys Chacín (14.1 IP, 2010).
- His 0.96 ERA through his first three starts of the season was the lowest in the National league and the lowest in franchise history through a starting pitcher’s first three starts of the season.
HOPE OPENER x3:
- With his start on April 6, Freeland became the franchise leader for starts in a Home Opener with three (also: 2017 and 2022 both vs. Los Angeles-NL) … tossed 6.2 shutout innings against the Nationals, allowing four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
- Started Opening Day at Coors Field in 2022, April 8 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers … made his Major League debut in the Rockies’ Home Opener in 2017, April 7 vs. the Dodgers … allowed one run across six innings in the 2-1 win.
LAND OF THE FREE
- Appeared in two games for the USA in the World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs on three hits over 6.0 innings (3.00 ERA), striking out five and walking two.
- In the Championship Game vs. Japan, struck out WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani … Freeland’s 41 pitches in the game were the most by any pitcher who appeared during the contest.
- In three Cactus League starts, went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 ER) with one walk and five strikeouts.
THE YEAR TWENTY THOUSAND AND TWENTY-TWO (2022)
- Finished the 2022 season posting a 4.53 ERA across 31 starts … of those 31 starts, 13 of them were quality, his most in a full season since logging 24 quality starts in 2018 … set career-highs in runs allowed (96), earned runs (88).
YOU’RE GROUNDED
- Since his debut in 2017, Freeland ranks second in the Majors and leads the National League with 109 GIDP (Kyle Gibson leads the Majors with 117).
FINISHED STRONG
- Has allowed three or fewer runs in 14 of his last 20 starts since July 25 of last season, compiling a 8-7 record with a 3.88 ERA (111.1 IP, 48 ER) … posted a 4.21 ERA (160.1 IP, 75 ER) in 28 starts since June 4.
- Spun five or more frames in 24 of his last 28 starts and six or more innings 18 times through this span (14 quality starts).
THIS ‘N THAT
- Finished fourth in 2018 NL Cy Young Award voting going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA (202.1 IP, 64 ER) … became the second pitcher in Rockies history to ever finish in the top five in Cy Young voting (also: Ubaldo Jiménez, third place in 2010).
- Pitched 8.1 no-hit innings on July 9, 2017 vs. Chicago-AL, the longest no-hit bid for a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field in franchise history
