PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #13 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati … Starter Bailey Falter (L, 0-2) went 4.2 innings and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts … Kyle Schwarber homered, a solo shot, but the Phillies went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position … Andrew Vasquez made his second consecutive multi-inning scoreless appearance in relief.
RIGHT ON TIME: The Phillies are slated to face a right-handed starter in, at minimum, their next five games … This season, the Phils are slashing .277/.330/.464 in 291 plate appearances against right-handers and their .794 OPS against RHP ranks 4th among all clubs in MLB behind only the Rays (.941), Giants (.867) and Dodgers (.865) … Philadelphia’s .277 AVG against right-handers ranks 3rd in MLB, trailing only the Cubs (.281) and Blue Jays (.280).
DOUBLE UP: Last night, Edmundo Sosa’s double in the 4th inning was the 30th for the Phillies this year … Philadelphia’s 30 doubles in only 13 games are tied for the fourth-most by a Phillies club in the modern era (since 1900) through 13 games, trailing only 2010, 2003 and 1916 (all with 31 2B) … The Phillies have hit at least one double in each of their first 13 games which is the third-longest streak to open a season for a Phils club in the modern era, behind only a 22-game double streak to open the 2002 season and a 15-game streak to open the 1916 season … The Phillies are one off the pace for the major league lead in doubles, trailing the Diamondbacks, White Sox and Mariners who all have 31.
FEELING SLG-ISH: The Phils enter play tonight with 47 extra-base hits (30 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR) which ranks 3rd in MLB behind the Rays (61 XBH) and Dodgers (52 XBH) … Philadelphia’s .447 SLG ranks 4th in MLB behind the Rays (.576), Dodgers (.495) and Orioles (.455) … Since 1900, only five Phillies clubs have had more extra-base hits at this point in a season than the 2023 Phils: 2010 & 1976 (50 XBH), 2009 & 1980 (49 XBH) and 1993 (48 XBH) – all five of those clubs made the postseason and three of those five made the World Series.
50 SCHWARBOMBS: Last night, Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th career home run as a Phillie (regular season only) as he became the fastest in franchise history to reach 50, doing so in his 168th game … Schwarber eclipsed Jim Thome’s previous franchise record of 50 HR in his first 172 games with the club … Ryan Howard (50 HR in 182 G) ranks 3rd, Rhys Hoskins (50 HR in 192 G) ranks 4th and Chuck Klein (50 HR in 195 G) ranks 5th … Of Schwarber’s 50 regular season home runs with the Phillies, 47 have been hit with an exit velocity north of 100.0 MPH (94%) and 16 of those 50 have been hit over 110.0 MPH (32%) … Schwarber hit six home runs in the postseason last year which included a 119.7 MPH shot ff SD’s Yu Darvish in Game 1 of the NLCS
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Through 13 games, the Phillies are a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts and they are one of only two major league clubs with 10 or more steals without a caught stealing (other: CWS, 13-for-13) … Trea Turner and Bryson Stott lead the club with three steals each … Dating back to last season, Stott has swiped seven straight bases without being caught (last CS was 9/16/22 at ATL) and Turner has been successful in his last eight tries (last CS was on 9/5/22 vs SF) … As a club, the Phillies are 20 for their last 21 in stolen base attempts (since 9/30/22) – that single caught stealing was on Oct. 3, 2022, at HOU when J.T. Realmuto was nabbed for the first time all year after starting 21-for-21 in steals.
LAW OF AVERAGES: Through 13 games, the Phillies have a .280 AVG and 127 hits (9.8 per game) which are the most through the first 13 games of a season for a Phillies club since 2011 (135 hits through 13 G) … Among all Phillies clubs in the modern era (since 1900), 127 hits through 13 games ranks 19th … For context, last year’s club had 110 hits through their first 13 games (8.5 per game) and a .257 average … Philadelphia’s .280 AVG through their first 13 games ranks 17th in the modern era among Phillies clubs (best: .315 AVG in 1925).
GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott has hit safely in all 13 games this season and has multiple hits in nine of those 13 games, including five of the last six (since 4/8) … Stott is 8-for-23 off left-handers (.348 AVG) and 14-for-32 off right-handers (.438 AVG) … Stott is the first Phillies player to hit safely in 13 straight to begin a season since Puddin’ Head Jones (16 G) in 1950 … Additionally, Stott became the first MLB player with nine multi-hit games in his first 12 games of a season since Matt Carpenter did so in 2015 (also 9 of first 12) … Stott is the first Phillies player with nine multi-hit games in his first 12 games since Jeff Stone in 1984 (also 9 of 12) … Since last year’s All-Star break, Stott has played 77 games and is slashing .300/.346/.418 in 302 plate appearances.
CASTY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND: In 110 career games at Great American Ball Park, Nick Castellanos is slashing .314/.370/.640 with a 1.010 OPS in 460 plate appearances … He has 64 extra-base hits (27 2B, 2 3B, 35 HR) and 96 RBI in those 110 games … There have been 49 major league players with at least 400 plate appearances in the history of Great American Ball Park (since 2003), and of those 49, Castellanos’ .640 SLG ranks 1st (next: Rich Aurilla, .559 SLG) and his 1.010 OPS ranks 1st (next: Shin-soo Choo, .960 OPS) … Castellanos has hit safely in eight straight games at GABP (since 9/24/21) and over his last 61 games (since 5/2/21), he is slashing .361/.408/.678 with 62 RBI in 255 plate appearances at GABP.
STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, GOOD LUCK: Wednesday against the Marlins at CBP, LHP Jose Alvarado became the first major league relief pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to strike out 11 consecutive batters in a single season … Eric Gagne (2003) and Chad Green (2019) were the only two to reach 10 straight, prior to Alvarado … Alvarado extended his career-best scoreless streak to 18.2 innings on Wednesday before Jorge Soler hit a solo home run to end the scoreless streak (began on 8/26/22) … Alvarado has multiple strikeouts in each of his last 12 appearances (since 9/13/22), and in that span, has 29 strikeouts to just one walk in 13.0 total innings pitched with a 64.4% strikeout rate (45 batters faced) … Alvarado has faced 19 batters this season – he has struck out 13 of them without allowing a walk.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – TAIJUAN WALKER • RHP #99
LAST START: 4/9 vs CIN: ND, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO … Walker vs Overton … The Phillies fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4, on ring day in South Philly … Alec Bohm homered, and Bryson Stott had 2 more hits to raise his season average to .429 … The Reds rallied for 3 runs in the 9th inning off Seranthony Dominguez to avoid a sweep in a series the Phillies won, 2-1.
TONIGHT’S START:
• Early Bird: Last season, Walker went 7-2, 2.55 ERA (26 ER, 91.2 IP) in 16 first half starts, the 8th-best among qualifying NL pitchers … He is 32-25 with a 3.54 ERA (192 ER, 488.0 IP) in his career prior to the All-Star break as opposed to 18-23 with a 4.59 ERA (186 ER, 365.2 IP) after
• Another Look: Walker has made 11 career starts in which he faced the same team he faced the previous start (within a season) … In the second of those back-to-backs, he has a 3.90 ERA (24 ER, 55.1 IP)
• To the Left: Walker has not allowed a hit to the 16 LHH he has faced this season … LHH are batting 18 points lower than RHH against him in his career (.230 vs .248)
• Taijuan(a), Mexico: Pitched for Team Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, making one 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
• Keeping Them In The Yard: Walker surrendered only 15 home runs last season, T-8th fewest among NL pitchers with at least 150.0 IP
• Welcome to Philly: Walker made his season and Phillies debut on 4/3 at NYY after signing a 4-year contract with the club in December
• vs NL Central: 5-7, 4.46 ERA (51 ER, 103.1 IP) in 19 starts
ROAD:
• 2023: 0-1, 8.31 ERA (4 ER, 4.1 IP) in 1 start
• Career: 30-30, 4.00 ERA (205 ER, 461.0 IP) in 88 games (86 starts)
2022 SEASON:
• Tied career highs in starts (29) and ERA (3.49) and set a new career high with 12 wins
• Went 7-2, 2.55 ERA (26 ER, 91.2 IP) in 16 first half starts
• Had eight straight quality starts, 6/24-7/26, the longest such streak of his career
• Was 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA (12 ER, 51.0 IP) during his streak of quality starts
• Had a 13.0-inning scoreless streak, 7/4-16, tying his career long
• Surrendered only 0.86 HR/9.0 IP (15 HR, 157.1 IP)
• His five pickoffs were 2nd in MLB to Robbie Ray’s six
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• The Reds held a lead in 11 of their first 12 games, second only to the Rays (13-0) and matching the Dodgers, Yankees, Mariners and Angels.
• This year’s team is only the 13th in franchise history to hold a lead in 11 of their first 12 games of the season (1988, 1986, 1980, 1978, 1973, 1970, 1958, 1941, 1940, 1919, 1913, 1898)…courtesy @EliasSports.
• No Reds team ever held a lead in each of their first 12 games of the season.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 2 (1-0) of a 4-game series vs Elyssa Kaplan’s Phillies and Game 2 (1-0) of a 7-game homestand that includes an upcoming 3-game series vs the American League East Division’s Tampa Bay Rays, who will play here for the second straight season.
• The Reds are coming off their first road trip of the season (1-5; 1-2 at Phi, 0-3 at Atl)…included Thu’s rainout of the Phillies’ home opener.
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds and Phillies are meeting for the second consecutive weekend.
• The Reds are 35-30 all-time vs Phi at Great American Ball Park, including 1-2 last season.
• Last weekend at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies earned a 2-1 series win in their first home games of the season.
• With a minimum of 50 games played, the Reds’ .328 winning percentage at Phi’s Citizens Bank Park (21-43) is their lowest at any road ballpark.
• The Reds went 3-14-2 in their 19 previous series vs the Phillies at CBP, their only series wins there in August 2006, May 2017 & August 2021.
RAYS UP NEXT
• The Reds are 13-5 all-time vs the Rays, including 3-0 here last season and 7-2 overall in Cincinnati.
• The Reds’ 18 games vs the Rays are tied for their fourth-fewest vs any opponent in the American League (Orioles 15, Angels 16, Red Sox 17,
Mariners 18, Rangers 19).
• Overall the Reds won 4 of the previous 6 series vs the Rays, including 3-game series sweeps in June 2003 at Tropicana Field, June 2005 at Great American Ball Park and July 2022 at GABP.
• Dating back to the 2014 season, the Reds have won the last 4 games vs TB at GABP, including last season’s 3-0 series sweep here in July.
• The Rays last won in Cincinnati on 4/12/14 (1-0 win).
• From 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams (0-2 vs Cle, 2-0 at Cle, 1-2 at Tor, 1-1 at Bos, 3-0 vs TB, 2-1 at NYY, 2-1 vs Bal, 1-1 vs Bos)…was their first winning record vs the AL since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).
REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (9g, 8gs at 1B, 1gs at DH, 5-33, .152, 1 2b, solo HR, 4rbi, 6bb, 20k)…began his rehab on 4/1 at Nashville and hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown… on 8/19/22 had surgeries to repair the torn left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 5.0 innings tonight at Toledo.
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (2g, 0-0, 0.00, 2ip, 1h, 0r, 1bb, 3k, .143baa)…threw a scoreless fifth inning in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (1h, 0bb, 1k, 4bf, 12 pitches)…threw a hitless fifth inning in Wed’s 7-1 loss at Toledo (1bb, 2k, 4bf, 21 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch again tomorrow afternoon at Toledo.
• RHP Tony Santillan from 4/4-4/11 has made 3 relief apps for Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (0-1, 10.13, 2.2ip, 2h, 3er, 2bb, 4k, 1hr, .200baa)…he is recovering from a low back Pars stress fracture.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #71 Connor Overton, RHP
• Tonight is making his third appearance and start of the season…will be his second straight start and third career appearance vs the Phillies.
• Started the Reds’ fifth game of the season and received no decision in the 7-6 win vs the Cubs.
• Last season, from 5/23-9/22 missed 110 games while on the 60-day injured list with a stress reaction in his lower back.
• Went 1-0, 1.82 in 4 starts before the injury…twice was the victim of blown saves.
• Made 2 apps after he was reinstated from the 60-day IL on 9/23 (8.1ip, 6h, 5er, 4bb, 4k, 1hr)…both times pitched in relief of starter Graham Ashcraft.
• Was a non-roster invitee to 2022 Major League spring training camp.
• Began the 2022 season at Louisville, where in 2 starts and 2 relief apps he went 2-1, 2.84 before he was promoted to make his season and Reds debut in a start on 4/30 at Col…left that 4-3 loss with a 2-0 lead and was the victim of a blown save.
• In the 4-0 win on 5/12 at Pit, earned his first Major League victory…in the team’s 32nd game, became the first Reds pitcher this season to throw at least 6.0 innings…the Reds’ 31 games to begin a season in which the starting pitcher failed to pitch at least 6.0 innings are the most in the Major Leagues since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance.
• Made his last appearance before the injury in the 10-inning, 5-4 win on 5/17 at Cle…threw 7.2 innings, the most by a Reds pitcher to that point in the season, and left with a 2-1 lead…was the victim of a blown save when Owen Miller’s 2-run HR in the ninth off Art Warren tied it at 4-4…retired 17 of his last 19 batters, including 15 straight heading into the eighth inning.
• Was scratched from a scheduled start on 5/22 at Tor…the next day went on the 60-day injured list with the lower back injury.
• Didn’t pitch again for the Reds until a relief outing on 9/24 vs Mil, following rehab apps on 9/13 & 9/18 for Louisville.
• With 2 outs in the third inning of the 6-1 loss on 9/30 at Wrigley Field, in his final appearance of the season, entered the game for starter Graham Ashcraft and threw 5.1 scoreless innings in the longest relief appearance of his career…walked his first batter but then retired 13 straight until Ian Happ singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Pitched in 2 seasons in the independent leagues, for the American Association’s Sioux City Explorers in 2016 and in the Atlantic League for the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2019.
• Spent most of the 2016 season pitching for Sioux City but did make 1 appearance, on 8/13, for the Giants’ Class A San Jose affiliate…didn’t pitch again the rest of that season because of a right elbow injury.
• Missed the entire 2017 season following “Tommy John” surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
