PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #15 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 13-0, in a Saturday matinee at GABP … Starter Matt Strahm (L, 1-1) went 2.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 2 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts … The Phillies went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and were shut out for the first time this year.
GO NOLES: Starter Aaron Nola enters today’s game in the top 10 in Phillies franchise history in double-digit strikeout games (4th with 27 – Cole Hamels ranks 3rd with 29), strikeouts (7th at 1,395 – HOF Grover Cleveland Alexander ranks 6th at 1,409) and games started (10th at 206 – HOF Jim Bunning ranks 9th at 208).
FEELING SLG-ISH: The Phils enter play today with 55 extra-base hits (36 2B, 6 3B, 13 HR) which ranks T-2nd in MLB (with LAD), trailing only the Rays (65 XBH) … Philadelphia’s .444 SLG ranks 5th in MLB behind the Rays (.548), Dodgers (.464), Atlanta (.461) and the Orioles (.455) … Philadelphia’s 55 extra-base hits are the second most ever by a Phillies club through the first 15 games of a season in the modern era (since 1900), short of only the 2010 club who had 56 extra-base hits through 15 games … The Phillies are up to 36 doubles this year which ranks 2nd in MLB, behind only the White Sox (38 2B) … Philadelphia’s 36 doubles through the first 15 games are tied for the second-most by a Phillies club in the modern era (with 1933), trailing only the 2010 club (37 2B) … The Phillies have hit at least one double in each of their first 15 games which is tied for the second-longest streak to open a season for a Phils club in the modern era (also 1916), behind only a 22-game double streak to open the 2002 season.
GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott has hit safely in all 15 games this year – with a base hit today he would tie the Phillies modern day franchise record for consecutive games with a hit to begin a season – Puddin’ Head Jones hit safely in 16 straight games to begin the 1950 season … This
season, Stott has multiple hits in nine of his 15 games, including five of the last eight (since 4/8) … Stott is 8-for-24 off left-handers (.333 AVG) and 16-for-40 off right-handers (.400 AVG) … 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 79 games and is slashing .298/.342/.419 in 311 plate appearances.
SAINT NICK: Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos picked up his fifth outfield assist in his ninth game in right field this season on April 12 vs MIA … Per Elias, Castellanos became the first Phillies outfielder to reach five assists in so few games in the expansion era (since 1961) and he is the first MLB outfielder to reach five assists in so few games since MIL’s Matt Mieske in 1997 (also 5 OF assists in 9 games) …Castellanos leads MLB in outfield assists (next: Acuna, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman T-2nd with 3) … Castellanos leads the Phillies in defensive runs saved (DRS) with three (next: Realmuto & Falter with 2 DRS) and he ranks 4th among ML right fielders … At the plate, Castellanos had seven doubles through his first 10 games played and became only the fourth Phillies player with seven or more doubles through 10 games in the modern era (since 1900), joining John Kruk in 1993 (7 2B), Bake McBride in 1981 (8 2B) and Puddin’ Head Jones in 1949 (7 2B).
CASTY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND: In 112 career games at Great American Ball Park, Nick Castellanos is slashing .313/.369/.635 with a 1.004 OPS in 469 plate appearances … He has 65 extra-base hits (28 2B, 2 3B, 35 HR) and 97 RBI in those 112 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’ .635 SLG ranks 1st (next: Rich Aurilla, .559 SLG) and his 1.004 OPS ranks 1st (next: Shin-soo Choo, .960 OPS) … Castellanos has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games at GABP (since 9/24/21) and over his last 63 games (since 5/2/21), he is slashing .357/.405/.668 with 63 RBI in 264 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 has multiple strikeouts in each of his last 13 appearances (since 9/13/22), and in that span, has 32 strikeouts to just one walk in 14.0 total innings pitched with a 65.3% strikeout rate (49 batters faced) … Alvarado has faced 23 batters this season – he has struck out 16 of them without allowing a walk.
50 SCHWARBOMBS: Thursday night, Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th career home run as a Phillie (regular season only) and 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 off SD’s Yu Darvish in Game 1 of the NLCS
NEW TONIGHT, AT (THE) 6: On 12/8/22, the Phillies signed SS Trea Turner to an 11-year contract, taking him through the 2033 season … Last year with LAD, Turner was selected as an All-Star for the second time in his career, was named All-MLB First Team and won his first career Louisville Silver Slugger Award after slashing .298/.343/.466 with a 121 OPS+ and 27 steals in 30 attempts … Per Statcast, his average sprint speed of 30.3 feet per second ranked 5th out of 582 qualified players … In 2021, Turner led the majors in AVG (.328) and hits (195), led the NL in stolen bases (32) and total bases (319) and posted a career-best 6.8 fWAR (FanGraphs) which ranked 3rd among all ML position players.
TODAY’S STARTER – AARON NOLA • RHP #27
LAST START: 4/11 vs MIA: L, 5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, HR … Nola vs Luzardo … The Phillies fell to the Miami Marlins, 8-4, at CBP … Kyle Schwarber homered and Bryson Stott had another multi-hit game and raised his season AVG to .422 … Marlins infielder Luis Arraez hit for the cycle, the fifth in CBP’s history.
TODAY’S START:
• Big Red Machine: The last time Nola faced CIN, on 8/25/22 at CBP, he threw the 2nd 9.0-inn. shutout of his career, striking out 11 while walking none … It was his 26th career double-digit strikeout performance, which moved him into 4th on the Phillies all-time list behind Steve Carlton (70), Curt Schilling (48) and Cole Hamels (29)
• Moving Up The Ladder: After today, Nola needs one more start to tie Jim Bunning on the Phillies all-time list with 208 starts … He could also pass Larry Christenson (220) for 8th and Curt Schilling (226) for 7th this season
• Nothing Is Free: Nola did not walk a batter in his last start, and has issued just 3 in his 3 starts this season … Nola’s 33 starts with 2 or fewer walks since the start of last year are tied for the most in MLB with Jordan Montgomery, Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios … His 13 starts with 0 walks issued are T2nd most behind only Corey Kluber (15)
• To the Nines: Nola is in his 9th season as a Phillie, becoming the 7th pitcher in franchise history to make a start in 9 straight seasons for the club, and joining Cole Hamels (10) as the only Phillies draft picks to do since Larry Christensen made starts for his 9th straight year with the team in 1981
• vs NL Central: 22-10, 3.32 ERA (97 ER, 263.1 IP) in 42 starts
ROAD:
• 2023: 0-1, 7.45 ERA (8 ER, 9.2 IP) in 2 starts
• Career: 34-39, 4.10 ERA (278 ER, 610.1 IP) in 104 starts
2023 SEASON:
• 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 so
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• Yesterday’s 13-0 win vs Phi was the Reds’ largest shutout victory since 4/9/19 vs Mia (14-0 win).
• Yesterday’s 13-run win was the Reds’ largest margin of victory since 5/26/22 vs Cubs (20-5 win)…established season highs in runs and hits.
• Yesterday the Reds returned from a rehabilitation assignment 1B Joey Votto, who is recovering from 8/19/22 surgeries to repair the torn left
biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder…from 4/1-4/14 made 10 rehab apps with Louisville (9gs at 1B, 1gs at DH, 45pa, 7-38, .184, 2 2b, solo HR, 5rbi, 6bb, 21k)…will continue his rehab in Cincinnati.
TODAY’S GAME
• Is Game 4 (2-1) of a 4-game series vs Liam Castellanos’ Phillies and Game 4 (2-1) 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.
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds and Phillies are meeting for the second consecutive weekend.
• The Reds are 36-31 all-time vs Phi at Great American Ball Park, including 20-9 in the last 29 games here.
• 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.
• Since May 2014, the Reds have lost 19 of their last 27 games at CBP.
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 American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).
LEADING OFF
• In the first inning, Reds batters lead the Major Leagues in on-base percentage (.446) while ranking second in batting average (.368, Atl .412) and T5th in runs scored (12).
• When leading off the Reds’ half of the first inning, Jonathan India is hitting .500 (.571obp, .917slg, 6-12, 2bb, 2 2b, 1hr, 6r)…his 6 runs scored in the first inning tie Sea’s Julio Rodriguez for the most by a leadoff hitter in the Major Leagues… NYY’s Aaron Judge leads all batters, regardless of spot in the order, with 7 runs scored in the first inning.
REHABBING
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (3g, 0-0, 0.00, 3ip, 1h, 0r, 2bb, 3k, 1.00whip, .100baa)…in last night’s 7-3 Bats win at Toledo threw a scoreless eighth inning (1bb, 4bf, 21 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch again today at Toledo.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is assigned to Louisville on rehab (2gs, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr)…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in the 8-1 loss on 4/9 vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…started Fri’s 7-6 loss at Toledo (5ip, 3h, 3er, 2bb, 5k, Andy Ibáñez solo HR, 1wp, 19 batters, 79 pitches)…could make his next start for the Reds, possibly Wed vs the Rays.
Today’s Pitcher – #85 Luis Cessa, RHP
• This afternoon is making his third appearance and start of the season…will be his eighth appearance and third career start vs the Phillies.
• In the fourth inning of Tue’s 7-5 loss at Atl, allowed Ozzie Albies’ 100th career home run (2-run).
• Made his fifth Opening Day roster (2016, 2019, 2021 for NYY and 2022, 2023 for Cin).
• In 2022, in his second season with the Reds went 1-3, 4.30 in a career-high 10 starts and 3-1, 4.91 in 36 relief apps.
• In August 2022 joined and remained in the rotation after the Reds lost to trade or injury starting pitchers RHP Luis Castillo (to the Mariners), RHP Tyler Mahle (to the Twins), RHP Robert Dugger (right shoulder pain), RHP Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain), RHP Graham Ashcraft (right biceps soreness), RHP T.J. Zeuch (back soreness), RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder tightness) and LHP Mike Minor (left shoulder soreness).
• Beginning 8/22 at Phi made his last 9 apps of the 2022 season as a starter (1-3, 3.77, .226baa).
• Between games of the day/night doubleheader vs Pit on 7/7/22 went on the 15-day injured list with a left intercostalis muscle train…missed 20 games (13-7) until he was reinstated on 8/2, after RHP Tyler Mahle was traded to the Twins.
• After he came off the 15-day IL on 8/2, posted a 3.26 ERA (.211baa) in his last 15 apps and 9 starts of the season.
• During 2023 spring training made 1 appearance for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
• Pitched the sixth and seventh innings of Mexico’s 10-inning, 5-4 loss vs Colombia in Arizona Pool C (2ip, 2h, 1er, 0bb, 1k, 25 pitches).
• Returned to the Reds after Mexico’s 5-4 quarterfinal win vs Puerto Rico and finished the spring with 1 “A” game appearance, started and received no decision in the 4-3 loss at Mil (3ip, 2h, 2er, 1bb, 2k).
• Is the only player, manager or coach in Reds history to wear uniform #85.
