SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: With their seven-game win streak snapped last night after a 3-2 loss to the Reds, the Giants will look for a victory in today’s series finale to secure a series win…SF has won only one series here since 2017 and that came in 2021 when they went 4-0 here…SF split a four-game series here in 2019 but lost series in 2017 (0-3), 2018 (0-3) and 2022 (1-2).
LEFT-HANDED NOTEBOOKS?: The Giants will face a lefthanded starting pitcher this afternoon and have won each of their last three games vs. a LHSP and four of their last five… since April 22, the Giants are 14-4 vs. lefty starters with the four losses coming at the hands of Austin Gomber (COL), David Peterson (NYM), Blake Snell (SD) and Braxton Garrett (MIA)…the Giants as a team have a .700 OPS vs. LHP overall this season (22nd in MLB) but since May 1 they’ve been a little bit better, posting a .737 OPS vs. LHP, 13th in MLB.
SABOL SAYS…: C/OF Blake Sabol slugged his 11th homer of the season in last night’s loss…his 11 homers and 35 RBI are both tied for 10th-most among rookies in the Majors…eight of Sabol’s 11 homers this year have come when he’s been behind the dish.
CATCH US IF YOU CAN: Since May 19, which is the day that C Patrick Bailey made his MLB debut, the Giants have gotten a collective .791 OPS from the catching position between Bailey and fellow rookie C Blake Sabol…that .791 OPS from their catchers in that time is fourth-best in the Majors behind the Braves (.953), Mets (.805) and Rangers (.803)…SF’s 42 RBIs between Bailey and Sabol in that time are tied for most of any catching group in the Majors with Texas.
MOM…CAN WE HAVE A COBB-STOPPER FOR LUNCH?: RHP Alex Cobb toes the hill today for the Giants following yesterday’s loss…the Giants have gone 6-1 in Cobb’s seven
starts this season following a team loss in their previous game…Cobb himself is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA (7er, 39.2ip) in those seven games…overall, SF has won each of Cobb’s last six starts dating to June 3 and 10 of his last 11 starts dating to May 6…the lone loss in that span came May 28 at Milwaukee… the Giants are 13-4 in Cobb’s starts this year.
FLO MOTION: IF Wilmer Flores is 19-for-45 (.422) with four doubles, three homers, six RBI, seven runs scored and two walks in 13 games so far this month…since June 1, Flores has posted a 1.125 OPS in 26 games with seven doubles, five homers, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored and nine walks.
CENTRAL PERK: The Giants are 18-8 (.692) against the NL Central this season, which is the best winning percentage against that division (min. 10 games), and the second-most wins, behind Milwaukee (20-9)…SF pitchers have a 3.29 ERA vs. the NL Central, which is second-best among teams with 10 games played against NL Central foes this year.
WE WANT ‘BAMA: The Giants have lived up to the moment when facing MLB’s best teams this year…based on teams’ current records, SF ranks second in MLB (second-best in
the NL) with a .570 win percentage (27-20) in games against opponents with winning records this year…only Atlanta (31-19, .620) has been better.
GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE: The Giants 111 runs in the 8th inning or later are third-most in the Majors…furthermore, the Giants have 26 come-from-behind wins this season, fifth-most in the Majors…20 of those 26 wins have come since May 15, tied for second-most in the Majors in that time behind only the Reds, who have 21 such wins…12 of the Giants 20 comeback wins since May 15 have come on the road.
SADDLE UP, BOYS: This 11-game trip is SF’s longest of the season and one of two trips this year where they will visit three or more cities…the other three-city, 10-game trip this year comes in September when SF visits Colorado (four games), Arizona (two games) and the Dodgers (four games) from September 14-24…below is a look at some of SF’s recent three-city trips and how they’ve done. Giants, 3+ City Road Trips in the Gabe Kapler-e
ROAD RULEZ?: SF is 28-20 (.583) on the road this season… the Giants .583 road winning percentage is fourth-best in the Majors entering play today (third-best in the National League)…only Atlanta (30-14, .682), Baltimore (28-17, .622) and Arizona (28-18, .609) have better winning percentages on the road…since May 15, however, SF is 21-7 (.750) on the road, tied for the best road winning percentage in the Majors with the Reds.
THE FUTURE IS NOW: Both the Reds and the Giants have received plenty of production from their rookies…Cincinnati leads the Majors with 105 RBI from rookies while the Giants are right behind them with 104.
THE (D)OVAL OFFICE: RHP Camilo Doval became the first pitcher in the Majors this year to reach the 30-save mark with his two saves on Tuesday…the 26-year-old leads the Majors in that category…his 45 appearances are tied for second-most in the Majors…only Houston’s Bryan Abreu has appeared in more games (46)…the last three Giants closers to reach the 30-save mark in a season were: Jake McGee (31, 2021), Will Smith (34, 2019) and Santiago Casilla (31 in 2016 and 38 in
2015).
TODAY’S STARTER – ALEX COBB RHP #38
2023 RECORD: 6-2, 2.82 ERA
WITH THE GIANTS: Is in his 12th Major League season and his second with the Giants…he’s in his second year of a two-year contract (with a third-year team option) with the Giants that he signed on November 30, 2021.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in the Giants 3-1 victory over the Pirates on July 15 in Pittsburgh…tossed 6.0-innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER: Has been one of the Giants most reliable pitchers this season, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.82 ERA (30er, 95.2ip) over 17 starts…entering play today, his 2.82 ERA ranks as the eighth-best figure in the Majors and the third-best figure in the National League (min. 90.0ip)…he allowed two earned runs or less in 13 of his 17 starts.
WINNER, WINNER: The Giants have a 13-4 record over 17 games when Cobb takes the mound and have won 10 of the last 11 games he’s started…they’ve won each of his last six starts dating to June 3….the last time the club lost in a Cobb start was May 28 at Milwaukee.
VS. CINCINNATI: Will face the Reds for the fifth time in his career… is 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA (4er, 24.1ip) over four career starts (two in 2022) against Cincinnati…has made two starts at Great American Ball Park and is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2er, 13.0ip) with 13 strikeouts and a .190 opponents average…last season he threw 6.0 innings and allowed two earned runs in the Giants 6-4 victory over the Reds on May 29 here in Cincy.
NOTHING LIKE YOUR OWN PILLOW: Has pitched much better at home this year going 4-1 with a 1.24 ERA (6er, 43.2ip) in seven starts, compared to the road where he’s 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA (24er, 52.0ip) over 10 starts…however the Giants play well when he starts on the road or at home having posted a 8-2 record when he starts on the road and a 5-2 record when he starts at home.
BANANA SPLITS: Opponents are hitting .324 (12-for-37) off his curveball and .368 (7-for-19) off his slider, compared to a .256 average (45-for-176) off his split finger and .267 (39-for-146) off his sinker.
LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT: Since June 3, right-handed opponents are 10-for-their-last-57 (.175) off him, while left-handers are 24-fortheir-last-75 (.320) off him during that stretch with nine doubles.
YOU’RE GROUNDED!: Cobb’s 57.9% groundball rate is third-best in the Majors (min. 90.0ip) behind teammate Logan Webb (61.1%) and CHC’s Marcus Stroman (58.4%).
RISP MANAGEMENT: Opponents are hitting .297 (66-for222) off him with 17 extra-base hits with no one on base… he’s holding opponents to a .163 average (16-for-98) with runners in scoring position…the .163 opponent’s clip with RISP is third-lowest in the Majors among starters.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Opponents are batting .370 (17-for46) with seven extra base hits (four doubles, one triple, two homers) off him on the first pitch of an at-bat.
TIME ON THE IL: Was activated from the IL prior to his start on June 30 in New York-NL…he was placed on the Injured List on June 18 with a left oblique strain and missed the minimum 15 days (13 games)…his IL placement was SF being cautious as he felt some tenderness in his left side after his start at STL and in his bullpen in Los Angeles…he made a rehab start on June 24 with Single-A San Jose and struck out nine batters over 3.2 innings of work, while allowing one earned run on
three hits and no walks.
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME
- Is Game 4 (1-2) of a 4-game series vs Harvey Hodgerney’s Giants and Game 7 (1-5) of a 10-game homestand (0-3 vs Mil, 1-2 vs SF, 3g vs Ari).
- Will follow this homestand with an 11-day, 10-game road trip (3g at Mil, off day & 3g at LAD, 4g at Chc)…won 7 of their last 8 road series.
SERIES NOTES
- In last night’s 3-2 win the Reds started rookies at the 4 infield positions (1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 2B Matt McLain, 3B Spencer Steer, SS Elly De La Cruz)..the Reds started rookies at those 4 positions for the first time since 9/30/1992 vs LAD (1B Tim Costo, 2B Jeff Branson, 3B Willie Greene and SS Freddie Benavides)…courtesy Reds TV.
- In 2022, the Reds earned a pair of 2-1 series wins vs the Giants, their first series wins since August 2018.
- Beginning with the 2008 season the Reds are 54-42 vs SF, at .563 the best winning percentage of any Giants opponent since then (minimum 50g).
DIAMONDBACKS UP NEXT
- In 2022, the Reds earned a 4-3 season series win vs Ari, including a 2-2 series split at Great American Ball Park.
IT’S GETTING LATE
- For the third straight day the Reds are within 2.5 games of the first-place Brewers…haven’t been in first place this late in a full season since the end of the 2012 season, when they most recently won the Central Division (97-65, +9.0).
- Last season, the Reds were 38-59 after 97 games & 38-60 after 98 games.
RUNNING MEN
- The Reds and Rays are tied for the Major League lead with 113 stolen bases…is the Reds’ highest total since 2017 (120sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all of 2022…are trying to lead the National League in stolen bases for the first time since 2015 (134sb).
- With Elvis Peguero pitching, Elly De La Cruz on 7/8 at Mil became only the fourth Reds batter ever to steal second, third and home in the same inning (Hans Lobert 9/27/1908, Dode Paskert 5/23/1910, Greasy Neale 8/15/1919)…became the first Major League batter to steal second, third and home in the same inning since Mia’s Jon Berti did it on 8/25/2020 at NYM…became the first Reds batter with a straight steal of home since Brandon Phillips did it on 7/10/2009 at NYM.
- The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
- 5 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (6sb on 6/2 vs Mil, 9sb on 6/3 vs Mil, 5sb on 6/25 at Bal, 6sb on Tue at Wsh, 5sb on 7/8 at Mil)…prior to 6/2, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
- Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2, Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest single-game total since 5/30/1976 vs LAD (9sb)…the Reds’ single-game record since 1900 for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
BIG ROAD MACHINE
- The Brewers’ 2-1 series win to end the season’s first half snapped a streak in which the Reds won 7 consecutive road series…won 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history…won 8 straight road series in 1976 (6/25-8/12) and 1923 (7/2-8/25)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Beginning 5/26, the Reds are 20-5 over their last 4 road trips covering 8 road series.
- The Reds’ 27 road wins (27-20) was their highest total prior to the All-Star Game break since 1999 (29-13).
- Went 8-1 on their road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only the second time ever, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0, 9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8 wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- The 10-3 loss on 6/26 at Bal snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
RED HOTS
- The Reds’ 12-game winning streak from 6/10-6/23 tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
- From 6/14-7/8 Reds batters established a new franchise record for consecutive games with at least 1 home run (22g, 45hr), a streak snapped in the 1-0 loss at Mil in the final game heading into the All-Star Game break…the 1956 Reds held the team record by homering in 21 consecutive games.
- Reds baserunners in 70 attempts have scored 69 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
- The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19…courtesy @OptaSTATS and @EliasSports.
- The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since June 2014 (18-10).
- Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer on 7/4 at Wsh became the first set of rookie teammates in Major League history to finish in the same game 4-for-4 with at least 1 RBI (since RBI became an official statistic in 1920)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- The Reds have used 52 players…in 2022 used a club record 66 players.
- 12 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season, the most in the Major Leagues (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher, RHP Randy Wynne, RHP Jake Wong, IF Christian EncarnacionStrand)…16 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
Today’s Pitcher – #41 Andrew Abbott, LHP
- This afternoon is making his ninth Major League appearance and start…will be his first appearance vs the Giants…in 3 starts during the day went 1-0, 1.86.
- In his first 8 career apps stopped team losing streaks of 4, 2 and 3 games…in 5 starts overall following losses is 3-1, 1.15.
- Since 1912, when earned runs became an official statistic in the National League, his 1.21 ERA was the second-lowest by a Reds pitcher after 6 career starts (LHP Tom Browning, 0.95, 1984-85)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- In his seventh start, on 7/7 at Mil, allowed 6 earned runs in 4.1 innings, his shortest start of the season…allowed 5 runs total in his first 6 career starts and 37.1 IP.
- In his 4-3 win on 7/2 vs SD recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts, tied for the most by a Reds pitcher this season (Nick Lodolo, 4/8 at Phi)…following consecutive 1-out singles in the first inning retired 15 consecutive batters…allowed only a solo HR to Ha-Seong Kim, his final batter…left leading, 2-1, but was the victim of a blown save when Fernando Tatis Jr. tied it with a solo HR off Lucas Sims.
- Is 1 of only 4 Reds pitchers since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, to begin his career with 4 or 5 wins without a loss in his first 5 career starts (Mel D. Queen, 4-0 in 1967; Pat Zachry, 4-0 in 1976; Santo Alcala, 5-0 in 1976)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, is the only Major League pitcher to begin his career with 3 consecutive scoreless starts of at least
5.0 innings.
