SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Giants picked up their first win of this five-game road trip last night and will try to pick up their first road series win with a victory tonight…SF has not won a road series since sweeping a three-game set from the Pirates directly following the All-Star break…since winning that series, SF split a series in Cincinnati, were swept in a three-game set in Washington, lost a one-game make-up in Detroit and were swept in a two-game series in Oakland last weekend.
SIXPENCE THE RICHER…: SF was able to steal a win yesterday thanks to its six-run 9th inning that resulted in an 8-3 win…the six-run inning marked the first time since July 16 (five runs in the 10th inning at Pittsburgh) that SF scored four or more runs in a single inning…it marked the first time since June 23 (five runs in the 5th inning vs. Arizona) that the Giants scored five or more runs in a regulation (1-9) inning.
LATE NIGHT: With their six runs in the 9th inning yesterday, the Giants have now scored 128 runs this season from the 8th inning through the end of the game, third-most in the Majors behind the Blue Jays (142) and Dodgers (135).
BABY COME BACK…: Last night’s comeback win marked the Giants 30th of the season, tied with the Braves for second-most in the National League (sixth-most in the Majors) this season behind the Reds, who lead the Majors with 36 comeback wins.
I CAN FEEL YOUR (HALO) HALO: SF’s 26-14 (.650) record against the Halos is their second best vs. any opponent since moving to San Francisco, trailing only their 13-5 (.722) mark against Cleveland…SF is 9-3-3 all time in its series against the Angels.
Giants, Best Series Win Pct vs. Any Single Opponent – Since 1958 (Stats, LLC)
vs. Team Record W/L%
vs. Guardians 5-1-0 .833
vs. Angels 9-3-3 .700
vs. Rangers 8-3-3 .679
vs. Team Record W/L%
vs. Brewers 35-19-4 .638
vs. Marlins 40-21-9 .636
FIVE FOR FIGHTING?: The Giants enter tonight’s game having scored 5+ runs in each of their last two games (six runs in a loss to the A’s on Sunday and eight in yesterday’s win)…it’s the first time since June 23 and 24 that they’ve scored 5+ runs in consecutive games…the last time they did so in three (or more) straight games was June 13-19, doing so in six straight.
GOTTA PAY THE TOLL: Giants pitching did not walk a batter in last night’s win, marking the 15th game this season they’ve gone walkfree…those 15 such games are most in the Majors ahead of Seattle (14) and Tampa Bay (12)…SF also punched out 12 Angels hitters last night, marking the fourth time this year the staff has turned in a 10 + strikeout, no-walk game.
THE LONG GAME: With LHP Scott Alexander opening today, expect the Giants bullpen to pick up a heavy portion of today’s game… SF’s 43 games with their bullpen throwing 5.0 or more innings (as a group) are the most by any Giants team in a single season since moving 1958…the 43 such games this year are most in MLB .
SPECIAL FEATURE: When SF has used the opener and bulk innings/featured pitcher combo this year it has proved successful as the team has gone 15-5 in those 20 games…the team ERA in those games is 2.72…today’s start for LHP Scott Alexander marks his fifth of the season with the Giants going 3-1 in the previous four games that he’s opened…he last opened on Thursday and threw 1.0 inning in the Giants 1-0 over the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park.
THE ONE WHERE HE GETS ON BASE…AGAIN: IF Wilmer Flores went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to extend his on-base streak to 18 games, matching the longest of his career from 2018 with the Mets…the streak is the second-longest active streak in MLB, trailing only Mookie Betts (23g)…Flores is slashing .394/.438/.773 (26-66 AB) with seven doubles, six homers, 11 RBI and 12 runs during that span…since June 1, Flores’ 1.093 OPS is third-best in the Majors behind LAA’s
Shohei Ohtani (1.281) and TEX’s Corey Seager (1.109) (min. 125 PA).
MLB, Highest OPS Since June 1 – 2023 (Min. 125 PA)
Shohei Ohtani, LAA 1.281
Corey Seager, TEX 1.109
Wilmer Flores, SF 1.097
Matt Olson, ATL 1.061
Mookie Betts, LAD 1.061
Ronald Acuña Jr, ATL 1.047
RIBEYE STEAKS: C Patrick Bailey went 2-for-3 with three RBI yesterday and is 4-for-6 in his last two games with two runs scored, four RBI, a double and three walks…Bailey’s 35 RBI since his MLB debut on May 19 are tied for sixth-most by a rookie in that time with NYM’s Francisco Álvarez…all 35 of Bailey’s RBI have come while he’s been behind the dish…the 35 RBI’s as a catcher since May 19 are second-most in MLB behind TEX’s Jonah Heim (38)…Bailey is 7-for-21 in his last seven games with five walks.
THE ERA TOUR: LHP Taylor Rogers turned in another scoreless inning yesterday and lowered his ERA to 1.00 in his 38 games since April 18…the 1.00 ERA (4er, 36.0ip) is third-lowest in MLB (min. 30ip) behind BAL’s Felix Bautista (0.80) and SD’s Josh Hader (0.80)…Taylor logged two strikeouts yesterday and is
nine strikeouts away from 500 for his career.
JD SPORTS: IF J.D. Davis slugged his 15th homer of the season last night in SF’s win…the third baseman leads the team in both home runs (15) and RBI (56) entering play today…his 15 homers are the second-most he’s hit in a season in his career behind the 22 he hit with the Mets in 2019…his 56 RBI are one shy of his career high of 57 also from 2019…he’s already drawn a career-best 41 walks this year.
THE CALIFORNIANS: The Giants are in the midst of a 3+ week stretch where they don’t leave the state of California…it began on July 25 vs. Oakland when the Giants returned home after an 11-game trip to the east coast out of the break…after this series, the Giants return home for a six-game homestand and don’t play outside of the state until August 17 at Atlanta.
JUST CALL ME A.L.: SF is in a four-series stretch against American League opponents (at Oakland, at the Angels, vs. Texas and vs. Tampa Bay)…the Giants are 16-19 in Interleague play so far this season.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the sixth (0-5) of seven games on a homestand against the Seattle Mariners (0-4) and San Francisco Giants (0-1; Aug. 7-9)…Halos went 5-4 on last road trip against Detroit (3-0), Toronto (1-2) and Atlanta (1-2)…LAA was 6-3 on last homestand against the Astros (1-2), Yankees (3-0)
& Pirates (2-1).
SHO BUSINESS: With his 15th stolen base of the season last night, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history with 15+ SB & 40+ HR through his team’s first 114 games (ESPN Stats & Info).
ON REHAB: Logan O’Hoppe is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight with Low-A Inland Empire… He has been on the Angels injured list since April 21.
VS. GIANTS: The Angels and Giants are facing off in their first series since 2021…Angels went 1-3 vs. Giants in 2021, with the teams splitting a pair of games at Oracle Park and the Giants sweeping a two-game set at Angel Stadium…San Francisco leads the all-time regular season series 26-14…Angels won 2002 World Series vs. Giants in seven games.
RECENT RESULTS: Halos have lost seven straight games after winning 10 of previous 13 contests…The current seven game skid is the Halos longest of the season and longest since the franchise record 14-game losing streak from May 25 – June 8, 2022.
WINS AND LOSSES: With a 56-58 record, Angels have matched season-low mark at two games under .500…LAA has not been three games under .500 since finishing last season with a 73-89 record.
SETTING THE TONE: Friday night vs. Seattle, Luis Rengifo hit the eighth leadoff home run of the season for the Angels…Only the Dodgers (10 – all by Mookie Betts) have hit more this year…The eight leadoff homers are tied for the third-most in a season in Halos history (LAA had 10 leadoff HR in 1986 and nine in 2021).
BACK-TO-BACK: Shohei Ohtani was named American League Player of the Month for July, marking his second straight month taking home those honors…Since 2013, he is the only MLB player to win consecutive Player of the Month Awards and has now done so twice (also, June/July 2021)…In Angels history, only Mike Trout (5) has more Player of the Month Awards for a career.
SO EXTRA: On Sunday vs. Seattle, the Angels had their five game extra-inning win streak snapped…Was the Halos longest extra inning win streak since a five-game
streak from Aug. 4, 2012 – April 23, 2013.
LEAGUE LEADER: As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in home runs (40), total bases (282), XBH (66), slugging percentage (.673) and OPS (1.082) and is tied for the MLB lead in triples (7)…On the mound, he leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.186), is tied for fifth in strikeouts (160) and is eighth in WHIP (1.07).
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday the Angels recalled RHP Zack Weiss from Triple-A Salt Lake…Additionally, RHP Jacob Webb was claimed off waivers by Baltimore today after he was designated for assignment by the Angels on Saturday.
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 172 home runs this season…Only the Braves (213) and Dodgers (181) have homered more.
RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 40 home runs through the first 114 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (the previous record was 37 HR through 114 team games by Ohtani in 2021 and Mike Trout in 2019)…Club record through 115 games was 38 HR by Ohtani in 2021 and Trout in 2019.
DOUBLE DIGITS: Tomorrow, Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to take the mound in search of his 10th winning decision of the season…No player in MLB history has had multiple seasons with 10+ home runs and 10+ pitching wins.
THE MOOSE: In his 32 games since joining the Angels, Mike Moustakas has totaled six home runs and 18 RBI…In 47 games earlier this year for Colorado, he had four home runs and 17 RBI.
SAVE STREAK SNAPPED: Thursday night vs. Seattle was the first blown save of the year for Carlos Estévez, which ended his franchise record streak of 23 consecutive save conversions to begin the season…It also finishes as the second-longest save streak at any point in a season in Angels history (Francisco Rodriguez had a 25 game streak in 2008).
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 18 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 28 times this year for 25 different players…The 18 players currently on the IL are the most in the Majors.
FIRST TO 40: Shohei Ohtani has recorded his second career 40+ HR season (he hit 46 HR in 2021) and is the first player in the Majors to reach 40 HR this year…Is
the third player in Angels history with multiple 40+ HR seasons, joining Troy Glaus (2000 & 2001) and Mike Trout (2015, 2019 & 2022).
THE MICK: Since July 2, Mickey Moniak is batting .304 (34/112) with five doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI…He had his career-high 18-game hit streak snapped last Saturday at Toronto.
HALO 1200: With his Angels debut on Friday night, Dominic Leone became the 1200th different player in franchise history
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP LUCAS GIOLITO
6-8, 4.36 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in seven of 11 starts since June 6
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 24th start of the season and 10th at home…Making first career start at Angel Stadium as an Angel (third overall start with LAA) since being acquired via trade from Chicago (A.L.) on July 26…Is in eighth Major League season.
- LAST TIME OUT: Took loss in last start on August 2 at Atlanta after tossing 3.2 innings and allowing a career-high nine earned runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
- HOT STOVE: Acquired in a trade with the White Sox on July 26, alongside RHP Reynaldo López in exchange for minor league C Edgar Quero and LHP Ky Bush.
- GET SETTLED: This season, 18 of 67 (27%) of runs have come in the 1st inning and 28 (42%) in the 4th inning.
- IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown changeups 23.2% of the time and is holding opponents to a .248 (30/121) average with 34 strikeouts…Throws sliders 30.5% of the time, with opponents batting .241 (38/158) with 43 strikeouts against the pitch.
- VS. GIANTS: Is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA (11.1 IP – 4 ER) and 12 strikeouts in two career starts against San Francisco.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: Holds a 3-0 record and 3.86 ERA (30.1 IP – 13 ER) with 39 strikeouts in five career starts at Angel Stadium (all with White Sox); Is 1-0 this season following June 28 start at Angel Stadium as member of White Sox in which he pitched 7.0 innings and surrendered four earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts…Making Angels debut at The Big A tonight.
- STRIKEOUT ARTIST: Ranks 10th in the American League with 138 strikeouts this season…Since start of 2021, is third in the American League with 516 strikeouts; 26.2% strikeout rate ranks third (min. 450 IP) in the A.L. during that time.
- JUNE BLOOM: Posted a 2-1 record and 2.32 ERA (31 IP – 8 ER) with a .198 opponent batting average in the month of June…31.2% strikeout rate ranked third in the A.L. in the month… Surrendered two-or-fewer runs in four of five June starts, and struck out eight or more batters in three of five starts.
- WORKHORSE: 470.1 IP since 2021 ranks 10th in the A.L…Has made at least 20 starts each year dating back to 2018 (2020 excluded) and has made at least 30 starts in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022.
- BETTER WITH TIME: Opposing hitters are batting .267 (50/187) this season against Giolito in their first appearance of the day; .224 (40/179) in their second PA; and .232 (29/125) in their third PA.
- GOOD DAY: This year, has a 4.10 ERA (74.2 IP – 34 ER) in day games, compared with a 4.72 ERA (55.1 IP – 29 ER) at night…Has a 3.89 ERA (363.1 IP – 157 ER) in 65 day games in his career, versus a 4.61 ERA (596.0 IP – 305 ER) in 105 career night games.
- SPOTLESS STARTER: Has pitched six innings without giving up a hit in two starts this season: April 18 (2) vs. PHI (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO) and June 6 vs. NYY (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO).
- 1,000 CLUB: Reached 1,000 career strikeouts with a third inning punchout of Twins INF Edouard Julien in his last start on July 23…Enters today with 1,004 strikeouts in his career.
