SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: SF looks to end its five-game California-only road trip with a win in today’s series finale in Anaheim…the Giants have not won a road series since sweeping a three-game set from the Pirates directly following the All-Star break…since winning the PIT 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.
ROSTER MOVES: OF Heliot Ramos (#12) was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento earlier today and OF AJ Pollock was placed on the 10-day Injured List with a left oblique strain.
BRUNCH PLANS, ANYONE?: ESPN announced earlier today the selection of SF’s game against the Braves on Sunday, August 27 as part of their Sunday Night Baseball schedule…the game will now start at 4:10 p.m.
HIGH FIVE: The Giants have scored five or more runs in three straight games for the first time since June 13-19, when they achieved that feat in six straight…SF won all six games during the June streak, while they are 1-2 during their current run.
REVENGE FOR ’02: SF’s 26-15 (.634) record against the Angels is their second best vs. any opponent since moving to San Francisco, trailing only their 13-5 (.722) mark against Cleveland (Stats, LLC)…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
THE CALIFORNIANS: The Giants are in the midst of a 3+ week stretch where they don’t leave California, beginning with their season-long nine-game homestand on July 25, continuing with their current five-game road trip at Oakland and LA, and ending with a six-game homestand vs. Texas and Tampa Bay.
LOTS OF NEW FACES: SF is in a four-series stretch against AL opponents (at Oakland, at the Angels, vs. Texas and vs. Tampa Bay)…the Giants are 16-20 in Interleague play so far this season.
THE ONE WHERE HE GETS ON BASE…AGAIN: IF Wilmer Flores is on a career-best 19 game on-base streak, surpassing his previous high set in 2018 with New York-NL…the streak is the second-longest active in MLB, trailing only Mookie Betts (24g)… Flores is batting .406 (28×69) with 13 runs, seven doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.266 OPS in that span…since June 1, Flores ranks third in MLB with a 1.128 OPS (min. 125 plate appearances).
MLB, Highest OPS Since June 1 – 2023 (Min. 125 PA)
Shohei Ohtani, LAA 1.269
Corey Seager, TEX 1.131
Wilmer Flores, SF 1.128
Mookie Betts, LAD 1.067
Matt Olson, ATL 1.061
Ronald Acuña Jr, ATL 1.057
NEEED COFFEE: SF has struggled to get its offense going early in 2023 with its 199 runs in the first 4.0 innings ranking 27th in MLB…since the All-Star Break (24 games), the Giants’ 29 runs from innings 1-4 are tied with Arizona for fewest in MLB.
FIGHTER OF THE NIGHT MAN: With Flores’ two-run homer in the 8th yesterday, the Giants have 130 total runs in the 8th inning or later, which ranks third in MLB behind TOR (142) and LAD (136).
ROOKIE RIBBIES: C Patrick Bailey has reached base in eight of his last 10 plate appearances, going 5-for-7 (.714) with three runs, four RBI and three walks…SF has 117 RBI by rookies this season, which ranks third in MLB behind the Brewers (119) and Reds (140).
HOT OFF THE BENCH: SF pinch hitters went 2-for-4 yesterday, with C Patrick Bailey and OF Luis Matos both singling off the bench…in total, SF has 25 pinch-hit hits, which ranks third in MLB behind Oakland (31) and Pittsburgh (26).
HE’S JUST THE OPENER: RHP Ryan Walker is set to open the Giants’ second bullpen game in as many days…SF is 15-6 when using an opener, with the Giants going 7-0 when Walker toes the rubber first…SF’s 44 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 in 1958…the 44 such games this year are most in MLB.
FEATURING THE BULLPEN: LHP Sean Manaea has not allowed a run in his last four outings (7.2 innings), striking out eight while posting a 0.52 WHIP…since moving to the bullpen on May 17, Manaea has a 3.78 ERA (20er, 47.2ip) over 19 games with 57 strikeouts, a 1.07 WHIP, a .220 opposing batting average and just one home run allowed…his 47.2 innings of relief are most in MLB since May 17.
NO FREE PASSES: Giants pitchers walked two last night…in game one of the series, SF did not walk a batter for the 15th time this season (most in MLB)…since the All-Star Break, only Tampa Bay (40 walks) has walked fewer batters than the Giants (50 walks).
DON’T WASTE TIME: The majority of Ohtani’s damage has come on the first pitch of the at-bat, with hitters posting a 1.125 OPS with a 0-0 count…IF J.D. Davis has a 1.439 OPS on the first pitch recording eight of his 15 home runs and 26 of his 56 RBI…SF as a whole this year has a .958 OPS on the first pitch of an at-bat.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the seventh (1-5) and final game of the homestand against the Seattle Mariners (0-4) and San Francisco Giants (1-1; 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).
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN: Halos won last night’s contest to snap a season-high seven game losing streak…Halos won 10 of previous 13 contests before the losing streak.
GETTING BACK TO .500: With a 57-58 record, the Angels are looking to get back to exactly .500 for a 15th time this season (previously: 1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 14-14, 22-22, 30-30, 45-45, 48-48 & 56-56)…Halos low water mark of the season is two games under .500.
SHO BUSINESS: With his 15th stolen base of the season Monday 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 and José Marte began rehab assignments last night with Low-A Inland Empire…Marte pitched 1.0 scoreless inning with two strikeouts…O’Hoppe caught 3.0 innings and had three plate appearances.
VS. GIANTS: The Angels and Giants play the rubber game of a three game series tonight…Halos are looking for first three-game series win vs. Giants since June 18-20, 2012…This is the first series between the clubs since 2021…San Francisco leads the all-time regular season series 26-15…Angels won 2002 World Series vs. Giants in seven games.
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 (283), slugging percentage (.669) and OPS (1.078) and is tied for the MLB lead in triples (7) and XBH (66)…On the mound, he leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.186), is tied for fifth in strikeouts (160) and is ninth in WHIP (1.07).
DOUBLE DIGITS: Tonight, 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.
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 173 home runs this season…Only the Braves (215) and Dodgers (181) have homered more.
RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 40 home runs through the first 115 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (the previous record was 38 HR through 115 team games by Ohtani in 2021 and Mike Trout in 2019)…Club record through 116 games was also 38 HR by Ohtani in 2021 and Trout in 2019.
THE MOOSE: In his 32 games since joining the Angels, Mike Moustakas has totaled six home runs and 20 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).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
9-5, 3.32 ERA
Making 22nd career pitching start while leading Majors in home runs
- SHO TIME: Making 22nd pitching start of the year and 13th at home…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
- 3x ALL-STAR: Was selected to the A.L. All-Star team as a pitcher in addition to starting nomination at DH…Third consecutive season being selected to the All-Star team as both a pitcher and position player.
- LEAGUE LEADER: Enters today’s start leading the Majors in opponent batting average (.186), ranks tied for fifth in strikeouts (160) and is ninth in WHIP (1.07).
- UNDER ONE: Has allowed one-or-fewer earned runs in 11 of 21 starts this season.
- LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Took no decision in last start on August 3 vs. Seattle, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings on three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts .
- 10 K: Since start of 2022 season, leads MLB with 16 games with 10+ strikeouts (has six this season – third-most in MLB)…Recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 starts last season, which was the most such games in the A.L; joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts in at least six consecutive games.
- UNFAMILIAR: This season, is holding opponents to an .116 (19/164) average the first time through the order, a .252 (37/147) average the second time through the order and a .205 (25/122) average the third time through.
- VS. SAN FRANCISCO: Took no decision in only previous appearance vs. Giants, pitching 6.0 innings and surrendering one earned run on six hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts on June 23, 2021 at Angel Stadium.
- INTERLEAGUE PLAY: In 11 career games vs. N.L. opponents, is 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA (67.2 IP – 26 ER) and 98 SO…This season, is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA (36.1 IP – 16 ER) in six Interleague starts.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 45 career starts at The Big A, is 20-8 with a 2.28 ERA (268.2 IP – 68 ER) and 351 strikeouts…This season, is 5-3 with a 2.97 ERA (72.2 IP – 24 ER) and 99 strikeouts after 12 starts…In 14 starts last season, was 7-4 with a 1.82 ERA (89 IP – 18 ER)…In 2021, went 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA (78.1 IP – 17 ER) and 93 strikeouts after 13 home starts.
- HOME SWEET HOME: Has a career 2.28 ERA (268.2 IP – 68 ER) in home games, which is the third-lowest total of the last 100 years (min. 45 GS)…Only Jacob deGrom (2.15 ERA) and Clayton Kershaw (2.20 ERA) have had a lower home ERA.
- DOUBLE TROUBLE: On July 27, became first player ever to pitch a complete game shutout in one game of a doubleheader, and hit a home run in the other…Became second player ever to throw a shutout allowing one-or-fewer hits and homer twice on the same day, joining Rick Wise (June 23, 1971).
- COMPLETE DOMINATION: Pitched first career complete game and first shutout on July 27 at Detroit while holding Tigers to a single hit and three walks while punching out eight…Tied a season-high with 111 pitches after pitching into the 9th inning for the first time in his MLB career.
- PUMPING STRIKES: Ranks second in MLB (min. 120 IP) with a 31.8% called strike plus whiff rate (CSW%), a measure of the proportion of pitches thrown that end up as a called strike or a swing-and-miss (including a foul tip)
