Thursday, March 28, 2024
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MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals (25-36) at Texas Rangers (39-20)

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue a six-game road trip through Pittsburgh and Texas with the second of a three-game series against Texas Rangers in their first visit to Globe Life Field. This past weekend, the Cardinals were swept in a three-game series by the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. St. Louis has lost four straight games and five straight road contests. Their last three losses have all been by one run.

ROAD TRIP SCRIPT: Since Friday, the Cardinals have lost each of the first four games on this road trip and five straight dating back to Cleveland on May 28. It was June 2021, the last time the Cardinals dropped six straight road contests (June 2 at LAD, June 11-13 at CHI and June 17-18 at ATL). The last time the Cardinals dropped every game of a road trip of five games or more, Aug. 3-7, 2019 at OAK (2) and LAD (3).

FLIGHT PATTERN: Entering today, the Cardinals are in last place in the National League Central, 8.0 games behind first place Pittsburgh and 2.0 games behind fourth place Chicago. St. Louis was a season-low 10.0 games out of first place eight days from April 29-May 6, before closing to 4.0 games back on May 27. St. Louis spent 24 days in last place from April 26-May 19 and 41 days of the 68 days in the cellar on the 2023 Major League schedule.

APRIL SHOWERSā€¦MAY FLOWERSā€¦JUNEā€¦?: The Cardinals began their season 10-19 in March/April and took a five-game losing streak into May before exploding through the rest of the month from a 10-24 record to 25-32 at the end. From May 7-31, the Cardinals had the best record in the National League at 15-8 and nearly set a franchise record for May, hitting 44 home runs, one shy of the 2000 Cardinals who hammered 45.

GOLDEN-ADO RBI REUNION: Last night, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado each recorded an RBI in the same game for the first time since May 15 vs. Milwaukee, an 18-1 rout of the Brewers. This season, the dynamic duo have collected an RBI in the same game seven times with the Cardinals 5-2 in those games. Prior to last nightā€™s loss, the Cardinals last lost vs. Atlanta on April 3 when both players had an RBI in an 8-4 loss.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: In the 13 regular season meetings between the Cardinals and Rangers, St. Louis only has three wins, but in those three wins, they scored eight or more runs with an 8-2 win in 2019 at Globe Life Park and 13-2 and 12-7 wins back in 2004 in Arlington. In the Cardinals 10 regular season losses vs. Texas, six have been by one run and they have not scored more than four runs in any of the games. The Rangers, however, have not scored more than seven runs in any of their 10 wins. Despite the lopsided 10-3 mark, St. Louis still holds a +3 run differential in the series.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: In their last three games, the Cardinals have lost by one run moving the needle on their record to 6-14 (.300) in 2023 in one-run contests. Only the San Diego Padres (3-11, .214) have a worse mark among National League teams. Ten (4-6) of the Cardinals last 15 games have been decided by one run. The Rangers have played in the 2nd-fewest one-run games (12, 5-7) trailing only Houston (10, 6-4).

RISP-Y BUSINESS: Paul DeJongā€™s RBI single in the 2nd inning last night snapped an 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position dating back to the 7th inning on Friday night at Pittsburgh, The Cardinals currently rank 7th in MLB with a .267 BA w/RISP. They connected with a runner in scoring position for 15-straight games (5/3-18) batting .318 during that stretch. The Texas Rangers lead all of MLB with a .337 BA wRISP, currently outdistancing the all-time single-season mark held by the 2013 Cardinals (.330) and led by Allen Craigā€™s .454 mark w/RISP.

STRANDED: Cardinals relievers are no stranger to stressful situations as they lead Major League Baseball with 119 inherited runners. The Oakland Athletics rank 2nd with 117. St. Louis relievers have standed their inherited runners at a 28.6% clip, ranking 12th in MLB. Surprisingly, no Cardinals reliever has carried the brunt and have zero pitchers in the Top 10 in the National League in inherited runners. However, they have four pitchers in the Top 12 in inherited runners scored percentage: 5. Chris Stratton (14.3% 14-2) 6. GĆ©nesis Cabrera (15.4% 13-2) 8. Zack Thompson (16.7% 12-2) and 12. Ryan Helsley (20.0% 15-3).

THE INFIRMARY: Following three scoreless innings of no-hit ball in his last rehab appearance covering 35 pitches, RHP Jake Woodford will be scheduled to throw 55-60 pitches in his next start. OF Tyler Oā€™Neill is scheduled not to resume baseball activity until June 15. PAIR OF JACKS: Sunday, Andrew Knizner homered for the Cardinals lone run and has homered in consecutive games played (5/28 at CLE & 6/4 at PIT) for the second time this season (5/14 at BOS & 5/15 vs. MIL). Knizner joins rookie Francisco Alvarez (NYM), Jonah Heim (TEX), Sean Murphy (ATL) and Salvador Perez (KC) as catchers with pairs of consecutive game home runs this season.

TONIGHTā€™S STARTING PITCHER: LHP MATTHEW LIBERATORE (1-1, 4.91)
TONIGHTā€™S GAME

  • Making his 3rd start of the season (4th app.) and 10th career start (13th app.). This will
    be his first career start and appearance against the Texas Rangers.
  • Including tonight, seven of his 10 careers starts have come on the road.
  • Has yet to allow a HR in his first three appearances this season (11.0 IP).
  • Was 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 46.0 innings pitched covering eight starts at Memphis (AAA) this season. Posted a 10-strikeout game at Gwinnett (4/12).
  • Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
  • Was leading all Minor League pitchers at any level with 46.0 innings pitched and all Triple-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts (3rd in MiLB) at the time of his recall on May 17.
  • The Cardinals are 6-3 in his nine career starts and 9-3 overall in his 12 total appearances.
  • 2021 Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
  • Started for the National League in the 2021 SirusXM All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver and worked a perfect 1st inning retiring a trio of then-top 10 prospects in Bobby Witt, Jr., Jarred Kelenic, and Julio Rodriguez on just 13 pitches.
  • Acquired in trade with Tampa Bay Rays on January 9, 2020 in a deal that sent OF Jose Martinez and OF Randy Arozarena to Tampa.
  • Originally selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round (16th player overall) of the June, 2018 First-Year Player Draft, making him the highest drafted high school player in Rays franchise history.

LAST TIME OUT

  • Pitched four scoreless innings to start the game before allowing all four runs in the 5th inning via a bases-loaded single from Steven Kwan and a 3 RBI double by Amed Rosario. Only allowed one hit through first four innings.

DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
5/26 at CLE L, 3-4 L (1-1) 5.0 5 4 4 2 2 0 91-51

2023 SEASON

  • Began the season with Memphis (AAA) and made eight starts before getting recalled to St. Louis for a May 17 start vs. Milwaukee.
  • Made his 2023 debut and threw 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball with three walks and six strikeouts. Posted the exact same line in each of his first two starts vs. the Brewers (5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO).
  • Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
  • Was leading all Minor League pitchers at any level with 46.0 innings pitched and all Triple-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts (3rd in MiLB) at the time of his recall.

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas walked off the Cardinals yesterday, 4-3, as club has a 4-0 record in this 6-day, 6-G homestand vs. SEA (3-0) and STL (1-0 + 2 G)ā€¦team has now won 4 straight for the 4th time in ’23ā€¦the Rangers have won 6 of 7, 10 of 12, 13 of 16, 18 of 24, and 21 of last 28 gamesā€¦TEX is an MLB-best 25-9 (.735) in last 34 G beg. 4/28ā€¦most wins in any 34-G span for TEX since 5/28-7/2/16 (also 25-9)ā€¦TEX is 31-14 in last 45 G and 35-16 in last 51 G beg. 4/9.

  • At 39-20 (.661), TEX owns the 2nd-best record in MLB to only TB (43-19, see chart below)ā€¦clubā€™s 39 wins rank 2nd in A.L. and MLB (43-TB).
  • The 39-20 start is the Rangersā€™ best 59-G start to a season in WSH/TEX franchise history, 3 G ahead of the next-best start (36-23, done 5 previous times).
  • TEX is a season-high 19 G above .500 for the 1st time since the end of 2016 (95-67)ā€¦this is the earliest date ever for TEX to be 19-over (prev. 6/18 in 2016).

BEST RECORDS IN MLB, 2023
Win Pct. Team W-L
.694 Tampa Bay 43-19
.661 Texas 39-20
.627 Baltimore 37-22

WITH A WIN TONIGHT the Rangers would:

  • Reach the best 60-G record in WSH/TEX franchise history, climb to season-best 20 G above .500 for 1st time since the end of 2016 season, and reach 20-over at the earliest point in a season in franchise history (by date or games).
  • Notch a season-best 5-game win streak and secure a season-high 6th straight series win.
  • Extend their current home winning streak to 8 straight G (beg. 5/19), which would be club’s longest-ever at Globe Life Field (prev. 6-0 from 5/15-31/22) and longest overall since an 8-G run from 5/10-18/17 at Globe Life Park.

SERIES STUFF: Club’s 3-G sweep of SEA last weekend was 4th time to win all games of a series in 2023 (last 3-0, 5/19- 21 vs. COL)ā€¦Texas has won a season-high 5 consecutive series, longest such span since going 5-0-0 from 6/15-7/1/18 vs. COL/at KC/at MIN/vs. SD/vs. CWSā€¦club is now 10-1-1 in last 12 series and 13-2-1 in last 16ā€¦team is 14-4-1 overall in series this year, going 6-2-1 at home and 8-2-0 on the roadā€¦ TEX is now 5-1-1 in last 7 series at GLF.

AT HOME: Rangers are 20-8 (.714) at home, 2nd-best home record in A.L. and MLB (TB-.813, 26-6)ā€¦have won 7 straight, 8 of 9, 12 of 15, 17 of last 23 at GLF beg. 4/5ā€¦TEX has a 106-114 all-time record at Globe Life Field (2020-23), but are 26-15 last 41 G here (beg. 9/11/22)ā€¦TEX leads MLB in R (197) and R/G (7.04) at home in 2023.

VS. ST. LOUIS: TEX is hosting STL for their lone series in ’23 (1-0 + 2 G)ā€¦1st meeting since 5/17-19/19 at GLPIA (2-1)ā€¦ St. Louis is one of 7 clubs that had never played a regular season game at Globe Life Field (CHC, CIN, MIA, MIL, NYM, PIT)ā€¦TEX leads the all-time reg. season series with STL, 10-3, with a 4-3 record vs. STL in games played in Arlington.

WALK IT OFF: Nathaniel Lowe notched the Rangersā€™ 2nd walk-off victory of the season with an RBI single last night (also Jonah Heim 3-R HR on 4/11 vs. KC)ā€¦it was the 4th walk-off hit of Loweā€™s career and 3rd with TEX (last 2-R HR on 5/18/22 vs. LAA)ā€¦his 3 walk-off hits since joining the club in ’21 are tied for the most by a TEX batter in that span (also GarcĆ­a/Heim)ā€¦TEX improved to a 2-4 record in walk-off games this season, snapping a 4-G losing streak.

WHERE NEW YORK AND TEXAS MEET: Texas has now outscored its opponents 380-227 (+153) in 2023ā€¦it is the highest run differential in MLB this season (2nd is TB at +125), and the 3rd-highest over any 59-game span in Senators/Rangers franchise history (+155 from 9/2/11-5/13/12 and +154 from 10/5/22-6/4/23)ā€¦additionally, it is the 6th-largest run differential in the first 59 G of a season by any team in baseball’s Modern Era (beg. 1901), as the last squad to outscore its opponents by such a wide margin over a campaign’s first 59 G was the 1939 New York Yankees (+168):

HIGHEST TEAM RUN DIFFERENTIAL OVER
SEASON’S FIRST 59 GAMES, MODERN ERA (beg. 1901)
Year Team Run Diff.
1912 New York Giants +175
1929 Philadelphia Athletics +172
1902 Pittsburgh Pirates +169
1939 New York Yankees +168
1927 New York Yankees +154
2023 Texas Rangers +153

SCORE UNTIL YOU WIN: TEX has scored an MLB-high 380 runs this seasonā€¦it marks the most runs scored thru 1st 59 games in WSH/TEX franchise history, and most by any ML club over 1st 59 G of a campaign since 1999 (CLE, 392 R).

  • TEX owns an MLB-leading 16 games with 10+ R this season, tied with the 1936 New York Yankees (also 16) for the most such games by any team over the first 59 G of a season in the Modern Era (beg. 1901).
  • The Rangers have scored an MLB-best 197 R at home in ’23, the T2nd-highest R total thru 28 home G in franchise history (205-1998, 197-2004)ā€¦the last ML team with 198+ R in its first 28 home G of a season was 2001 Colorado (230).

ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE: Marcus Semien extended his career best and MLB-high 24-G hit streak last nightā€¦it is T4th-longest hit streak in club history and the longest by a Ranger in the last 15 years (25 G, Ian Kinsler, 6/17-7/13/08).

  • Semien has slashed .333/.374/.571/.945 (35-105) w/ 4 HR, 2 3B, 9 2B, 20 RBI, 26 R, and 7 BB/13 SO over the course of the streak (beg. 5/10), ranking among MLB leaders in that time in R (1st), H (3rd), XBH (T3rd), TB (4th) and 2B (T4th).

LONGEST HITTING STREAKS IN TEXAS RANGERS HISTORY
Games Player Span
28 Gabe Kapler 7/17-8/15/00
25 Ian Kinsler 6/17-7/13/08
25 Michael Young 9/2-29/05
24 Marcus Semien 5/10-current
24 Mickey Rivers 8/14-9/9/80

QUALITY, OF THE ULTRA KIND: MartĆ­n PĆ©rez did not factor into the decision last night despite tossing his 3rd ultra-quality start (7.0+ IP, 2-or-fewer ER) in 4 outingsā€¦his lone run allowed was unearned following a two-base error by RF Adolis GarcĆ­a in the 2nd inningā€¦it marked the 1st time a TEX starter has failed to record a win after logging 7.0+ IP with no ER allowed since PĆ©rez on 5/4/22 at PHI (7.0 SHO IP)ā€¦he remains unbeaten (5-0) in his last 10 starts (beg. 4/14), and has gone 3-0, 1.40 ERA (4 ER/25.2 IP) in 4 starts at GLF in ’23. SHORTS: TEX is now 12-9 in Interleague play (9-3 at home)ā€¦Will Smith’s win last night was his 1st since 7/4/21 vs. MIA w/ ATL, going 0-7 in prev. 118 appā€¦Josh Jung’s 19 RBI in Interleague games in ’23 leads the A.L., T1st in MLBā€¦ Joe Barlow is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment tonight with Round Rock (AAA), as they kick off a series against the Salt Lake Bees at Smith’s Ballpark in Utah.

TONIGHTā€™S STARTING PITCHER – #33 Dane Dunning, RHP
(4-1, 2.06)

TONIGHT: The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 14th appearance/6th start of the season tonight in game 2 of 3 against the visiting St. Louis Cardinalsā€¦ranks among A.L. pitchers with 45.0+ IP this season: ERA (1st, 2.06), opp. OPS (1st, .544), and GB pct. (9th, 49.0%)ā€¦has made 5 starts since joining the rotation on 5/5, going 2-1, 2.28 ERA (7 ER/27.2 IP) with 6 BB/21 SO and no HR allowedā€¦his 48.0 IP are the most by any MLB pitcher that has yet to surrender a home run in 2023ā€¦just 9 of 39 hits allowed this season have gone for extra bases (all doubles), and .270 opp. SLG figure is lowest in A.L./2nd-lowest in MLB (min. 45.0 IP) to LADā€™s Dustin May (.250)ā€¦took his 1st loss of ā€˜23 in Texasā€™ 3-2 defeat on Wed. at DET (see ā€˜Last Startā€™)ā€¦established career highs in many categories last season, ranking 2nd on the Texas staff in starts (29), innings (153.1), and strikeouts (137)ā€¦missed time in 2022 for a pair of IL stints: 7/11- 25/22 (right ankle impingement) and 9/27/22-end of season (right hip surgery)ā€¦ had season-ending surgery on 9/26/22 for a right hip labral repair, with the surgery performed by Dr. William Robertson in Arlingtonā€¦has gone 13-19 with a 4.12 ERA (146 ER/319.0 IP) for the Rangers over the last 3 seasons (2021-23) since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a 3-player trade involving RHP Lance Lynn on 12/8/20ā€¦pitched 3 seasons at the University of Florida, helping the Gators to College World Series appearances in both 2015 and 2016ā€¦is a native of the Jacksonville, Fla. areaā€¦Texas is 2-3 in his 5 starts in 2023.

LAST START: Took his 1st loss of the season in Texasā€™ 3-2 defeat on Wed. at DET (L, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 98 pitches/68 strikes)ā€¦tallied season-high 6 strikeouts and surrendered just one extra-base hit (2B by Javier BĆ”ez)ā€¦exited trailing, 3-1, after failing to record an out in a 2-run 6th inn. for the Tigersā€¦allowed back-to-back singles to open the frame, and had 2 earned runs charged to his ledger after Jonathan HernĆ”ndez permitted both inherited runners to score.

VS. ST. LOUIS / INTERLEAGUE: Has never faced the Cardinals, as they are one of 7 Major League clubs he has yet to pitch against (also MIA, MIL, NYM, SD, SF, and TEX)ā€¦Dunning is 4-1, 3.34 (22 ER/59.1 IP) in 13 games/10 starts over his career in Interleague play, including a 1-0 record and 2.16 ERA (4 ER/16.2 IP) in 5 G/2 GS vs. National League teams this seasonā€¦is undefeated (3-0) with a 2.59 ERA (12 ER/41.2 IP) in his last 9 G/6 GS against the N.L.

AS A STARTER: Has gone 2-1, 2.28 (7 ER/27.2 IP) in his 5 starts for TEX in ā€˜23, spanning his last 5 outingsā€¦has exited 3 of 5 starts with Texas holding a multirun leadā€¦made 8 straight relief app. to open the year, but a majority of Dunningā€™s Major League appearances (66 of 76) have come as a starterā€¦he owns a lifetime 13-19 record and 4.26 ERA (156 ER/329.2 IP) in those 66 career starts, with opponents batting .261/.335/.410/.745 (331-1268)ā€¦he went 4-8, 4.46 ERA (76 ER/153.1 IP) in 29 starts for Texas in 2022, registering an A.L.-high 17 no-decisionsā€¦Dunningā€™s 59 starts in a Texas uniform over the last 3 seasons (beg. 2021) are the most by a Ranger.

AT HOME / GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Dunning is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) in 5 games/one start in Arlington this season, with Texas going 4-1 in his appearances hereā€¦earned the win in his lone home start of the season on 5/16 vs. ATL (W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 4 SO)ā€¦held the potent Braves offense to just one run (RBI single by Arcia in 2nd inn.), while homers by Adolis GarcĆ­a (2- run, 4th inn.) and Ezequiel Duran (solo, 8th inn.) powered the Rangers to a 7-4 victoryā€¦throughout his career, has seen far better results in his outings at home (12-5, 3.23 ERA in 39 G/34 GS) than on the road (3-14, 5.15 ERA in 37 G/32 GS).

  • Owns a lifetime 11-5 record and 3.17 ERA (61 ER/173.0 IP) in 35 games/30 starts at Globe Life Fieldā€¦he is the facilityā€™s all-time leader (including 2020 postseason) in wins (11), starts (30), innings (173.0), and strikeouts (165).

2023: Opponents have batted .219/.275/.270/.544 (39-178) with 9 extra-base hits (all doubles), incl. opp. BAā€™s of .208 (16-77) vs. LHB and .228 (23-101) vs. RHBā€¦ opp. BA by time thru the order: 1st (.196, 19-97), 2nd (.254, 15-59), 3rd (.227, 5-22)ā€¦4 wins are T4th-most on clubā€¦20.1 relief innings still rank 5th for TEXā€¦ has 3 relief app. of 3.0+ SHO IPā€¦earned win on 4/17 at KC (4.1 SHO IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 SO), as he and Jacob deGrom (4.0 SHO IP) became just the 2nd Rangers duo in the last 40 years (beg. 1984) to each have at least 4.0 SHO IP in the same game (also 5.0-Kameron Loe, 4.0-C.J. Wilson on 8/26/05 vs. MIN)ā€¦his win on 5/10 at SEA ended a span in which he had gone winless in 27 consecutive road starts with CWS and TEX, the 2nd-longest winless road span as a starter in modern era behind only COLā€™s Scott Elarton (29 from 2001-05).

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