ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays tonight at Tropicana Field as the Redbirds begin a unique six-day, five-game Interleague road trip through St. Petersburg (Aug. 7-10) and Kansas City (Aug. 11-12) … The Cardinals recently finished 3-7 over their longest homestand (10 games/11 days) of the season against the Cubs, Twins, and Rockies, culminating with a 1-0 Sunday defeat after going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding a season-high 15 on base.
FLIGHT PATTERN: St. Louis is 5-11 since winning a season-high 6 in a row … St. Louis enters the day in last place in the NL Central, 11.5 games behind 1st place Milwaukee and 10.0 games back in the NL Wild Card chase … St. Louis has spent 92 of 128 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19, May 29-July 7 & July 28-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1995 when they were 48-65 (.425) after 113 games … With 49 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals need to go 32-17 (.653) to finish at .500.
ROAD TRIPPING REDBIRDS: The Cardinals are playing an exclusive Interleague road trip in two or more cities for the first time since June 4-11, 2014 through Kansas City (1-1), Toronto (2-1) and Tampa Bay (1-1) … St. Louis is one of 7 MLB teams with a better road win pct. (.436) than home win pct. (.431), along with Dbacks, Reds, Tigers, Astros, Blue Jays, and Nationals.
TROP BIRD DROPS: This will be the second straight year and fifth time overall the Cardinals have played in St. Petersburg, their spring home for 50+ years until they moved cross-state to Jupiter in 1998 … St. Louis has lost six of its last seven and four straight at Tropicana Field … According to Baseball Reference, the Cardinals are 190-184 all-time in regular season games played in domes (fixed roofs) or stadiums with its retractable roof closed.
CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: The Cardinals are one of six MLB teams with 8 or more players with double-digit home run totals, with the Rays (8), Blue Jays (8), Dodgers (9), Rangers (8) and Braves (9) … The franchise record stands at 11 by the 2019 Redbirds (Bader, Carpenter, DeJong, Edman, Fowler, Goldschmidt, Martinez, Molina, Ozuna, Wieters, Wong), while the 2000 and 2016 teams each had nine with 10+ home runs … This season, the Cardinals ranks T-6th in MLB in home runs (156), while the Rays rank T-4th (166).
INTERLEAGUE: The Cardinals are 235-233 all-time in Interleague play, with a .502 win pct. that trails only Los Angeles (.533) among National League clubs … St. Louis is 113-119 (.487) all-time at American League ballparks in the regular season (8-7 this season).
INTERLEAGUE INSTIGATOR: Nolan Arenado ranks 3rd in MLB in Interleague RBI (30) behind Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies (31) and Houston’s Alex Bregman (32) this season … With the expanded Interleague schedule in 2023, the trio already rank 1-2-3 for single season RBI in Interleague games with each playing over 33 games, however, Arenado held the previous single-season mark with 29 Interleague RBI in 20 games during the 2019 season with Colorado.
WHAT A RELIEF: Since the MLB Trade Deadline (August 1-present), the Cardinals bullpen ranks 3rd across Major League Baseball in ERA (1.27), 6th in WHIP (0.89), and 9th in opposing batting average (.195).
HEARTBREAK HOTEL: The Cardinals are just 9-23 (.281) in one-run games this season, with only San Diego (6-18, .250) with a worse record in one-run games … The Cardinals .281 win pct. in one-run games is currently their lowest since 1901 (the 1906 Cards were 13- 30, .319) … The Cards 23 one-run defeats lead MLB this season and are their most since dropping going 24-29 in 2017 … The last time St. Louis won a one-run contest was July 9 at Chicago White Sox (4-3 in 10 innings).
UNDER THE LIGHTS: Tonight is the first of 11 consecutive night games for St. Louis (Aug. 8-19) … The Cardinals are 26-44 in night games this season … The last time St. Louis sporting a losing record at night was back-to-back seasons in 2006 (46-59) and 2007 (52-60).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP MILES MIKOLAS (6-7, 4.29)
TONIGHT’S GAME Leads MLB NL Ranks: Games Started (24, 1st), Innings Pitched (134.1, 7th), Hits Allowed (147, 2nd), Walks/9 IP (1.74, 3rd), HR/9 IP (0.80, 3rd).
- The 2022 N.L. All-Star & team’s Opening Day starter for 2023 is making MLB-leading 25th start of 2023, 168th career appearance & 140th career start.
- Received a five-game suspension and undisclosed fine from Major League Baseball for intentionally throwing at Cubs Ian Happ on July 27. Served the suspension Aug. 2-6.
- Is making his 2nd career appearance at Tropicana Field & his 3rd against Tampa Bay.
- He’s 10-4 career when pitching at ballparks with roofs: 6-2 at MIL, 2-0 at ARI, 1-0 at SEA, 1-1 at MIA, 0-0 at HOU and 0-1 at TB. Miles has compiled a career 3.08 ERA (120.0 IP/41 ER) when pitching in MLB stadiums with roofs.
- His 2.97 ERA at Busch Stadium ranks 13th in MLB in Home ERA since he joined the Cardinals in 2018. (Jacob deGrom at Citi/Globe Life is 1st with 1.99 ERA).
- Came back on two days rest after throwing 3.0 perfect innings (34 pitches) vs. Washington (7/14) in a game that was suspended by weather and picked up a 6-4 win on 7/17 vs. MIA – his first home win since May 30 vs. KC.
- Has crossed the 100.0 innings threshold for the 4th time in his MLB career. Leads the Cardinals in innings pitched (134.1) and is ranked T-2nd on the team in wins (6).
- Received no more than 3 runs of support in 17 of 24 starts this season, including just one run while on the mound in his first four June starts, losing 2-1, 8-4, 6-1 and 3-0.
- Has allowed 19 of his 66 runs in the 1st inning (7.23 ERA, .343 BA); His ERA after the opening inning is 3.66 (45 ER/110.2 IP).
- Has not allowed a homer in the 1st inning, joining Jesus Luzardo, Sonny Gray, and Marcus Stroman as the only four pitchers with 20 or more starts without.
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2018, Mikolas leads MLB (min. 700 IP) in fewest walks (137); Justin Verlander (140) is 2nd. His 1.61 walks/9 IP is 2nd to Zack Greinke (1.60) for the fewest in MLB.
- Hasn’t committed an error since 8/2/18 vs. COL. One of two pitchers (Erick Fedde) with 100+ total chances and zero errors since 8/3/18. Ranks 9th among MLB pitchers in fielding pct. (.987) since 2018. (min. 100 TC). Was one of 10 MLB pitchers and two Cardinals (Wainwright) with a perfect 1.000 fielding pct. (31 total chances) in 2022.
- Ranks 2nd behind only Adam Wainwright (2,630.0 IP) in most career innings pitched (857.1) among active Cardinals.
- Ranks 4th among all-time Busch Stadium III leaders in ERA (2.96; min. 300 IP), 9th in all-time wins (22) & 8th in innings pitched (389.2).
LAST TIME OUT
- Made his 1st start since being ejected in the 1st inning on 7/27 and threw a season-high 109 pitches in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota. Worked 7.0+ IP for the 6th time this season and posted his 9th Quality Start.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
8/1 MIN L 3-2 L-7 7.0 6 3 2 1 7 0 109-72
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
HOME AT LAST — Tampa Bay concluded its nine-game, 10-day road trip through Houston, New York and Detroit on Sunday with a 10-6 win at Comerica Park…after RHP Tyler Glasnow was scratched from his scheduled outing due to back spasms, RHP Erasmo Ramírez made the spot start and tossed 3.0 innings of one-run ball, scattering three hits and one walk with three strikeouts…Tampa Bay’s offense was powered by DH Yandy Díaz (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 2RBI, 3R), SS Wander Franco (3-for-5, HR, 2RBI) and 2B Brandon Lowe (1-for-3, HR, 2R).
Tampa Bay secured its third consecutive series victory, its first time accomplishing the feat since 6/3-11 (BOS, MIN, TEX).
LHP Colin Poche earned his ninth win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks and two strikeouts…his nine victories are tied with BAL Mike Baumann for the most among all MLB relivers.
EL PATRÓN — Wander Franco recorded his second consecutive three-hit effort on Sunday, accomplishing the feat for the second time in his career (also: 2G, 4/10-11, 2022).
He has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, batting .389 (14-for-36) with one triple, 4 HR, 6 RBI and five walks against just four strikeouts…this performance follows a 14-game stretch from 7/8-26 in which Franco hit .118 (6-for-51).
LET’S EFLIN GO — RHP Zach Eflin’s 12 wins pace all AL hurlers and are tied with ATL Spencer Strider for second most in MLB, trailing both CHC Justin Steele and PHI Taijuan Walker (13 wins)…his 1.00 WHIP leads the majors, ahead of TEX Nathan Eovaldi (1.01) and BAL Tyler Wells (1.02).
He has an MLB-best 10 home wins, pitching to a 2.60 ERA (72.2IP, 21ER) in 12 starts at Tropicana Field…he won each of his first eight home starts from 4/1-6/23, pitching to a 2.17 ERA (49.2IP, 12ER).
He ranks among AL pitchers at home (min. 60.0IP) in WHIP (1st, 0.87), SO/BB (2nd, 9.38), ERA (4th) and opp. average (5th, .207).
FINDING HIS FOOTING — In 13 games since 7/21, Brandon Lowe is slashing .319/.385/.660 (15-for-47) with one double, five home runs and 12 RBI…in 25 games since returning from the injured list on 7/4, he is batting .272 (22-for-81) with five doubles and 6 HR after hitting .205 (36-for-176) with five doubles and 9 HR in 50 games prior to his IL stint.
Lowe hit his 99th career home run in Sunday’s win at Detroit, tying Fred McGriff for the seventh-most homers in franchise history…he also recorded his 281st career RBI on Sunday, surpassing Matt Joyce for the ninth-most RBI in club history.
With his next home run, Lowe will become the seventh member of the 100 HR club in team history, joining Evan Longoria (261HR), Carlos Peña (163HR), Aubrey Huff (128HR), Melvin Upton Jr. (118HR), Ben Zobrist (114HR) and Carl Crawford (104HR).
HITTIN’ HAROLD — Harold Ramírez has hit safely in each of his last seven games since 7/26, batting .455 (10-for-22)…it marks his second-longest streak of the season behind a 10-game run from 4/12-24.
In 26 Interleague games this season, Ramírez is batting .315 (28-for-89) with two doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS — Since becoming the Rays in 2008, Tampa Bay’s .546 winning percentage is fourth best in MLB during that time, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (.583), New York-AL (.571) and St. Louis (.549)…this includes a .587 winning percentage at Tropicana Field, the third-best home winning percentage in MLB since 2008 behind only Los Angeles-NL (.624) and New York-AL (.621).
ON THE HUNT — Following Sunday’s 10-6 win at Detroit, Tampa Bay has 37 wins by 4+ runs, the third-most such victories in the majors, trailing Los Angeles-NL (41G) and Texas (38G).
he franchise record for the most such wins in a season is 51 by the 2021 Rays, followed by performances in 2011 (41G), 2010 (40G) and 2019 (39G)…the 2022 Rays had 35 wins by 4+ runs.
Tampa Bay has scored 10+ runs in 12 games this season, second most in the AL and fifth most in MLB, trailing Texas (22G), Chicago-NL (18G), Los Angeles-NL (16G) and Atlanta (15G)…the Rays had nine such games last year.
FEAST AND FAMINE — Jose Siri’s 21 HR are tied with Isaac Paredes for the team lead…he has homered 19 times in 65 games since 5/1, the fourth-most long balls in the AL during that stretch, trailing LAA Shohei Ohtani (33HR/84G), CWS Luis Robert Jr. (25HR/82G) and TEX Adolis García (21HR/83G).
Siri has also struck out in a career-high 18 consecutive games since 7/15, the second-longest active run in the majors behind HOU Chas McCormick (19G)…it is tied for the third-longest such streak in club history and is the longest since Steven Souza Jr. struck out in 18 straight games from 5/21-6/10, 2016.
INTERLEAGUE TALK — Tampa Bay is 19-16 (.543) in Interleague play this season…the Rays began the season 9-1 vs. NL opponents and were 17-10 before a five-game losing skid from 7/4-8…Tampa Bay is 8-4 against the NL Central, winning seven of its first eight before dropping three of its last four.
SEARCHING — In 24 games since 7/6, Randy Arozarena is batting .138 (12-for-87) with one double, one triple, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 walks and 25 strikeouts…min. 75 AB, his .138 AVG during that stretch is the lowest in the majors, with HOU Mauricio Dubón the next closest at .152 (12-for-79).
Arozarena has drawn a walk in three straight games and has six walks in his last eight contests after recording just four free passes in his previous 16 games.
ALL ABOUT AUGUST — Under Kevin Cash (since 2015), the Rays have been at their best during the month of August, going 138-87 (.613), the highest August winning percentage in the AL over that span while trailing only Los Angeles-NL (.652) and St. Louis (.627).
FREE BIRD — Tampa Bay and St. Louis kick off a three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field…the Rays swept the Cardinals in a three-game set last season from 6/7-9. Ê Tampa Bay has taken eight of its last nine from St. Louis dating back to 6/11/14, with the Rays last loss coming on 8/26/17 at Busch Stadium.
The Rays produced a season-high 18 hits in last season’s matchup with the Cardinals on 6/8, earning an 11-3 victory.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (12-6, 3.46)
TONIGHT’S START — The right-hander makes his 22nd start of the season, including his 13th at home, in tonight’s series opener at Tropicana Field… has alternated wins and losses in his previous six starts dating back to 7/4, going 3-3 with a 3.94 ERA (32.0IP, 14ER) and 0.91 WHIP in that span while allowing a .350 (7-for-20) opponent batting average with runners in scoring position…enters the outing eight strikeouts shy of his single-season career high (129SO in 2019)…leads the AL in wins (12) and paces the majors in WHIP (1.00).
LAST TIME OUT — Earned his career-high 12th win of the season after tossing 6.0 scoreless frames on 8/1 at Yankee Stadium (6.0IP, 3H, 0R, 5SO)…allowed only one runner to advance to second base via a Jake Bauers double in the sixth inning…retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced before departing with the Rays on top, 5-0.
HOUSE OF CARDS — Eflin has made three previous starts opposite St. Louis, going 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA (18.1IP, 9ER), 18 strikeouts and three walks (6.00 SO/BB)…most recently, he made two starts against the Cardinals over an 11-day span from 4/16-27, 2021, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball on 4/16 at Citizens Bank Park (W, 7.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 6SO) before yielding five runs on 4/27 at Busch Stadium (L, 6.2IP, 9H, 5ER, 8SO).
He has gone 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA (20.0IP, 6ER) and 0.60 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .162/.174/.279 (11-for-68) clip in three starts against NL Central clubs this season…he ranks among MLB leaders against the NL Central (min. 20.0IP) in WHIP (1st), opp. OBP (1st), opp. OPS (1st, .453), walk rate (1st, 1.4%), opp. AVG (3rd), opp. SLG (4th) and strikeout rate (4th, 33.3%).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME — Eflin has gone 10-2 with a 2.60 ERA (72.2IP, 21ER) in 12 starts at Tropicana Field this season…it marks the third-lowest ERA through a pitcher’s first 12 home starts with the Rays, trailing Jeremy Hellickson (2.35 from 2010-2011) and Charlie Morton (2.50 in 2019)…he is the sixth Rays pitcher to record 75+ strikeouts in his first 12 home starts and is the only member of that group to do so while issuing fewer than 20 walks (75SO, 8BB).
On 7/21 vs. Baltimore, Eflin became one of four pitchers in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to earn a win in 10 of his first 11 home starts with a club, joining NYY Orlando Hernández (10-1, 1998-99), CHC Rick Sutcliffe (10-0, 1984-85) and SF Billy Pierce (11-0, 1962).
Min. 60.0 IP, Eflin ranks among MLB leaders at home in wins (1st, 10), WHIP (1st, 0.87), walk rate (2nd, 2.9%), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 9.38), opponent OPS (3rd, .559) and ERA (7th).
QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 7.12 SO/BB ratio ranks second in the majors behind SEA George Kirby (8.86)…in Rays history, the only qualified pitcher with a higher mark over a full season was David Price in 2012 (8.22)…Eflin has issued one or zero walks in each of his last seven starts, the second-longest streak of his career (8GS – 9/23/20-5/7/21)…during that span (since 6/28), he has thrown a first-pitch strike to 86 of the 134 batters he has faced (64.2%) and has had only two 3-0 counts and two 3-1 counts.
He has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 24 starts since 6/14/22, tied with CLE Noah Syndergaard for the second-longest active streak in MLB behind KC Zack Greinke (25GS)…Eflin has issued two or fewer walks in 57 of his last 58 starts dating back to 8/29/2020.
Since the beginning of 2021, his 3.9 pct. walk rate is the lowest in the majors (min. 1,100BF), outpacing Greinke (4.5%).
DECISIONS, DECISIONS — Eflin has factored into the decision in each of his last six starts, tied for the third-longest streak of his career behind a 15-start run (8/27/18-5/16/19) and an eight-start streak (5/25-7/3, 2018)… he has earned a decision in each of his 12 home starts, matching Alex Cobb (2012) for the longest streak to begin a season in Rays history…it ties the fourth-longest overall streak of home starts with a decision in Rays history — Cobb owns the longest run (16GS – 8/6/11-4/24/13).
A LITTLE HELP? — The Rays, who are 15-6 in Eflin’s starts, won 10 of his first 11 outings while providing him with 7.70 runs of support per 9.0 IP from the beginning of the season through 6/6, the second-highest run support average in the majors in that span (min. 60.0IP) behind only TEX Martín Pérez (9.13)…however, Tampa Bay is 5-5 in his last 10 starts since 6/12, recording a 4.04 RSA in that timeframe, the seventh-lowest mark by any AL pitcher (min. 50.0IP)…has received zero runs of support in five of his last 10 starts since 6/12.
