ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays play the second game of a three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field as the Redbirds continue their unique six-day, five-game Interleague road trip through St. Petersburg (0-1) and Kansas City (Friday & Saturday) with a scheduled off day on Sunday … The Cardinals are playing an exclusive Interleague multicity road trip for the first time since June 4-11, 2014 through Kansas City (1-1), Toronto (2-1) and Tampa Bay (1-1).
FLIGHT PATTERN: 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 93 of 129 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 48-66 (.421) after 114 games … With 48 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals need to go 32-16 (.667) to finish at .500.
BIRD DROPS AT THE TROP: After winning its first four games at Tropicana Field (2005-11), St. Louis has lost seven of its last eight and five straight in St. Pete (June 11, 2014-present) … According to Baseball Reference, the Cardinals are 190-185 all-time in regular season games played in domes (fixed roofs) or stadiums with its retractable roof closed.
IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY. Happy 74th birthday to Hall of Fame catcher Ted Simmons and 86th birthday to Cardinals Hall of Famer Julián Javier … Other former Cardinals born today are outfielder Jason Heyward (34) and pitchers Matt Morris (49) and Troy Percival (54) … Also born today include actress Anna Kendrick (38), college football coach and former football and baseball star Deion Sanders (56), Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull (59), actor Sam Elliott (79), and Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy (95).
INTERLEAGUE ACTION: The Cardinals are 235-234 all-time in Interleague play, with a .501 win pct. that ranks 4th among NL clubs to Los Angeles (.533), New York (.502), and Atlanta (.502) … St. Louis is 113-120 (.485) all-time at American League ballparks in the regular season (8-8 this season) … The Cardinals have not lost a series to an AL East team since June 17-19, 2022 at Boston (1-2).
INTERLEAGUE INSTIGATOR: Nolan Arenado is tied with Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies for 2nd in MLB in Interleague RBI (31) behind Houston’s Alex Bregman (32) this season … Arenado’s line drive blast in the 2nd inning last night was his 24th homer of the season and 48th career Interleague blast, 4th-most among actives behind Joey Votto (49), Nelson Cruz (58) and Miguel Cabrera (61).
THE CONTRERAS BROTHERS: Last night, Willson and William Contreras homered on the same day for the 5th time in their MLB careers (June 8, 2021, Aug. 5, 2022, June 3, 2023, July 15, 2023, & Aug. 8, 2023) … Willson (129) and William (40) have combined to hit 169 home runs in their careers, 38th-most in MLB history among brothers … Jerry Jr. (70) & Scott (106) Hairston (176) rank 37th while Hank (755) & Tommie (13) Aaron lead all brother combos with 768.
REHABBING REDBIRDS: All-Star closer Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) is scheduled to continue his injury rehabilitation assignment with 1.0 inning at Double-A Springfield tonight … Joining Helsley at Springfield in his first appearance on an injury rehab assignment is RHP Jake Woodford (right shoulder strain), who will start the game vs. San Antonio (AA-Padres).
BACKSTOP BRILLIANCE: Since July 1, Cardinals catchers Willson Contreras, Andrew Knizner, and Ivan Herrera have combined to lead all MLB backstops in hits (44), batting average (.367), OBP (.430), and OPS (1.038) while ranking 2nd to San Diego in total bases (73), slugging (.608) and RBI (26). – stats as catcher only
UNDER THE LIGHTS: Tonight is the 2nd of 11 straight night games for St. Louis (Aug. 8-19) … The Cardinals are 26-45 in night games this season … The last time St. Louis sported a losing night record was back-to-back seasons in 2006 (46-59) and 2007 (52-60).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DAKOTA HUDSON (2-0, 4.10)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Makes his 3rd start of the season and 9th appearance since his promotion from Memphis (AAA) at the beginning of July.
- Is facing the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2nd time (also 2022), with both starts coming at Tropicana Field.
- Had spent the bulk of 2023 season at Memphis (AAA) where he was 5-4, 6.00 ERA in 11 starts.
- Has appeared in 104 career MLB games, going 34-17, 3.64 ERA , including team-leading 16 wins in 2019 when he finished 5th in NL ROY voting.
- Was 8-7, 4.45 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for Cardinals last season. Tied for MLB lead with 25 GIDPs induced.
- Was brought up as the 27th player for the DH vs. NYY (7/1) in Game 2 and pitched 2.2 innings.
- Was recalled on 7/5 from Memphis (AAA) and was thrust into action that night allowing two runs in 2.2 relief innings at MIA.
- Earned his 1st win of season with 3.1 scoreless IP on 7/15 vs. WSH, matching STL season high for IP by a reliever. It came in his 100th career appearance.
- Made first start of the season on 7/19 vs. MIA (3.0 IP), throwing 66 pitches.
- Made his longest relief app. (4.1 IP) this season on 7/27 vs. CHI after Mikolas was ejected in the 1st inning. Threw a then season-high 93 pitches.
- Dating to last season, has allowed just 7 HR’s in his last 27 games (135.2 IP). Had a career-best 46.1 homerless IP streak from 5/8-6/23/22. It was longest for the Cardinals since Trevor Rosenthal’s 54.0 IP in 2015.
- The Cardinals are 42-27 (.609 win pct.) in his 69 career games started and 26-9 (.743) in his 35 career games started at Busch Stadium.
- He’s 19-5 (.791 win pct.) in 52 career games (35 starts) at Busch Stadium, and ranks 3rd in ERA (2.71) all-time at Busch III among pitchers with a minimum 200.0 IP.
LAST TIME OUT
- Made his 2nd start of the season last Wed. (8/2) vs. MIN and carried a no-hitter for 5.1 innings, posting a 7-3 win. Threw a season-high 94 pitches over 7.0 IP, allowing just two hits, one being a 3-run HR in the 7th.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
8/2 MIN W 7-3 W-2 7.0 2 3 3 3 7 1 94-55
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
HERE COMES THE BOOM — Tampa Bay won yesterday’s series opener vs. St. Louis with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory…RHP Zach Eflin did not factor into the decision after tossing 7.0 innings of one-run ball, scattering four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts…3B Isaac Paredes (1-for-3, HR, BB, R) knotted the game at 1-1 with a solo homer in the seventh inning…celebrating his 32nd birthday, 1B Yandy Díaz (4-for-4, RBI, R) put the Rays ahead 2-1 with an RBI-single in the eighth, while 2B Brandon Lowe (1-for-4, RBI) and LF Randy Arozarena (2-for-4, RBI) each added insurance runs in the eighth frame.
Díaz became the third player in Rays history to record a 4+ hit game on his birthday, joining Carl Crawford (4H on 8/5/07 vs. BAL) and Randy Winn (4H on 6/9/02 vs.
SD)…per Elias, he became the fifth Rays hitter to record a game-winning RBI on his birthday, joining Herbert Perry (9/15/99 vs. SEA), Mike DiFelice (5/28/00 vs. SEA), Michael Perez (8/7/20 vs. NYY) and Ji-Man Choi (5/19/21 at BAL).
With his strikeout of Willson Contreras in the seventh inning, Eflin reached 129 strikeouts on the season, matching his single-season career high set in 2019.
DÍAZ DOES IT ALL — Yandy Díaz tied his career high with four hits yesterday (6x, last 6/25/23 vs. KC)…he has 14 games with 3+ hits, tied for the AL lead with TOR Bocichette… he has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, slashing .424/.486/.667 (14-for-33) with two doubles, 2 HR and 6 RBI.
He ranks among AL leaders in batting average (1st, .322), on-base percentage (2nd, .403), OPS (2nd, .917), slugging percentage (5th, .514) and runs scored (8th, 68).
His 94.2 mph average exit velocity ranks fourth in the majors behind ATL Matt Olson (95.1), ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (95.0) and LAA Shohei Ohtani (94.8).
His .355 (65-for-183) batting average at home ranks third in MLB (min. 150AB)…is batting .429 (30-for-70) over his last 18 games at home (since 6/11).
EASY FOR ISAAC — Isaac Paredes registered his team-leading 22nd home run in last night’s win…his nine home runs since the beginning of July are tied for third most in the AL in that span behind LAA Shohei Ohtani and NYY Giancarlo Stanton (10HR each).
He ranks among AL batters in OPS (5th, .870), HR (T6th), slugging percentage (7th, .508) and on-base percentage (10th, .362).
EL PATRÓN — Wander Franco has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, batting .375 (15-for-40) 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).
BATTER UP — In 14 games since 7/21, Brandon Lowe is slashing .314/.375/.627 (15-for47) with one double, five home runs and 13 RBI…in 26 games since returning from the injured list on 7/4, he is batting .271 (23-for-85) 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).
SUSTAINED SUCCESS — Since becoming the Rays in 2008, Tampa Bay’s .547 winning percentage is fourth best in MLB, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (.584), New York-AL (.572) and St. Louis (.548)…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).
HOMER HAPPY — Tampa Bay has 17 HR across 10 games since 7/28, tied for the third-most long balls in the AL during that stretch behind Houston (18HR/11G) and Texas
(18HR/11G).
The Rays have 79 home runs in 57 games at Tropicana Field this season after having only 71 long balls at home last season.
Tampa Bay has seven players with 15+ homers, including Isaac Paredes (22HR), Jose Siri (21HR), Randy Arozarena (18HR), Yandy Díaz (16HR), Wander Franco (15HR), Brandon Lowe (15HR) and Luke Raley (15HR)…the only other Rays team to complete a season with seven players having 15+ HR was the 2019 club, with Brandon Lowe being the lone player to meet the criteria on both teams.
RIDE WITH RANDY — Last night, Randy Arozarena recorded his first multi-hit performance since 7/22 vs. Baltimore (2-for-4)…he has driven in at least one run in consecutive games for the first time since 7/17-18…he has hit safely in four of his last six games following an 0-for-20 skid across six games from 7/23-31.
FEAST AND FAMINE—Jose Siri’s has homered 19 times in 66 games since 5/1, the fourth-most long balls in the AL during that stretch, trailing LAA Shohei Ohtani (33HR/85G), CWS Luis Robert Jr. (26HR/83G) and TEX Adolis García (21HR/84G).
Siri has also struck out in a career-high 19 consecutive games since 7/15, tied for the longest active run in the majors with HOU Chas McCormick…it is the third-longest such streak in club history behind a 23-game stretch from Evan Longoria (7/6-8/3, 2013) and a 21-game run from Steven Souza Jr. (4/10-5/3, 2017).
INTERLEAGUE TALK — Tampa Bay is 20-16 (.556) 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 9-4 against the NL Central, winning seven of its first eight before dropping three of its last five.
ALL ABOUT AUGUST — Under Kevin Cash (since 2015), the Rays have been at their best during the month of August, going 139-87 (.615), the highest August winning percentage in the AL over that span while trailing only Los Angeles-NL (.654) and St. Louis (.624).
HOT IN HERE — Tampa Bay and St. Louis continue a three-game series tonight at Tropicana Field…the Rays swept the Cardinals in a three-game set last season from 6/7-9.
Tampa Bay has taken nine of its last 10 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: LHP JALEN BEEKS (2-3, 6.27)
TONIGHT’S START — The left-hander makes his seventh start of the season and his 24th appearance overall, including his fourth start/16th outing at Tropicana Field…marks his first major league appearance since 7/4 vs. Philadelphia…has recorded a 1.88 ERA (14.1IP, 3ER) in seven starts this season compared to a 9.00 ERA (23.0IP, 23ER) across 20 relief appearances…was recalled from Triple-A Durham on 8/6 to commence his third stint with the Rays of 2023 (also: beg. of season-6/14, 7/1-5).
LAST TIME OUT — Beeks’ most recent major league outing came in a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia on Independence Day (2.0IP, 2H, ER, 3SO)…entered the contest in the eighth frame and yielded singles to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, the latter of which extended the Phillies lead to 3-0… retired each of the final four batters he faced to conclude the outing…his three strikeouts matched a season high (4x, last 6/13 at OAK).
LET’S GET IT STARTED — Beeks has made 17 career starts, going 0-4 with a 5.82 ERA (43.1IP, 28ER)…after posting an 11.57 ERA (16.1IP, 21ER) in his first four career starts, he has turned in a 2.52 ERA (25.0IP, 7ER) over his previous 13, including a 1.88 ERA (14.1IP, 3ER) in seven starts this season.
Beeks’ longest start this season came on 4/17 at Cincinnati (3.0IP), while his shortest were a pair of 1.2 inning efforts on 5/26 vs. Los Angeles-NL and 6/13 at Oakland…the Rays are 3-4 in his starts in 2023 and 7-11 in his career.
He has excelled in the first two innings, recording a 2.03 ERA (13.1IP, 3ER) compared to an 8.75 ERA (23.2IP, 23ER) in all other frames.
NEW FACES — The Cardinals, along with the Rays, are one of the only two MLB clubs Beeks has yet to pitch against…he has not faced any member of St. Louis’ active roster.
Beeks is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA (15.0IP, 6ER) and .167 (9-for-54) opp. average in nine career appearances (3GS) against NL Central foes, including a 1.93 ERA (9.1IP, 2ER) and .125 (4-for-32) opp. average in his last six games (2GS) dating back to 7/9/22.
He is 5-2 with a 4.29 ERA (56.2IP, 27ER) across 26 career games (6GS) against NL opponents…he turned in a 5.65 ERA (36.2IP, 23ER) in his first 13 career games (2GS) opposite NL clubs compared to a 1.80 ERA (20.0IP, 4ER) in his last 13 (4GS) since 7/9/22 at Cincinnati.
SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE — During his most recent stint with Triple-A Durham from 7/6-8/5, Beeks went 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA (8.1IP, 4ER) across eight appearances…this includes a 1.42 ERA (6.1IP, 1ER) over his last six outings, a stretch that featured five consecutive scoreless outings (7/16-30).
MAY FLOWERS — After going 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA (13.1IP, 11ER), eight walks and eight strikeouts over 10 games during April, Beeks posted a 2-0 record with a 1.80 ERA (15.0IP, 3ER) and one save over 11 outings (2GS) in May…he struck out 19 batters against six walks while posting a .179 (10- for-56) opponent batting average.
Since the beginning of June, Beeks has allowed multiple runs in three of his six outings, recording a 12.00 ERA (9.0IP, 12ER) over that span while allowing opposing hitters to slash .366/.426/.561 (15-for-41)…he allowed a season-high six runs on 6/3 at Boston.
NIGHT OWL — Beeks has been at his best in nighttime affairs, going 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA (21.1IP, 6ER) with 18 strikeouts and a .182 (14-for-77) opponent batting average in 14 night games (6GS); the Rays are 10-4 in those games…in 13 appearances (1GS) during day games, he is 2-2 with an 11.35 ERA (16.0IP, 20ER) and .319 (22-for-69) opponent average; Tampa Bay has gone 4-9 in those contests.
PITCH MIX — Beeks relies primarily on a changeup/four-seam fastball combination, throwing one of those two offerings 87.6 pct. of the time…he also mixes in a cutter, registering a 59.3 pct. whiff rate on the pitch.
He has had the most success with his fastballs (four-seam/cutter), holding opponents to a .197 average (15-for-76) compared to .304 against his changeup/slider (21-for-69).
