TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN — The Rays avoided a series sweep and snapped a fourgame losing streak to Toronto with an 8-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre…RF Josh Lowe (2-for-5, 2B, 3RBI, R, SB) drove in a career-high-tying three runs and C Christian Bethancourt (1-for-5, HR, 3RBI, R) clubbed a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his third long ball of the season.
LHP Shane McClanahan (6.0IP, 4H, ER, 2BB, 6SO) picked up his fourth win in as many games, becoming the third Rays pitcher to earn a win in each of his first four starts of a season, joining Matt Moore (5GS, 4/5-27/13) and Tyler Glasnow (4GS, 3/30-4/16, 2019).
LHP Colin Poche (1.0IP), LHP Garrett Cleavinger (1.0IP, H, BB, SO) and RHP Jason Adam (1.0IP, H, BB) each chipped in scoreless relief appearances.
Tampa Bay’s 14-2 mark is the best 16-game start by any MLB club since Boston in 2018 (also 14-2)…the 14-2 run matches the best start by any team since 1988 (also: San Francisco in 2003).
ROSTER MOVES — Prior to tonight’s game, the Rays selected the contract of RHP Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Durham…in a pair of corresponding moves, RHP Trevor Kelley was optioned to Durham and RHP Shawn Armstrong was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
GOING, GOING, GONE—Tampa Bay has hit 36 home runs, third most through a team’s first 16 games of a season in MLB history behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (39HR) and 2019 Seattle Mariners (37HR)…the Rays would need four homers today to match the record for most homers through 17 games (40HR), set by the 2000 Cardinals…Tampa Bay has already registered three 4+ homer games (4/4 at WSH, 4/7 vs. OAK and 4/11 vs. BOS) after recording only one such contest in 2022 (6/21/22 vs. NYY).
Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 16 games, the second-longest streak to open a season in MLB history behind only the 2019 Mariners’ 20-game run… marks the Rays’ longest streak at any point in a single season since an 18-game run from 8/19-9/8, 2017.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL — The Rays lead MLB in both runs scored (114) and fewest runs allowed (42)…since 2018, only the Rays and the 2022 Dodgers (119-41; 7/27-8/13, 2022) have scored 114+ runs while permitting 42-or-fewer runs over a 16-game span at any point in a season.
Tampa Bay’s +72 run differential is the second-best mark through 16 games in MLB’s Modern Era (since 1900), trailing only the 1905 New York Giants (+73)…the Giants currently hold the record through 17 games (+72).
Tampa Bay’s 114 runs scored are its most through 16 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (93R)…the only other club since 2001 to reach that threshold through 16 games was Seattle in 2019 (123R).
The Rays’ 42 runs allowed are second-fewest through 16 games in club history, behind the 2019 team (40R).
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.54 ERA is the best mark in the majors…this includes the second-best starter ERA (2.59) behind Minnesota (2.58) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.47) behind Milwaukee (2.26) and New York-AL (2.36)…Rays pitchers rank among MLB leaders in opponents’ OPS (1st, .559), FIP (1st, 3.20), first-pitch strike pct. (2nd, 64.6%), opponents’ average (2nd, .198), WHIP (2nd, 1.06), fewest pitches per IP (2nd, 15.1) and average exit velocity (3rd, 87.3 mph).
Tampa Bay has allowed just seven home runs across 142.0 innings, good for an MLB-best 0.44 HR/9.0IP…marks the fewest homers permitted by any major league club through 16 games since New York-NL in 2016 (6HR).
This success comes despite Tampa Bay using 17 different pitchers, tied for third most in MLB behind Seattle and Miami (18 pitchers each).
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters rank among MLB leaders in runs scored (1st, 114), OPS (1st, .897), slugging pct. (1st, .541), extra-base hits (1st, 69), total bases (1st, 292), batting average (2nd, .280) and hard-hit pct. (4th, 45.0%)…Tampa Bay has plated 10+ runs in an MLB-leading four games and scored 7+ runs in 10 of its 16 games.
REWRITING HISTORY — Prior to Friday night’s 6-3 loss in Toronto, the Rays became the fourth team in MLB history to begin a season 13-0, joining the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers (13-0), 1982 Atlanta Braves (13-0) and 1884 St. Louis Maroons (20-0)…marked the longest win streak in club history, surpassing a 12-game run from 6/9-22, 2004.
The Rays won each of their first nine games by 4+ runs, the second-longest streak to open a season in MLB history behind the 1884 Maroons (13 straight)… ties the fourth-longest overall streak of 4+ run wins in MLB history and marks the longest since the 1939 New York Yankees (10G, 8/20-28, 1939).
Tampa Bay pitching strung together a 32.0 scoreless inning streak from 4/8-11, the longest streak in club history and longest single-season streak in MLB since St. Louis from 8/5-9, 2015 (38.0IP)…the streak included a franchise-record three consecutive shutouts (4/8-10) — Tampa Bay became the first club to record three straight shutouts within a single season since Cleveland in 2017 (8/25-27, 2017).
The Rays turned in back-to-back 11-0 wins over Oakland, 4/8-9, becoming the fourth team in MLB history to record consecutive shutout wins, both by 11+ runs, joining Baltimore in 2019 (6/28-29, 2019), Detroit in 1936 (9/22/36) and the 1885 New York Giants (3G, 5/25/28, 1885).
Through their first 11 games of the season, the Rays had hit 29 homers and allowed only 20 runs…per Elias, that marked the highest difference between home runs hit and runs allowed at any point in a season in MLB history.
QUEEN CITY SHOWDOWN — The Rays and Reds meet this week in Cincinnati for the lone series between the two clubs this season…Tampa Bay was swept in a three-game set at Great American Ball Park last season (7/8-10, 2022) — the Rays most recent win in Cincinnati came on 4/12/14 (1-0)…the Rays have not dropped four straight games to the Reds since a seven-game skid from 6/10/03-6/27/11 to open the all-time series between the two clubs.
SPREADING THE WEALTH — The Rays have an MLB-leading 11 players with multiple homers: Brandon Lowe (5HR), Yandy Díaz (4HR), Wander Franco (4HR), Randy Arozarena (3HR), Christian Bethancourt (3HR), Josh Lowe (3HR), Isaac Paredes (3HR), Luke Raley (3HR), Harold Ramírez (3HR), Manuel Margot (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR)…the next closest team is San Francisco (9 players). Ê Tampa Bay also has an MLB-best nine players with 3+ HR…the next closest team is Los Angeles-NL (6 players).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP JALEN BEEKS (0-0, 3.00)
IN A PINCH—LHP Jalen Beeks will serve as an opener tonight at Cincinnati…he pitched as an opener once this season on 4/10 vs. Boston…in the start, he tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and two strikeouts.
SPRING CLEANING—In six Spring Training outings, Beeks pitched to a 2.45 ERA, allowing two runs and three walks with 10 strikeouts…Beeks held opponents to a .154 average (4-for-26) and posted a 0.95 WHIP
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• Class AA Chattanooga’s LHP Andrew Abbott has been named Southern League Pitcher of the Week…in his first 2 starts of the season went 1-0, 0.00 (10.2ip, 2h, 0r, 1bb, 25k, 0.28whip, .059baa)…he leads all minor league pitchers in strikeouts…in Thu’s 8-3 win at Mississippi he recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts without a walk in 6.0 shutout innings (2h).
• In yesterday afternoon’s 14-3 loss, the Phillies scored 9 runs in the top of the first inning off starter Luis Cessa (3+ip, 14h, 11er, 3bb, 0k, Bryson Stott leadoff HR, 88 pitches).
• Cessa became the fifth pitcher since 1900 to allow at least 9 runs in the first inning and then pitch into the fourth (Mil’s Dave Bush 7/20/2010 at Pit, Col’s Mark Redman 4/26/2008 at LAD, SD’s Brett Tomko 8/9/2002 at Cin, Chi’s Nixey Callahan 9/6/1900 at Phi)…courtesy @Eliassports.
• Was the Reds’ largest deficit before their batters came to the plate since the Dodgers scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning off Paul Wilson and Matt Belisle on their way to a 13-6 win here on 5/6/2005.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Dave Wills’ Rays and Game 5 (2-2) of a 7-game homestand that included a 2-2 series split with the defending National League champion Phillies.
• Following this series the Reds will make a brief road trip to Pit for a 4-game weekend series vs the Pirates, then return to Great American Ball Park for a 3-game homestand vs the Rangers before heading out to the west coast Oak (3g) and SD (3g).
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds and Rays are meeting for the seventh time overall and for the second consecutive season.
• The Reds are 13-5 all-time vs the Rays, including 3-0 here last season and 7-2 overall in Cincinnati.
• The Reds’ 18 games vs the Rays are tied for their fourth-fewest vs any opponent in the American League (Orioles 15, Angels 16, Red Sox 17, Mariners 18, Rangers 19).
• The Reds won 4 of the 6 series vs the Rays, including 3-game series sweeps in June 2003 at Tropicana Field, June 2005 at Great American Ball Park and July 2022 at GABP.
• Dating back to the 2014 season, the Reds have won the last 4 games vs TB at GABP, including last season’s 3-0 series sweep here in July.
• The Rays last won in Cincinnati on 4/12/14 (1-0 win).
• From 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams (0-2 vs Cle, 2-0 at Cle, 1-2 at Tor, 1-1 at Bos, 3-0 vs TB, 2-1 at NYY, 2-1 vs Bal, 1-1 vs Bos)…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).
PIRATES UP NEXT
• The Reds will face the Pirates this weekend in a 4-game series at PNC Park.
• The Reds earned a 2-1 series win vs Pit in the series that opened this 2023 championship season.
• Beginning in 2021 at Great American Ball Park, the Reds are 14-8 vs Pit with a 134-78 advantage in runs scored… the Reds have won 22 of the last 41 games overall vs the Pirates, including 19 of the last 28 games vs Pit at GABP.
• The Reds went 14-29 at Pit’s PNC Park the previous 5 seasons, including an 11-game losing streak spanning 2018-2019 and an 8-game losing streak there to begin the 2019 season.
LEADING OFF
• In the first inning, Reds batters lead the Major Leagues in on-base percentage (.426) while ranking second in batting average (.350, Atl .403) and T7th in runs scored (12).
• When leading off the Reds’ half of the first inning, Jonathan India is hitting .462 (.533obp, .846slg, 6-13, 2bb, 2 2b, 1hr, 6r)…his 6 runs scored in the first inning tie Sea’s Julio Rodriguez for the most by a leadoff hitter in the Major Leagues… NYY’s Aaron Judge leads all batters, regardless of spot in the order, with 7 runs scored in the first inning.
REHABBING
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (3g, 0-0, 0.00, 3ip, 1h, 0r, 2bb, 3k, 1.00whip, .100baa)…in Sat night’s 7-3 Bats win at Toledo threw a scoreless eighth inning (1bb, 4bf, 21 pitches)…was scheduled to pitch again yesterday at Toledo but was rained out.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is assigned to Louisville on rehab (2gs, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr)…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in the 8-1 loss on 4/9 vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…started Fri’s 7-6 loss at Toledo (5ip, 3h, 3er, 2bb, 5k, Andy Ibáñez solo HR, 1wp, 19 batters, 79 pitches)…could make his next start for the Reds, possibly Wed vs the Rays.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
• In just his second season, tonight is making his 28th Major League appearance and start…will be his second career appearance vs the Rays.
• In Wed’s 5-4 loss at Atl recorded his third career 10-strikeout game.
• Was the Reds’ 2023 Opening Day starting pitcher.
• At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0… courtesy @EliasSports.
• Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, in his age 22 season ranked among National League rookie pitching leaders in starts (1st, 24), innings pitched (2nd, 125.2), strikeouts (2nd, 164), opponents’ BA (2nd, .222), WHIP (2nd, 1.21) and ERA (6th, 4.44).
• Last season led the Reds’ staff in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
• Was 1 of only 7 pitchers in the National League and 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues to throw a shutout.
• Was the National League Player of the Week for 6/6-6/12, the only Reds player so honored in 2022 (2gs, 1-0, 0.75, 12ip, 3h, 1er, 2bb, 15k, .079baa).
• In 2022 became the only Major League rookie since 1900 to produce in a season at least 3 apps in which he threw at least 6.0 innings with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 1 hit (5/15 at Pit, 6/6 vs Ari, 8/1 at Mia)…no pitcher in modern history, regardless of rookie status, has produced more than 3 such games… in his final start of the season, in Game 160 vs Cubs, recorded 6.0 innings and 8 strikeouts but allowed 2 hits.
• From 8/5-9/16 missed 43 days and 40 games while on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain…went 4-12, 5.26 in 20 starts prior to the injury and 1-1, 0.78 in 4 starts after he came off the 15-day IL.
• Following his 2022 rookie season was the Reds’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exemplary contributions to his community.
• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the June 2017 first-year player draft…was rated by MLB.com the best overall prospect and by Baseball America the best high school player in that draft…the Twins selected high school SS Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
• Heading into the 2017 draft, became the 13th high school athlete ever to appear
