TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
SERIES VICTORY — Tampa Bay took yesterday’s rubber match over Arizona by a score of 6-1, improving to 5-5-2 in series play on the road…RHP Zack Littell served as an opener and threw 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts…he gave way to RHP Yonny Chirinos, who threw 6.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts…LF Luke Raley (2-for-3, HR, 2R, HBP) registered his 13th homer of the season…RF Josh Lowe (1-for-4, 2RBI) recorded his second straight multi-RBI effort.
Yonny Chirinos became the second Rays reliever (third occurrence) to throw 6.0 innings this season, joining Josh Fleming (4/26 vs. HOU and 5/22 vs. TOR)…it is the most such relief outings by any club in the majors this season ahead of Boston (2), Kansas City (1) and Oakland (1).
With one game remaining in June, Tampa Bay has posted a +152 run differential through 84 games, the second-highest mark in the majors behind Texas (+157)… according to OptaSTATS, the only other time in MLB history that two teams had a +150 run differential entering July was the Boston Reds and the St. Louis Browns in 1891.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR — Randy Arozarena and Yandy Díaz were each selected by fans to start for the American League in the 2023 All-Star Game…among the six outfield candidates, Arozarena received 21% of votes, ahead of NYY Aaron Judge (19%), HOU Yordan Alvarez (15%), TEX Adolis García (13%) and TOR Kevin Kiermaier (10%)…only LAA Mike Trout (23%) tallied a higher rate of the vote than Arozarena…Díaz got 53% of the votes at first base, edging out TOR Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (47%).
It marks the first All-Star selection for Arozarena…he also becomes the second outfielder in Rays franchise history to receive a fan-elected start, joining Carl Crawford in 2010.
Díaz also earned his first career All-Star nod…he is the only first baseman in Tampa Bay history to win a fan election and the second infielder to do so, joining Evan Longoria in 2009 and 2010.
It marks the second time in franchise history that two Rays position players will be in the starting lineup, joining Crawford and Longoria in 2010.
FIVE GUYS — Following yesterday’s 6-1 victory over Arizona, Tampa Bay has won 20 games by five or more runs this season…it is the second-most such victories in the majors behind Texas (22G)…the Rays had 24 such victories all of last season.
HOMER HAPPY — Tampa Bay has five players with 13+ HR, including Jose Siri (15HR), Randy Arozarena (14HR), Isaac Paredes (13HR), Luke Raley (13HR) and Yandy Díaz (12HR)…the Rays are one of three teams to have five or more players with 13+ HR, joining Atlanta (7) and Los Angeles-NL (5)…last season, Tampa Bay had two players with 13+ HR (Randy Arozarena – 20HR and Isaac Paredes – 20 HR).
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING — The Rays currently lead the AL in both homers (125) and stolen bases (99)…they are looking to become the 10th team all-time to lead the AL in both categories at the end of June, including the first since the 2015 Houston Astros (Elias)… the next closest team in homers is Los Angeles-AL (124), who host the Diamondbacks tonight…the Rays have an 18-steal lead over Oakland (81).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS — Tampa Bay is an MLB-best 35-12 (.745) this season against opponents who are below .500, ahead of Atlanta (31-12, .721) and Texas (29-12, .707)… tonight’s opponent, the Seattle Mariners (38-41), are 13-26 (.333) against clubs who are .500 or better.
MARINER MASHERS — In 14 career games against the Mariners, Randy Arozarena is batting .314 (16-for-51) with two doubles, one triple, 3 HR and 8 RBI…this includes a career-high-tying four-hit performance at Seattle on 5/6/22.
Manuel Margot has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games against the Mariners dating back to 6/18/21, batting .342 (13-for-38) with 4 HR and 10 RBI during that stretch.
Harold Ramírez has hit safely in nine straight games vs. Seattle dating back to 6/11/21, batting .353 (12-for-34) with 4 RBI during the run.
THREE OF A KIND — Yandy Díaz has collected 3+ hits in three of his last six games, batting 11-for-23 (.478) overall in that span…on the season, his 10 games with 3+ its are tied for the AL lead, trailing only ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. and MIA Luis Arraez (11G each) in all of MLB…the Rays are 9-1 in those contests.
Over his last 12 games since 6/14, his .388 (19-for-49) average ranks fourth in the majors (min. 45AB) behind Arraez (.434), ATL Michael Harris II (.434) and TEX Ezequiel Duran (.396).
He owns the club’s longest active on-base streak at 10 games dating back to 6/17… it is tied for his second longest on-base streak of the season (also 10G from 4/15- 25)…he reached base safely in a season-best 22 consecutive games from 4/27-5/28.
Díaz ranks second in MLB in avg. exit velocity (94.7 mph), trailing only Acuña (95.0 mph)…the club record for avg. exit velocity by a qualified hitter in a season during the Statcast Era (since 2015) is 92.2 mph, set by Díaz in 2022.
WHEN IT MATTERS MOST—The Rays are batting .290 with runners in scoring position, the second-highest mark in the majors behind the Rangers (.290)…Tampa Bay’s .288 AVG with RISP/2 outs ranks third in the majors behind Texas (.294) and Houston (.289).
Jose Siri is batting .385 (15-for-39) with 5 HR and 25 RBI with runners in scoring position this year, the eighth-highest AVG in the AL (min. 35AB)…this includes 7-for19 (.368) with 3 HR and 12 RBI with RISP/2 outs.
Harold Ramírez is batting .500 (9-for-18) with 12 RBI with RISP since 6/3, while Randy Arozarena is batting .438 (7-for-16) with 9 RBI with runners in scoring
position since 6/16.
HITTING THE ROAD—Tampa Bay ranks among AL clubs on the road in HR (2nd, 57), HR
per game (2nd, 1.43), OBP (2nd, .329), SLG (2nd, .440), OPS (2nd, .769), total bases (3rd, 614),
XBH (T3rd, 133) and AVG (T3rd, .260).
In 14 games away from Tropicana Field this month, Tampa Bay has just seven home runs, including zero home runs in nine of the games.
RAIN OR SHINE — The Rays and Mariners kick off the first of a three-game set tonight in Seattle…Tampa Bay went 5-2 against Seattle last season, including a 3-1 record at T-Mobile Park.
The Rays have taken six of eight from Seattle overall dating back to 8/4/21…this stretch was preceded by Seattle’s six-game winning streak over Tampa Bay from 6/17-8/3, 2021…following a nine-game losing streak in Seattle from 5/9/16-6/3-18, the Rays are 6-5 in their last 11 road games at the Mariners since 8/9/19.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP SHANE McCLANAHAN (11-1, 2.23)
SUGAR SHANE — The southpaw takes the mound for his 17th start of the season, including his ninth on the road…has gone 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA (18.1IP, 4ER) over his last three outings on the road since 5/30…will be starting on seven days’ rest after exiting his last start on 6/22 vs. Kansas City with mid-back tightness…his 2.12 ERA is third lowest through a pitcher’s first 16 starts of a season in club history, behind himself in 2022 (1.74) and Chris Archer in 2015 (2.01)…ranks among MLB leaders in wins (1st, 11), ERA (1st), run support per 9.0 IP (3rd, 7.35), opp. AVG (6th, .204), quality starts (T6th, 11) and opp. OPS (9th, .626).
LAST TIME OUT — Was removed from his start on Tampa Bay’s 6-5 loss to Kansas City on 6/22 at Tropicana Field in the fourth inning due to mid-back tightness (3.2IP, 4H, 2ER, 2BB, 4SO)…tossed 66 pitches (46 trikes) prior to his departure…it marked his shortest start since 10/1/21 at New York-AL (3.0IP)…he did not factor into the decision in the outing, maintaining his three-game winning streak dating back to 6/5.
IN THE EMERALD CITY — He will be making his third career start opposite \Seattle, going 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA (11.1IP, 3ER), an 0.79 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts in his previous two outings, both of which came at T-Mobile Park…in his most recent start against the Mariners, he earned the win in a 4-3 Tampa Bay victory on 5/5/22 (5.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, 5SO, HR).
McClanahan has made one start against an AL West opponent in 2023, picking up the win after yielding three earned runs over 7.0 frames on 6/11 vs. Texas…in 12 career starts against the division, he is 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA (63.0IP, 24ER), holding opponents to a .194 average (44-for-227).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN — He has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his eight starts on the road, going 6-1 with a 2.58 ERA (45.1IP, 13ER), including a 1.96 ERA(18.1IP, 4ER) in his last three starts…five of those outings were quality starts, including four games in which he allowed one or zero runs… has issued multiple walks in each of his last eight road starts, tied with PIT Luis Ortiz (9/13/22-pres.) for the longest active streak among MLB starters.
RECENT TRENDS — McClanahan has permitted three or fewer earned runs in seven consecutive starts, going 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA (43.0IP, 10ER) in that span…he has struck out five or fewer batters in four straight starts, matching the longest streak of his career (also 9/15-10/1, 2022)…despite the lack of strikeouts, he has maintained a 31.1 pct. whiff rate over his last four outings, only slightly below his season mark of 33.3 pct.
He has issued multiple walks in five of his last six starts and 11 of his 16 outings overall…he has just one walk-free outing this season (5/24 vs. TOR)…in 2022, McClanahan issued one or zero walks in 16 of his 28 starts (0BB in 8GS).
TO THE VICTOR… — McClanahan is the first pitcher in Rays history to win 11 of his first 12 decisions in a season, and the first major league pitcher to turn the trick since four hurlers did so in 2016, led by WSH Stephen Strasburg’s 12-0 mark…with a win tonight, he would become the first pitcher to start 12-1 or better since Strasburg (13-0) and SF Johnny Cueto (12-1) in 2016.
The Rays are 13-3 in his starts, the best team record through a pitcher’s first 16 starts in club history…the previous mark of 12-4 was achieved by three pitchers (Matt Moore, 2013; Jeff Niemann, 2010; Andy Sonnanstine, 2008).
READY TO RUMBLE — In the first two innings, McClanahan has a 1.41 ERA (32.0IP, 5ER) while holding opponents to a .156/.281/.248 (17-for-109), the fifth-lowest ERA in those frames among major league starters (min. 15GS)… comparatively, he has a 2.66 ERA (61.0IP, 18ER) while opposing hitters are .226/.276/.396 (52-for-230) against him from the third inning on.
BUCKLE DOWN — McClanahan is holding the opposition to a .148 (9-for-61) average with zero extra-base hits with runners in scoring position — only ATL Bryce Elder (.136) has a lower mark among MLB qualifiers…with RISP and two outs, opposing hitters are just 1-for-27 (.037) against McClanahan, the lowest mark in the majors.
DIVING DEEPER — McClanahan’s 33.1 pct. whiff rate ranks third in the majors behind ATL Spencer Strider (39.7%) and SD Blake Snell (35.0%)…he has registered a 52.1 pct. whiff rate on his changeup, fourth highest on any pitch in MLB (min. 100 pitches swung at), trailing only Snell’s curveball (59.4%), NYM Kodai Senga’s forkball (58.8%) and Strider’s slider (57.7%). He averages 96.6 mph on his four-seam fastball, the fifth-fastest mark among MLB starters (min. 500 4SFB thrown).
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue the 6-game homestand with the first of 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays…Seattle is coming off 3 games against the Washington Nationals (1-2)…tonight’s game will be televised live on ROOT Sports with Dave Sims and Dan Wilson on the call..the game will also be broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Aaron Goldsmith and Gary Hill.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners dropped Wednesday’s rubber game to the Nationals by a 4-1 score… Seattle is 29-15 when scoring at least 4 runs and 9-26 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 22-19 at T-Mobile Park and 16-22 on the road this season…they are 10-18 in day games and 28-23 at night.
- Off an Off Day – The Mariners are 8-4 following an off day (3-0 at home) this season
- Programming Note – Tomorrow’s game will air Nationally on FOX with Aaron Goldsmith and Tom Verducci on the call…the Mariners television broadcast will return to ROOT Sports on Sunday.
- How They’ve Fared – The Mariners (38-41) are 25-15 (.625) against below-.500 teams, and 13-26 (.333) against teams .500-or-better this season.
- Take Me Home – The Mariners are 12-7 (.632) over their last 19 games at T-Mobile Park (5/22-c), 2nd-best home record in the American League in that span and trailing only Tampa Bay (.684/13-6).
THE MURPH…Tom Murphy went 3-for-3 in Wednesday’s game, his first 3-hit game of the season… Murphy has been excellent at the plate for most of the season after a slow 8-game start (.077/2×26)…in his last 19 games since then (4/27-c), Murphy is batting .339 (20×59) with 8 runs, 8 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 RBI and 5 walks, getting on base at a .385 clip, slugging .627 with a 1.012 OPS…during that stretch, Murphy leads MLB catchers (min. 60 PA) in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS.
IT STARTS WITH STARTING PITCHING…the Mariners starting rotation is 6-4 with a 2.74 ERA (27 ER, 88.2 IP) with 28 walks and 83 strikeouts over the team’s last 15 games (6/12-c)…the 2.74 starters ERA leads the American League, ranking 3rd in the Majors during that span trailing only Miami (2.55) and Philadelphia (2.59)…the Mariners have put together 7 quality starts in that span, with their starters allowing 3-or-fewer runs in 14 games and 2-or-fewer in 9 of the 15.
STINGING THE RAYS…Tom Murphy, Teoscar Hernández, Ty France and J.P. Crawford all have been good in their careers against Tampa Bay…Murphy has a .904 OPS with 3 home runs in 11 games against Tampa Bay…Hernández has a .340 on base and a .555 slugging percentage (.895 OPS) with 14 doubles, 21 home runs and 45 RBI in 80 career games against the Rays…France is batting .315 (17×54) with a .874 OPS while Crawford has a .863 OPS with 5 doubles and 3 home runs against Tampa.
TEO’S TERRORIZING PITCHERS IN JUNE…Teoscar Hernández has put together an excellent month of June, batting .299 (26×87) with 14 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 18 RBI and 9 walks in 23 June games, getting on base at a .361 clip, slugging .563 with a .924 OPS…also, over his last 41 games (5/13- c), he is batting .284 (44×155) with 19 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, 29 RBI, 12 walks and 3 stolen bases, getting on base at a .331 clip, slugging .497 with an .828 OPS.
THE MIGHTY TY….over his last 32 games (5/22-c), Ty France is batting .300 (39×130) with 25 runs, 8 doubles, 5 home runs, 15 RBI, 6 walks and 6 hit-by-pitches, getting on base at a .359 clip, slugging .477 with an .836 OPS…overall this season, France leads the Majors with 13 hit-by-pitches and with his next HBP, he would break a tie for 2nd-most in franchise history with Kyle Seager (63 HBP), trailing only Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez (89).
GENO’S HEATING UP…Eugenio Suárez is batting .295 (18×61) with 9 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBI and 6 walks over his last 17 games (6/10-c), getting on base at a .338 clip and slugging .492 with an .830 OPS during that span…Geno has also been one of the most reliable defensive third basemen in the league this season, tallying 5 Outs Above Average according to Baseball Savant, which ranks 3rd-best, while his .979 fielding percentage ranks 2nd among AL third basemen.
DANCING IN THE MUÑLIGHT…Andrés Muñoz’ next appearance will mark his 100th career Major League game…he has not allowed a run in 12 appearances this season, recording 1 save with 4 walks and 18 strikeouts in 11.0 innings out of the Mariners bullpen…since being reinstated from the 15-day Injured List on June 6, he has tossed 7.2 scoreless innings over 8 appearances, with 3 walks and 15 strikeouts…the right-hander has not allowed a regular season home run in over a calendar year (last HR: June 10, 2022)…his homerless streak of 55.2 innings is the longest in the Majors among pitchers who have appeared in a game during the 2023 season.
BRYCE-LY DONE…Bryce Miller has had an excellent start to his Major League career, going 5-3 with a 3.88 ERA (24 ER, 55.2 IP) 49 strikeouts, 4.45 SO/BB and a 0.970 WHIP over his first 10 career starts… among rookie starting pitchers who have made at least 5 starts this season, he ranks among the leaders in ERA (8th), FIP (3rd, 3.38), WHIP (2nd), BB/9 (1st, 1.8) and SO/BB (3rd).
HOME SWEET HOMESTAND…the Mariners current homestand is highlighted by Patriotic Fireworks Night tonight, Patriotic “Cal-Boy” Hat Day on July 1 and Stars & Stripes Fanny Pack Day on July 2… for more information about upcoming special events, or to buy tickets to any upcoming Mariners games, fans can visit Mariners.com/Promotions or Mariners.com/Tickets.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…the Mariners bullpen has been among the most effective in the Majors this season, posting a 3.52 ERA (104 ER, 266.0 IP) which ranks 4th-best in MLB, while their 3.63 FIP and 3.4 fWAR are both 2nd-best in the Majors, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Mariners relievers have had 9 different scoreless streaks of at least 8.0 innings, tied for the most such streaks of any team in the Majors this season (also: New York-AL)?…Seattle ranks ahead of Los Angeles-NL, Minnesota and Pittsburgh who are tied for 3rd with 7 such streaks…Gabe Speier (2x), Andrés Muñoz, Ty Adcock, Tayler Saucedo, Paul Sewald, Matt Brash and Justin Topa have all had streaks of at least 8.0 scoreless innings out of the Mariners bullpen this season…DID YOU ALSO KNOW?…that Munoz (11.0 IP), Adcock (9.1 IP) and Brash (8.1 IP) all have active scoreless streaks, and are one of only 3 teams with 3 players with active scoreless streaks of at least 8.0 innings.
MARINERS STARTER – RHP BRYCE MILLER
ABOUT BRYCE MILLER…
- The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher is scheduled to make his 11th career start, and his first against the Tam- pa Bay Rays. • Selected by Seattle in the 4th round (113th overall) of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Derek Miller. • Spent 3 seasons at Texas A&M from 2019-21…also spent 2 seasons playing for Brazos Valley Bombers of the Texas Collegiate League in 2018 and 2020, and 1 season with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League in 2019. • Was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas and attended New Braunfels High School in New Braunfels, Texas.
LAST TIME OUT…ND on June 24 at Baltimore, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits (1 HR)and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts.
MAKING MORE HISTORY…became the 1st pitcher since at least 1901 to go 6.0+ innings pitched and allow 2-or-fewer hits in at least 4 of his first 10 career appearances.
ROOKIE DOMINATION…has allowed 56 runners to reach base safely through his first 10 career starts which is the 2nd fewest in a pitcher’s first 10 starts in franchise history (min. 40.0 IP)…he trails only Logan Gilbert who allowed 54 baserunners through his first 10 career starts.
WATCH ME WHIP…his 0.970 WHIP ranks 2nd in the Major Leagues among pitchers with at least 10 starts…he currently ranks behind of Tyler Wells-BAL (0.885).
KEEPING THE BATS QUIET…has only allowed 43 hits through his first 10 career starts which leads all rookies (min. 50.0 IP)…his 43 hits allowed are tied for the 3rd fewest in franchise history in a pitcher’s first 10 starts…he is tied with James Paxton…Logan Gilbert tops the list with 37.
ON THE LEADERBOARD…his 49 strikeouts through his first 10 career starts ranks tied 7th in franchise history with George Kirby…his 11 walks allowed rank as the 5th fewest in franchise history in a pitcher’s first 10 career starts.
FIRST 5 STARTS…became the 4th pitcher in franchise history to not allow a home run over his first 5 career starts, joining Michael Pineda, Jim Converse and Brian Snyder…his 4 earned runs allowed are tied for the fewest in a pitcher’s first 5 career starts in franchise history, joining James Paxton (4 ER, 31.1 IP) and Justin Dunn (4 ER, 9.2 IP).
