TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas lost to the Mariners last night, 5-0, ending a 3-G win streak…team has a 3-2 record on this 10-G, 10-day road trip to LAA (2-1), SEA (1-1 + today), and OAK (4 G)…TEX has won 3 of 4, as last night’s loss snapped Rangers’ 5th different win streak of 3+ G in 2023 (season-best 4-0 both 4/16-19 and 4/28-5/2)…team totaled 7 wins streaks of 3+ G in all of 2022…TEX is 3-3 in last 6 G, but 7-3 in last 10 G since a season-long 4-G losing skid…TEX is 7-7 in last 14 G, but still 13-8 in last 21 G and 17-10 in last 27 G beg. 4/9…have a 18-14 record last 32 G since club’s 3-0 start to the season.
• At 21-14 (.600), TEX owns 3rd-best record in A.L. and 4thbest in MLB to only TB (.784, 29-8), ATL (.694, 25-11), and BAL (.639, 23-13)…club’s 21 wins rank T3rd in A.L. and T5th in MLB (29-TB, 25-ATL, 23-BAL, 22-LAD, 21-TEX/BOS/PIT/TOR).
• The 21-14 start marks Rangers’ best 35-G start to a season since 2013 (22-13), one of the 5 best starts this century.
• TEX is 7 G above .500 and has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023…season-best 8 G above .500 after win on Mon. at SEA (21-13), 1st time team had been at least 8-over since 7/12/19 (50-42)…TEX recorded its 20th win in 2022 on May 27.
WITH A WIN today, Texas could:
• Earn a series victory, which would move club to 7-1-1 in its last 9 series.
• End a span in which club has dropped 9 consecutive series at T-Mobile (last win: 2-1 from 5/27-29/19 at SEA).
• Improve to 4-0-0 in series vs. A.L. West opponents in ‘23, with one series win against each division foe.
• Match season high-water mark at 8-over .500.
STANDINGS: The Rangers enter today with a 2.0-G lead on 2nd-place LAA in the A.L. West for a 3rd straight day…TEX was in a tie for 1st after loss on Friday for 1st time since 4/27…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 39 of the season’s first 40 days (exception: 4/8)…TEX has been alone in 1st place for 23 of the last 25 days (beg. 4/14)… have had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 29 days overall in ‘23…reached a season-best 3.5-game lead in the West with off day on 4/20, which was team’s largest lead in the West since the end of the ‘16 campaign (won division by 9.0 G).
SERIES STUFF: TEX has gone 2-0-1 in last 3 series and 6-1-1 in last 8…team is 7-3-1 overall in series this year, going 4-1-1 at home 3-2-0 on the road…club did not win a 7th series in 2022 until 6/10-12 at CWS…TEX won 4 straight series 4/10-23, longest such span since going 5-0-0 from 6/15- 7/1/18…has won 3 of last 4 road series (0-3, 4/24-26 at CIN).
LONG ROAD: TEX has won 3 of 4 after a season-long 4-G away losing skid…club is 9-8 (.529) on road, 5th-best away win pct. in A.L…before the current 3-5 span, Rangers had won previous 4 straight and 6 of prior 7 road contests…the 4-G win streak (4/16-19) was longest away win streak since a 4-0 span 6/11-17/22.
VS. SEATTLE: Teams have split 1st 2 G in 2023…TEX has won 4 of last 7 G dating to ‘22, but still 4-12 in last 16 G vs. SEA…after a series 6/2-4 at Globe Life Field, clubs will not meet again until the end of the year, the Rangers’ final home games 9/22-24 and the last contests of the year 9/29-10/1 in Seattle…TEX was 5-14 vs. M’s in 2022, losing season series for 5th time in 6 years…TEX is just 12-35 vs. SEA beginning 8/21/20, going 5-23 at T-Moblie over that stretch.
HEIM TIME: Jonah Heim had 2 of the Rangers’ 7 hits last night, extending his hit streak to a career-best 8 straight games at .412/.429/.647/1.076 (14-34) with 2 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, and 8 R…Heim ranks among A.L. qualifiers this season in BA (4th, .321), OPS (5th, .943), SLG (5th, .557), RBI (8th, 27), and OBP (10th, .387).
TOUGH ONE: Andrew Heaney pitched into the 7th inning last night, taking a loss despite posting his 3rd quality start of the year…it was the 15th quality start for the Texas rotation this season, but just the 3rd in which the starting pitcher took a loss, with Heaney (4/27 vs. NYY and last night) owning each of the last two instances (also Jon Gray on 4/3 vs. BAL).
BLANKED: After scoring a total of 26 runs on Sat./Sun. at LAA, the Rangers have just 2 runs over the 1st 2 G of this series…club was shut out last night for a 3rd time in ‘23, 1st instance since 4/7 at CHC in the 7th game of the season…in fact, the Rangers had scored multiple runs in 22 consecutive games from 4/14-5/8, the team’s longest such span since doing so for 61 in a row from 5/11-7/19/19.
I’M PACING MYSELF, SERGEANT: The Rangers and M’s have played games lasting 2:16 (Monday) and 2:20 (Tuesday) to open this series…they are the Rangers’ shortest games in May, as club now has a total of 9 games lasting 2:20-or-less this season…it matches the total for the previous 4 seasons combined (9 from 2019-22) and is already the most in a single season for Texas since 11 such games in 2010.
THE HEAT IS ON: The Rangers are 8-4 in day games entering this series finale…TEX scored 16 R in its last day game on Sun. at LAA, the club’s 3rd day contest this season with 15+ R and 5th time with 10+ R…Rangers lead MLB with 8.42 R/G in day tilts (TB is next at 6.69 R/G) and have best day OPS in Majors (.872)…the Rangers’ +43 run margin in 12 day games is 2nd-best in MLB to only TB (+65).
IF IT AIN’T BROKE…: Sam Huff was recalled yesterday and he is seeking his season debut with the Rangers…Texas has used just 30 players in 2023, T2nd-fewest in MLB (29-TOR,
30-TEX/HOU, 32-BAL)…the 4 Rangers used that were not on the Opening Day 26-man roster: Leody Taveras (IL), Josh Sborz (IL), Sandy León and Yerry Rodríguez
DOWN THE COAST: The Rangers are scheduled to fly to Oakland after today’s game and begin a 4-G weekend set against the A’s on Thursday night…TEX has a 2-1 edge vs. OAK to begin 2023, taking final 2 G in series 4/21-23 at Globe Life Field…after this weekend, teams will not meet again until 8/7-9 at the Coliseum, which is part of a week-long stay in the Bay Area to play the A’s and Giants…Rangers were 6-4 at the Coliseum in 2022, losing 3 of last 4 G after a 5-1 start.
SHORTS: Some of the names that appeared in the Rangers’ last series victory in Seattle (5/27-29/19): Hunter Pence, Logan Forsythe, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jeffrey Springs, Shelby Miller, and catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa…the 2 R the past 2 G match fewest for Texas in any 2-G span in 2023…last night was 1st time in ‘23 to use only 2 pitchers in a loss, just the 3rd game overall this year to use just one-or-2 pitchers (also Eovaldi starts on 4/29 vs. NYY (CG SHO) and Sat. at LAA.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #33 Dane Dunning, RHP
(2-0, 1.42)
TODAY: The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 10th appearance/2nd start of the season in today’s series finale in Seattle…made only start of the campaign on Fri. at LAA (ND, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 72 pitches/47 strikes), after slotting into the starting rotation when RHP Jacob deGrom was placed on the 15-day Injured List (right elbow inflammation) on 4/29….notched the 4th scoreless qualifying start by a Ranger this season (Eovaldi-2, Heaney-1)…the effort dropped Dunning’s season ERA to 1.42, 2nd-lowest in MLB among pitchers with 25.0+ IP (1.35-MIN’s Sonny Gray)…his .159 opp. BA is also 2nd-lowest among pitchers with 25.0+ IP to only LAA’s Shohei Ohtani (.143)…his 25.1 IP rank 6th on TEX staff behind club’s 5 original rotation members…has yet to allow a HR in ‘23 and is scoreless in 6 of 9 G…began season with 18.0 scoreless innings…established career highs in many categories last season, ranking 2nd on the Texas staff in starts (29), innings (153.1), and strikeouts (137)…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)…had season-ending surgery on 9/26/22 for a right hip labral repair, with the surgery performed by Dr. William Robertson in Arlington… has gone 11-18 with a 4.29 ERA for 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 12/8/20…pitched 3 seasons at the University of Florida, helping the Gators to College World Series appearances in both 2015 and 2016…is a native of the Jacksonville, Fla. area…Texas is 0-1 in Dunning’s lone start of 2023.
LAST OUTING: Did not factor into the decision of Rangers’ 5-4 extra-inning loss on Fri. at LAA (ND, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 72 pitches/47 strikes)…was his inaugural start of the 2023 season and set season-highs in IP (5.0) and pitches (72) against the Angels…retired 8 straight BF after allowing a leadoff walk to the Halos’ Zach Neto in the 1st inning…marked Dunning’s longest scoreless start since 8/6/22 vs. CWS (W, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO)…registered 7 swing-and-miss strikes, 2nd-most in any outing this season (8 on 4/17 at KC)…notched the 4th scoreless qualifying start by a Ranger this season (Eovaldi-2, Heaney-1).
AS A STARTER: Although he had pitched exclusively in relief this season before his most recent start, a majority of Dunning’s Major League appearances (62 of 72) have come as a starter…he owns a lifetime 11-18 record and 4.37 ERA (149 ER/307.0 IP) in those 62 career starts, with opponents batting .260/.336/.417/.752 (306-1178)…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-decisions…the 17 ND’s were T3rd-most in MLB and a WSH/TEX franchise record for a starting pitcher…Dunning’s 54 starts in a Rangers uniform over the last 3 seasons (beg. 2021) were tied for the most by a Ranger with LHP Martín Pérez (54 starts).
VS. SEATTLE: Dunning has gone 1-1, 4.26 ERA (12 ER/25.1 IP) in 5 career games/starts vs. Seattle (all w/ Texas)…his 5 starts opposite the Mariners are his T2nd-most against any ML opponent (9-LAA, 5-SEA/OAK)…last win against Seattle came in his 1st start on 5/9/21 vs. SEA (W, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 3 BB, 10 SO), when he set his career-high of 10 strikeouts in the contest…has not been involved in the decision across his last 3 starts vs. SEA, boasting a 3.91 ERA (7 ER/16.1 IP) with 17 strikeouts.
• Posted an 0-1 record and 5.00 ERA (5 ER/9.0 IP) over a pair of starts last season at T-Mobile Park.
ON THE ROAD: He is winless in his last 27 starts on the road (including 1 G/ GS w/ CWS and 26 GS w/ TEX), the 2nd-longest winless road start streak in the Modern Era (beg. 1901) behind COL’s Scott Elarton (29) from from 2001-05 (Stathead)…has set a Texas franchise record with his active run, surpassing Pete Broberg in 1972-73 (15)…has seen slightly better results on road (1-0, 1.38) than at home (1-0, 1.46) in ‘23, but fared better at home (4-2, 3.59, .232/.307/.421/.728 in 16 GS) than on the road (0-6, 5.62, .312/.390/.470/.860 in 13 GS) last season.
2023: Opponents have batted .159/.227/.216/.443 (14-88) with 5 extra-base hits (all doubles), incl. opp. BA’s of .083 (3-36) vs. LHB and .212 (11-52) vs. RHB…2 wins are T3rd-most on club (4-Pérez/Eovaldi)…20.1 relief innings are T4th-most in A.L. (24.2-TB’s J. Fleming, 23.0-BOS’ J. Winckowski, 21.0-CLE’s X. Curry)… has 4 relief app. of 3.0+ IP, 2nd-most in MLB (5-TB’s Josh Fleming)…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).
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners conclude the 6-game homestand (3-2) with the finale of 3 games against the Texas Rangers (1-1)…Seattle opened the homestand with a series win against the Houston Astros (2-1)…following today’s game, the Mariners will embark on an 11-day, 9-game road trip with stops in Detroit (May 12-13), Boston (May 15-17) and Atlanta (May 19-21)…today’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Dan Wilson on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners beat the Rangers in a 5-0 shutout last night to even the series at 1-1… the Mariners are 7-2 over their last 9 games…11 of Seattle’s last 13 games (4/25-c) have been decided by 2-or-fewer runs, including 5 one-run games during that stretch…Seattle is 10-11 at T-Mobile Park and 8-7 on the road this season.
• Rubber Games – The Mariners are 1-2 in Rubber Games this season.
• Shutout – The Mariners spun their 3rd shutout of the season last night, besting the Rangers by a score of 5-0…Seattle’s 3 shutouts this season are tied for 9th-most in the Majors.
• Get Ahead – The Mariners hold a .363 on-base percentage in plate appearance beginning in 1-0 counts, compared to a .250 OBP in plate appearances following 0-1 counts.
SOLID, LIKE A ROCK…Luis Castillo has allowed 3 runs or less in 6 of his 7 starts this season, including 5 starts of 2 runs or less and 3 scoreless starts…overall this season, he is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA (11 ER, 41.2 IP) with 9 walks and 43 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .192 batting average against…his 2.38 ERA ranks 5th-best among qualified American League starters, while his .192 (29×151) opponent batting average ranks 7th in the AL.
THE MURPH…Tom Murphy went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, 1 double, 1 home run and 2 RBI in last night’s game…after opening the season with an 0-for-10 skid, Murphy is batting .323 (10×31) with 2 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI and 1 walk, while reaching base at a .344 clip and slugging .548 with an .892 OPS in 10 games since April 8…his .892 OPS since April 8 ranks 3rd-best among American League catchers with at least 30 PA in that span, trailing only Jonah Heim-TEX (1.017) and Eric Haase-DET (.901).
FIELDING OF DREAMS…the Mariners lead the American League and rank tied for 2nd in the Majors with a .991 fielding percentage this season, having made only 12 errors in 1,317 total chances…Seattle also ranks among the best in the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved (5th, 18 DRS) and Outs Above Average (1st, 13 OAA)…Teoscar Hernández ranks tied for 4th in the Majors with 6 DRS this season, while Eugenio Suárez ranks tied for 2nd in the Majors with 6 OAA.
FOR STARTERS…Mariners starting pitchers have tossed 6.0+ innings in 8 consecutive starts dating back to May 2 at Oakland, going 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA (15 ER, 51.2 IP) with 9 walks and 51 strikeouts during that span (5/2-c)…since the beginning of the last road trip (4/25-c), Mariners starters rank 2nd in the Majors with a 2.99 ERA (28 ER, 84.1 IP) in 14 starts, trailing only Houston starters (2.82 ERA) during that span… the Mariners have 3 of the top 14 starters in the Majors according to FanGraphs WAR: Luis Castillo (T5th, 1.5 fWAR), George Kirby (T6th, 1.5 fWAR) and Logan Gilbert (T12th, 1.3 fWAR)…no other team has more than 1 starter in the among top 14 fWAR pitching leaders.
THRILL ON THE HILL…the Mariners pitching staff leads the Majors in FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (7.7), ranking ahead of Minnesota (6.0), Houston (5.4) and Atlanta (5.4)…Seattle pitchers also lead the Majors in Fielding Independent Pitching (3.27), soft-contact percentage (19.8), fewest barrels (47) and barrel rate (5.2%)…Mariners starting pitchers rank tied for 1st in fWAR (5.2) with Minnesota (5.2)… Mariners relief pitchers are also tied for the Major League lead in fWAR (2.5) with Los Angeles-AL (2.5).
FRENCH REVOLUTION…Ty France went 2-for-4 with 1 run and 2 RBI in yesterday’s game, extending his hitting streak to 7 games…during the streak (5/3-c), Ty is batting .393 (11×28) with 3 runs, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI and 1 walk, while reaching base at a .452 clip and slugging .536 with a .987 OPS… Ty has reached base safely multiple times in each of the 5 games on the current homestand (5/5-c), tied for the 3rd-longest streak of his career, trailing stretches of 9 games (May 22-June1, 2022) and 6 games (May 10-16, 2022).
KELENIC’S CRUSH CLINIC…Jarred Kelenic has been one of the most effective hitters in the American League this season, batting .287 (35×122) with 15 runs, 11 doubles, 7 home runs, 16 RBI, 5 stolen bases and 10 walks, while getting on base at a .343 clip, slugging .549 with a .892 OPS in 34 games this season…Kelenic has the 7th-highest slugging percentage in the AL…the 23-year-old outfielder carries a 149 wRC+, ranking 10th in the AL, narrowly ahead of 11th place Mike Trout (148 wRC+).
BULLPEN BULLIES…the Mariners bullpen features 5 of the top 25 relievers in the American League according to fWAR…Matt Brash leads Mariners relievers and ranks T2nd in the AL with (0.7 fWAR), ranking ahead of Paul Sewald (T5th, 0.6), Trevor Gott (T5th, 0.6), Gabe Speier (T16, 0.4) and Justin Topa (T16, 0.4)…over their last 10 games (4/29-c), the Mariners bullpen has combined to post a 1.47 ERA (5 ER, 30.2 IP) with 9 walks and 43 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .216 batting average against during that span (4/28-c)…the Seattle ‘pen has held opponents scoreless 6 of 10 games duirng that span, while never surrendering more than 2 runs…the 1.47 ERA by the bullpen during that span leads the Majors.
THEY MESS WITH TEXAS…dating back to 2020, the Mariners are 36-14 against the Texas Rangers, and 23-5 against the Rangers at T-Mobile Park…during that span, Mariners pitchers own a 3.22 ERA (161 ER, 450.0 IP) with 422 strikeouts against Texas, while Mariners hitters have gotten on base at a .334 clip while slugging .409 (.743 OPS) with 68 home runs against their AL West foes…5 Mariners hitters have a career OPS above .750 against Texas with Teoscar Hernández (.899), Sam Haggerty (.892), Ty France (.876), Eugenio Suárez (.840) and AJ Pollock (.803) leading Mariners hitters.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…the Mariners have held opponents to 2 runs or fewer in 3 consecutive games dating back to May 7 vs. Houston, surrendering only 3 total runs during that span, while walking 3, striking out 34 and limiting opponents to a .179 batting average against, but…DID YOU KNOW?…over their last 12 games (4/27-c), Seattle pitching is allowing only 2.75 runs/game (33 R, 12 G)?…Mariners starters have amassed 9 quality starts during that span, while the pitching staff as a whole has limited opponents to a .204 batting average against, while striking out 113 and walking only 23.
MARINERS STARTER – RHP LUIS CASTILLO
ABOUT CASTILLO…
• The 30-year-old right-hander is set to make his 8th start of the season, 1st against the Rangers…he is also making his 156th Major League start and 1st career start against Texas.
• Has been named an All-Star in 2019 and 2022.
• Originally signed as an international free agent by the San Francisco Giants on 12/23/11.
• Made MLB debut on 6/23/17 vs. Washington (w/ Cincinnati)
• Signed a 5-year contract extension with the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 24, 2022 after being acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on July 30, 2022.
LAST TIME OUT…ND in last start on 5/5 vs. Houston…allowed 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 home run, and 1 walk in 7.0 innings pitched while striking out 5.
FEELING RIGHT AT HOME…is set to make his 11th start at T-Mobile Park where he has a 4-0 record with a 1.73 ERA (12 ER, 62.1 IP) and has only given up 3 home runs and 11 walks while striking out 76 batters…Castillo’s 1.73 ERA is the lowest in franchise history among pitchers with at least 10 starts at T-Mobile Park ranking ahead of Chris Young (2.40).
KEEPING THE BASES CLEAN…has only allowed 38 runners to reach base safely through 7 starts this season, the second fewest in the Major Leagues, he also ranks among Major League leaders in opponents average (7th, .192/29×151) and WHIP (5th, 0.912).
OFF TO A GOOD START…his 111 strikeouts through his first 16 Mariners starts are the most in Mariners history through a pitchers first 16 starts, ranking ahead of Robbie Ray’s 105 and Félix Hernández’s 103 strikeouts through their first 16 Mariners starts.
MAKING THEM EARN IT…has only allowed 11 earned runs through 7 starts this season which is tied 7th in the Major Leagues with Shohei Ohtani-LAA…his 2.38 ERA (11 ER, 41.2 IP) ranks 10th in the Major Leagues behind Zac Gallen-ARI (2.36).
DOMINATE THE ZONE…had 38 strikeouts in 6 starts in March/April which is the second most strikeouts to start a season in his career…his career-high in strikeouts for March/April is 50 which he achieved in 7 games to start the 2019 season.
KEEPING THEM IN THE YARD…gave up his first home run of the season on 4/28, breaking a 5-game span of allowing no home runs…this was his longest span of games to start a season without giving up a home run in his career.
NEARLY PERFECT…carried a perfect game into the 7th inning in his start against Colorado on 4/16…earned his second win of the season after pitching 7.0 scoreless innings and allowing only 2 hits while striking out a season-high 9 batters…the last pitcher to throw a perfect game in the Majors was Félix Hernández on 8/15/12.
HOT START…did not allow a run in either of his first 2 starts to begin the season, becoming just the third Mariners pitcher to do that, joining Félix Hernández (2007) and James Paxton (2017).
PREVIOUSLY ON OPENING DAY…became just the 3rd Mariners starter to hold the opponent scoreless in an Opening Day start, joining Félix Hernández (2007, 2013 & 2018) and Randy Johnson (1995)…he is the first player in franchise history to toss 6.0+ scoreless innings while allowing 1-or-fewer hits on Opening Day…his game score of 76 was the highest of any Opening Day starter this season.
FOR OPENERS…made his 3rd career Opening Day start on 4/30 vs. CLE and his first with the Mariners, becoming the 18th different pitcher to start on Opening Day in franchise history.
THE STONE WAS ROLLING…began his start on 9/7/22 vs. Chicago-AL by striking out the first 7 batters he faced, setting a franchise record for most strikeouts to begin a start, passing Michael Pineda (5 on 7/9/11 at LAA)…the 7 strikeouts also tied the AL record for most strikeouts to begin a game (done 4x, last: Blake Snell-TB, 6/3/18 vs. SEA).
A PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES…ND on 8/9/22 against New York-AL in his home debut after being acquired by the Mariners on 7/30/22…tossed 8.0
scoreless innings allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 on 110 pitches, 72 for strikes…marked the 5th time in his career he has thrown 8.0+ innings, and just the 2nd time he has tossed 8.0+ scoreless innings (also: 9/21/18 at MIA)…induced 20 swings-and-misses, the third most he has induced in a game this season.
MAIDEN VOYAGE…struck out 8 in his first start with the Mariners on 8/3/22 at New York-AL…8 strikeouts are tied for the 3rd-most in a Mariners debut (also: Cliff Lee), trailing Andy Benes and Enrique Romo who struck out 9…Benes and Castillo both made their Mariners debuts on Aug. 3, after being acquired by the Mariners at the trade deadline.
NOW THAT’S QUALITY…recorded 8-consecutive quality starts from 6/28-8/15/22, a career-best streak (previous: 5, 2x (8/14-9/5/21 and 6/15-7/6/21 w/ CIN)…tossed a quality start in each of his first 3 starts with Seattle (8/3-8/15/22).
LA PIEDRA…tossed 7.0 innings and allowed 1 run in 3-consecutive starts from 7/3-7/14/22, striking out 22 batters over the 3 starts…3-consecutive starts of 7.0+ innings while allowing no more than 1 run was tied for the longest streak in the Majors with 7 other pitchers…marked the 1st time in his career he has tossed 7.0+ innings in 3-consecutive starts.
SEASON-HIGH PUNCHIES…struck out a season-high 11 batters on 6/28/22 at Chicago-NL over 6.0 scoreless innings (with CIN)…marked the 2nd-time he struck out 10+ in 2022, and the 14th time in his career…induced 23 swings-and-misses according to Baseball Savant, tied for the 6th-most he has induced in a game in his career (most: 26, 2x 7/15/19 and 8/5/19).
COMPLETELY DOMINANT…threw his first career complete game on 9/11/20 at St. Louis with the Reds…allowed just 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts over 9.0 innings, earning the win for his efforts.
RARE AIR…from 3/28-4/9/19, Castillo became the 3rd pitcher in MLB history to record 3+ consecutive starts with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 2 hits allowed, joining Rube Marquard for the 1911 New York Giants and Randy Johnson for the 1997 Mariners.
