TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas dropped the series opener to the Rays last night, 8-3, as team makes a quick stop in TB (0-1 + 2 G)…team has now lost consecutive games for the 1st time since 5/3-5 (5/3 vs. ARI, 5/5 at LAA), and just the 5th losing streak of at least 2 G this season…club has won 7 of 10, 11 of 15, 14 of 19, 19 of 27, and 22 of last 31 games… TEX is an MLB-best 26-11 (.703) in last 37 G beg. 4/28… most wins in any 37-G span for TEX (not including spans in ’23) since 5/28-7/5/16 (also 26-11)…TEX is 32-16 in last 48 G and 36-18 in last 54 G beg. 4/9.
- At 40-22 (.645), TEX owns the 2nd-best record in MLB to only TB (47-19, .712)…club’s 40 wins rank 2nd in A.L. and MLB (47-TB).
- The 40-22 start is the Rangers’ best 62-G start to a season in WSH/TEX franchise history (see chart below), 1 G ahead of the next-best start (39-23, done in 1996).
- TEX is 18 G above .500 for the 2nd time this season (also 34-16, 6/4).
SERIES STUFF: After securing a series win vs. STL, Texas has now won a season-high 6 consecutive series, longest span for team since club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16…TEX is looking to avoid a loss in the next 2 G at TB and extend a franchise record 6-straight road series wins…club is 8-2-0 in last 10 series on the road…team is now 11-1-1 in last 13 series and 14-2-1 in last 17…the Rangers are 15-4-1 overall in series this year, going 7-2-1 at home and 8-2-0 on the road.
QUICK TRIP: TEX continues a 3-G trip to Tampa/St. Petersburg tonight (0-1 + 2 G)…it marks the Rangers’ 3rd (and final) road trip of 3 G this season…club owns a 1-6 record in such trips (1-2 at CHC, 4/7-9; 0-3 at CIN, 4/24-26; 0-1 + 2 G at TB, 6/9-11)…team has won 10 of 15 and 13 of 19 on the road after a season-long 4-G away losing skid…club is 19-13 (.593) on road, 3rd-most wins by a team on the road this season (21-BAL, 20-ATL)…2nd-best away win pct. in A.L., 3rd in MLB…last month, TEX tied the franchise record for road wins in a calendar month with 13 in May (also Aug. 2013, 13-3).
ONE VERSUS TWO: TEX and TB continue tonight’s series opener at Tropicana Field with the 2 best records in MLB… it marks the latest into a season in TEX history for the club to be involved in a matchup with the top 2 records in MLB entering play, excluding yesterday (h/t Elias Sports Bureau).
BEST RECORDS IN MLB, 2023
Win Pct. Team W-L
.712 Tampa Bay 47-19
.645 Texas 40-22
.619 Atlanta/Baltimore 39-24
ITS GETTING HOT IN HERE: The Rangers are in the middle of a span of playing 16-straight games in Texas or Florida from 6/2-18…Rangers have a 5-2 record over this period, which began with a 6-G homestand in Arlington earlier this month: 6/2-4 vs. SEA (3-0), 6/5-7 vs. STL (2-1), 6/9-11 at TB (0-1 + 2 G), 6/12-15 vs. LAA (4 G), 6/16-18 vs. TOR (3 G).
VS. TAMPA BAY: Texas plays 2 series of 3 G against Tampa Bay this season (0-1 + 2 G, 6/9-11 vs. TB; 7/17-19 at TEX)… the Rangers went 3-4 against the Rays last season, losing 2 of 3 at the Trop…TEX has won 7 of 14 and 9 of last 17 vs. TB, this after a span in which TEX dropped 8 of 10 from 4/16/18- 9/10/19…series is 22-24 since beg. of 2015.
- Club has won 4 of 7, 9 of 17, and 11 of last 21 G at Tropicana Field, beg. 5/10/15 (this record does not include a 3-G series vs. HOU at Tropicana Field from 8/29-31/17 due to Hurricane Harvey)…the Rangers also clinched the 2010 and 2011 ALDS against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
- TEX leads all-time series between the two clubs, 105-95, but is 46-52 as the visiting team.
THREE BLASTS, BUT NOT QUITE ENOUGH: Texas managed 3 R on only 3 H last night, all solo home runs (2 HR-Taveras, 1 HR-Jung)…according the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers franchise has one previous game in which they had at least three hits, all of which were home runs: May 27,
1987, 3 solo HR in a 4-3 loss at Detroit…the 3 HR that night came courtesy of Pete O’Brien (2) and Rubén Sierra (1).
LEODY HEATING UP: Leody Taveras notched his 1st-career multi-HR game last night, with solo homers in the 3rd and 8th innings…both HR came off right-handed pitchers, as he now has 13 of 17 career HR off RHP…Taveras, who led the A.L. in May with a .368 BA (35-95), has notched 2 multi-hit games in 6 games played in June, sporting a .263 BA (5-19)…his 3 HR in June are already more than the 2 HR he totaled from 4/12-5/31.
SCORING AND SUCH: Even with yesterday’s loss, the Rangers still have a season-best +149 run differential, easily highest in MLB (2nd: TB, +140; 3rd: ATL, +71)…the only other time in Rangers history the the club had a run differential as high as +149 (excluding previous ’23 marks) came in late Sept. 2011, as season-ending +178 run diff. in 2011 is highest figure at any point in any season in TEX history.
- The Rangers’ +149 run differential ranks 7th all-time for R/D in 1st 62 G of a season (since 1901)…all 6 teams ahead of the Rangers played in the World Series that campaign, with 4 winning the title.
- TEX has scored an MLB-high 389 R this season…the 389 R are 2nd-most through 1st 62 G of a season in WSH/TEX history (390-1998), and the most since 2001 (COL-400)… club owns an MLB-leading 16 G with 10+ R this season, and MLB-high 5 G w/ 15+ R are tied for most in franchise history (also 1998)…team owns a .297 BA (105-354) during their last 10 G to rise from .270 to .275, 1st in MLB.
NATHAN TO THE RESCUE: Nathan Eovaldi, who has selected the A.L. pitcher of the month for May, enters today’s start ranked among qualified A.L. hurlers in WHIP (2nd, 0.93), HR/9 (2nd, 0.34), wins (T2nd, 8), ERA (3rd, 2.24), opp. OPS (3rd, .577), and innings (6th, 80.1)…he currently owns the longest active scoreless innings streak (17.0) and winning streak (7-0, tied w/ ARI’s Merrill Kelly) in MLB…he is undefeated (7-0) in his last 9 starts (beg. 4/18), the T10th-longest win streak by starting pitcher WSH/TEX franchise history (beg. 1961) and longest by a Ranger since Martín Pérez from 5/10-7/29/22 (9-0).
- Eovaldi has posted a 1.25 ERA (9 ER/64.2 IP) over that 9-start span, lowest among MLB qualifiers in that period, to drop his season ERA from 6.32.
JUNG BOY: Josh Jung launched his MLB rookie-leading 13th HR last night, ranking 3rd among ML 3rd basemen in said category this season (18-Muncy, 14-Devers)…Jung has the most HR by a TEX 3rd baseman since 2018 (15-Beltré)… his 13 HR are the most HR ever as a third baseman by a TEX rookie (prev. 8, 3x, last Fernando Tatis in ‘97).
ROSTER MOVE: Yerry Rodríguez is expected to be recalled from Round Rock (AAA) today…a corresponding move will be announced later this afternoon.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
(8-2, 2.24)
TODAY: The 33-year-old right-hander and former Rays pitcher (10 GS in 2018) is scheduled to make his 13th start/appearance of the season today in game 2 of this 3-G set in Tampa Bay…enters today’s slate ranked among qualified A.L. hurlers in WHIP (2nd, 0.93), HR/9 (2nd, 0.34), wins (T2nd, 8), ERA (3rd, 2.24), opp. OPS (3rd, .577), and innings (6th, 80.1)…he currently owns the longest active scoreless innings streak (17.0) and winning streak (7-0, tied w/ ARI’s Merrill Kelly) in MLB…is undefeated (7-0) in his last 9 starts (beg. 4/18), the T10th-longest win streak by starting pitcher WSH/TEX franchise history (beg. 1961) and longest by a Ranger since Martín Pérez from 5/10-7/29/22 (9-0)…has posted a 1.25 ERA (9 ER/64.2 IP) over that 9-start span, lowest among MLB qualifiers in that period, to drop his season ERA from 6.32…
Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS… was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…was an All-Star with the Red Sox in 2021 and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting…his Red Sox stint also included a historic postseason
stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run…has pitched for 6 teams in his career:
LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX
(2023)…joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High
School to reach the Major Leagues…TEX is 8-4 in Eovaldi’s 12 starts this season.
AS OF LATE: Has gone 8-2, 2.24 ERA (20 ER/80.1 IP) in 12 starts this season…is just the 8th pitcher (11th instance) in WSH/TEX franchise history with 8+ wins over his first 12 starts of a campaign, 1st since Matt Harrison in 2012 (8-3).
- Has 77 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 2023, just the 2nd pitcher in franchise history to record 77+ SO’s and 14-or-fewer BB in his first 12 starts with the club, joining LHP Cliff Lee in 2010 (77 SO/9 BB).
- Remains the only MLB pitcher with multiple complete games in 2023, and his 2 CG’s this season are already the most by a Ranger since Mike Minor in 2019 (also 2).
- Eovaldi over his last 7 starts (beg. 4/29): 6-0, 0.68 ERA (4 ER/52.2 IP), 46 SO/9 BB, .153 opp. BA (27-176)…it is the first 7-start span in Rangers history in which a pitcher has allowed 4-or-fewer runs with 50.0+ IP, and the first in MLB since LAD’s Hyun Jin Ryu from 5/7-6/10/19 (3 R-ER, 50.2 IP)…the last A.L. hurler to post such a stretch of 7 starts was KC’s Zack Greinke from 4/8-5/9/09 (4 R-3 ER, 53.0 IP). LAST START: Will pitch today on extra 5 days’ rest after earning his 3rd win in as many starts in Texas’ 12-3 victory on Sun. vs. SEA (W, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 1 HBP, 87 pitches/56 strikes)…it was just the 15th start in club history (beg. 1972) in which a pitcher had 6.0+ shutout frames, 2-or-fewer baserunners allowed, and 7+ strikeouts…was the 1st such start by a Ranger since Jon Gray on 7/13/22 vs. OAK (7.0 IP, 1 H, 9 SO).
A.L. PITCHER OF THE MONTH FOR MAY: Eovaldi was named the A.L. Pitcher of the Month for May on Friday, the 1st such honor in his career…it marked the 2nd consecutive May for a TEX pitcher to receive the A.L.’s monthly pitching award, (also Martín Pérez, May 2022)…became just the 7th TEX pitcher to win the award in the last 39 years (beg. 1985), joining Bobby Witt (July 1990), Kenny Rogers (May 1995 and May 2005), Rick Helling (Sept. 1998), and Matt Harrison (June 2012).
- Posted a 4-0 record with a 0.96 ERA (4 ER/37.2 IP) over 5 G/GS for TEX last month, allowing 1-or-0 R in 4 of his 5 outings…his A.L.-leading 0.96 ERA ranked 2nd-best in MLB among pitchers with 25.0-or-more IP, and it was just the 7th time in TEX history that a pitcher has recorded an ERA below 1.00 in a full month (minimum 30.0 innings).
- Produced just the 2nd month in TEX history for a pitcher to have a sub-1.00 ERA with a WHIP of 0.85-or-lower (min. 30.0 IP), joining Charlie Hough in September 1983.. ranked among A.L. leaders for the month in opponent OPS (2nd, .495), opp. SLG pct. (2nd, .264), innings (3rd, 37.2), WHIP (4th, 0.85), opp. BA (5th, .178), opp. OBP (6th, .232), and HR/9 (6th, 0.48)…he was 1 of 5 A.L. pitchers with a complete game in May.
VS. TAMPA BAY: Is 5-6, 4.04 (34 ER/75.2 IP) in 15 games/13 starts vs. Tampa Bay in his career, and is 3-5, 4.92 (33 ER/60.1 IP) in 12 G/11 GS here at Tropicana Field…his 11 career starts at this venue are his 4th-most at any MLB ballpark (46-Fenway Park, 35-loanDepot Park, 32-Yankee Stadium)…has not faced the Rays since the final outing of his Red Sox career on 10/4/22 vs. TB (W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO), and his last outing in Tampa came in 9-5 Sox defeat on 7/31/21 at TB (L, 5.1 IP, 6 R-5 ER).
ON THE ROAD: Has seen better results this season in 7 starts on the road (5-1, 1.49 ERA) than in 5 starts in Arlington (3-1, 3.38 ERA), and is undefeated (5-0) with a 1.27 ERA (6 ER/42.2 IP) in his last 6 away starts…ranks among MLB road leaders in ERA (1st), wins (T1st), and innings (3rd, 48.1)…is 9-1, 2.12 ERA (25 ER/106.1 IP) in 17 G/ GS on the road since the start of last season ( beg. 2022)…has yet to allow a HR on the road in ‘23, as opponents have batted .212/.258/.282/.541 (36-170) in his away outings.
STREAKING: Posted career-best 29.2-inning scoreless streak from 4/24-5/17, the longest scoreless streak in MLB this season and T5th-longest in Rangers history: 39.0-Kenny Rogers, 5/6-6/1/95; 36.0-Charlie Hough, 8/23-9/14/83; 33.1-Yovani Gallardo, 6/10-7/7/15; 31.0-Rogers, 4/27-5/20/05; 29.2-Eovaldi, 4/24-5/17/23/Jeff Zimmerman, 5/25-8/2/99…marked the longest scoreless streak in MLB since ARI’s Zac Gallen had 44.1 SHO IP from 8/8-9/11/22.
- Recorded 8.0+ SHO IP in 3 straight starts from 4/29-5/6, becoming just the 3rd pitcher in TEX history with 3 consecutive outings of at least 8.0 scoreless innings: Martín Pérez (3, 4/13-23/14) and Charlie Hough (3, 8/28-9/7/83)…Eovaldi also struck out 25 batters while issuing just 3 walks over that stretch, just the 6th pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to have a 3-start span with 25.0+ SHO IP, 25+ SO, and 3-or-fewer walks (credit: STATS)…he was the first MLB pitcher to pull the trick since LAD’s Clayton Kershaw from 7/8-23/15 (26.0 SHO IP, 38 SO, 0 BB), and joined WSH’s Walter Johnson (27.0 SHO IP, 25 SO, 3 BB from 4/19-30/1913) as the only A.L. pitchers to ever do it.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER
2023: Opponents have batted .213/.253/.324/.577 (57-287) with 21 extra-base hits (3 HR, 5 3B, 13 2B), incl. a .184 BA for LHB and .240 BA for RHP…has thrown an avg. of 96.5 pitches per outing, and has accounted for 4 of 7 G w/ 100+ pitches by TEX starters in ‘23 (4-Eovaldi, 2-Gray, 1-Pérez)…ranks among A.L. qualifiers in WHIP (2nd, 0.93), HR/9 (2nd, 0.34), wins (T2nd, 8), ERA (3rd, 2.24), FIP (3rd, 2.42), opp. OPS (3rd, .577), BB/9 (4th, 1.57), and IP (6th, 80.1)…has exited with a lead in 8 straight and 10 of 12 starts in ‘23, as 7.17 run support avg. ranks 4th among A.L. qualifiers…was named A.L. Pitcher of the Month for May (4-0, 0.96 ERA, in 5 GS)…career-high 12 strikeouts on 5/11 at OAK (8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 SO)…tossed 1st 9-inn. CG SHO of career on 4/29 vs. NYY (9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO), 1st CG SHO by a Ranger since Martín Pérez on 5/20/22 at HOU (9.0 SHO IP), and the 1st CG SHO ever thrown by a TEX pitcher at Globe Life Field…made Rangers debut in 16-3 Texas victory on 4/1 vs. PHI (W, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER)…became 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his TEX debut.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
FULL STEAM AHEAD — The Rays won their seventh straight game and earned a series-opening victory over the Rangers last night, 8-3…RHP Tyler Glasnow earned his first win of the season, and his first win at Tropicana Field since 6/8/21 vs. Washington, after tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing one hit (solo homer) with three walks and six strikeouts…3B Isaac Paredes (3-for-4, 2B, 2HR, 6RBI) set a career high with 6 RBI while recording his second multi-homer game of the season (2 HR on 5/16 at NYM).
The Rays improved to 12-0 in series openers at home, the longest such winning streak to open a season since the 2013 Detroit Tigers (13-0), according to Elias…the club is 17-4 overall in series openers this season.
SEVEN NATION ARMY — The Rays seven-game winning streak is the longest active run in the majors…it marks their longest winning streak since 4/18-24 (6G)…during the streak, Tampa Bay is outscoring opponents, 35-11 (+24), while the pitching staff has turned in a 1.43 ERA (63.0IP, 10ER) and held the opposition to a .152 average (33-for-217)…the Rays are the only MLB club with two winning streaks of 7+ games (also 13G – 3/30-4/13).
Tampa Bay’s longest winning streak last season was six games (2x, 5/2-7 and 8/20-25)…prior to this season, the Rays last won 7+ games during a nine-game winning streak from 8/21-31, 2021.
ABOVE PAR-EDES — In last night’s victory, Isaac Paredes recorded his fifth career multi-homer game while matching a career high with three extra-base hits (3x, last 4/28/23 at CWS)…he became the first Ray with 6 RBI in a game since Randy Arozarena had six on 9/23/22 at Toronto.
His three games with 5+ RBI match Austin Meadows (2021) and Ben Grieve (2001) for most in a single season in Rays history.
He improved to 10-for-21 (.476) with five doubles, 2 HR and 9 RBI in eight games against the Rangers…he became the first player since Seattle’s Evan White on 8/22/20 to have 6+ RBI against the Rangers.
He has 32 RBI dating back to 4/27, the third-highest mark in the majors during that span behind CLE Josh Naylor (34) and LAD Freddie Freeman (33).
Paredes has 4+ RBI in an MLB-best five games this season, outpacing NYM Pete Alonso, TB Randy Arozarena and ATL Sean Murphy, who each have four such performances this year.
RANDY LAND — Randy Arozarena has reached base safely in 26 consecutive home games dating back to 4/12, slashing .288/.443/.575 (23-for-80) with three doubles, one triple, 6 HR and 19 RBI…it is the longest active home on-base streak in the AL and trails only COL Jurickson Profar (28G) for the MLB lead.
FAMILIAR FOE — Yandy Díaz has hit safely in six straight games against the Rangers and is a career .385 (30-for-78) hitter with five doubles, one triple, one HR, 7 RBI and nine walks against 12 strikeouts in 22 games vs. Texas…min 75 PA, his .385 AVG is the second highest among all active players vs. Texas, trailing only NYM Starling Marte (.391).
HISTORY AT HOME — Tampa Bay’s 30-6 record at Tropicana Field marks MLB’s best start at home since the 1998 New York Yankees (also 30-6)…the Rays are one of five teams since 1901 to win at least 30 of their first 36 home games (excluding ties) in a season… have won eight of nine, 12 of 15, and 16 of their last 20 home games overall.
Tampa Bay hitters rank among MLB leaders at home in several categories, including stolen bases (1st, 47), total bases (1st, 564), homers (1st, 60), extra-base hits (1st, 135), SLG (2nd, .489), runs per game (2nd, 5.86) and OPS (3rd, .829).
EARNING OUR STRIPES — The Rays have gone 28-13 (.683) against teams that currently have a record of .500 or better, the best mark in the majors, ahead of Texas (14-11, .560).
Entering the current three-game series against Texas, it marked the first game on June 1 or later (excluding 2020) in which Tampa Bay had the best record in the majors and its opponent held the second-best mark in the league since 9/14/10 vs. New York-AL (Elias)…entering play on 9/4/10, the Rays were 87-56 (.608) and the Yankees were 87-57 (.604).
PITCHING PROWESS — Rays starters have recorded a 1.76 ERA (56.1IP, 11ER) over the club’s last 11 games, the best mark in MLB during that span (since 5/29), ahead of San Diego (2.44)…this season, Tampa Bay’s rotation paces the majors in ERA (2.91), opp. average (.220), opp. OBP (.278), opp. SLG (.359) and opp. OPS (.637).
Tampa Bay’s bullpen has registered a 1.37 ERA (26.1IP, 4ER) over its last seven games, striking out 31 batters against 13 walks while limiting opposing hitters to a .093 average (8-for-86) and a .452 OPS in that span.
BAG BANDITS — The Rays have stolen 34 consecutive bases without being caught dating back to 5/22, the longest streak in club history…they had achieved the previous mark of 21 straight steals on two separate occasions (6/3-27, 2007 & 7/1-23, 2010)…according to Elias, the last major league club to steal 34 straight bases was Cleveland (36SB) from 8/11-9/17, 2021…the Rays have been successful on 48 of their last 50 stolen base attempts (96.0%) overall since 5/14 after opening the season 38-for-52 (73.1%).
Tampa Bay’s 86 stolen bases are the most by any major league club through 65 games since the 2009 Rays (105SB).
The Rays have 11 games with 3+ stolen bases this season after having seven such games last season…the last Rays team to accomplish the feat was the 2018 club, who also had 11 games with 3+ steals.
THE BAY BOMBERS — The Rays have hit a major league-best 110 home runs, tied for the sixth-most long balls through a club’s first 66 games in MLB history (since 1901)…they reached 100 homers in their 54th game of the season, becoming the fifth-fastest team to reach the milestone in MLB history (since 1901).
The Rays have an MLB-best 33 multi-HR games, ahead of Los Angeles-NL and New York-AL with 32 apiece…they are 28-5 (.848) in those contests… this includes 16 games with 3+ homers, most in the AL and trailing only Los Angeles-NL (19G) in all of MLB.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best eight players with 9+ HR, led by Randy Arozarena and Yandy Díaz with 12HR apiece…the next closest team is Los Angeles-NL with seven players…there are currently eight teams in MLB that have only one player with 9+ HR (BOS, CLE, COL, MIA, OAK, PHI, PIT, WSH).
TEXAS TWO-STEP — Tampa Bay and Texas kick off game two of a three-game weekend series and the second of six matchups between the two clubs this season…the Rays went 4-3 against the Rangers last season, including a 2-1 mark at Tropicana Field.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP TAJ BRADLEY (4-2, 3.60)
TALKIN’ TAJ — Tampa Bay’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 16 prospect in baseball (MLB.com) will make his eighth career start today, including his fourth at Tropicana Field…ranks among AL rookies (min. 35.0IP) in strikeout rate (1st, 33.1%), walk rate (2nd, 5.5%), wins (2nd, 4), ERA (3rd, 3.60), WHIP (3rd, 1.17) and strikeouts (5th, 48)…his 48 strikeouts are tied with Charlie Morton (3/29-5/2, 2019) for most through a pitcher’s first seven starts with the Rays in franchise history.
BEANTOWN BUMP DAY — Earned his first win since 4/24 after working 5.0 innings of two-run ball in a 6-2 victory at Boston on 6/4 (5.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 3BB, 6SO)…improved to 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (21.0IP, 4ER) in four road starts this season…joined Blake Snell (4GS, 4/23-7/24, 2016) as the only pitchers in Rays history to toss 5.0+ innings with two or fewer earned runs allowed in each of his first four career road starts.
HOWDY, PARTNER — Bradley will be making his first career start against the Rangers this afternoon…he has one previous outing against an AL West club, earning the win on 4/24 vs. Houston in his third career start (5.0IP, 4H, 3ER, 6SO, 2HR).
STRIKEOUT SAVANT — Bradley’s 48 strikeouts are tied with Charlie Morton (3/29-5/2, 2019) for the most through a pitcher’s first seven starts as a member of the Rays in club history…the last major league pitcher with more strikeouts through their first seven career starts was MIL Freddy Peralta (50SO) from 5/13-7/11, 2018.
Since his debut on 4/12, Bradley’s 34.4 pct. strikeout rate is fourth highest among major league starters (min. 7GS), trailing ATL Spencer Strider (40.4%), TOR Kevin Gausman (35.6%) and LAA Shohei Ohtani (33.8%).
Is one of 12 pitchers since 1901 to record 6+ strikeouts in at least six of his first seven career appearances, including the first since CIN Hunter Greene in 2022.
KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL — Despite issuing a career-high three walks in his last start, Bradley ranks among AL leaders (min. 35.0IP) in both strikeout rate (3rd, 33.1%) and walk rate (13th, 5.5%)…under the same parameter, his 6.00 SO/BB ratio is tied for sixth in the majors.
He joins NYY Masahiro Tanaka (58SO, 7BB) as the only pitchers in MLB history (since 1901) to record 48+ strikeouts with eight or fewer walks over their first seven career starts.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK — After receiving zero runs of support in consecutive starts from 5/23-29, Bradley was backed by six runs of support in his most recent outing on 6/4 at Boston…on the season, his 7.97 run support average is third highest in the majors (min. 35.0IP), behind TEX Martín Pérez (9.13) and COL Brent Suter (9.08).
THIS AND THAT — The right-hander has been at his best with runners on base, holding opponents to a .179/.210/.214 (10-for-56) clip compared to .299/.349/.545 (23-for-77) with the bases empty…has held opponents to a .138 clip (11-for-80) with only three walks in two-strike counts…opposing 6-9 hitters are 6-for-50 (.120) against him compared to .325 (27-for-83) vs. the first five spots in the order.
