TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas saw its season high-tying 3-game win streak (also 3-0 from 3/30-4/2) come to an end with a 9-run loss on Wed. in the series finale against KC (1-10)…it is the club’s largest margin of defeat in 2023 and largest at Globe Life Field since an 11-2 loss on 8/27/22 vs. DET…the 10 R allowed matched club’s season high (also 10 R on 4/8 at CHC)…TEX was held scoreless over final 8 innings after Nathaniel Lowe’s solo HR in the bottom of the 1st…team’s 4 hits snapped span of 3 straight games with double-digit knocks…went 2-1 in brief 3-game homestand vs. KC, and will face the Royals again next week from 4/17- 19 at Kauffman Stadium (3 G)…club has won 3 of last 5 G, but still has a 4-5 record since a 3-0 start…team has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023.
• The current 7-5 record is the Rangers’ best 12-G start since 2013 (8-4), and a 4-win improvement over last year’s 3-9 start.
• Team opened the 2023 campaign with a 3-0 record for just the 9th time in Rangers history, the longest season-opening win streak since 2011 (6-0).
STANDINGS: The Rangers dropped into a tie for 1st place in the A.L. West on Wed. after having sole possession for previous 2 straight days (5th day overall in ‘23)…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 14 of the season’s first 15 days, including 9 straight to begin the year…marks latest point for the club to own even a share of 1st place in the West since the final day of team’s division-winning season in 2016 (10/2/16)…from 2017-22, the Rangers had one day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).
VS. HOUSTON: Texas meets Houston for the 1st time this season in the quest for the 2023 Lone Star Series Silver Boot…will play HOU during 3 more series due to the new scheduling format introduced this year (4 G vs. HOU, 6/30- 7/3; 3 G at HOU, 7/24-26; 3 G vs. HOU, 9/4-6)…club went 5-14 against HOU in 2022…TEX has lost 4 of 5, 8 of 10, 11 of 15 G against the Astros…club has lost season series last 2 years and owns a 1-5 season series record in last 6 years… TEX has gone 5-29 (.147) in last 34 G in Houston dating back to the beg. of 2019, the lowest win pct. by any team at any venue (min. 15 G) over that span… Rangers are just 35-70 (.333) vs. HOU since the start of 2017
• TEX is 5-29 at MMP since beginning of 2019, losing 10 consecutive series here since winning a 3-G sweep, 7/27- 29/18.
SERIES STUFF: Even though they dropped the series finale on Wed. night, TEX secured a series win vs. KC (2-1) and now sits at 2-2-0 in series play this season…TEX is looking for its first road series win of the year after losing 2 of 3 G against the Cubs at Wrigley Field from 4/7-9…club owns a 2-2 record in series openers on the young campaign.
• Rangers have not won a road series of at least 3 G since taking 3 of 4 G against the Twins from 8/19-22/22.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Rangers are 1-2 (.333) on the road this season following a series loss to the Cubs from 4/7- 9 at Wrigley Field…Texas is scheduled to play 9 of next 12 G on the road…team was 34-47 (.420) overall in away games last year, winning back-to-back road games just twice over the season’s final 3 months.
ROSTER MOVES: The Rangers today announced that the club has activated RHP Josh Sborz from the 15-day Injured List as an additional transaction for the 26-man roster…this follows yesterday’s announcement that LHP Taylor Hearn had been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
• Sborz will be seeking his first Major League action of the year…made a relief app. on Wed. for Round Rock vs. Tacoma (1.0 IP, R-ER, HR, SO)…compiled a 4.50 ERA (1 ER/2.0 IP) over 2 relief app. with Round Rock…started the season on the 15-day IL (retro. to 3/27) with a left ankle sprain.
PUNCH OUT: Texas pitchers rank 4th in the A.L. with 123 strikeouts (135-MIN, 132-CWS,125-NYY), easily a club record for most team strikeouts through the first 12 games of a new season (prev. 112 in 2022 and 2020)…TEX pitchers have struck out 11-or-more batters in 3-consecutive games and in 6 of 12 this season…TEX starters rank 3rd in A.L. with 81 SO.
HEAD START: Texas starters have allowed 2-or-fewer ER in 6 of last 7 and 8 of 10 G during 2023…Rangers starting pitchers have 9 starts this season of 5.0+ IP with 3-or-fewer ER, T3rd-most in the A.L. (also HOU, KC, CWS) and trailing only TB and MIN (10)…club also ranks T3rd across all of MLB in the category (also tied with NYM, MIL, LAD)
• Both of Martin Perez’ starts this season have qualified for the splits mentioned above (4/2 vs. PHI and 4/8 at CHC)… also done twice by deGrom, Eovaldi and Gray.
FAMILIAR FOES: Texas manager Bruce Bochy and Houston manager Dusty Baker will face off for the 192nd time in their careers (regular season) during tonight’s series opener…Bochy’s 110 losses against Baker are his most against an opposing manager…should they both manage all of the games this series, Baker will tie Clint Hurdle for second-most games managed against Bruce Bochy…the top 5 list can be found below:
LOWE AND BEHOLD: Nathaniel Lowe notched the Rangers’ lone scoring output on Wed. vs. KC, launching a 430-foot solo home run to right field, his 2nd long ball of the campaign…it was the longest homer by a Texas batter in 2023, and the 2nd-longest blast at Globe Life Field this season behind a 433-ft. shot by BAL’s Jorge Mateo on 4/3…Lowe has hit safely in each of his last 8 G at .273/.314/.576/.890 (9-33), the longest hit streak by a Ranger this season and T2nd-longest of Lowe’s career…his last longer hitting streak was a career-best 11-game run from 7/25-8/4/22.
SPACE BALLER: Adolis García owns a .295 career BA (41-for-139) with 15 XBH and 25 RBI against HOU…his 9 HR and 25 RBI vs. Astros since the start of ‘21 are most by any player against HOU over that span.
WELCOME BACK, CHAMP(S): The Texas Rangers roster 2022 World Series champion Will Smith, who recorded a 3.27 ERA (8 ER/22.0 IP) in 24 G with HOU after being traded for RHP Jake Odorizzi from ATL on 8/2/22…Odorizzi also pitched with HOU last season, compiling a 4-3 record with a 3.75 ERA (25 ER/60.0 IP) in 12 starts before the trade.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #54 Martín Pérez, RHP (1-1, 2.53)
TONIGHT: The 32-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his 3rd start/appearance of the season in tonight’s road trip opener in Houston…will pitch on extra 5 days’ rest after taking loss in last start on Sat. at CHC (5.0 IP, 3 R-2 ER), outing which snapped a span of 9 straight starts without allowing a HR dating to 2022…has taken a win and loss in his 1st 2 outings, but joined Jon Gray as only TEX pitchers with 5.0+ IP and 2-or-fewer ER allowed in each of 1st 2 starts to open 2023…has 5.0+ IP in 32 consecutive starts dating to 2022, T4th-longest streak in Rangers history (see below)…made 2 starts for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting no record and a 9.82 ERA (4 ER/3.2 IP)…after returning to the Rangers on a one-year free agent deal for 2022, he elected to stay with Texas in 2023 on a one-year deal after accepting the club’s qualifying offer in November…spent the first 11 seasons of his professional career with the Rangers (2008-18), and has been with the organization for 12 of his 15 years as a pro…left the club for 3 years for brief stints with Minnesota (2019) and Boston (2020-21)…has a 56-58 record with a 4.26 ERA over 175 games/162 starts in his Rangers career, ranking among club’s all-time leaders in starts (7th, 162), wins (11th, 56), and strikeouts (12th, 643)…since 2016, his first full campaign after returning from ‘Tommy John’ surgery, has the 2nd-most starts (177) and 3rd-most innings (1017.1) of any pitcher in the American League…saw two seasons cut short in 2014-15 following ‘Tommy John’ ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow on 5/19/14…also missed time in 2018 after suffering a broken right (non-throwing) elbow.
LAST START: Took loss in Rangers’ 10-3 defeat on Sat. at CHC (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R-2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 90 pitches/66 strikes)…gave up unearned run in the 1st inn. after Corey Seager error, then permitted just one run in a 32-pitch 3rd frame…solo HR to Patrick Wisdom in the 4th…exited w/ TEX trailing just 3-1, but Rangers would commit season-high 5 errors in an ugly effort at Wrigley…it was the 13th time since the start of last season that Pérez has posted 5.0+ IP while allowing 2-or-fewer ER and not recorded the win.
VS. HOUSTON: Has gone 9-8, 3.23 (44 ER/122.2 IP) in 19 G/GS over his career vs. the Astros, including 4-5, 2.74 (21 ER/69.0 IP) in 10 G/GS at Minute Maid Park…faced HOU in 5 of Rangers’ 6 series in 2022: 1-3, 3.82 (14 ER/33.0 IP)… made starts in all 3 trips to Houston: 1-2, 3.43 (8 ER/21.0 IP)…in 5 GS vs. HOU in 2022, posted 7.0+ IP with one-or-zero runs allowed an MLB-high 3 times against the eventual World Series champs…one of those was his lone win in CG SHO on 5/20/22 at HOU (9.0 IP, 8 H, 0 R), the only CG SHO against the Astros in MMP in 2022…Pérez has 9 career wins vs. HOU, tied for his most wins against any opponent (9 vs. OAK)…his 1.264 WHIP vs. Astros is lowest against any A.L. opponent in his career.
I GOT FIVE ON IT: Has logged at least 5.0 IP in each of his last 32 starts (beg. 4/23/22), the longest such streak ever by a Texas left-hander and T4th-longest in club history overall: 56-Yu Darvish (2012-14), 41-Lance Lynn (2019-20), 37-Nolan Ryan (1989-90), 32-Colby Lewis (2003-10)/Kevin Brown (1991-92)/Pérez (2022-23)…2nd-longest active streak of 5.0+ IP to a 34-start run by Max Scherzer (beg. 8/15/21)…has gone 13-7, 2.71 ERA (60 ER/199.0 IP) during the streak.
2023: Has faced just 8 LH batters in his 2 starts, with those hitters going 2-for-7 w/ no XBH, 1 BB, 2 SO…each of 1st 2 GS were vs. N.L. opponents…earned win in season debut 4/2 vs. PHI, completing Rangers’ 3-G sweep, as he allowed just 3 batted balls with exit velo. of 95.0+ mph (Statcast).
KING OF THE ROAD: Took loss in 1st road start of ‘23 (see above)…saw slightly better results in 16 road starts (7-4, 2.86 ERA) than in 16 starts in Arlington (5-4, 2.92 ERA) last season…ranked among A.L. road leaders in quality starts (T4th, 12), ERA (6th), and wins (T11th)…opened the 2022 campaign with club-record 25.0 consecutive scoreless innings on the road…Rangers went 10-0 in Pérez’s first 10 away outings last season, tied for the longest season-opening road undefeated streak by a starting pitcher in WSH/TEX franchise history (also 10, A.J. Griffin from 4/8-8/9/16)…Pérez’s career ERA splits are nearly identical on the road (4.41) vs. at home (4.43), though his home win pct. (.532, 41-36) is significantly higher than his road mark (.455, 35-42).
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champs, will play their first divisional game of the season tonight as they host the Rangers for the first of a three-game series in Houston…tonight’s pitching matchup features a pair of Venezuelans, in RHP Luis Garcia and LHP Martín Pérez, who were teammates just last month in the World Baseball Classic.
ABOUT GARCIA: RHP Luis Garcia is making the third start of his fourth MLB season (2020-23) and is coming off a strong 2022 campaign in which he ranked tied for fourth in the AL in wins (15), ninth in opponent average (.222) and 10th in strikeouts per 9.0 (8.98)…he finished his season by winning seven consecutive decisions over his last eight starts.
IMMACULATE MEMORIES: Tonight’s start for RHP Luis Garcia is his first against the Rangers since June 15, 2022, at TEX, when Garcia tossed an immaculate inning en route to working 6.0 innings of two-run ball…Garcia turned the trick in the 2nd, striking out 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller on nine pitches…shockingly, later in that game, Garcia was joined by RHP Phil Maton, who also worked an immaculate inning in the 7th inning against those same three hitters… according to MLB.com’s records, this marked the first time in MLB history for a game to feature two immaculate innings.
AT THE HELM: Astros skipper Dusty Baker is in his 26th season as a manager and his fourth at the helm in Houston…Baker, who ranks ninth all-time in managerial wins with 2,099 wins, has an outside shot of moving up to sixth all time by seasons end…en route, he’d have to surpass Joe McCarthy (8th, 2,125), Bucky Harris (7th, 2,158) and Sparky Anderson (6th 2,194).
BATTLE FOR THE BOOT: The Astros and Rangers will renew their rivalry tonight for their first matchup of the 2023 season… the Astros went 14-5 vs. the Rangers in 2022, which secured them their sixth consecutive season series victory over Texas… the Astros have earned the Silver Boot trophy in each of the past six years (2017-22), five via season series victories and one via run differential (2020)…many of those season series wins can be attributed to the Astros home dominance in the series, as Houston has gone 29-5 in 34 home games against
the Rangers since the start of the 2019 season.
THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: Tonight and tomorrow night’s game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet SW with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales on the call…Sunday’s game will be televised by ESPN with a start time of 6:10 p.m…during Sunday’s telecast, C Martín Maldonado is scheduled to wear a microphone for an in-game conversation with the booth, which will make him the first catcher to wear a microphone for a live interview during a regular season game.
WINSDAY: The Astros won their 14th straight getaway day game on Wednesday in Pittsburgh, downing the Pirates, 7-0, for their first shutout victory of the season…RHP José Urquidy (6IP) started for Houston, while three relievers combined to complete the shutout…3B Alex Bregman had the big blow offensively, as he connected for a three-run homer to break the game open in the 7th…LF Corey Julks went 2×4 on the day and hit his first career homer.
STREAKING: 1B José Abreu has reached base safely in all 13 of the Astros games this season, marking the longest start of season streak by an Astro since 3B Alex Bregman matched the club record by reaching base safely in his first 25 games of the 2020 campaign…Abreu is one of six players in the Majors this season to reach base safely in their first 13 games of the year.
THE 300: LF Yordan Alvarez enters tonight’s game with 299 career RBI and will become the 36th player in club history to reach the 300-RBI plateau…among players that began their careers with the Houston franchise, Alvarez will become the fastest to reach 300 RBI, in terms of games played (he enters tonight with 379 career games), besting 1B Lance Berkman (417g)…if you account all players in franchise history, OF Moises Alou owns that record, reaching 300 RBI in his 352nd career game as an Astro after joining the club via trade.
PEÑA’S PALS:SS Jeremy Peña will host students from Energize for Excellence Middle School for the second Peña’s Pals of the 2023 season…Peña’s Pals is a new program developed by Jeremy, in partnership with the Astros Foundation, that aims to celebrate kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices…Peña’s Pals will be treated to tonight’s Astros game and will attend batting practice, where they will meet Jeremy.
FRAMBER’S WEEKEND: The Astros will celebrate All-Star LHP Framber Valdez this weekend with a pair of giveaways on Friday and Saturday prior to his start on Sunday Night Baseball… tonight’s giveaway is a Framber Valdez Consecutive Start Bobblehead, presented by Goya, which will go to 10,000 fans in attendance…on Saturday, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Framber Valdez Sunday Replica Jersey, presented by Ricos.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP LUIS GARCIA
LAST START – 4/8 AT MIN: he didn’t factor into the decision after he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
VS. THE RANGERS: is set to make his 6th appearance (4th start) against the Rangers in his career.
• has posted a 3-0 record along with a 2.50 ERA (5ER/18IP) with 5 walks and 17 strikeouts against Texas.
• in his last appearance against the Rangers on June 15, 2022, he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with a career-high tying 9 strikeouts in 6.0 innings…in the second inning of that same start he also tossed the 8th immaculate inning in club history, striking out 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller in the frame…later he was joined in that game by RHP Phil Maton, who also tossed an immaculate inning in the 7th inning against those same three hitters…according to MLB.com’s records, marked the first time in MLB history for a game to feature 2 immaculate innings.
ABOUT GARCIA: Venezuelan starter has pitched in parts of 4 seasons (2020-23) in Houston, going 26-18 with a 3.66 ERA (136ER/334IP) in 65 games (59 starts).
• recorded a career-high winning streak from Aug. 12, 2022-Oct. 2, 2022, which dated back 8 starts…in those 8 outings, he recorded a 3.20 ERA (16ER/45IP).
• has dominated right-handed hitters in his career, limiting them to a .196 average (127×649)…lefties have hit almost 70 points higher against Garcia, posting a .264 average (157×594)…in 2022, those numbers were close to evening out as he limited righties to a .213 (67×315) average and lefties to a .234 (64×274) mark.
GARCIA’S NEW LOOK: Prior to it being outlawed this season, had one of the most unique windups in the Majors, which was a mix of rocking a baby and a salsa dance… his windup was developed during the 2020 season as he worked at the Astros Alternate Training Site over the summer…Garcia did not have a strong origin story for his windup, instead saying he wanted a windup that he felt could be repeatable.
• according to Astros Pitching Coach Josh Miller, this offseason, Garcia simply returned to his windup style he used throughout his career prior to 2020 to get back in compliance with Major League rules.
GARCIA IN 2022: Had a strong second full season in 2022, finishing the year as a 15-game winner, while making 28 starts…ranked T-4th in the AL in wins, 9th in opponent average (.222) and 10th in strikeouts per 9.0 (8.98).
• got his outs via the strikeout and fly ball, as he ranked 5th in the AL in fly ball percentage (43.6%) among those with 150+ IP..
GARCIA IN THE 2022 POSTSEASON: went 1-1 in the postseason with a 1.59 ERA and 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings, working solely as a reliever.
• helped the Astros to the 2022 World Series title by tossing 5.0 scoreless innings in relief in the Astros 18-inning win in Game 3 of the ALDS at SEA…pitched the final 5.0 innings of the Astros win, allowing just two hits and no walks…became the second Astro to work 5.0 scoreless in relief in a postseason game, joining LHP Framber Valdez (Game 1 of the 2020 AL Wild Card Series at MIN)…Garcia was also just the second pitcher in postseason history to work 5.0-plus scoreless relief innings which all came in extras, joining RHP Yusmeiro Petit (6IP in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS vs. SF).
