WASHINGTON NATIONAL NOTES:
RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
The Washington Nationals close out their first road trip of the 2023 season on Wednesday afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels in their first rubber match of the season…With a win, the Nationals would secure their first series win as well as a winning road trip.
• Washington will enjoy a day off on Thursday before welcoming the Cleveland Guardians to Nationals Park for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.
START ME UP
With a win today, MacKenzie Gore would become the first Nationals pitcher (2005-pres.) to win each of his first three career starts with the team…Only three pitchers have won each of their first three career starts with the franchise (WSH/MON): Ross Grimsley (April 9-April 22, .978), Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (Sept. 15-Sept. 26, 1988) and Jimmy Jones (April 11-April 26, 1993).
• Jim Hickey’s starting rotation ranks third in the National League (T6th in MLB) with 62.1 innings pitched…The rotation also ranks in the National League in walks per 9.0 innings (5th, 3.32), fewest walks (T6th, 23) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7th, 2.09).
BULLPENNING
Ricky Bones’ bullpen has tossed 6.1 innings of one-hit, shutout relief across these last two games against the Angels…The group has struck out nine batters, walked three and has not allowed any of the five inherited runners to score.
• On the season, the bullpen ranks fifth in the National League in opponents’ on-base percentage (.305) and sixth in opponents’ batting average (.234).
PLAYIN’ THE HITS
Washington’s ranks fifth in the National League in hits (104) and eighth in the NL with a .258 batting average…Despite being one-hit for the sixth time in team history (2005-pres.) on Tuesday night, the Nationals have recorded double-digit hits in three of their last five games.
• Nationals hitters have struck out just 81 times, third-fewest in the National League (4th in MLB).
ROLLIN’ ROBLES
Victor Robles ranks in the National League in batting average (4th, .389), on-base percentage (6th, .476) and hits (T8th, 14).
• He is 12-for-26 (.462) with two doubles, four RBI, two walks, two stolen bases and four runs scored over his last eight games…He’s hit safely in six of the eight games with five multi-hit efforts.
• Robles has struck out just four times this season and his 9.1% strikeout rate ranks fourth in the National League (8th in MLB).
OFF AND RUNNING
CJ Abrams matched a Nationals record (2005-pres.) with two triples on Saturday night…It was the second two-triple game in Major League Baseball this season (also: LAD James Outman, 4/3 vs. COL).
• Abrams is 9-for-29 (.310) with two doubles, two triples, five RBI, two walks, one hit by pitch and three runs scored over his last seven games…This comes after starting the season in an 0-for-10 stretch.
• Abrams has drawn three walks in 11 games this season…He drew one walk in 44 games with the Nationals and five walks in 90 games total in 2022.
STREAKING
Alex Call has reached base safely in a career-high nine straight games…He has a .429 on-base percentage (9 H, 9 BB) during the streak.
• On the season, he leads the Nationals and ranks tied for eighth in the National League with eight walks
OPPONENT
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Nationals and Angels will face off three times in 2023, all in Los Angeles…GM Mike Rizzo spent four seasons as a minor league infielder in the Angels organization…First base coach, Eric Young Jr. played parts of two seasons (2017-18) with them… Third base coach, Gary DiSarcina, spent his entire Major League career with the Angels from 1989- 2000…Hunter Harvey’s dad, Bryan, recorded 126 saves across six seasons (1987-92) with the Angels, including a career-high 46 during his AL All-Star season in 1991…Nationals broadcaster Kevin Frandsen spent part of the 2010 season as a member of the Angels…Anthony Rendon was a member of the Nationals for seven seasons (2013-19)…Ali Modami, the Nationals former batting practice pitcher, serves the Angels in the same role
1 MACKENZIE GORE
Left-handed starter was acquired by Washington at the 2022 Trade Deadline…Entered 2020 as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball and 2021 as the No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America …Was cited by Baseball America as having the “Best Fastball” in San Diego’s system entering the 2022 season and the “Best Slider” in 2021 and 2018…Was the 2017 Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year, just the second baseball player to win the award at the time (Dylan Bundy in 2011; Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019).
LAST START
Earned his second win in as many starts on April 7 at Colorado…Allowed two earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings of work…He allowed one home run, a solo shot off the bat of lefty Ryan McMahon…It was the first homer he’s allowed to a left-handed batter in his young career.
vs. LOS ANGELES (AL)
Gore has never faced the Los Angeles Angels, or any club from the American League West for that matter.
WELCOME TO D.C.
Earned the win in his Nationals debut on April 2 vs. Atlanta…Allowed one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
• With the win, Gore became the seventh Nationals pitcher (2005-pres.) to win his debut with the team while allowing three hits or less in at least 5.0 innings of work, joining Edwin Jackson (2017), Ross Ohlendorf (2013), Collin Balestar (2008), Billy Traber (2006), Pedro Astacio (2006), Ryan Drese (2005).
2023 SPRING TRAINING
Gore went 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in seven games (six starts) during Spring Training…He capped spring with 9.2 innings of three-hit, shutout ball with 12 strikeouts and three walks aross his last two outings…He tossed 3.2 innings in the exhibition game vs. New York (AL) on March 28 at Nationals Park.
2022
Made his Major League debut with San Diego on April 15 vs. Atlanta (5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, HR, 2 BB, 3 SO)…Earned his first win in his next start, April 20 vs. Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 7 SO)…Struck out 10 batters, April 27 at Cincinnati and June 4 at Milwaukee…Was on the Injured List (left elbow inflammation) at the time of the trade.
2021
Went 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 12 starts between three levels of San Diego’s system.
2020
Spent the season at San Diego’s Alternate Training Site.
2019
Put together his best professional season…Led Minor League Baseball (min. 100.0 IP) in ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83) and was second in opponents’ batting average (.161)…Ranked third in San Diego’s system in strikeouts (135) despite making just 20 starts.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the sixth (2-3) and final game on the opening homestand of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) and Washington Nationals (1-1; April 10-12)…With a win today, LAA would have a 7-5 record through 12 games for the third consecutive season…Halos went 4-2 on first road trip of year against Oakland (2-1) and Seattle (2-1).
CANNING COMEBACK: RHP Griffin Canning (left groin strain) is scheduled to return from the injured list today to make the start on the mound…It will be his first MLB appearance since July 2, 2021 vs. Baltimore…Missed final two months of 2021 season and all of 2022 on the IL with a low back stress reaction…He made a rehab start for Low-A Inland Empire on Thursday and struck out 10 across 5.0 innings of work.
THE SHUTOUT: Last night, Shohei Ohtani, José Quijada and Carlos Estévez combined on a one-hit shutout of the Nationals…It marked the 26th one-hit shutout in franchise history and the first at Angel Stadium since June 5, 2018 vs. Kansas City.
ANOTHER SHOHEI RECORD: Last night, Shohei Ohtani worked
7.0 scoreless innings to lower his season ERA to 0.47 (19 IP –
1 ER)…He has allowed two-or-fewer runs in 10 consecutive
pitching starts, which established a new franchise record
(Nolan Ryan had a nine game streak across the 1972-73
seasons).
WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE: Today’s Angels lineup is scheduled to be the third time this season that Anthony Rendon, Hunter Renfroe & Luis Rengifo hit consecutively in the order…On Opening Day, the trio hit in the 4-6 spots, marking the first lineup in franchise history to feature three straight players who have the same first three letters of their last name…The last MLB occurrence was by Detroit on July 20, 2015 (Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez, Jefry Marte).
BIG A RUN LEADER: Monday night, Mike Trout scored his 523rd career run at Angel Stadium, which established a new all-time record for the ballpark…Garret Anderson scored 522 runs at The Big A.
ANGELS RECENT RECORDS TO BEGIN SEASON
AFTER 11 GAMES: AFTER 12 GAMES:
2023: 6-5 2023: ???
2022: 6-5 2022: 7-5
2021: 7-4 2021: 7-5
2020: 4-7 2020: 4-8
2019: 5-6 2019: 6-6
ON WITH THE SHO: Dating back to last season, Shohei Ohtani has reached base safely (via hit, walk, or HBP) in a career-high 34 consecutive games…It’s the second-longest active streak in the Majors, behind Aaron Judge (44 games)…Additionally, the streak is tied for the sixth-longest in Angels history; if the on-base streak continues today, he would tie Chone Figgins (2007) for the fifth-longest streak in Club history.
ROSTER MOVES: Prior to today’s game, the Angels reinstated RHP Griffin Canning from the injured list…In a corresponding move, RHP Andrew Wantz was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake following last night’s contest.
VS. WASHINGTON: Today is the third (1-1) and final game this season between the Angels and Nationals…Last year, the Halos won two of three meetings with the Nats, including a Mother’s Day walk-off hit by former National Anthony Rendon in the series finale…LAA is 15-9 all-time against the Expos/Nationals franchise, including a 8-5 mark at The Big A.
ROOKIE RAKING: Logan O’Hoppe has driven in a run in six of his nine starts this season…His four home runs and 10 RBI this season lead the team…His four home runs through the Angels first 11 games of the year area franchise rookie record…He was the first player to have an RBI in each of the Angels first three games of a season since Mike Trout in 2017…Before Trout, it last happened in 2007 by both Vladimir Guerrero and Casey Kotchman.
LEGENDARY COMPANY: Mike Trout enters today’s game with 298 career doubles…With two more doubles, he would become the fourth player in MLB history with 300+ doubles, 300+ home runs and 200+ stolen bases by his age-31 season, joining Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.
ON BASE DUO: Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward have both reached base safely (via hit, walk, or HBP) in all 11 of the Angels games this season…In 2013, Mark Trumbo set the franchise record after reaching base safely in each of the Angels first 20 games (Rod Carew held previous record with a 19-game streak in 1981).
INTERLEAGUE PLAY: LAA owns a 262-224 (.539) all-time Interleague record…The 261 all-time Interleague wins are third most all time behind Red Sox (288) and Yankees (285)… Angels won four of first five Interleague games in 2022, but are 4-13 vs. N.L. opponents since.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP GRIFFIN CANNING
0-0, — ERA
Making first MLB appearance since July 2, 2021
• TODAY’S GAME: Making Major League season debut and first Major League appearance since July 2, 2021… Reinstated from injured list prior to today’s game.
• HE’S BACK: Missed Angels first 11 games of the season on injured list with a left groin strain…Spent entire 2022 season and final two months of 2021 season on IL with a low back stress reaction.
• ON REHAB: Made one rehab appearance on with Low-A Inland Empire on April 6 in the 66ers season opener… Took the loss after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
• SPRING RECAP: In four 2023 Cactus League starts for Angels, went 1-1 with 1.32 ERA (13.2 IP – 2 ER) and 13 strikeouts…
• VS. WASHINGTON: Today marks first career appearance vs. Nationals.
• INTERLEAGUE PLAY: In eight career Interleague games, is 3-1 with a 3.61 ERA (42.1 IP – 17 ER) and 38 strikeouts.
• AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 24 career games (22 starts) at Angel Stadium, is 9-5 with a 4.70 ERA (115.0 IP – 60 ER)…As a starter, is 8-4 with a 4.31 ERA (110.2 IP – 53 ER) at home…Has allowed three-or-fewer runs in 16 of 22 home starts (nine are quality starts).
• GOLDEN GRIFFIN: Earned the 2020 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award at pitcher…He was the second Angels pitcher to win the award, joining Mark Langston, who won five straight from 1991-95…Tied for the A.L. lead among pitchers with three Defensive Runs Saved during the 2020 regular season and also posted a .938 fielding percentage, committing just one error in 16 total chances.
• UNFAMILIAR FOES: In his career as a starter, has held opponents to a .206 average (64/310) in opposing batter’s first plate appearances of a game.
• IN THE COMMUNITY: Has made visits to patients and their families at CHOC Children’s in Orange alongside several teammates…Also participated in a hospital visit to Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN in May 2019 with Angels teammates as well as several members of the Minnesota Twins.
• CAREER NOTES: Native of Mission Viejo, CA…Previously drafted by Colorado in 38th round of 2014 Draft out of Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) but elected to attend UCLA…Selected by Angels in 2nd round of 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of UCLA…With his Major League debut on April 30, 2019, became first player drafted by Billy Eppler as Angels General Manager to reach the Majors
