WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Nationals and Phillies will face off 13 times in 2023 (6 in D.C., 7 in PHI)…Bryce Harper (2012-18), Trea Turner (2015-21) and Kyle Schwarber (2021) played for the Nationals…Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long served the same role with the Nationals from 2018-21…MASN’s Kevin Frandsen spent two seasons (2012-13) with the Phillies…Jake Alu is from Princeton, N.J. and attended Princeton Day School.
MOVING ON
The Washington Nationals look for a series split tonight as they finish off a four-game set in Philadelphia…The Nationals dropped last night’s game, 7-0.
- In the loss, the Nationals were no-hit for the first time in team history (2005-pres.), a span of 2,926 games.
- The franchise (MON/WSH) had not been no-hit since David Cone’s perfect game on July 18, 1999 at New York (AL), a total of 3,810 games, the longest streak in Major League Baseball…The title now belongs to the Los Angeles Angels, who were last no-hit on Sept. 11, 1999 at Minnesota by Eric Milton.
STATUS CHECK
The Nationals have won five of seven, seven of their last 11, 12 of their last 19, 16 of their last 27 and are 22-18 (.550) since June 24…This stretch includes series victories over the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
NEXT ON 20-20: LANE THOMAS
Lane Thomas hit his 20th home run and stole his 15th base on Tuesday…With five more stolen bases, Thomas would record the sixth 20 home run – 20 stolen base season in Nationals History (2005-pres.) and the first since 2016.
- Thomas is 8-for-25 (.300) with two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI, two walks, three stolen bases and eight runs scored in his last six games, with multi-hit games in three of them.
- In his last nine games at Citizens Bank Park, he is 12-for-38 (.316) with a double, a triple, a homer, six RBI, three walks, two stolen bases and five runs scored with multi-hit games in five of the nine.
- Thomas ranks in the National League in hits (4th, 129), doubles (6th, 28), runs (8th, 78), average (11th, .284),…He leads the National League (T1st in MLB) with a career-high 11 outfield assists.
BORN TO RUN
CJ Abrams is fourth in the National League with 27 stolen bases… He has stolen 24 consecutive bases without being caught, the longest single-season streak in Nationals history (2005-pres.)and now tied for the longest streak overall in Nationals history (2005-pres.) with Roger Bernadina (24 SB, June 9, 2010 to June 24, 2011) according to the Elias Sports Bureau…It is the longest active streak in MLB…Abrams was last caught stealing on May 3 vs. Chicago (NL).
- Since being moved to the leadoff spot on July 7, Abrams is hitting .316 with five doubles, a triple, four homers, 10 RBI, seven walks, two hit by pitch, 16 stolen bases and 23 runs scored…He’s hit safely in 21 of the 28 and has reached safely in 22 of the 28.
OK, KYLE
Kyle Finnegan has seven saves, five holds and has pitched to a 0.71 ERA (2 ER/25.1 IP) with a .146 opponents’ average (12-for-82) in his last 23 appearances.
- He’s set a new career-high and is eighth in the NL with 18 saves this season.
- Finnegan surrendered seven earned runs and three home runs in his first three outings…Since the next outing on April 7 at Colorado, he has pitched to a 1.51 ERA (8 ER/47.2 IP) with 49 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 45 games.
BULLISH ON THE ‘PEN
The Nationals have the best bullpen ERA in the NL (2nd in MLB) since July 21 at 2.42 (17 ER/63.1 IP)…Washington relievers are 7-1 with 64 strikeouts and just 21 walks in those 19 games.
- Over his last 11 games, Jordan Weems has not allowed a run in 10.1 innings, has held opponents to a .162 batting average (6-for-37), has walked just two hitters and struck out 13.
- In his last five games, Andrés Machado is 2-0 with 5.0 scoreless and hitless innings…He has stranded all seven inherited runners he’s been bequeathed in those games.
BACKSTOP BATS
Some notes on Washington’s catchers:
- Riley Adams has produced multi-hit efforts in five of his last seven starts and in six of his last nine… During this nine-game stretch, he is 14-for-34 (.412) with six doubles, a homer, six RBI and three walks.
- Keibert Ruiz is hitting .321 (26-for-81) with six doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, nine walks, one stolen base and nine runs scored over his last 23 games…He’s hit safely in 17 of the 23 games.
STARTING PITCHER – #46 PATRICK CORBIN
Left-handed pitcher signed a six-year contract with the Nationals on Dec. 7, 2018…Was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series…Is a two-time National League All-Star (2018, 2013)… Has started at least 30 games for five consecutive full seasons (2017-19, 2021-22), joining Gerrit Cole as the only pitchers since 2017 to accomplish the feat.
LAST START
Worked 6.1 innings, allowed three earned runs on four hits, struck out two and walked one hitter on August 4 against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park…He took a no decision the Nationals’ 6-3 victory.
vs. PHILADELPHIA
Is facing the Phillies for the first time this season…Corbin is 6-9 with a 4.96 ERA in 19 career starts against Philadelphia.
GLOVE WORK
Corbin leads Major League Baseball pitchers with 22 assists and is tied second in the Major League with four pickoffs…The four pickoffs match a career-high (2019, 2013).
1,500 STRIKEOUTS
With a strikeout of Jonathan Schoop on May 20 vs. Detroit, Corbin recorded his 1,500th career strikeout…He became the fourth Nationals pitcher to record 1,500 strikeouts in a Nationals uniform, joining Stephen Strasburg (2019), Gio González(2017) and Max Scherzer (2015) per the Elias Sports Bureau.
- Corbin ranks 18th among active pitchers with 1,555 strikeouts, behind Carlos Carrasco (1,564)… He is one of 231 players in baseball history with at least 1,500 strikeouts.
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, FELLAS
Since joining the Nationals in 2019, Corbin is 32-4 with a 2.69 ERA in 41 starts when he throws at least 6.0 innings and receives at least three runs of support…The Nationals are 37-4 in those games.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
SOMETIMES I DREAM: The Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals, 7-0, on a historic night at Citizens Bank Park … Starter Michael Lorenzen tossed the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history, Weston Wilson homered in his first major league plate appearance and Nick Castellanos hit his 200th career home run.
THAT HE IS ME: Last night, Michael Lorenzen tossed the 14th no-hitter in franchise history (last: Hamels, 7/25/15 at CHI), the 1st Phillies regular season no-hitter at Citizens Bank Park and the 2nd Phillies no-hitter all-time at CBP (Halladay, NLDS Game 1 vs CIN on 10/6/10) … Lorenzen became only the 5th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter in a home debut and the first since Don Cardwell threw a no-hitter at Wrigley Field in his home debut with the Cubs on May 15, 1960 – Cardwell was traded from the Phillies to the Cubs two days before, in exchange for future Wall-of-Famer Tony Taylor … Lorenzen is only the 6th pitcher in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to throw a no-hitter in his 1st or 2nd start with a club, joining ARI’s Tyler Gilbert (8/14/21 vs SD), SD’s Joe Musgrove (4/9/21 at TEX), BOS’ Clay Buchholz (9/1/07 vs BAL), BOS’ Hideo Nomo (4/4/01 at BAL) and CWS’ Wilson Alvarez (8/11/91 at BAL).
YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THAT’S HOW I DREAM TO BE: Last night, Weston Wilson became only the fifth player in Phillies franchise history (since 1883) to homer in his first career plate appearance and the first since Marlon Anderson, Sept. 8, 1998 vs NYM – Ed Sanicki did so Sept. 14, 1949 at PIT, Emmett Mueller did so April 19, 1938 vs BKN and Bill Duggleby did so, April 21, 1898 vs NYG … Originally drafted by MIL in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Wilson had played in 706 minor league games with 2,836 plate appearances over parts of seven seasons before making his major league debut last night … Per Elias, Wilson (28 years, 332 days old) became the sixth-oldest player in MLB history to homer in his first career plate appearance (last: CHI’s Cuno Barragan, 29 years/73 days on 9/1/61 vs SF) … On the night, Wilson went 1-for-1 (HR) with 3 runs scored, 2 walks and a stolen base … Per Elias: Wilson is the first MLB player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with a HR, 3+ runs and a SB in their MLB debut – he is the second MLB player in the Modern Era with a HR, 3+ runs and 2+ walks in their MLB debut (PHI’s Emmett Mueller on 4/19/38 vs BKN) – he is the third MLB player in the Modern Era with 3+ runs, 2+ walks and a SB in their MLB debut (BOS’ Ty LaForest on 8/4/45 at WSH & PHA’s Eddie Murphy on 8/26/1912 vs DET).
I DREAM I MOVE; I DREAM I GROOVE: In last night’s no-hitter, rookie center fielder Johan Rojas had nine putouts which, per Elias, are the most by an outfielder in a no-hitter in the Modern Era (since 1900) … The previous mark was seven, held by two players: NYY’s Hank Bauer on July 12, 1951 in Allie Reynolds’ no-hitter and HOU’s Luis Gonzalez on Sept. 8, 1993 in Darryl Kile’s no-hitter … Rojas has only played 144.0 innings in center field this season – he already has 5 defensive runs saved which ranks 3rd among all National League centerfielders, behind only COL’s Brenton Doyle (638.0 innings) and ARI’s Alex Thomas (582.0 innings), who rank 1st with 7 DRS.
LIKE MIKE, IF I COULD BE LIKE MIKE: Since joining the Phillies, Michael Lorenzen is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA (2 ER, 17.0 IP) in 2 starts – he has gone 8.0 innings or more in each of his starts … Per Elias, Lorenzen is only the 7th Phillies pitcher in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to throw 8.0+ innings in each of their first two starts with the club – others: Paul Byrd in 1998 (first 2), Steve Carlton in 1972 (first 6), Ken Reynolds in 1971 (first 2), Billy Champion in 1969 (first 3), Ray Herbert in 1965 (first 2) and Jim Bunning in 1964 (first 3) … Lorenzen is only the fourth pitcher in MLB over the last 20 seasons to toss 8.0+ innings in their first two starts with any club: DET’s Shane Greene in 2015 (first 2), MIN’s Andrew Albers in 2013 (first 2) and TEX’s Cliff Lee in 2010 (first 6).
NO-NO NOTES: Last night, J.T. Realmuto caught his 2nd career no-hitter (MIA’s Edinson Volquez, 6/3/17 vs ARI) – he is the 62nd catcher all-time to catch multiple no-hitters and is one of six active catchers to do so … It marked the first no-hitter for Rob Thomson as either manager or coach … Among Phillies in the game last night, it was Bryce Harper’s 3rd, Trea Turner’s 2nd and Nick Castellanos’ 2nd … Lorenzen’s no-hitter was the first by a Phillies pitcher since Cole Hamels, 7/25/15 at CHI – Kyle Schwarber, who did not play in last night’s game, pinch-hit for the Cubs in that no-hitter in the 8th inning and grounded out to Hamels for the 24th out of the game.
BALL GOES BOOM: Over the last five games (since 8/5) the Phillies have hit 14 home runs … This marks their most homers in a five-game span since the exact same time period last season – From August 5-10, 2022, they hit 14 home runs in a five-game span … Overall this month, the Phillies are slashing .271/.328/.506 with an .835 OPS in 338 combined plate appearances … Among all clubs in MLB in August, they rank T-2nd in home runs with 18 (also TEX), trailing only CHI (19 HR), 4th in XBH (37) & runs per game (6.22), 5th in SLG and 6th in OPS.
HATS OFF TO YOU THOMS: Since Rob Thomson was named manager of the Phillies on June 3, 2022, the Phils are 30 games over .500 at 128-98 with a .566 winning % that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.667), LAD (.643), HOU (.615), BAL (.587) and SEA (.578).
PHILLY SPECIAL: Since the start of this homestand (8/4-current), Trea Turner is 9-for-23 at the plate with five extra-base hits (4 2B, HR) and 6 RBI … Turner is slashing .391/.417/.696 with a 1.112 OPS in 24 plate appearances during this stretch … Over his last 38 games at Citizens Bank Park (since 5/6), Turner has posted an .809 OPS with 22 runs scored, 17 extra-base hits (10 2B, 3B, 6 HR), 23 RBI, 12 walks and 9 stolen bases.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies are 38-20 over their last 58 games (since 6/3) and their .655 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (39-16, .709 win %) … The Phils opened the 2023 season on the road and went 1-5 in six games through TEX (0-3) and NYY (1-2) … Since then (4/7-current), they are 62-47 with a .569 winning percentage that ranks T-2nd in the National League (with LAD), behind only ATL (.629) and T-6th in MLB.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – AARON NOLA • RHP #27
2023: 9-8, 4.58 ERA Career: 87-70, 3.71 ERA
LAST START: 8/4 vs KC: L, 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 HR, BB, 8 SO … Nola vs Lyles … The Phillies fell to the Kansas City Royals, 7-5, and opened up a 10-game homestand at CBP … The Phillies jumped in front early as Nick Castellanos hit a 2-run homer in the 1st … The Royals tied the game in the 3rd before the Phillies scored twice in the 4th to take a 4-2 lead … Kansas City plated 4 in the 6th and 1 in the 8th and held on for the win
TONIGHT’S START:
- 7th Heaven: Nola is making his 227th career start tonight … Nola now holds sole possession for the 7th most starts in Phillies history … Nola trails Steve Carlton (499), Robin Roberts (472), Chris Short (301), Cole Hamels (294), Grover Alexander (280) and Curt Simmons (263)
- In Play? No Problem: Nola’s opponents have a .272 batting average on balls in play this season, which ranks 5th in the NL (best: Corbin Burnes, .231) … It is the
2nd-lowest mark in his career (best: 2018, .251) - Walk It Out: Nola only walked 1 batter in his last outing and has a 5.8% walk rate on the year … Nola has posted a sub-6% walk rate in 2 seasons in his career and they have both come in the last 2 years (5.2% in 2021 & 3.6% in 2022) … He currently ranks 7th in the NL in walk %
- Sharp as a WHIP: Nola has a 1.14 WHIP on the season, which ranks 6th in the NL and T-19th in the ML … Since 2018, Nola’s 1.09 WHIP is tied for 10th in the major leagues and 9th in the NL … Nola’s 1.13 career WHIP is the 8th best in Phillies history (min. 500.0 IP)
- Pitch Usage: Curveball (32.2%), 4-Seam Fastball (28.3%), Sinker (19.2%), Changeup (11.7%), Cutter (8.6%)
- vs NL EAST: 36-36, 3.54 ERA (257 ER, 652.2 IP) in 108 starts
HOME:
- 2023: 4-2, 3.75 ERA (24 ER, 57.2 IP) in 9 starts
- Career: 48-27, 3.23 ERA (246 ER, 685.1 IP) in 110 starts
2023 SEASON:
- 2023 NL Ranks: BABIP (5th; .274), IP (5th; 143.1), WHIP (6th, 1.14), and SO (9th; 147)
- Innings Eater: Since the start of the 2018 season, Nola’s 1009.2 IP are the 2nd-most in the majors … This season, Nola has gone at least 6.0 IP in 18 of his 23 starts (78.3%) … His 18 instances of 6.0 or more innings are tied for tied for the 3rd most in the majors behind SF’s Logan Webb and NYY’s Gerrit Cole
- Philly Value: Since 2018, Nola is one of two pitchers in baseball to accrue more than 20.0 fWAR (23.9) and pitch for only one team (other: Shane Bieber, 20.4) … In that span, he ranks 5th overall in fWAR behind only Jacob deGrom (27.1), Max Scherzer (26.8), Gerrit Cole (26.5) and Zack Wheeler (26.4) … His 32.2 fWAR as a Phillie is 7th most in franchise history trailing Curt Simmons (33.5) for 6th place
- What Is It Good For: Additionally, since the start of the 2022 season, Nola’s 8.6 fWAR is the best among all NL pitchers
- Road Scholar: Since the start of the 2022 season, among all ML pitchers in road games, Nola has recorded the most SO (208), the most IP (193.2) and has the 3rd best SO/BB ratio (6.50) … Nola’s 30 starts on the road in that span are tied for the 2nd most in MLB
- Phils’ Ranks: Recorded the 30th double-digit SO game of his career and 3rd of 2023 on 7/4 at TB … Is now in sole possession of 3rd place in club history (Curt Schilling is 2nd with 48)
