The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have recalled outfielder Brenton Doyle from Triple-A Albuquerque and have optioned infielder Elehuris Montero to Triple-A. Doyle will wear #9.
Red Sox recall left-handed pitcher Brennan Bernardino from Triple-A Worcester
Club Options Right-Handed Pitcher Brayan Bello to Triple-A Worcester
BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today recalled left-handed pitcher Brennan Bernardino from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Bernardino on the active roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello to Worcester. Bernardino will wear number 83.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Bernardino, 31, was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on April 16. The left-hander made his first appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Friday at Lehigh Valley, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one hit batsman. He also made two relief appearances for Triple-A Tacoma this season, allowing eight runs in 6.0 innings pitched. The California native yielded three runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings pitched across two appearances with the Mariners in 2022, his only Major League outings. He signed with Seattle as a minor league free agent on June 27, 2022, after pitching for Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League from 2021-22.
Bello, 23, started yesterday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed three runs over 4.2 innings. The right-hander began the season on the 15-Day Injured List and was reinstated on April 17, making his season debut that day against the Los Angeles Angels. The Dominican native owns a 5.29 ERA (38 ER/64.2 IP) in 15 career Major League outings (13 starts) with Boston (2022-23).
Blue Jays roster moves
The Toronto Blue Jays have made the following roster moves:
- RHP Adam Cimber has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right rhomboid strain
- RHP Nate Pearson has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and will be active for tonight’s game
A’s place RHP Adrián Martínez on injured list
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s placed right-handed pitcher Adrián Martínez on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 23 with a strained right elbow, the club announced today. The move clears a 25-man spot for left-handed pitcher Sam Long, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants yesterday for cash considerations. To clear a spot for Long on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated infielder Dérmis Garcia for assignment.
Martínez began the season in the A’s bullpen and has a 6.75 ERA and .284 opponents batting average in six relief appearances. He has tossed at least two innings in all six of his appearances and leads Major League relievers in innings pitched (17.1).
Long began the season at Triple-A Sacramento and was 1-0 with a 9.90 ERA in four relief appearances. He allowed 11 runs on 14 hits and five walks in 10.0 innings before he was designated for assignment on Wednesday. The 27-year-old left-handed pitcher was 1-3 with a save, a 3.61 ERA and .238 opponents batting average in 28 games, including six starts, with the Giants last year. Long has spent parts of two seasons in the majors with San Francisco and is 3-4 with a save and a 4.55 ERA in 40 games, including 11 starts.
Garcia has spent the entire season at Triple-A Las Vegas where he is batting .242 with an .829 OPS, three home runs and 12 RBI in 16 games. He made his Major League debut with the A’s last year and hit .207 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 39 games.
MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals (9-13) at San Francisco Giants (8-13)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
COASTAL CARDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue their season-long 11-day, 10-game road trip along the Pacific coast through Seattle (1-2), San Francisco (April 24-27), and Los Angeles Dodgers (April 28-30) with the opener of a four-game series tonight at San Francisco’s Oracle Park … Since the Padres joined MLB as an expansion team in 1969, this marks just the 13th road trip in the Cardinals history to feature 10+ games across three cities on the Pacific coast, but first involving an AL team.
FLIGHT PATTERNS: St. Louis enters today in 4th place in the NL Central, 6.5 games behind first place Milwaukee … The 1985 National League Champion Cardinals began their season with an 10-12 record before finishing with an MLB-best 101-61 record, while the 2004 National League Champion Cardinals were 11-11 through 22 games and ended their season by leading MLB in wins (105-57).
WILD WILD WEST: Tonight is the 7th of 16 straight games against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions (St. Louis is 67-56 combined vs. both West Divisions since 2019).
THE CITY BY THE BAY: St. Louis leads the all-time series between the Cardinals and Giants (358-355) since the franchise moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958.
A SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: A win tonight would give the Cardinals a .500 record (35-35) at Oracle Park for the 8th time since the ballpark opened in 2000 (1-1; 28-28; 29-29; 30-30; 32-32, 33-33, 34-34), and joining the Pirates (37-34, .521) and Dodgers (105-103, .505) as the only three teams with a .500 or better record who have played 15 or more games … The only time the Cardinals ever sported a winning record here was after their 3-2 win on May 6, 2022 to move to a 34-33 record.
CORNERSTONES: Paul Goldschmidt’s 13 career homers at Oracle Park are the most by any opposing player in stadium history (2000-present), while
Nolan Arenado (12) IS 2nd … Goldschmidt and Arenado are also among the top two active leaders vs. San Francisco in many offensive categories.
DO I FEEL LUCKY?: St. Louis is the lone MLB team to be winless (0-7) in series openers … The franchise record of consecutive series-opening losses to open a season is eight, snapped on the 9th series in 1988 with a 5-1 win at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.
GO-AHEAD GORMAN: Nolan Gorman ranks among NL leaders in homers (6, T-6th), RBI (22, 2nd), slugging (.657, 5th), OPS (1.054, 5th), isolated power (.343, 7th), AB/HR (11.17, 6th), AB/RBI (3.05, 1st), and 2-out RBI (14, 1st) … Gorman has four home runs as a second baseman, tying a Cards single-season March/April record w/ Kolten Wong (2019), Jedd Gyorko (2016), & Rogers Hornsby (1922 & 1924).
BULLITT: Lars Nootbaar yesterday became the 6th Cardinal to hit a first-pitch leadoff home run on the road since 2000, joining Dexter Fowler (Sept. 12, 2019 at Colorado and April 3, 2018 at Milwaukee), Matt Carpenter (June 21, 2018 at Milwaukee), Skip Schumaker (June 25, 2008 at Detroit), and Plácido Polanco (April 13, 2000 at Colorado) … Nootbaar has reached base safely in 18 of 34 plate appearances this season (five singles, two homers, 11 walks).
HITCHIN’ A RIDE: With the introduction of MLB’s new balanced schedule this season, the Cardinals are scheduled to travel 8,752 more miles (including trip to London) than they did in 2022, 2nd-biggest increase in miles behind San Francisco (+11,094) – Baseball Savant.
THE MEMORY REMAINS: Jordan Walker has recorded his first 20 career hits off 20 different pitchers, matching Andrew Knizner, who also recorded his first 20 hits off of 20 different pitchers from 2019-21 … The last Cardinal to reach 21 was José Rondon, doing so during his only season in St. Louis in 2021 … The highest for any MLB player to debut in the expansion era (since 1961) is 38 established by Peter O’Brien, who’s first 38 hits with Arizona and Miami from 2015-19 came against 38 different pitchers. – Elias
SEEK & DESTROY: Entering today, the Cardinals (251) rank 3rd in MLB in hard-hit balls (95+ mph) behind Pittsburgh (265) and Tampa Bay (268), and tied with the Rays for 2nd in average exit velocity (90.4) behind the Braves (90.6).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (2-2, 4.84)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: Wins (2, T-7th), Hits (25, T-10th), Run Support Avg (6.85, 7th), Walks/9 IP (2.01, 9th), HR/9 IP (0.40, 4th).
• Is set to make his 5th start of the season and his 113th career (16th as a member of the Cardinals). Facing San Francisco for the first time in his career, one of three MLB teams he’s yet to pitch against (STL, SD).
• Is 8-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 15 starts as a member of the Cardinals and St. Louis has won 10 of his 15 starts.
• Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 80 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22).
• Is the only Cardinals pitcher who has not induced a double play this season with the remaining four in the rotation all ranking in the Top 6 of the National League leaders.
• Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (50 total batters faced). In the only pitcher in MLB who has faced 50+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.
• Made his fourth Opening Day Roster and first with the Cardinals, adding to 2018, 2021 and 2022 with the Yankees. Was on the Injured List in 2019 and Taxi Squad in 2020.
• Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (88-of-112) of his career starts.
LAST TIME OUT
• Was hit for seven runs on 10 hits, tying his career-highs in both as the Cardinals lost 8-7 in a game they rallied from down 7-2 in the 4th inning. Carried a 2-1 lead into the 4th inning when Arizona plated six runs with the big blow coming on a three-run home run by Gabriel Moreno capping off six straight batters reaching safely.
2023
• Established a new career-high with a 15.0 inning scoreless streak from 4/2-13, surpassing his previous high of 14.2 IP.
• Won his opening start of the season behind a 9-4 offensive effort vs. TOR (4/2) in a series clinching win.
• Threw 7.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball at MIL (4/8). Was the longest outing by a Cardinals pitcher this season and his 2nd consecutive scoreless outing against an N.L. Central opponent on the road (16.0 IP streak).
• Tied his career-highs in both hits (10) and runs (7) as the Cardinals lost vs. ARI (4/18) 8-7 in a game they rallied from down 7-2 in the 4th inning.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Giants won back-to-back games for the first time this season with their 5-4 victory on Sunday to earn the series split against the Mets…they’ll continue their season-long homestand with four games against the Cardinals, which ends on Thursday before they head to Mexico City to face San Diego on Saturday and Sunday.
ROSTER MOVES: Prior to today’s game, OF Mitch Haniger (#17) and OF Austin Slater (#13) returned from their rehabilitation assignment and were reinstated from the 10- day Injured List…IF/OF Darin Ruf was placed on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation and IF/OF Brett Wisely was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
LEFT THE STRUGGLES BEHIND?: The Giants, who had struggled against lefties all season, had a breakout performance against New York-NL LHP David Peterson on Saturday…despite striking out eight times in 5.0 innings, SF tagged Peterson for seven runs on seven hits and two homers…even with the bump up in numbers from Saturday, the Giants still have the 28th-ranked OPS (.608) in the Majors vs. left-handers, compared to their fifth-ranked .797 OPS against righties.
Giants vs. Left/vs. Right Hitting Rankings in MLB
vs. Right-Handed Pitchers Stats Number Rank
AVG .248 10th
HR 26 4th
RBI 71 T-16th
OPS .797 5th
vs. Left-Handed Pitchers
Stat Total MLB Rank
AVG .215 24th
HR 7 T-13th
RBI 23 T-17th
OPS .608 28th
BEND DON’T BREAK: Today’s starter, RHP Alex Cobb, has been able to escape some jams this season…opponents are hitting .347 with no runners on, yet .182 with runners in scoring position (Stats, LLC)…Cobb has faced St. Louis twice in his career, last with San Francisco in 2022…he struck out eight while allowing two runs on three hits (one being a home run to former Cardinals OF Harrison Bader) over 5.0 innings in the Giants’ 3-2 loss on May 6 of last year.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT: The Giants and Cardinals are receiving quality production from opposite ends of their pitching staffs… St. Louis relievers have a 3.32 ERA compared to the 5.57 ERA by their rotation (SIS)…the SF bullpen has a 5.29 ERA, while their starters have a 3.76 ERA.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM: SF hitters have excelled when given a third shot at a starting pitcher this season…when facing a pitcher for a third time in a game, the Giants have seven home runs (tied for second in MLB) a .953 OPS (fifth), and a .590 slugging percentage, which is third.
Highest Slugging Pct. vs Pitcher third time through lineup – 2023
Team SLG
Tampa Bay Rays .679
New York Mets .655
San Francisco Giants .590
Team SLG
Miami Marlins .585
Los Angeles Angels .583
Philadelphia Phillies .538
THE NIGHTMAN COMETH: Although technically being played on Sunday Night Baseball, yesterday’s victory was considered a day game with the 4:10 p.m. (PT) start…SF is 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA and a .772 OPS in day games…in night games however, the Giants have a 1-7 record with a 5.53 ERA and a .657 OPS.
HOME RUN HAPPY: Although no longer the most home run reliant team in the Majors, SIS notes that the Giants are still in second with 57.9% of their runs coming via the big fly (the Dodgers are first with 58.7%).
LATE RUNS: SF has allowed 46 runs in the 7th inning or later, the third-most runs allowed in the Majors behind the Athletics (52) and the White Sox (47). Runs allowed in the 7th inning or later – MLB Team Runs in 7th Inning or later
Athletics 52
White Sox 47
Giants 46
Team Runs in 7th Inning or later
Royals 38
Padres 38
Two tied with 35
EARLY STRUGGLES: Both the Giants and Cardinals have struggled in the early going this season with the Cardinals leading the National League with the largest decrease in winning percentage from 2022-2023 (-.165)…the Giants rank fourth in the National League with a -.119 decrease in winning percentage.
NL, Largest Decrease in Win Pct – 2022 -> 2023
Team Win % Decrease
Cardinals -.165
Dodgers -.163
Rockies -.159
Team Win % Decrease
Giants -.119
Reds -.065
ANOTHER SPLASH, BRO: Upon further review, IF Brandon Crawford’s home run on Saturday was ruled a splash hit, making it the 99th by a Giant, and the fourth of Crawford’s career.
GROUNDERS: Per SIS, the Giants and Cardinals are the two best ground-ball pitching staffs in the NL, with the Giants’ 49.1% ground ball rate leading the Majors.
Ground Ball Rate Leaders – MLB
Team Ground ball rate
Giants 49.1%
Rays 47.2%
Cardinals 46.9%
Team Ground ball rate
Mariners 45.4%
Padres 45.4%
Rockies 44.9%
HOT CORNERS: The Giants are one of two teams where their first and third basemen have an OPS inside MLB’s top-7, the Blue Jays being the other (SIS)…SF third basemen have a .934 OPS, which is fourth-best, while first basemen have an .865 OPS, which is seventh.
TODAY’S STARTER – ALEX COBB RHP #38
2023 RECORD: 0-1, 2.79 ERA
WITH THE GIANTS: Is in his 12th Major League season and his second with the Giants…he’s in his second year of a two-year contract (with a third-year team option) with the Giants that he signed on November 30, 2021.
LAST OUTING: Pitched well but did not factor into the decision in his last start on April 19 at Miami…allowed one run on seven hits with a season-high eight strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work in the Giants’ 5-2 victory over Miami…his eight strikeouts were the most he’s had in a game since August 3, 2022 vs. LAD (also eight).
WALK THIS WAY: Cobb has walked just three hitters through his first four starts of the season (19.1ip)…his 3.5% walk rate (three walks/86 batters faced) is the third lowest walk rate in the National League…in fact, Giants starters have the three lowest walk rates in the National League: Anthony DeSclafani (2.2%), Logan Webb (3.3%) and Alex Cobb (min. 80 batters faced).
VS. ST LOUIS: Has faced the Cardinals twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2er, 12.0ip), 0.75 WHIP and 18 strikeouts…he most recently faced them on May 6, 2022 at Oracle Park and threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts in the Giants 2-3 loss to St. Louis…Cobb has a .190 opponents average against and is averaging 13.50 strikeouts per 9.0 innings over his two starts against the Cardinals.
HOME COOKING: Cobb has pitched very well on the Shores on McCovey Cove dating back to last season…over his last 13 outings here, he’s posted a 2.13 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and a .234 opponents average…however, the Giants are just 5-8 in those games, as he’s received zero or one run of support in eight of those 13 contests.
LACK OF SUPPORT: Dating back to May of last season, Cobb has received two-or-less runs of support in 19 of his last 26 outings.
RISP MANAGEMENT: Opponents are hitting .347 (17-for-49) off him with three extra-base hits with no one on base…however, he’s holding opponents to a .182 average (4-for-22) with runners in scoring position…last season, he allowed a .295 average with RISP.
MLB Preview: Kansas City Royals (5-17) at Arizona Diamondbacks (12-11)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
GETAWAY DAY GETS AWAY: In their 1st rubber game of the season, the Royals suffered a 4-3 loss to the Angels yesterday in Anaheim, falling to 1-2 to complete the first leg of this three-city, 10-game trip…the game featured 6 solo home runs—including 3 by each team—and the difference was a manufactured run off Jordan Lyles in the 1st inning, when the Angels began the frame with a walk, a rule-book double and a sacrifice fly… Vinnie Pasquantino broke a 1-1 tie in the 6th with a solo home run, the 14th homer of his young career, 9 of which have given the Royals a lead…heading into the bottom half with a 2-1 lead, Lyles had retired 15 of his last 16 batters, but within a span of 9 pitches, the top of the Angels lineup—Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani—hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, turning that 2-1 lead into a 4-2 deficit…Bobby Witt Jr. halved the deficit with a solo shot in the 7th, but Angels relievers retired the next seven batters to secure the Royals fate.
MJ Melendez, who homered in the 1st inning yesterday, exited in the 4th with lower back tightness.
Freddy Fermin singled in the 3rd inning yesterday off Reid Detmers for his 1st career hit.
ROSTER MOVE: Prior to tonight’s series-opening game in Arizona, the Royals reinstated Franmil Reyes from the Paternity List…Reyes and his wife, Marian, welcomed their sixth child late last week…in a corresponding move, infielder Nate Eaton was optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
After starting the season 2-for-20 with both hits going for home runs, Reyes has recorded 4 multi-hit efforts in his last 6 games, a stretch in which he’s batting .409 (9-for-22) and all 9 hits have been singles.
TROUBLE WITH THE LONG BALL: Yesterday marked the first time the Royals have allowed back-to-back-to-back home runs in 12 years, since Sean O’Sullivan yielded 3 consecutive homers in the 2nd inning to Texas’ Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli and Endy Chavez on May 28, 2011 in a 10-1 Royals loss…Royals pitchers have now allowed at least 1 home run in 14 consecutive games—a stretch in which they’ve yielded 27 HR—their longest such run since Aug. 20-Sept. 11, 2017, when they allowed a homer in a franchise-record 21 consecutive games.
FEWER FREEBIES: Royals pitchers issued only 3 walks to the 104 batters they faced during the 3-game series in Anaheim, lowering their season walk rate to 8.0%, which is tied with Texas for the 7th-best mark in the Majors, and represents a significant improvement over last season, when the Royals ranked 29th in the Majors with a 9.4% walk rate…the Royals issued just 1 walk yesterday to mark their 6th game this season with 1 walk or fewer allowed, which is tied for the 3rd-most such games in the Majors this season, trailing only the Giants (8) and Twins (8)…the Royals had only 29 such games for the entire 2022 season, which ranked tied for 23rd.
PASQUATCH SIGHTING: Vinnie Pasquantino gave Kansas City a brief lead yesterday with a go-ahead solo home run in the 6th inning, the 14th homer of his young career and the 9th that gave the Royals a lead…it was his 2nd hit of the game, extending his on-base streak to 17 games, which is tied for the 3rdlongest active streak in the American League, trailing only Yordan Alvarez (24) and Eugenio Suárez (19)… this marks the 2nd-longest on-base streak of his career, trailing a 21-game run from Sept. 15, 2022-April 1, 2023…including that streak, Vinnie has reached safely in 39 of his last 41 games dating back to last Sept. 15.
In 41 games since Sept. 15, 2022, Pasquantino leads the American League (min. 150 PA) in average (.336) and on-base percentage (.429)…including NL players, his average ranks 3rd in the Majors behind Brandon Nimmo (.365) and Bryan De La Cruz (.357) and his on-base percentage trails only Nimmo (.470).
SNAKE STORIES: The Royals are visiting Chase Field for the second time in as many seasons, after they had only three visits prior to 2022 and none since 2014…the Royals are 14-17 all-time vs. the Diamondbacks but are 7-4 (.636) at Chase Field, which is tied with Toronto for the 2nd-best win percentage in this ballpark, trailing only Seattle’s 14-7 record (.667)…despite their success here historically, the Royals were swept in a 2-game set here last May after blowing leads of 4-0 in the 1st game and 6-3 in the 2nd game, to mark their first series loss here.
The Royals are seeking their 1st win in this park since Aug. 7, 2014, when they completed a 3-game sweep.
In 31 games vs. Arizona, they have hit .288, their 2nd-best mark vs. any opponent, behind Colorado (.298).
Tonight marks the Royals return to the Valley, where they went 20-11-1 this spring, including an exhibition game vs. Great Britain…their 19-13-1 record (.594) in Cactus League play finished 2nd to the 18-11-2 Angels (.621), and their 19 wins in the state of Arizona this year trail only the hometown Diamondbacks, who have won 22 games, including Spring Training (16) and the regular season (6).
Royals pitchers Brad Keller and Taylor Clarke were both drafted by the D-backs…Keller was selected in the 8th round of the 2013 Draft and Clarke was selected in the 3rd round in 2015…Keller was acquired by the Royals from the Reds, who selected him from the D-backs in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft…Clarke spent his first three seasons in the Majors with Arizona, but was non-tendered following 2021 and signed with the Royals.
Zack Greinke spent four seasons with the Diamondbacks from 2016-19, a stretch in which he won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, was a three-time NL All-Star and went 55-29 with a 3.40 ERA in 114 starts.
TRIP TRACKER: The Royals will continue this three-city road trip tonight in Phoenix with the 1st of 3 games vs. the Diamondbacks…this trip began last Friday night in Anaheim, where they dropped 2 of 3 to start a stretch in which they’ll play 26 games in 27 days through May 17…the only off day during this run will come on May 1, which sits between the end of this season-long 10-game trip and a season-long 10-game homestand.
This trip will wrap up the month of April with 4 games in Minnesota vs. the Twins beginning Thursday night.
Friday night’s game began stretch in which the Royals will play 19 of 29 games on the road through May 21.
APRIL SHOWERS: The month of April has not been kind to the Royals in recent years, and that trend has continued this season…including their Opening Day loss on March 30, the Royals are 5-17 through 22 games, which matches their 2nd-worst 22-game start in franchise history, better only than the 1992 Royals, who started 3-19…the schedule makers haven’t done the Royals any favors either, as their six opponents to this point have a combined record of 72-58 (.554), and three of those six teams are in 1st place in their division…unfortunately, the schedule doesn’t ease up much anytime soon, as the two remaining opponents on this road trip are in 1st place, including Arizona (12-11, tied with the Dodgers) and Minnesota (12-10).
PACE OF PLAY: There have been 305 9-inning games in the Majors this season, and the average game time has been 2 hours, 36 minutes, with only 27 of those 276 games (9.8%) lasting at least 3 hours…the Royals 22 games this season—including 1 that required extra innings—have averaged 2 hours, 27 minutes, which is 9 minutes below the league average and is the fastest average time in the Majors this season, ahead of the Twins, whose average is 2:30.
TONIGHT’S STARTERS: RHP BRAD KELLER (2-2, 3.00)
BRAD KELLER will make his 5th start of the season—and 110th start of his career—tonight vs. Arizona at Chase Field…this marks his 1st career start against Diamondbacks, who will become the 26th different opponent Brad has faced in his career…he’s in his sixth Major League season after being acquired by Kansas City in a trade with Cincinnati, who selected him from Arizona in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft.
WILD THING: Brad suffered his 2nd loss of the season last Tuesday night after allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a career-high-tying 5 walks in 4.0 innings of a 12-2 Royals defeat to the Rangers in Kansas City…he allowed the leadoff batter to reach in each of the first 3 innings, but the leadoff man only scored in the 3rd when Brad Miller led off with a walk and eventually scored the game-tying run on a Travis Jankowski RBI single…with 1 out in the 4th, he issued back-to-back walks followed by an RBI single from Ezequiel Duran, after which another run scored on a fielder’s choice, and he exited after 4.0 innings in a 3-2 deficit in favor of Jose Cuas.
Induced 2 double plays to help escape jams in both the 2nd and 3rd innings, marking the second time he’s induced multiple double plays in 4 starts this season, a feat he accomplished just three times in 22 overall starts last year.
His 5 walks matched a career high, done eight other times and most recently on July 22, 2022 vs. the Rays, a game in which he also pitched only 4.0 innings.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS: With a loss in his start last Tuesday vs. Texas, Keller extended his streak of starts with a decision to 19—in which he’s 7-12—which is the longest run of starts with a decision by a Royal since Tim Belcher earned a decision in 21 consecutive starts from Sept. 2, 1996-June 20, 1997…it’s the longest streak in the Majors since Jacob deGrom had 20 straight starts with a decision for the Mets from May 19-Sept. 5, 2017, and the longest in the American League since Hisashi Iwakuma had 23 straight starts from May 20-Sept. 20, 2016 with the Mariners.
Royals Hall of Famer Dennis Leonard holds the club record with 26 straight starts with a decision (Aug. 26, 1997-June 23, 1978), over which he went 14-12.
CAN’T TOUCH THIS: Keller has held opponents to exactly 3 hits in each of his last 3 starts, which marks the longest such streak by a Royals starting pitcher—not including openers—since Brady Singer had a 3-start run from April 18-30, 2021 (7 hits allowed), and he’s one of 11 pitchers in the American League this season with at least 3 starts of 3 hits or fewer allowed…among all pitchers who have made at least 4
starts in 2023, his 14 total hits are tied for the 4th fewest, higher than only the Angels Shohei Ohtani (8), Philadelphia’s Matt Strahm (10) and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (12).
NO TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE: Over his first 4 starts of the season, Keller has relied on his new curveball 28.3% of the time (according to Baseball Savant), which has yielded a 35.0% whiff rate and a 23.5% strikeout rate, as he has recorded 8 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances that ended with the pitch…the 35.0% whiff rate on his curveball ranks 9th highest in the Majors off the pitch (min. 25 plate appearances) and it’s the 3rd-best mark in the American League, behind only Houston’s Framber Valdez (42.6%) and the Yankees Domingo Germán (36.1%).
Brad has induced 21 swings and misses on his curveball this season, which is tied for the 5th most in the Majors off that pitch, trailing leader Nick Lodolo (33).
SEASONED VETERAN: Keller is pitching in his sixth Major League season, and since his debut in 2018, he leads all Royals in wins (37), starts (109), innings pitched (654.2) and strikeouts (493)…his 654.2 innings also rank 7th in the American League since the start of 2018, trailing only Gerrit Cole (901.2), José Berríos (841.1), Lucas Giolito (790.2), Marco Gonzales (782.1), Lance Lynn (749.0) and Shane Bieber (733.2).
Among pitchers who have made their Majors debut since 2018, Keller’s 109 starts rank 2nd, behind Bieber (116)…his 654.2 innings also rank 2nd among that group of pitchers—trailing Bieber—and his 37 wins are tied for the 5th most behind Bieber (55), Framber Valdez (43), teammate Ryan Yarbrough (40) and Dylan Cease (38), all of whom are older than Brad with the exception of Cease.
Brad is just 7 strikeouts away from becoming the 18th pitcher in Royals history to eclipse 500 strikeouts with the club.
FROM THE GROUND UP: Keller has a career 52.6% groundball rate, which ranks 4th in the Majors since the start of his 2018 debut season (min. 600.0 IP), trailing only Dallas Keuchel (55.2%), Marcus Stroman (54.9%) and Max Fried (52.7%)…likewise, his lifetime HR/9 rate of 0.82 (60 HR in 654.2 IP) ranks 4th in the Majors since 2018 (min. 600.0 IP), trailing Jacob deGrom (0.71), Zack Wheeler (0.74) and Fried (0.77)…his groundball percentage improved last season as he posted a 53.6% clip, however he allowed 17 home runs—just 1 short of matching his career high set in 2021—for a 1.10 HR/9 rate.
He’s induced 5 double plays in 4 starts this season and has an AL-leading 81 since the start of 2018, 3 more than Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (78).
HELP WANTED: Brad went 6-13 as a starting pitcher in 2022 despite recording 11 quality starts, 2nd by a Royal to only Brady Singer’s 14…the Royals supported him with a total of 35 runs in his 22 starts, including 2 runs or fewer in 17 of his 22 starts, 1 run or fewer 12 times and no runs seven times…he finished with a franchise-low 2.57 run support average as a starter, the lowest total in the Majors among pitchers who made at least 20 starts in 2022.
This trend continued over Keller’s first 2 starts of the 2023 season, as the Royals supported him with just 3 runs in 10.1 innings (2.61 RSA), however he exited in a 10-1 lead on April 12 in Texas…his 10 runs of support in that start are equivalent to 21.7% of the total run support (46 runs) provided over 22 starts for Royals pitchers this season, as they have averaged a 2.89 RSA (36 RS in 112.0 IP) over the remaining 21 starts.
UNFAMILIAR FACES: Brad is set to face the D-backs for the first time in his career, as they will become the 26th different opponent he’s faced, leaving only the Marlins, Mets and Rockies as teams he has still yet to oppose…the NL West is the division he’s faced the least, however he crossed San Francisco off the list on April 7, when he earned the win after spinning 5.2 innings of 1-run ball in his 1st career appearance vs. the Giants.
Despite only having 4 previous outings vs. the NL West, he’s no stranger to Interleague play, as he’s posted a 3.77 ERA (53 ER in 126.2 IP) over 26 appearances (21 starts) vs. National League teams, which is notably lower than his 4.31 ERA (253 ER in 528.0 IP) in his career vs. AL opponents.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: He’s pitched into the 6th inning in 9 of his last 10 starts on the road since last April 28, including in each of his 2 road starts this season in San Francisco and Texas, where he covered a combined 12.1 innings with only 2 runs allowed (1.46 ERA)…he’s won 5 of his last 6 starts away from home since June 18, 2022, with the only exception being a 5.2-inning start last Aug. 2 at the White Sox in which he yielded 8 runs.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 1-3 in their 7-game homestand vs.Padres (1-3) and Royals (April 24-26).
♦ The D-backs are tied for fi rst place in the NL West with the Dodgers.
♦ Arizona has been in or tied for fi rst place since April 8.
♦ Ketel Marte is hitting .407 (11-for-27) with 1 double, 2 triples, 1 homer, and 4 RBI over his last 7 games…has raised his average from .237 to .280 over the span.
♦ Christian Walker is hitting .348 (8-for-23) with 3 doubles 1 homer and 5 RBI in his last 6 games.
♦ Corbin Carroll is hitting .304 (7-for-23) with 4 doubles, 4 walks and 2 stolen bases in his last 7 games.
♦ Tommy Henry is making his D-backs season debut.
ROSTER MOVES
♦ The D-backs made the following roster moves:
Recalled LHP Tommy Henry from Triple-A Reno.
Optioned RHP Drey Jameson to Reno.
A.L. MATCHUP NO. 1
♦ The D-backs welcome their fi rst AL series of 2023.
♦ In 2022, Arizona went 12-8 vs. AL opponents (6-4 @ home).
VS. ROYALS
♦ Arizona went 3-1 vs. Royals in 2022 (2-0 @ home).
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is batting .356 (21-for-59) with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI and 8 walks over his last 19 games vs. Royals (2019-2022 while with Toronto).
♦ Christian Walker, in his last 4 games, is batting .353 (6-for-17) with 1 double, 2 home runs and 3 RBI.
♦ Ketel Marte, in his 4 games, is batting .313 (5-for-16) with 1 double, 3 RBI and 2 walks.
♦ Andrew Chafi n, in his last 9 appearances, has gone 1-0 with 1 save, a 1.04 ERA (1 ER in 8.2 IP) and 11 strikeouts.
GREETINGS, EVERYONE
♦ With the new balanced schedule, the D-backs will play all 29 teams for the time and host a franchise-record 22 teams, including 8 AL teams, at Chase Field.
♦ The D-backs 52 games vs. NL West teams (13 games each) are 24 games fewer than 2022…last year, went 64-60 vs. all teams besides Dodgers and Padres (10-28).
BACK-TO-BACK
♦ Alek Thomas and Nick Ahmed (7th inn.) collected the second pair of back-to-back home runs this season (also: April 7 vs. Dodgers (6th inn; Evan Longoria & Corbin Carroll).
♦ In 2022, the D-backs had 5 games featuring back-to-back home runs (last: Oct. 5, 2022; 9th inn; Josh Rojas & Corbin Carroll).
HOMER HAPPY
♦ Yesterday, the D-backs marked their fi rst game of the season with 3+ home runs (Alek Thomas, Nick Ahmed, Jake McCarthy).
♦ The last time the D-backs hit 3+ home runs in a game was on Sept. 15, 2022 vs. Padres (Ketel Marte, Emmanuel Rivera, Carson Kelly).
♦ Arizona has homered in 6 of its last 8 games.
STOLEN BASE RACE
♦ Corbin Carroll’s 8 stolen bases currently rank tied for third most in the Majors (also: Jorge Mateo/BAL & Anthony Volpe/NYY), behind Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL (12), Cedric Mullins/BAL (9) and Nico Hoerner/CHC (9).
♦ Carroll is only 1 of 3 players with 8+ stolen bases without a caught stealing (also: Mullins and Volpe).
♦ Arizona’s 21 stolen bases rank sixth in the Majors, behind Cleveland (28), Baltimore (25), Pittsburgh (25), Cubs (24) and Yankees (23).
LHP TOMMY HENRY ♦ #47
AT A GLANCE: Signed by the D-backs as a Competitive Balance-B selection (74th overall) in the 2019 draft.
• Attended the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to the 2019 College World Series vs. eventual champion Vanderbilt University.
• A Michigan native, attended Portage Northern High School, where he lettered in baseball and basketball.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his fi rst start of the season with the D-backs.
• Went 1-0 with a 6.33 ERA (15 ER in 21.1 IP) with 22 strikeouts over 4 starts with Triple-A Reno.
• Made his last D-backs start on Oct. 3, 2022 @ Brewers (ND; 1 ER in 6.1 IP).
• In 2022, went 3-4 with a 5.36 ERA (28 ER in 47.0 IP) over 9 starts with Arizona.
VS. ROYALS: Is making his first career start vs. Royals.
MLB Preview: Oakland Athletics (4-18) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: The A’s lost two of three at Texas to start the road trip and have now lost each of the first seven series of the season for the first time in Athletics history (previous: 5 in 1935, 1946 and 1951)…have lost two straight, nine of the last 10 and 15 of the last 17…are 4-18 (.182) overall and have the lowest winning percentage in the majors behind the Royals (5-17, .227)…it is the worst record after 22 games in Athletics history (were 5-17 in 1919, 51 and 65) and is tied for seventh worst by an AL or NL team since 1901…the A’s won the opener this year and spent the first two days of the season in a tie for first in the American League West…were in fourth place after the April 6 off day but have spent each day since then in fifth place…are 10½ games behind first place Texas…the A’s largest deficit in the West before the end of April is 12 games in 2001.
A’S IN APRIL: The A’s are 3-18 (.143) in April and have set an Athletics record for most losses in April (previous: 17 in 1994 and 2001)…there have been just two months of five or more games in Oakland history with a winning percentage under .200: June of 1979 (5-24, .172) and June of 2022 (5-21, .192)… have an 8.32 ERA this April and the highest single-month ERA in Oakland history (min. 5 games) is 6.73 in Sept. of 2015…have allowed 177 runs, which is third most in a month in Oakland history (206 in May, 1997; 188 in Sept., 2015)…have set an Athletics record for hit batters in any month (19) and an Athletics record for home runs allowed in April (40)…the Oakland record for home runs allowed in any month is 48 in Sept. of 2015…have 16 wild pitches, which is one short of the Oakland record for April (17 in 2018)…the A’s have stolen 20 bases in April for the first time since 2013 when they had 25.
OFFENSE: The A’s rank third in the majors in lowest OPS (.649), fourth in fewest runs scored (75), fewest extra base hits (50) and lowest batting average (.223), tied for fourth in fewest doubles (29), fifth in lowest slugging percentage (.348), sixth in lowest on-base percentage (.301) and seventh in fewest home runs (20)…have been hit by a pitch 13 times which is tied for sixth most…have been shut out four times, which is tied for second most (Royals, 5).
PITCHING: The A’s have allowed 53 runs over the last six games (52 er in 52.0 ip, 9.00 ERA) and have 178 for the season, which is the most in the majors and the most by any AL or NL team over the first 22 games of the season since the 1936 St. Louis Browns had 182…the 178 runs are the most by an A’s team over any 22-game stretch since the Philadelphia A’s allowed 179 from April 19-May 15, 1941…have the highest ERA (7.97), opponents OPS (.894), batting average (.290), on-base percentage (.390) and slugging percentage (.504) in the majors…lead the majors in most walks (116), home runs (40) and wild pitches (17), have the second most hit batters (19) and are tied for the second fewest strikeouts (157).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers are 0-11 with an 8.88 ERA over the first 22 games…the streak of 22 consecutive games without a win from the starting pitcher in the longest single-season streak in Athletics history…it matches the longest overall streak in Athletics history as the 1964 Kansas City A’s finished the season with a 20-game streak without a win for the starting pitcher and then went without a win from the starter in the first two games of 1965…A’s starters have the highest ERA in the majors by more than two earned runs (Red Sox, 6.61) and are the only team without a win from their starting pitchers…have tossed fewer than five innings in 11 of the 22 games and have the fewest innings pitched (100.1).
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen has a 9.56 ERA (40 er in 37.2 ip) over the last nine games and has allowed 10 or more runs three times over that stretch… had no games with 10 or more runs over the previous three seasons…now have a 6.99 ERA for the season, which is the highest in the majors (Royals, 6.51)…has tossed at least 2.2 innings in every game this year and has 92.2 innings pitched, which is second most to the Red Sox (94.0)…is 2-for-6 (33.3%) in save opportunities…has the lowest save percentage in the majors, is tied with the Cubs for the fewest saves and is tied for fifth in most blown saves (4)…has allowed 21-of-43 (48.8%) inherited runners to score, which is the fifth highest percentage.
DEFENSIVE DOINGS: The A’s have made five errors over the last 16 games after making eight miscues over the first six contests…have 13 errors overall, which are tied for eighth most in the majors…have four outfield assists, which are tied for fifth most…have two passed balls, which are tied for third most…had just three passed balls all last year.
ON THE BASES: The A’s have been successful in 21-of-23 (87.5%) stolen base attempts, which is tied for the sixth best percentage in the majors…are tied for sixth in steals and tied for seventh in attempts…A’s opponents have been successful in just 3 of their last 7 attempts (42.9%) and are 23-for-30 (76.7%) for the season…the seven caught stealings are third most in the majors but the 23 stolen bases are tied for third most.
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 1-2 on the second road trip of the season, a seven-game trip to Texas (1-2) and Los Angeles-AL (four games)…went 1-6 on their first road trip to Tampa Bay (0-3) and Baltimore (1-3) and are 2-8 (.200) on the road, which is the second worst record in the majors (Reds, 1-9/.100)…return home following the game Thursday for a six-game homestand against Cincinnati (three games) and Seattle (three games)…went 0-6 on the last homestand against New York-NL (0-3) and Chicago-NL (0-3)…had no winless homestands of six or more games in the first 54 years in Oakland but now have two in the last two years (0-6 from April 29-May 4, 2022 against Cleveland and Tampa Bay)…have a season-high seven-game home losing streak and are now 2-10 (.167) in the Coliseum, which is the second lowest home winning percentage in the majors (Royals, 1-12/.077).
NIGHT AND DAY: The A’s are 4-8 in night games and 0-10 during the day… are the only team in the majors without a win in day games…the 10-game
losing streak in day games is tied for second longest in Oakland history… the longest is a 13-game streak from July 17-Aug. 21, 1977…are batting .270 (111-for-411) with 54 runs in 12 night games (4.5 runs per game), .161 (51-for-316) with 21 runs in 10 day games (2.1 runs per game)…have the fifth best night batting average in the majors and the lowest day batting average.
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: The A’s have a run differential of -103, which is the lowest by an AL, NL or FL team to start a season since 1901 (previous: -79 by the 1951 St. Louis Browns)…it is the lowest by an A’s team over any 22-game stretch…have lost six games by 10 or more runs, which matches the A’s combined total from the previous four seasons and is the most since 2008 when they had eight such games…three of the A’s four wins have been by one run and Oakland is 3-4 (.429) in one-run decisions…are tied for seventh in the majors in one-run losses, tied for ninth in one-run games (7) and tied for 10th in one-run wins.
THE INJURED LIST: The A’s placed Adrián Martínez on the injured list today and have now used the IL 11 times this year, including eight times by pitchers…the 11 IL placements are tied with the Braves for fourth most in the majors (Dodgers, Mets and Yankees 12 each)…have added six players to the IL since the start of the season after beginning the year with five players on the IL…used the IL 31 times last year, which broke the Oakland record of 27 set in 2016 and matched in 2021.
A’S VS. ANGELS
• The A’s have scored three runs in three games against the Angels this year and are 16-for-90 (.178)…scored one run or fewer in eight of the 19 games last year and tallied 47 runs (2.47 per game) while batting .188 with eight home runs…the batting average was second lowest in Oakland history against the Angels (.187 in 2006), the runs were the fewest since 1981 (46) and the home runs were the fewest since 1983 (6).
• Lost the season series last year for the first time since 2018.
• The 12 losses in 2022 match the most in Oakland history against the Angels (2009, 16, 17).
Year Home Road Totals
2023 1-2 0-0 1-2
2022 4-6 3-6 7-12
Oakland History: 479-404
at the Coliseum: 252-192
at Angel Stadium: 227-212
All-Time: 528-481
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Jordan Diaz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas last Wednesday and has hit safely in each of his four games (4-for-11, .364)…Tony Kemp has 51 sliding, diving or jumping catches since the start of last season according to Sports Info Solutions…no other player in the majors has more than 40… Esteury Ruiz leads American League rookies in doubles (5), ranks second in on-base percentage (.357), hits (21) and stolen bases (5), tied for third in extra base hits (5) and fourth in batting (.280) and RBI (9).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Ken Waldichuk (0-2, 7.65 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season…tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his last start and has allowed three runs on 10 hits in 12.1 innings over his last two starts (2.19 ERA) after yielding 14 runs on 17 hits in 8.2 innings over his first two starts (14.54 ERA)…begins his second season in the majors and is on his first Opening Day roster…made his Major League debut with Oakland last September.
OPPONENTS BATTING: Left-handed hitters have just 12 at bats against him and are 2-for-12 (.167)…right-handers are batting .347 (25-for-72)…his career splits are .146 (6-for-41) against lefties, .305 (53-for-174) against righties…has allowed a .400 (20-for-50) batting average with the bases empty compared to .206 (7-for-34) with runners on base…opponents are 4-for-20 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
THIS AND THAT: Has not allowed a home run in his last two starts (11.1 ip) after yielding three in his first start and four in his second start…the seven home runs are tied for third most in majors…the seven home runs in back-to-back starts match the most in Oakland history by a pitcher over a two-game stretch…Mike Fiers (Sept. 3-9, 2019) is the only other one to do it over the last 25 years…has allowed 17 runs, 12 of which have scored on home runs.
FIRST START: He was the losing pitcher in the A’s 6-0 loss to Los Angeles (AL) in April 2 in Oakland…allowed six runs on a career-high nine hits in 5.2 innings and all of the runs which scored on three home runs…O’Hoppe hit a three-run home run in the fourth and Trout and Ohtani hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth, with Trout’s being a two-run shot…the O’Hoppe home run snapped a career-high 14.0-inning scoreless streak dating back to last year.
SECOND START: He lost his second consecutive start in the A’s 9-5 loss at Tampa Bay on April 7…allowed a career-high eight runs and a career-high four home runs in 3.0 innings…surrendered a grand slam to Paredes in the second and solo home runs to Ramirez in the second and Margot and Bethancourt in the third.
THIRD START: He had a no decision in the A’s 8-4 win at Baltimore on April 12…the A’s scored three times in the first and he allowed two runs in the second…then blanked the Orioles on two hits and walk over the next four innings…had a 4-2 lead when he was relieved by Familia with one out and a runner on first in the seventh inning…Familia allowed the baserunner to score plus one run of his own for the blown save…the A’s came back with three in the eighth and one in the ninth for the win.
LAST START: He had a no decision in the A’s 4-0 loss to Chicago (NL) last Tuesday in Oakland…tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering five hits and three walks…stranded at least one baserunner each inning and a total eight in his five innings of work…was relieved by Moll to start the sixth with the score tied 0-0…the bullpen allowed four runs in the eighth and Stroman and three Cubs relievers combined to shut out the A’s on two hits and five walks.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fourth (2-1) of seven games on a homestand against the Kansas City Royals (2-1) and Oakland Athletics (April 24-27)… Halos went 2-5 on last road trip against the Boston Red Sox (1-3) and New York Yankees (1-2)…LAA was 3-3 on opening homestand of the year vs. Toronto (1-2) and Washington (2-1).
VS. OAKLAND: Halos lead the 2023 season series 2-1 after winning the opening series of the regular season at the Coliseum…The teams will meet a total of 13 times this season…Last year, LAA won season series 12-7.
MOST CAREER HOME RUNS VS. OAKLAND ATHLETICS
(since A’s moved to Oakland in 1968)
T1. Rafael Palmeiro – 43
T1. Alex Rodriguez – 43
- Mike Trout – 42
T3. Adrian Beltre – 41 - Dwight Evans – 39
WINS AND LOSSES: With an 11-11 record, Halos are back at the .500 mark for a seventh time this season (also, 1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10)…Halos have held leads in 19 of 22 games played this year and have scored first in 14 of the 22 games.
EVERYTHING IS BASICALLY FINE: José Suarez is set to make his fourth start of the season tonight…Last season, he made two starts against the A’s and went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (12 IP – 0 ER)…He enters tonight’s game with a streak of 16.2 consecutive innings vs. Oakland without allowing an earned run. NET-OW: Zack Neto became the first player in Major League history to be hit by five pitches within his first seven career games…The previous record of four was held by Ed Fitzpatrick (1915 Boston Braves) and Kevin Frandsen (2006 San Francisco Giants)…Neto also was the first player in Angels history to be hit a pitch in four consecutive games (April 18-21).
ANOTHER NEW RECORD FOR SHOHEI: Shohei Ohtani has held opponents to an .092 (8/87) average this season…According to ELIAS, it’s the lowest batting average in a pitcher’s first five games of a season (min. 20 IP) since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893.
OHTANI EXPRESS: Shohei Ohtani has a franchise record streak of 12 consecutive pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs (Nolan Ryan held the previous record with a nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)…Ohtani’s 12-game streak is also the longest active streak in the Majors.
LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in ERA (0.64) and opponent batting average (.092), ranks fifth in strikeouts (38) and seventh in WHIP (0.82). SPICY TIME: José Quijada leads the Angels staff with four saves this season…He worked 1.0 scoreless inning in each of his first eight appearances of the year before suffering first blown save and loss Saturday night vs. Kansas City.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: Yesterday vs. Kansas City, Taylor Ward, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani connected for back-to-back-to-back home runs in the 6th inning… It was the Angels first time hitting three straight homers since June 8, 2019 vs. Seattle (La Stella, Trout, Ohtani in the 4th inning).
RECENT TRANSACTIONS: Friday, the Angels selected the contracts of C Chad Wallach and RHP Austin Warren…In corresponding moves, RHP Jimmy Herget was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, C Logan O’Hoppe (left shoulder inflammation) was been placed on the 10-day IL and RHP Justin Garza was designated for assignment.
ALL OVER THE INFIELD: Gio Urshela is one of three players in the Majors to appear at all four infield positions this season…He has totaled nine games at third base, six games at shortstop, six games at first base and one game at second base…Oakland’s Aledmys Diaz and Cleveland’s Gabriel Arias are the only other players to play all four infield positions this year.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP JOSÉ SUAREZ
0-1, 9.26 ERA
Has not allowed an earned run in last 16.2 innings pitched vs. Oakland
• TODAY’S GAME: Making fourth start of the season and second at home…Is in fifth Major League season with Angels…Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season.
• LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor in decision in last start on Tuesday at New York (A.L.) after tossing 3.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits with six walks and one strikeout…The six walks are a career high…Began outing with 3.0 scoreless frames and exited game with Angels leading 4-0 in the 4th inning, but two bequeathed runners would ultimately score.
• VS. OAKLAND: In seven career games (four starts) against the A’s, is 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA (34 IP – 9 ER) and 29 strikeouts…Last year, was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (12 IP – 0 ER) in two starts vs. Oakland…Enters tonight’s game with an active 16.2 inning streak vs. Oakland without allowing an earned run.
• AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 31 career games (26 starts) at The Big A, is 6-12 with a 5.30 ERA (142.2 IP – 84 ER)… This year is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA (4 IP – 4 ER) after first home start on April 10 vs. Washington…Last year, was 5-4 with a 5.19 ERA (58.2 IP – 27 ER) in 11 home games (10 starts)…Began career with 12 consecutive winless starts at Angel Stadium, (which was most all-time to begin a career in ballpark history), before earning CG victory Sept. 4, 2021 vs. Texas.
• FIRST TIME THROUGH: This season, opponents are batting .292 (7/24) the first time through the order…After the first time through, opponents are batting .452 (14/31).
• CHASING PERFECTION: Carried a perfect game through 5.1 innings in home start on Aug. 16, 2022 vs. Seattle, before allowing four consecutive singles and exiting the game.
• AVOID THE TOP: Last season, hitters in the top three spots in the opposing batting order hit .319 (51/160), while batters in the 4-9 spots batted .198 (52/263).
• GOOD NIGHT: Last season, made 13 appearances (12 starts) in night games and went 6-4 with a 2.96 ERA (67 IP – 22 ER), compared with a 2-4 record and 5.57 ERA (42 IP – 26 ER) in day games.
MLB Preview: Detroit Tigers (7-13) at Milwaukee Brewers (15-7)
DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS FALL TO ORIOLES IN SERIES FINALE: The Tigers were unable to avoid a sweep against the Orioles, losing the series finale 2-1 in 10 innings. Eduardo Rodriguez started and was outstanding, working 7.0 shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. Alex Lange pitched 1.1 scoreless frames in relief. At the plate, Matt Vierling went 2×5 and scored Detroit’s only run of the game, while Zach McKinstry was 1×3 with a double and a walk.
E-ROD CONTINUES TO SHINE: Eduardo Rodriguez continued his strong stretch of pitching yesterday against Baltimore, working 7.0 shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. Rodriguez carried a perfect game until two outs in the seventh inning before allowing a single to Ryan Mountcastle. He was the first Tigers pitcher to retire the first 20 batters in a game since Jordan Zimmermann (6.2 perfect innings) at Toronto on March 28, 2019. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rodriguez is the first pitcher in franchise history to have consecutive starts of at least 7.0 shutout innings, no walks and six-or-more strikeouts and the first big league pitcher to do so since Jacob deGrom from June 29-July 5, 2019. With yesterday’s outing, Rodriguez extended his streak of scoreless innings to 17.0, dating back to his start on April 12. The stretch is the second-longest of his career, behind only a 24.0 inning streak from June 29-September 1, 2018.
ZACH ATTACK: Zach McKinstry continued to show extra-base power on Sunday against the Orioles, going 1×3 with a double. McKinstry has recorded an extra-base hit in five of his last eight games, over which he has gone 7×20 with three doubles, two home runs and four RBI.
MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD: Jake Rogers drew a pair of walks in Sunday’s game at Baltimore. Rogers enter tonight’s game having reached base safely in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak of his big league career. Over his current streak, Rogers is hitting .267/.405/.533 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
STREAKING: Javier Báez went 1×4 in Saturday’s game to extend his hitting streak to eight games, the longest by a Tigers player this season. After starting the season 4×40 in his first 11 games of the season, Báez has gone 10×29 with three doubles and seven RBI during his current streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the big leagues.
TIGERS AND BREWERS: The Tigers and Brewers begin their only series of the season tonight in Milwaukee. The two teams last met in 2021 with Detroit winning three-of-four games, including splitting a two-game series at American Family Field. The Tigers lead the all-time series against the Brewers 227-205, including a narrow 108-106 edge in games played in Milwaukee.
ON THE ROAD: The Tigers are 0-3 on their current six-game road trip, which includes three games at Baltimore (0-3) and three games at Milwaukee (April 24-26). Detroit is 3-9 away from Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .186/.258/.290 on the road, while the pitching staff has a 4.93 ERA (104.0IP/57ER).
TIGERS ON THE IL:
• RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 15-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
• RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 15- day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 10-day IL on April 12)
• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60- day IL on March 27)
• LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
• RHP Trey Wingenter (right shoulder tendinitis, 15-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #48 Matthew Boyd • 0-1, 4.50 ERA (14.0IP/7ER)
• Boyd will make his fourth start of the season tonight in the series opener at Milwaukee.
• Did not factor into the decision in his last start on Tuesday in the first game of the doubleheader vs. Cleveland, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
• Has made two starts in his career against the Brewers, posting a 0-1 record with a 14.09 ERA (7.2IP/12ER) and six strikeouts…his only career appearance at American Family Field came on June 1, 2021, when he gave up five runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
• Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help Seattle to the playoffs…went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts in his 10 outings with the Mariners.
• Is in his second stint with the Tigers…was with the organization from 2015-21, appearing in 147 games, including 143 starts, and compiling a 37-60 record with a 4.87 ERA (777.2IP/421ER) and 752 strikeouts.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:
WHAT’S BREWING?
Today’s Transactions
RHP Matt Bush was placed on the 15-day injured list with right rotator cuff tendinitis…..RHP Javy Guerra was designated for assignment…..
the team recalled RHP Jake Cousins and selected LHP Alex Claudio from Triple-A Nashville.
Best Records – MLB
Team Record
Tampa Bay ……………………….. 19-3 (.864)
Pittsburgh ………………………….16-7 (.696)
Milwaukee ……………………… 15-7 (.682)
Fool Me Once…
The Brewers are the only team in the Major Leagues this season not to lose consecutive games.
All-American
The Brewers are in a 12-game stretch (4-2) during which they are playing teams from the American League….. they are facing Seattle (3-0), Boston (1-2), Detroit (3g) and Los Angeles (3g) during this stretch.
Rease The Roof
Tonight’s starting pitcher, Colin Rea, will be pitching in Milwaukee for the first time in his career.
Let’s Touch Base
Willy Adames has reached base in 21 of his 22 games this season, including 12 consecutive games…..he has a .371 OBP and a team-leading 14 walks….. William Contreras has reached base in 16 of his 17 games this season…..he has a team-leading .391 OBP.
Let’s Get Rowdy!
Over his last 10 games, Rowdy Tellez is batting .314 (11-for-35) with 5 HR and 12 RBI.
TONIGHT’S GAME: Is game 4 (1-2) of a 9-game, 10-day homestand against Boston (1-2), Detroit (3g) and Los Angeles-AL (3g)…..following this homestand and an off day next Monday, the team takes a 6-game trip to Colorado (3g) and San Francisco (3g).
IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: RHP Jason Alexander (right rotator cuff), LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), RHP Matt Bush (right rotator cuff), RHP Adrian Houser (right groin), OF Garrett Mitchell (left shoulder), OF Tyrone Taylor (right elbow), INF Luis Urías (left hamstring), RHP Gus Varland (right hand), LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow) and RHP Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder) are on the injured list…..Alexander, Ashby, Urías and Wilson are on the 60-day IL.
IN THE STANDINGS (25 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 22, SECOND: 1, THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in second place, trailing the first-place Pirates by half a game.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 5-2-0 in series play.
Game 1: 4-3, Game 2: 6-1, Game 3: 4-3, Game 4: 1-0
Sweep Wins (2): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5), at SEA (3g, 4/17-4/19)
Sweep Losses (-): None
AT HOME: The Brewers are 6-3 at home, going 2-1-0 in series play…..the team went 46-35 at home last season, going 15-8-4 in series play.
ON THE ROAD: The Brewers are 9-4 on the road, going 3-1-0 in series play…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play.
LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made three replay challenges this season, going 1-2…..their last challenge (lost) came on 4/12 at Arizona as an out call at first base (Willy Adames) stood
TONIGHT’S STARTER: #48 – RHP COLIN REA (2gs, 0-0, 4.22)
REA AT A GLANCE: Colin Rea, 32, will be making his third start of the season…..Rea last started last Tuesday at Seattle and received no decision in the Brewers’ 6-5, 11-inning win (5ip, 5h, 4r, 4er, 2bb, 2k, 1hbp, 73 pitches)…..he made his season debut on 4/13 at San Diego and had no decision in the Brewers’ 4-3, 10-inning win (5.2ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 1bb, 6k, 1hr, 83 pitches)…..opponents are batting .189 (7-for-37, 1hr)…..Rea joined the Brewers from Triple-A Nashville, where he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 starts (7ip, 6h, 2r, 0er, 0bb, 9k)…..after pitching in Japan in 2022, he re-signed with Milwaukee on January 27 (non-roster invitee)…..his name is pronounced “RAY.”
LAST SEASON: Rea pitched in Japan, where he went 5-6 with a 3.96 ERA in 23 games/16 starts with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
CAREER: Is 8-8 with a 4.85 ERA in 38 games/29 starts (165ip, 89er)…..has pitched for San Diego (2015-16), Miami (2016), Chicago-NL (2020) and Milwaukee (2021, ‘23)….. is 7-8 with a 4.88 ERA as a starter (149.1ip, 81er) and 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA as a reliever (15.2ip, 8er)…..Rea was originally selected by San Diego in the 12th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Indiana State University…..he underwent “Tommy John” surgery on 11/11/16, causing him to miss the entire 2017 season…..he was named 2019 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Iowa (Cubs).
CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Rea has never pitched in Milwaukee.
CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 3-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 18 games/11 starts (71.1ip, 41er)…..is 0-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 2 starts this season (10.2ip, 5er).
CAREER vs. TIGERS: Is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 2 appearances, both coming in relief with the Cubs in 2020 at Comerica Park (2ip, 3h, 1r, 1er, 0bb, 1k).
MLB Preview: New York Yankees (13-9) at Minnesota Twins (12-10)
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees begin a seven-game road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game set at Minnesota (through Wed.)…will also play a four-game series at Texas from Thurs.-Sun…went 5-5 on their recent season-high 10-game homestand, going 2-1 vs. Los Angeles-AL, 2-2 vs. Minnesota and 1-2 vs. Toronto.
Are 7-1 following a loss this season…have lost backto-back games just once (4/13-14).
Have won five of their last eight games.
Are in a 16-day stretch without an off day (4/18-5/3)… are 3-3 so far over that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Blue Jays, 5-1, on Sunday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Clarke Schmidt (5.2IP, 3H, 3R/0ER, 1BB, 8K, 2HR) started and took his second loss of the season despite setting career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched…retired his first 13BF…
DH Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) recorded his 1,500th career hit and 900th career RBI with a solo HR in the ninth inning…1B DJ LeMahieu (3-for-4, 1 double) recorded three of the Yankees’ six hits…CF Isiah KinerFalefa (1-for-3, 1SB) singled in the third inning and stole his third base of the season…RHP Michael King (1.1IP, 2H, 1ER, 1K) allowed 1ER in 1.1 innings of relief…RHP Ian Hamilton (2.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K) allowed 1ER in 2.0IP.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Yankees lost their first series of the year this past weekend vs. the Blue Jays…were the last Major League team to lose a series this season…had won or split each of their first six series of a season for just the third time in the last 67 years since 1957 (first nine series in 2003 and their first six series in 1976) -credit: Elias.
Are 11-1 in games this season when facing a series loss.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.06 ERA this season, the second-lowest in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s 2.71 ERA.
Have allowed just 72R in 22 games this season (3.27 R/G), marking their fourth-fewest runs allowed through their first 22 games in a season in the last 59 years since 1965 (65R in 2022, 66R in 1981, 71R in 2003)…have allowed 3R-or-fewer in 14-of-22 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in 10 of those games.
Also rank second in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.213), third in strikeouts (214), WHIP (1.12), opponents’ OBP (.290), opponents’ SLG (.354), opponents’ OPS (.644) and fifth in K/9.0IP (9.78).
TWINNING: The Yankees are 100-40 (.714) vs. Minnesota since 2002, the Majors’ best record by any team vs. an opponent in its own league in that span… including the postseason, have gone 116-42 (.734) vs. the Twins since 2002.
Are 15-5 in their last 20 games vs. the Twins (since 7/23/19) and 25-9 in their last 34 games vs. Minnesota (since 9/18/17).
Have won or split each of their last eight series vs. the Twins (are 7-0-1 since 2019) and 15 of their last 17 series against Minnesota (are 14-1-2 since 7/3/14).
Own a 27-13 (.675) record at Target Field, the highest winning percentage by any team at the venue (min. 10G).
CENTRAL PERK: Since 2022, the Yankees are 29-11 (.725) vs. the AL Central…are 40-15 in their last 55 games vs. the division (since 6/23/21) and 53-21 in their last 74G (since 9/12/19).
Have won or split 21 of their last 24 series vs. the AL Central (going 20-3-1 since 9/10/19), 24 of their last 27 series (going 21-3-3 since 6/13/19) and 27 of their last 31 series (going 24-4-3 since 4/18/19).
MESSIN’ WITH THE KING: RHP Michael King has recorded at least four outs in each of his seven appearances this season…his seven relief appearances of at least four outs are the most in the AL and the second-most in the Majors, trailing only Colorado’s Brent Suter.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo recorded his 1,500th career hit, 900th career RBI and 850th career run scored with a solo HR in the ninth inning on Sunday…was his fifth HR of the season.
Has reached base in 19 of his first 21 games this season, batting .316/.411/.566 (24-for-76) with 11R, 4 doubles, 5HR, 11RBI, 9BB, 4HP and 1SF.
Has recorded a hit in 18-of-21 games this season.
Is batting .346/.424/.635 (18-for-52) with 8R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 7RBI, 4BB and 3HP in his last 14 games (since 4/9).
Is tied for fourth in the AL in HP (4), ranks fifth in OPS (.977), and sixth in OBP (.411) and SLG (.566).
FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners rank third in the AL and fifth in the Majors with 23SB…their 23SB mark their most through their first 22 games of a season in the last 22 years (since 2002) and match their second-most through their first 22 games of a season in the last 34 years (since 1990)…recorded 40SB in 1998 and 23SB in 2001.
Have 11SB in their last nine games…the Yankees had 11SB through their first 22 games of 2022.
Did not record their 23rd stolen base in 2022 until their 44th game on 5/25/22 vs. Baltimore.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe had his 10- game on-base streak snapped on Sunday…had reached base in 17-of-42 plate appearances (9H, 8BB) over that stretch (.405 OBP).
Is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts…joins Cedric Mullins (9-for-9) and Corbin Carroll (8-for-8) as the only three players in the Majors to be 8-for-8-or-better in stolen base attempts.
His 8SB are tied for the fourth-most in the Majors.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu recorded three of the Yankees’ six hits on Sunday vs. Toronto…his 3H were a season high and his most since 8/7/22 at St. Louis (also 3H). Is batting .333/.429/.533 (10-for-30) with 6R, 3 doubles, 1HR, 5RBI, 3BB and 2HP in his last nine games.
Has reached base in 14-of-18 games this season.
Is hitting .375/.444/.500 (6-for-16) with 2 doubles, 6RBI and 2BB with RISP this season.
In 22 career games vs. Minnesota, has hit .326/.362/.500 (28-for-86) with 14R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 15RBI, 5BB and 1HP.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 19 of their first 22 games of a season for just the sixth time in franchise history (20G in 2001 and 19G in 2003, 2011, 2012 and 2020).
Their 30HR are tied with Atlanta (30HR in 22G) and Boston (30HR in 23G) for the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (48HR in 22G), Los Angeles-NL (43HR in 23G) and San Francisco (33HR in 21G).
ON A ROLL: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa has hit safely in six of his last seven starts, batting .286 (6-for-21) with 1R, 2RBI, 2BB and 3SB in that span.
Over his last six games, has reached base in 6-of-14 plate appearances (4H, 2BB, .429 OBP).
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have allowed 3R-orfewer in 12 of their last 15 starts and 17 of their 22 starts this season…their 3.53 ERA (112.1IP, 44ER) is the fourth-lowest in the AL and sixth-lowest in the Majors.
Also rank third in the Majors in WHIP (1.10), fourth in opponents’ BA (.221) and opponents’ OBP (.285), and sixth in opponents’ OPS (.665) and K/9.0IP (9.45).
Have posted a 2.52 ERA (53.2IP, 15ER) in their last nine starts (since 4/14)…have allowed 2ER-or-fewer in six of those nine starts.
PEN PAL: RHP Ron Marinaccio owns a 0.93 ERA (9.2IP, 1ER) and 14K in eight appearances this season…has allowed just 2H to 37BF this year, holding opponents to a .067 BA (2-for-30) this season.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JHONY BRITO (2-1, 5.40 ERA)
RHP Jhony Brito will make his fifth career Major League start in tonight’s series opener at Minnesota…the 25-year-old will pitch on regular four days’ rest…last pitched on Wednesday vs. Los Angeles-AL and did not record a decision (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K)…marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…is the third Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record three starts with 1R allowed-or-fewer in their first four career starts… marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…is just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts…is the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 3/30 and made his first career Opening Day roster… over parts of five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-17, ’19, ’21-22), has gone 26-21 with two saves and a 3.71 ERA (392.2IP, 375H, 196R/162ER, 81BB, 344K, 28HR) in 86 career appearances (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 11/9/15.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 3-2, extra-innings victory over Los Angeles-AL on Wednesday (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K).
Marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…is the third Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record three starts with 1R allowed-or-fewer in their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021; Chase Whitley, three such starts in 2014).
Marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…is just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021).
2023: Is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA (15.0IP, 9ER) and 11K in four starts this season.…has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in three of his four starts.
Is just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…was just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever).
Is the 15th starting pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first two career games and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.
Took his first career loss in the Yankees’ 11-2 defeat on 4/13 vs. Minnesota, allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 0K, 1HR)…marked the shortest outing by a Yankees starter (not including openers) since Jameson Taillon on 6/12/21 at Philadelphia (0.1IP)…were the most runs allowed by a Yankees starter who didn’t make it out of the first inning since Nathan Eovaldi on 6/16/15 at Miami (8R/ER in 0.2IP).
Earned his second career win in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory on 4/8 at Baltimore, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…retired 14 of his final 17BF after surrendering two singles and a sacrifice fly to his first 3BF.…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts (also 5.0IP, 2H, 0R in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco).
VS. MINNESOTA: Made his third career start on 4/13 vs. the Twins at Yankee Stadium and took his first career loss after allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 1HR).
BIG LEAGUE BRITO: Made his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 6K) to earn his first career win…is the first Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allow 2H-or-fewer and allow 1BB-or-fewer in his Major League debut…struck out his first batter faced (LaMonte Wade Jr. swinging) for his first Major League strikeout.
Was just the 12th Yankees pitcher in franchise history (and fifth since 1935) to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut, joining Luis Gil (6.0IP on 8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), Jonathan Loáisiga (5.0IP on 6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), Sam Militello (7.0IP on 8/9/92 vs. Boston), Hank Borowy (5.0IP on 4/18/42 vs. Boston), Vito Tamulis (9.0IP on 9/25/34 at Philadelphia-AL), Russ Van Atta (9.0IP on 4/25/33 at Washington-AL), Neal Brady (5.2IP on 9/25/1915-G1 vs. Cleveland), Pete Wilson (9.0IP on 9/15/1908 at Boston), Tacks Neuer (9.0IP on 8/28/1907-G2 vs. Boston), Slow Joe Doyle (9.0IP on 8/25/1906-G1 vs. Cleveland) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP on 4/24/1903 at WashingtonAL)…among the group, joins Luis Gil (6.0IP, 1BB), Hank Borowy (5.0IP, 1BB) Vito Tamulis (9.0IP, 1BB) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP, 0BB) as the only five to issue 1BB-or-fewer.
Is the ninth Yankees starting pitcher to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut and just the fourth since 1935.
Became the seventh Yankees pitcher to start against a National League opponent in his Major League debut, joining RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL: ND, 6.0IP, 1R/0ER), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona: L, 4.0IP, 6R/4ER), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL: ND, 4.2IP, 0ER), RHP Tyler Clippard (5/20/07 at New York-NL: W, 6.0IP, 1ER), LHP Brad Halsey (6/19/04 at Los Angeles-NL: W, 5.2IP, 2ER) and LHP Brandon Claussen (6/28/03-G2 at New York-NL: W, 6.1IP, 1ER).
Became the seventh Yankee to draw a start at the current Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut, joining RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12)…was the third starter to also record the win, joining Gil and Loáisiga.
At 25 years, 44 days old, became the seventh starter age 25-or-over to make his Major League debut for the Yankees since 1999, joining RHP Chien-Ming Wang (25y, 30d), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (25y, 154d), Christian Parker (25y, 277d), Alex Graman (26y, 155d), Matt DeSalvo (26y, 238d) and Kei Igawa (27y, 268d).
HITTIN’ THE ROAD: Will make his second career Major League road start…earned the win in his first career road start on 4/8 at Baltimore (5.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K)…in 13 road games (11 starts) with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, went 5-3 with a 4.10 ERA (52.2IP, 24ER) and 48K.
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: After completing their seven-game, eight-day road-trip with a record of 3-4 (2-2 at Yankee Stadium and 1-2 at Fenway Park), the Twins began their 10-game homestand with a 2-1 series loss to the Nationals over the weekend…tonight the Twins will continue the homestand with the first of three against the Yankees…after this series, the Twins will host the Royals for four games from Thursday-Sunday…the Twins have gone 5-4 at Target Field and 7-6 on the road…Twins have gone just 2-6 in their last eight after starting the season 10-4 in their first 14.
OBER AND THE BOYS RALLY FOR ROCCO: The Twins beat the Nationals yesterday afternoon by a score of 3-1, earning Rocco Baldelli his 300th career managerial victory…Bailey Ober (1-0) made his 2023 debut, allowing one run on three hits in 5.2 innings pitched…Caleb Thielbar (1.1 IP) and Jorge López (1.0 IP) each recorded a hold, while Jhoan Duran (1.0 IP) earned his fifth save…the offense recorded nine hits, highlighted by Jorge Polanco, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI…Ryan Jeffers and Jose Miranda each had two hits and Michael A. Taylor hit his fourth home run of the season, a 444-foot shot, the fourth longest of his career and longest for a Twin this season…the game was played in 2:13, the fifth-fastest game for the Twins this season.
TWINS AND YANKEES: The Twins have gone 2-2 against the Yankees this season, splitting a four-game series to start the last road-trip, from April 13-16…the Twins outscored the Yankees 15-5 in the first two games, then were outscored 1-8 in games three and four.
The last time the Twins hosted the Yankees was from June 7-9, 2022, winning the middle game of the three-game series.
Since 2002, the Twins have gone 40-100 against the Yankees in regular season play.
Carlos Correa is hitting .306 (48-for-157) with nine doubles, 13 home runs, 33 RBI, 17 walks, a .371 on-base percentage, a .611 slugging percentage and a .983 OPS in 41 career regular season games against the Yankees.
Jose Miranda is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBI, two walks and an .832 OPS in 11 career games vs. the Yankees.
Jorge Polanco is hitting .333 (18-for-54) with three doubles, seven home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.151 OPS in his last 13 games against the Yankees…he has homered in three of his last five vs. New York.
Tonight’s starter, Sonny Gray, pitched parts of two seasons with the Yankees, going 15-16, 4.51 ERA (195.2 IP, 98 ER), with 84 walks and 182 strikeouts in 41 games (34 starts)… he was originally acquired by the Yankees in a trade with Oakland on July 31, 2017, in exchange for Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian and Jorge Mateo…he was dealt by the Yankees to the Reds on January 21, 2019, with Reiver Sanmartin, in exchange for Shed Long Jr. and a competitive balance round A pick.
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: Since the two wins in Yankee Stadium on April 13 and 14, the Twins have hit just .207 with 3.6 runs-per-game…below are their offensive comparisons from the first 14 games and the last eight games:
AVG H 2B HR R/G BB K OBP SLG OPS
4/1-14 (14 G): .243 116 19 16 4.4 40 130 .311 .396 .707
4/15-23 (8 G): .207 54 12 9 3.6 21 80 .278 .356 .635
BRI-PEAT?: The Twins faced Jhony Brito in game one of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium on April 13, scoring nine runs in the first inning and chasing Brito after 0.2 innings… he faced the lineup exactly one time through and was relieved by Colten Brewer…the Twins won the game 11-2…nine runs marked the Twins’ most runs scored in an inning against the Yankees ever…Twins lineup vs. Brito that night to the right
POLO ON THE MARK: Jorge Polanco has hit safely in all three games since his return from the IL (left knee inflammation) and is hitting .385 (5-for-13) with a 1.077 OPS…yesterday afternoon, he hit his 99th career home run…below are the Twins to reach 100 (since 1961):
TWIN HR TWIN HR TWIN HR
1) Harmon Killebrew……….475 8) Gary Gaetti ………………..201 15) Max Kepler………….. 131
2) Kent Hrbek………………..293 9) Brian Dozier……………….167 16) Eddie Rosario………. 119
3) Justin Morneau…………..221 10) Tom Brunansky…………163 17) Roy Smalley…………. 110
4) Tony Oliva………………….220 11) Miguel Sanó……………..162 18) Jason Kubel …………. 105
5) Torii Hunter ……………….214 12) Joe Mauer ………………..143 19) Byron Buxton………. 101
6) Bob Allison………………..211 13) Michael Cuddyer……….141 Corey Koskie………… 101
7) Kirby Puckett……………..207 14) Jacque Jones…………….132 21) Jorge Polanco……….. 99
NOTE: Buck hit his 100th on April 11 vs. Chicago-AL.
DO YOU EVEN LIFT, JOE?: Joey Gallo did not appear against the Yankees during the four-game series at Yankee Stadium (IL – right intercostal strain)…Gallo played parts of two seasons in New York, hitting .159 (67-for-421) with 25 home runs, 46 RBI, 77 walks and 194 strikeouts in 140 games…he hit his fifth home run of the season on Friday night and now has an at-bat-per-home run ratio of 6.80, second highest in baseball (minimum 30 plate appearances), trailing Max Muncy (6.45)…despite missing 10 games (right intercostal strain — April 11-19), he still leads the club in homers and ranks tied for 10th in the American League.
He leads baseball in average exit velocity at 100.3 mph (minimum 30 PA)…additionally, he ranks fifth in baseball in average distance of balls put in play at 237 feet.
BUCK TRUCK GETS A TUNE-UP: After an 0-for-15 stretch from April 13-18, Byron Buxton has hit safely in four straight, hitting .313 (5-for-16) with two doubles, one home run, three runs scored, two walks and just four strikeouts in that span with a .625 slugging percentage and a 1.014 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – SONNY GRAY #54
Will face New York-AL for the seventh time in his career; is 1-2, 4.04 ERA (35.2 P, 16 ER) with 14 walks and 33 strikeouts…last faced the Yankees on September 8, 2022.
Making his 252nd career appearance, 243rd career start.
Making fifth start of the year, third at home…is is 5-2, 2.37 ERA (79.2 IP, 21 ER) with 28 walks and 96 strikeouts in 15 starts at Target Field with the Twins.
Acquired by the Twins on March 13, 2022 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, along with righthanded pitcher Francis Peguero, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chase Petty.
LAST START: Did not factor into the decision in the series opener against the Red Sox on April 18 at Fenway park, opposite Chris Sale…pitched 5.0 innings, allowed one run on seven hits, walked two batters and fanned seven… his seven hits were the most Gray has allowed since August 8, 2022 vs Los Angeles-NL when he also allowed seven hits…the lone run came from an RBI single to Rafael Devers in the first inning…relieved by Jorge López in the sixth inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 5.0 innings…Griffin Jax allowed one run in the eighth…Jovani Moran entered in the 10th inning and took the Twins 4-3 loss after a walkoff RBI single by Alex Verdugo. TWO STARTS AGO: Was the winner in the rubber match against the Chicago White Sox on April 12 at Target Field, opposite Lucas Giolito…pitched 5.0 scoreless innings with three hits, two walks issued and five strikeouts…relieved by Jorge Alcala to start the sixth inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 3.2 scoreless innings until Jhoan Duran gave up a solo home run to Lenyn Sosa in the ninth inning…Twins won 3-1, securing the series victory to finish the homestand.
AGAINST NEW YORK-AL: Gray is facing the Yankee for the seventh time in his career, going 1-2, 4.04 ERA (35.2 IP, 16 ER) with 14 walks and 33 strikeouts in his six previous appearances…last faced New York-AL on September 8, 2022 at Yankees Stadium…did not factor into the decision despite a quality start, after pitching 6.0 innings, surrendering one run, six hits, one walk and striking seven batters…relieved by Griffin Jax as the bullpen allowed one run over three innings…the lone blemish came from Jorge López who gave up a solo home run to Miguel Andújar in the eighth…the Twins went on to win 4-3 after a two-run eighth-inning homer homer from Carlos Correa. AGray pitched parts of two seasons with the Yankees, going 15-16, 4.51 ERA (195.2 IP, 98 ER), with 84 walks and 182 strikeouts in 41 games (34 starts)…he was originally acquired by the Yankees in a trade with Oakland on July 31, 2017, in exchange for Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian and Jorge Mateo…he was dealt by the Yankees to the Reds on January 21, 2019, with Reiver Sanmartin, in exchange for Shed Long Jr. and a competitive balance round A pick.
Has not pitched against the Yankees in a home game since June 15, 2017 as a member of Oakland…pitched 5.1 innings, allowed three runs on eight hits, walked three batters and struck out six…is 1-2, 4.76 ERA (22.2 IP, 12 ER) with 10 walk and 21 strikeouts in home games against the Yankees in his career.
Earned his last win against the Yankees on July 7, 2015.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: After his first two home starts of the year, Gray is 1-0, 0.75 ERA (12.0 IP, 1 ER) with three walks and 18 strikeouts…Gray went 4-2, 2.66 ERA (67.2 IP, 20 ER) with 25 walks and 78 strikeouts in 13 starts at home in 2022…is now 51-39, 3.79 ERA 740.1 IP, 312 R) with 250 walks and 719 strikeouts in his career at home, including 5-2, 2.37 ERA (79.2 IP, 21 ER) in 15 starts at Target Field (Twins are 10-5 in those games).
Among American League pitchers, Gray is ranked fourth in home ERA ,trailing Shohei Ohtani (0.00), Gerrit Cole (0.33) and Jeffrey Springs (0.56)…tied with Jeffrey Springs for second in home strikeouts-per-nine (13.50), just behind Jacob DeGrom (15.09)…tied for sixth in opponent batting average (.197)…his .460 opponent OPS ranks fifth (min. 10.0 IP).
THE RIGHT WAY: So far this season, Gray has seen more success against right-handed hitters as opposed to lefties…in his four starts, Gray has held righties to .177/.222/.255 (9-for-51) with 22 strikeouts as opposed to lefties who are slashing .258/.378/.355 with just four strikeouts.
Tied for sixth among American League pitchers in opponent batting average against righties…is tied for eighth in all of baseball with JP Sears in strikeouts versus righties (min. 20.0 IP).
However, since 2019, is holding left-handed hitters to a .203 (177-for-870) batting average, ranking fourth among major league right-handed pitchers (min. 750 AB) in that span, trailing Gerrit Cole (.188), Zac Gallen (.194) and Lucas Giolito (.201).
THE ARSENAL: Gray is currently using a six-pitch mix, per Baseball Savant…continues to use his curveball the most at 26.3 percent…after throwing 24 fastballs in his last start, his fastball has become his second most used pitch at 17.6 percent…continues to exclusively use the slider against righties and has only used his changeup against lefties…here’s a look at his repertoire so far:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
Curveball (79.0)……………………………….26.3% (94 pitches, 39/55) ……………………………….. .263 (5-for-19),2 2B, 4 K
4-Seam Fastball (92.7)……………………..17.6% (63 pitches, 22/41) ………………………………. .385 (5-for-13), 2 2B, 1 K
Slider (83.0)……………………………………..16.2% (58 pitches, 58/0) …………………………. .111(2-for-18), 2 2B, 12 K
Sinker (92.2) …………………………………….14.8% (53 pitches, 45/8) ………………………….. .286 (4-for-14), 1 2B, 5 K
Cutter (87.6) …………………………………….14.6% (52 pitches, 48/4) ………………………………….. .083 (1-for-12), 3 K
Changeup (87.1)……………………………….10.4% (37 pitches, 0/37) ………………………………………….. .000 (0-for-6)
MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (12-10) at Atlanta Braves (14-8)
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today begin a four-game series at Atlanta. Is the second stop on their seven-game road trip after taking two of three in Cleveland. Following this series, return home for a six-game homestand against the Cubs (3 games) and Braves (3 games).
• After starting the year 1-4, the Marlins have won 11 of their last 16 contests.
• Lost their first two road games of the year coming in New York, going 5-2 since.
• Are looking to win their fifth straight series, a feat the organization has not accomplished since August 11-27, 2017, when they won five straight against Colorado, San Francisco, New York Mets, Philadelphia, and San Diego.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series finale at Cleveland, 7-4. LHP Jesus Luzardo allowed 4 runs on 8 hits in just 4.1 innings of work, suffering his first loss of the year. 2B Jon Berti (1×4) hit his second HR of the year, a solo shot in the third to put the Marlins on the board. DH Avisail Garcia (1×4) added a two-out, three-run home run in the eighth. RF Jorge Soler (3×3) reached base four times in the game (also 1 walk).
STOP…HOMER TIME
The Marlins have scored 32 of their 72 runs this season via home runs (44.4%). Have hit 21 homers total over the first 22 games, homering in 16 of the contests, including eight of their nine road games.
DE LA CRUSH
OF Bryan De La Cruz had his career-high-tying nine-game hitting streak come to an end in Sunday’s loss at Cleveland (0x3 with a walk). Overall, has reached base in 14 of his 20 games this season, including each of his last 10.
• Owns a .480 (12×25) batting average when hitting cleanup in the order.
CATCH US IF YOU CAN
The Marlins have stolen 20 bases this season, ninth-most in the Majors (fourth in NL). Have been caught just three times, the third-best SB pct. in the NL (87%). Since the start of the 2020 season, the Marlins have combined to steal 161 bases on the road – the most for any Major League team over the stretch (Cleveland is second with 153 steals).
• CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. has stolen 7 bases this season (in 8 attempts). Marks the most SB on the team and fourth-most in the NL.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez has 32 hits in his first 20 games of the year (18 starts), with 10 multi-hit games (tied for fourth-most in MLB). Only Ronald Acuna Jr. (34), Nico Hoerner (33), and Bryson Stott (33) have more hits among Major Leaguers. Arraez’s .444 batting avg. (32×72) is tops in the Majors among all qualified hitters, and 70 points higher than the second-best (Acuna, .374).
• Is tied with Martin Prado (2016) for the second-most hits by a Marlins player through their first 20 games of a season in club history, trailing only Dee Gordon (34 hits in 2015). His batting avg. is tops in club history through 20 games (min. 70 plate appearances).
• Has struck out just 4 times in 81 plate appearances (.049), the lowes Edward Cabrera, 25, made 14 starts at the Major League level last year after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on May 31, 2022.
• Made his fourth start of the season, achieving his first victory against the Giants on his last start.
• Ranked in the top three among rookie starters in several categories, including his .177 opponents batting average, 1.074 WHIP, and 3.01 ERA.
• His .177 avg. against was the lowest by a rookie starter with at least 10 GS. Among all MLB pitchers, ranked fourth behind Christian Javier (.170), Tony Gonsolin (.172), and Jacob deGrom (.175).
• In 7 starts at home in 2022, went 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1 IP/18 ER). Posted a 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP/6 ER) in 7 starts away, allowing 10 less hits than at home.
• Was named to MLB.com’s All-Rookie Second Team.
• Made four consecutive scoreless outings (22.2 IP) after returning from injury from Aug. 1 until Aug. 22, becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to make four consecutive scoreless starts, joining Chris Hammond in 1994.
• Set a new career-high with 8.0 innings pitched at Oakland on Aug. 22, 2022.
• In his first start back in almost 2 months on Aug. 5, 2022 tossed 5.0 no-hit innings against Chicago Cubs.
• Was the first pitcher in club history to pitch 6.0 innings or more and allow two hits or less in each of his first two starts of a season. Edward Cabrera, 25, made 14 starts at the Major League level last year after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on May 31, 2022.
• Made his fourth start of the season, achieving his first victory against the Giants on his last start.
• Ranked in the top three among rookie starters in several categories, including his .177 opponents batting average, 1.074 WHIP, and 3.01 ERA.
• His .177 avg. against was the lowest by a rookie starter with at least 10 GS. Among all MLB pitchers, ranked fourth behind Christian Javier (.170), Tony Gonsolin (.172), and Jacob deGrom (.175).
• In 7 starts at home in 2022, went 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1 IP/18 ER). Posted a 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP/6 ER) in 7 starts away, allowing 10 less hits than at home.
• Was named to MLB.com’s All-Rookie Second Team.
• Made four consecutive scoreless outings (22.2 IP) after returning from injury from Aug. 1 until Aug. 22, becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to make four consecutive scoreless starts, joining Chris Hammond in 1994.
• Set a new career-high with 8.0 innings pitched at Oakland on Aug. 22, 2022.
• In his first start back in almost 2 months on Aug. 5, 2022 tossed 5.0 no-hit innings against Chicago Cubs.
• Was the first pitcher in club history to pitch 6.0 innings or more and allow two hits or less in each of his first two starts of a season.t mark in the Majors among qualified batters.
PEN TALES
Overall this season, Marlins relievers have combined for a 1.10 WHIP, the best mark in the NL and third-lowest overall in the Majors. Dating back to Apr. 11 at PHI, the Marlins bullpen ranks first in MLB with a 1.62 ERA (44.1/8) and 0.79 WHIP, while also tied with Houston for fewest hits allowed (22).
• RHP Dylan Floro has allowed just 4 baserunners (2 H and 2 BB) in 9 scoreless appearances (10.1 innings) with 10 strikeouts in 2023. Dating back to July 3 of last season, has posted a 1.43 ERA (46.0/7) with 51 strikeouts. 41 of 46 appearances have been scoreless.
• LHP Andrew Nardi, since April 7, has stranded 8 of 8 inherited runners and has not allowed a hit in his last 7 outings (7.0 IP), with 9 K. • LHP A.J. Puk has four saves in four chances. Has held opponents scoreless in his last 6 appearances with 6 strikeouts and 4 hits allowed.
GREAT WHEN LATE
The Marlins offense is batting .278 (66×237) in the seventh inning or later, the third-best mark in the Majors this season. 30 of Miami’s 72 runs scored this year (41.7%) have come in these final three innings, including 8 of the club’s combined 21 home runs.
DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Through 22 games this season, Miami is 12-0 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less and has gone 0-10 when allowing 5 or more runs.
CUBANO GIGANTE
OF/DH Jorge Soler has already collected 8 doubles and 5 HR in his first 19 games of the year. His 13 XBH are tied for fourth-most in the National League, behind J.D. Martinez’s (15), Patrick Wisdom (14), and Brandon Marsh (14).
• Compiled a stretch of 10 consecutive hits going for extra bases from March 31-April 19 which tied Giancarlo Stanton (2010) for the second longest such streak in franchise history behind Todd Hollandsworth (11, April 25-May 10, 2003)
• 4 of his 5 HRs in ‘23 have tied the game or given the Marlins the lead; the Marlins are 4-0 when he homers.
TURNING THE TRENDING TIDE
The Marlins are 6-0 in one-run games in 2023, marking the most conseutive wins in games decided by one run to start a season in franchise history. Join Milwaukee (5-0) and Tampa Bay (3-0) as the only teams yet to lose a one-run game this season.
• Miami played 64 games decided by one run in 2022, the most such games in the Majors last season. Miami’s 40 one-run losses were the most in a season in club history, the most since the 1975 Astros (41), and just three shy of the single-season record for one-run losses during the Live Ball Era (since 1920) held by the 1968 White Sox (44).0
FAMILIAR FOES
This series ends a stretch in which Miami plays 10 straight games (3 vs. SF, 3 at CLE, 4 at ATL) against the three franchises they faced in the 1997 Postseason, en route to the club’s first World Series win. The Florida Marlins swept the San Francisco Giants, 3-0, in the NLDS and won 4 of 6 games against the NL East Division Champion Atlanta Braves before advancing to the Fall Classic where they won their first ring in a dramatic extra-inning affair in Game 7 on October 26, 1997.
TODAY’S STARTER – #27 EDWARD CABRERA
Edward Cabrera, 25, made 14 starts at the Major League level last year after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on May 31, 2022.
• Made his fourth start of the season, achieving his first victory against the Giants on his last start.
• Ranked in the top three among rookie starters in several categories, including his .177 opponents batting average, 1.074 WHIP, and 3.01 ERA.
• His .177 avg. against was the lowest by a rookie starter with at least 10 GS. Among all MLB pitchers, ranked fourth behind Christian Javier (.170), Tony Gonsolin (.172), and Jacob deGrom (.175).
• In 7 starts at home in 2022, went 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1 IP/18 ER). Posted a 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP/6 ER) in 7 starts away, allowing 10 less hits than at home.
• Was named to MLB.com’s All-Rookie Second Team.
• Made four consecutive scoreless outings (22.2 IP) after returning from injury from Aug. 1 until Aug. 22, becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to make four consecutive scoreless starts, joining Chris Hammond in 1994.
• Set a new career-high with 8.0 innings pitched at Oakland on Aug. 22, 2022.
• In his first start back in almost 2 months on Aug. 5, 2022 tossed 5.0 no-hit innings against Chicago Cubs.
• Was the first pitcher in club history to pitch 6.0 innings or more and allow two hits or less in each of his first two starts of a season.
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
SKID
Atlanta has lost each of its last four games, dropping the finale in San Diego last Wednesday before getting swept by Houston over the weekend. It is Atlanta’s longest losing streak since also losing four straight from August 14-18, 2021, 20 months ago. The club has not lost five straight games in over five years, last doing so with six straight losses from September 25-30, 2017. Atlanta’s run of consecutive division titles began the next season. The Braves are the only team in baseball without a five-game losing streak since the start of 2018.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Marlins tonight open a four-game series in what is the first of 13 games between the teams this season…The two will meet again just five days after the conclusion of this series, May 2 in Miami.
• Atlanta went 13-6 against Miami last season, including wins in nine their final 11 games between the clubs…The Braves beat Miami, 2-1, on October 4 in the penultimate game of the season to clinch the NL East division title.
• Atlanta has won the season set against Miami for eight consecutive years, dating to 2015…Moreover, the Braves have won double-digit games over the Marlins in 17 of the last 19 full seasons…They went 9-10 in 2014 and 8-10 in 2009…Since 2015, the Braves are 91-51 (.641) against Miami.
• Since Truist Park opened in 2017, Atlanta has played to a 37-17 (.685) record against Miami in this building…The Marlins’ .315 winning percentage in that span is second lowest in baseball among teams with at least five games played here, better than just Pittsburgh (4-15, .211).
• RH Spencer Strider has never started against Miami, pitching just two career games against the club, both in relief…The 6-foot-0, 205-pound right-hander has allowed four hits and three runs in just 1.0 combined inning in his two appearances, and has not struck out a batter…Strider has made four starts for Atlanta this season and compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.45 ERA (6 ER/22.0 IP), while
the Braves are a perfect 4-0 in his starts.
• RH Edward Cabrera has started twice against the Braves in his career, pitching to a 3.12 ERA (3 ER/8.2 IP) without a decision…In his lone start against Atlanta last season, the 6-foot-5, 217-pound native of the Dominican Republic allowed just one run over 5.0 innings…In four turns this season, he has pitched to a 1-1 record with a 4.08 ERA (8 ER/17.2 IP).
LOSS: Atlanta lost to Houston, 5-2, yesterday to get swept by the Astros…It marked the first three-game sweep of Atlanta here at Truist Park since the Blue Jays did so in May of 2021.
• Atlanta carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, before allowing five unanswered runs in the final two frames…The Braves entered play a perfect 11-0 when leading after seven innings.
• The Braves held a lead in all three games of the series, including multi-run leads on Friday and Sunday…Atlanta entered the series 14-0 in games in which it held a lead at any point, before dropping all three games in such fashion this weekend.
• With yesterday’s loss the Braves fell to 4-6 (.400) at Truist Park this season, compared to 10-2 (.833) record in road games…Atlanta has a -15 run differential in nine games at Truist Park, while posting a +40 differential in 12 games as visitors.
• The Braves went 55-26 at home last season, tied for the third-best home record in the majors
STRIDER STRIKEOUTS: RHP Spencer Strider enters tonight with 36 strikeouts on the season, tied for seventh most in the majors…Each of the six pitchers with more have made five starts on the season, compared to Strider’s four.
• Strider’s 14.73 SO/9.0 IP are most in the majors, and just one other pitcher (Jacob deGrom, 14.51) is over 12.50.
• He struck out nine batters in his last start, April 18 at San Diego, and has fanned exactly nine batters in each of his four starts this season…Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, no pitcher in baseball has fanned exactly nine batters in five straight starts… Just two others (Kenta Maeda in 2018 and Clayton Kershaw in 2014) did so in four straight.
• Strider has fanned at least nine batters in each of his last eight starts, dating to last season…The run is the longest active streak in baseball of at least nine strikeouts, and matches John Smoltz’s franchise-record run of such starts set in 1997.
• Just six pitchers in baseball’s modern era (since 1900) have a longer streak of nine-plus strikeout games, with Pedro Martínez (2) the only pitcher with multiple such runs.
• Nolan Ryan owns the major league record with 11 straight games of at least nine strikeouts, done in 1977.
OFFENSE: During Atlanta’s four-game losing skid, the Braves have batted .173/.245/.291 as a club, with three homers in the four games…They have totaled just nine runs, including scoring at least four runs in only one of the four losses.
• Atlanta is just 1-6 this season when scoring three of fewer runs.
• With runners in scoring position in this span, Atlanta is batting .100/.206/.167, going just 3-for30 with two doubles and five runs…The Braves have 13 strikeouts in these situations.
• During the first 18 games of the season, when Atlanta went 14-4, the club batted .269/.351/.458 and averaged 5.4 runs/game.
DOUBLE PLAYS: The Braves converted two double plays yesterday, first with a 5-3 twin killing in the second inning before recording a pair of outs on a 4-6-3 play in the sixth…Offensively, DH Eddie Rosario hit into a 4-6-3 double play in the ninth.
• Atlanta has turned 23 double plays this season, tied for the third most in the major leagues…Only St. Louis (27) and Washington (25) have turned more.
• Conversely, the Braves’ offense has hit into 22 double plays, tied for the fourth most in baseball… Miami has hit into 24 of them, leading the majors.
• Atlanta’s 45 double plays, both offensive and defensive, combine to be the second-highest duality in MLB…St. Louis has the most with 49 (22 offensive, 27 defensive).
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #99 Spencer Strider RHP
Today’s Game
• Strider is set to make his fifth start of the year and first outing against Miami in ’23.
• Has only made two career appearances against the Marlins; both were relief outings.
• Enters play with eight consecutive games of at least nine strikeouts dating to September 1, 2022.
• It is the longest active streak in baseball and is tied for eighth-longest in the modern era (since 1900).
• Tied Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz for the longest streak in franchise history.
• The most in MLB were 11 games by Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan.
• Among active pitchers, only Chris Sale, Gerrit Cole and Shane Bieber have recorded a longer streak of consecutive games with at least nine strikeouts.
• Leads the National League with a rate of 14.73 strikeouts per nine innings (min. four starts)…Trails only Boston’s Chris Sale (15.00 K/9).
• Struckout nine San Diego hitters over 6.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in his last outing.
• Has gone at least 5.0 innings in 11 consecutive starts and is pitching to a 1.97 ERA during that span.
2023 Recap
• Started the second game of the season for Atlanta and earned the win, fanning nine hitters while pitching 6.0 scoreless innings against Washington.
