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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (7-15) at Toronto Blue Jays (13-9)

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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (7-15) at Toronto Blue Jays (13-9)

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four straight games, six of their last seven, nine of 11 and 12 of 16 as they continue a six-game trip tonight with the opener at Toronto.

RHP Lance Lynn is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in fourth place in the American League Central, 5.0 games behind division-leading Minnesota.

The Sox were swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay to open the trip, suffering walkoff losses in the first two games before yesterday’s 4-1 defeat.

Following this three-game series, the White Sox return to Chicago for a seven-game homestand vs. the Rays (4/27-30) and Minnesota (5/2-4).

The Sox went 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19 and 2-4 on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12.

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high eight games under .500, are 0-6-1 in series and have not won back-to-back games.

Despite an 0-2 record, Lance Lynn owns a 2.12 ERA (4 ER/17.0 IP) in three career starts at Rogers Centre.

The Sox bullpen has issued just two walks with 24 strikeouts in 18.1 IP over the last five games (14 BB in 14.2 IP in the previous four).

The White Sox are hitting .198/.256/.337 (85-430) with 42 runs scored (3.2 R/G) over the last 13 games.

Luis Robert Jr. hit .400 (8-20) with one homer and nine RBI in five games against Toronto last season … Robert Jr. recorded three straight games with multiple hits and RBI from 6/2-22.

Andrew Vaughn batted .500/.519/.885 (13-26) with four doubles, two home runs, four RBI and five runs scored in six games against the Blue Jays in 2022.

ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s series opener, the White Sox placed RHP Lucas Giolito on the Bereavement List and reinstated RHP Joe Kelly (strained right groin) from the 15-day injured list.

Kelly was placed on the injured list on 4/10 (retro to 4/9) with a right groin strain.

Giolito must remain on the Bereavement List for a minimum of three days and not more than seven.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to three hits as Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep with a 4-1 victory at Tropicana Field.

Lucas Giolito suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 7.0 IP, the longest outing by a Sox pitcher this season.

Giolito, making his 150th career start, gave up all four runs over the first three innings before holding the Rays scoreless on one hits over his final 4.0 IP.

Eloy Jiménez drove in the Sox only run with a RBI double off Zach Eflin in the fourth inning.

The Sox went 1-6 with RISP as they were swept at Tropicana Field for the first time since 6/12-14/15.

The game lasted just 2:02.

FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad), SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (Tommy John surgery) and Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.

AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-9 since All-Star SS Tim Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list on 4/11 with a sprained left knee suffered on 4/10 at Minnesota.

Since the start of the 2020 season, the Sox are 150-112 (.573) when Anderson is in the starting lineup and 66-78 (.458) when he is not.

During that span, the Sox are 124-73 when Anderson records a hit, 72-32 when he records a multi-hit effort, 27-9 when he registers a three-hit game, 94-46 when he scored a run and 27-3 when he hits a home run.

ON THE AIR
Former infielder Gordon Beckham will continue to fill in for Steve Stone in the NBC Sports Chicago booth for the White Sox three-game series at Toronto.

Stone will return to the booth for the White Sox four-game series vs. Tampa Bay beginning on Thursday.

WHITE SOX VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
The Blue Jays won the 2022 season series, 4-2, sweeping a three-game set at Rogers Centre from 5/31-6/2 before losing two of three in Chicago from 6/20-22.

The White Sox batted .311/.355/.453 (70-225) with a 6.33 ERA (38 ER/54.0 IP) and were outscored, 43-31 … the Blue Jays scored six-plus runs in all six games, while the Sox collected 13-plus hits four times.

The White Sox are 7-2-1 in the last 10 season series against Toronto, going 39-30 during that stretch (19-15 at Rogers Centre).

FAMILIAR FACE
White Sox bench coach Charlie Montoyo spent three-plus seasons as Toronto’s manager from 2019-22, recording a 236- 236 record.

Montoyo guided the Blue Jays to an American League Wild Card Series berth in 2020 and to 91 victories in 2021 despite playing home games those two seasons in Dunedin, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y. and Toronto.

The White Sox opened the trip in Tampa Bay, where Montoyo Montoyo spent 22 seasons (1997-2018) in the Rays organization, including four on manager Kevin Cash’s staff as third-base coach (2015-17) and bench coach (2018).

LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 7-16 against American League East teams since 5/26/22, including a 3-9 record on the road … during that stretch, they have been outscored, 137-93.

By comparison, the Sox went 28-20 vs. AL East opponents from 4/7-21-5/25/22.

NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .279 (50-179) average with runners in scoring position … over the last 13 games, the Sox are hitting .234 (18-77) and have not collected more than three hits in any of the games.

Andrew Vaughn is batting .500/.600/.938 (8-16) with 13 RBI with RISP this season, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .500/.600/.583 (6-12).

SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .272/.338/.442 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank third in on-base percentage, fourth in OPS (.781) and fifth in slugging.

Tim Anderson owns a .353/.383/.564 (141-399) slash line vs. LHP since 2019, while Hanser Alberto is hitting .343/.362/.483 (170-495) … during that span, Anderson and Alberto rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. LHP.

Luis Robert Jr. is a career .347/.399/.614 (70-202) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .612 slugging percentage.

STARTER – #33 LANCE LYNN RHP
LYNN AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, third on the road and first vs. Toronto Blue Jays.

Has allowed eight runs in the first inning over his four starts this season … allowed 13 runs in the first over 21 starts in 2022.

Is 7-6 with a 3.53 ERA (42 ER/107.0 IP), .243 (102-420) opponents average and 117 strikeouts in 18 starts since the 2022 All-Star Break.

Ranks among MLB active pitchers in HR/9.0 IP (6th, 0.92), SO/9.0 IP (8th, 9.09), opponents average (9th, .242), opponents SLG (9th, .382), wins (9th, 123), IP (10th, 1,726.2), opponents OPS (11th, .694), starts (T10th, 289), ERA (12th, 3.57), WHIP (12th, 1.27), opponents OBP (12th, .312) and strikeouts (12th, 1,743).

Signed a two-year contract extension with a club option with the White Sox on 7/17/21 … the Sox hold an $18-million option for 2024 with a $1-million buyout.

Is a two-time All-Star (2012 and 2021) … has finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, sixth in 2020 and third in 2021 … was a member of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

LAST START
Suffered his second loss of 2023 in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 4/18 vs. Philadelphia, allowing five runs on 10 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 5.1 IP … allowed three runs in the first inning and two in the third.

Left the game in the sixth with runners on first and second, one out and the White Sox trailing, 5-4 … threw 107 pitches (71 strikes) … the Sox lost, 7-4.

Owned a 86.2 first-strike percentage and 9.3 swinging-strike percentage (10 swing and misses) vs. 29 batters … threw 53 four-seam fastballs (92.2 mph avg; 94.6 mph max), 23 cutters (88.2 avg; 90.1 max), 13 sinkers (90.7 avg; 91.9 max), 13 curveballs (80.8 avg; 82.1 max) and five changeups (85.6 avg; 87.8 max).

GRAB SOME BENCH
Recorded his 23rd career double-digit strikeout performance and fourth with the Sox on 4/11 at Minnesota.

Ranks 12th in the majors with 663 strikeouts since 2019 … teammate Lucas Giolito (731) ranks seventh.

Has struck out at least five batters in 82 of his 99 starts since 2019, tied with Cleveland’s Shane Bieber for the 10th-highest total in the majors.

ROAD TRIPPIN’
Is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA (14 ER/54.2 IP) and .218 (45- 206) opponents average in his last nine road starts.

Has gone 8-7 with a 3.49 ERA (55 ER/142.0 IP), .244 (136-557) opponents average and 147 strikeouts over 25 starts on the road since 2021 … has allowed two runs or less in 17 of those starts and one run or less in nine.

His 3.49 ERA on the road since 2021 is the sixth-lowest among American League leaders (min. 140.0 IP).

ORTHODOX HITTERS
Owns a career .230/.285/.353 (798-3,474) opponents slash line against right-handed hitters.

His .230 opponents average vs. right-handers is the 10th-lowest mark among active pitchers in the majors.

AMERICA’S ACE
Pitched for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic … went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP), .188 (6-32) opp. average and eight strikeouts in two starts.

Started on 3/13 against Canada in pool play, earning the win after allowing one run over 5.0 IP.

Was the starting pitcher for USA’s quarterfinal contest vs. Venezuela … received a no decision after allowing two runs in 4.0 IP … USA would go on to win, 9-7.

VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his 10th career start (11th appearance) against Blue Jays and fourth at Rogers Centre.

Has gone 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA (12 ER/35.0 IP) and .206 (27-131) opponents average in his last six starts vs. Toronto … has allowed just one run in four of the starts.

Has allowed two runs or less over 5.0-plus IP in each of his three career starts at Rogers Centre.

Is 10-10 with a 3.47 ERA (82 ER/212.2 IP) in 39 career games (34 starts) against the American League East

TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays claimed the finale of their three-game series with the Yankees by a score of 5-1 yesterday… Improved to 5-2-0 in series play…Finished their road trip to Houston and New York at 3-3. Toronto is now 4-2 in divisional contests…Is the only team to have won a series vs. Tampa Bay or New York…Has now won 12 of its last 18 contests overall.

START SPREADING THE BOOS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened things up yesterday with a two-run homer in the 6th…Was his 5th longball of the campaign, and his 3rd in the last five games…Now owns a .614 slugging percentage at the current Yankee Stadium, the highest all-time at the venue (min. 100 AB). The 24-year-old is now 29-for-85 with two doubles, five homers, 13 RBI, and a 10BB/10K ratio for a .341 AVG (3rd in the AL), a .424 OBP (3rd), and a .965 OPS (7th)…His 29 hits are tied for 2nd most in the AL while his 46 total bases are tied for 6th…Has recorded 43 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the Majors (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 40).

DAULTON GOES DEEP: Daulton Varsho followed up Guerrero Jr.’s home run with one of his own, for Toronto’s 2nd set of back-toback jacks this season (also: Kiermaier/Springer on April 11 vs. DET)…Marked the outfielder’s 2nd homer of the year.

GAUS AND EFFECT: Kevin Gausman threw 7.0 shutout innings yesterday, allowing three hits while striking out 11 batters without issuing a walk…The 11 K’s tied his most as a Blue Jay, having also done so just two starts earlier (April 12 vs. DET)…Now has 41 strikeouts, tied for the most ever by a Blue Jay in their first five outings of a season (last: himself in 2022), and now 2nd most in the Majors (1st: Jacob deGrom – 43).

WORKING DOUBLE TIME: Matt Chapman singled, doubled, and scored a run as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon…Marked his AL-high 10th multi-hit game…Now has 10 doubles, tied with Nick Castellanos for the most in MLB while his 15 extra-base hits are tied with Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez for the most in the Majors. The 29-year-old is batting .367 (29-for-79) with 10 doubles, five homers, 10 walks, and 17 RBI…Ranks
1st in the AL in batting average, SLG (.684), and OPS (1.122) while tied for 1st in total bases (54), tied for 2nd in hits, and tied for 8th in RBI…Also leads all MLB hitters in barrel rate (20.2%), ranks 3rd in hardhit (95+ MPH) percentage (63.2), and is 4th in average exit velocity (95.7 MPH).

GET ON WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield walked and doubled to go 1-for-3 yesterday…Extended his hitting streak to nine games, going 13-for-34 (.382) with four doubles and five RBI over that stretch (.889 OPS)…Has reached base safely in all 16 of his games played this season, batting .310 (18-for-58) with five doubles, seven RBI, and four walks…His 16 game on-base stretch is the 5th-longest active streak in the AL.

HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are playing their 2nd homestand of the season…Have gone 4-2 so far at Rogers Centre… Have played the fewest home games in the AL (tied for fewest in MLB)…Will follow up this three-game series with a day off on Thursday and then three meetings with the Mariners (10-12) over the weekend. Toronto batters have hit .256 at home (4th in the AL) and also rank 4th in home OBP (.335), 5th in home OPS (.725), and 6th in home SLG (.390)…The pitching staff posted a 3.60 ERA during home contests (6th in the AL) with a .218 opponents’ AVG (4th) and a 1.22 WHIP (7th).

DANNY DIGGING IN: Danny Jansen doubled and finished with two RBI as he went 1-for-4 yesterday…Has gone 5-for-15 (.333) with a double, a homer, five RBI, and three walks in his last six games (1-for-25 in first eight games).

HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 194 hits so far this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also 3rd in the AL in team batting average (.256), 5th in SLG (.404), 5th in OPS (.732), and 6th in OBP (.328).

STARTING SOMETHING: Blue Jays starters during their last turn through the rotation (last 5G) have allowed just three runs over 33.1 innings for a 0.81 ERA…Have given up 15 hits and five walks while fanning 27 hitters for a .133 opponents’ average and a 0.60 WHIP…Have had their starters throw 7+ innings on five occasions this season, 2nd most in the Majors (1st: HOU – 6).

NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 22 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now tied for the 3rd-longest such streak in the Wild Card era (since 1995), trailing Cleveland in 2019 (39G), the 2005 Marlins (23G), and the 2012 Nationals (22G).

BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette has gone 31-for-94 (.330) with five doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 22 games this season…The 31 hits are the most in the AL and 5th most in MLB…Among AL batters, currently ranks T-3rd in total bases (48) and 4th in AVG.

VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 217-202-1
2022: 4-2 Home: 118-94
Home: 3-0 Rogers Stadium: 78-61
The Blue Jays went 4-2 vs. the White Sox last season while sweeping the three-game series here at Rogers Centre from May 31-June 2…Have scored at least six runs in seven straight games against the White Sox, tied for the longest such streak against any opponent in team history (9th time). Alejandro Kirk connected for four home runs in five games vs. the White Sox in 2022, going 8-for-22 (.364) with a double and a total of eight RBI…Has gone 12-for-33 (.364) with two doubles, those four homers, and nine RBI in nine career meetings (.788 SLG, 1.205 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three extra-base hits and three RBI with five walks during the six games vs. CWS last year…Is a career 19-for-73 (.260) with three doubles, three homers, nine RBI, and 13 walks over 20 contests (.797 OPS). Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 107 career games played against the White Sox…Has hit .281 (119-for-424) with 22 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 66 RBI for a .761 OPS.

STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40

TODAY’S GAME: Making his 5th start of the season and his 2nd at Rogers Centre…Picked up his 2nd win of the year his last time out on 4/18 at HOU, throwing 6.1 innings of shutout ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 3rd straight quality start, and his 1st scoreless outing of the season. Signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Blue Jays on 12/16/22. Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Was saddled with the loss on 4/13 vs. DET, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Earned his 1st win as a Blue Jay on 4/7 at LAA, allowing 3R/2ER on 2 hits and 5 walks over 6.0 frames with 5 strikeouts. Took the loss in his Toronto debut on 4/2 at STL, giving up career highs in runs (9) and homers (4) over 3.1 innings (10H, 0BB, 0K).

VS. THE WHITE SOX:
Facing the White Sox for the 6th time in his career and the 1st time since 2021…Has pitched into the 6th inning in 4 of his 5 meetings with the ChiSox, including a pair of scoreless outings on 7/13/19 (6.0IP) and 8/11/19 (7.0IP)…Was drafted by Chicago in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft before being involved in a six-player trade with Oakland for RHP Jeff Samardzija on 12/9/14…In his lone MLB season with the Southsiders in 2014, went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA over 6 appearances (5 starts).

MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (14-7) at Cincinnati Reds (7-15)

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MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (14-7) at Cincinnati Reds (7-15)

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas beat Oakland yesterday in a rubber match, 5-2, as club finished a brief 3-game homestand vs. OAK with a 2-1 series win…Rangers have won 6 of 7, 7 of 9, and 10 of last 13 G for a 14-7 (.667) record, T2ndbest in the A.L. (w/ BAL) to only TB (19-3, .864) and T4th-best in MLB…Rangers’ 14 wins are T2nd-most in A.L. and T4th in MLB…season-best 4-G win streak, 4/16-19, matching club’s longest since the start of 2020 (4th time)…have an 11-7 record last 18 G since club’s 3-0 start to the season.

• Team currently sits a season high 7 games above .500, the 1st time the Rangers has been 7-over since 7/13/19 (50-43)…Texas has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023…the current 14-7 record ranks as T3rd-best 21-G start in club history and is the best 21-G start since 2013 (also 13- 7)…TEX recorded its 14th win in 2022 on May 15.

STANDINGS: The Rangers have gained 2.5 games in the division over the last 10 days, maintaining sole possession of 1st place in the A.L. West for a 10th straight day and 15th day overall in 2023…own a 2.5-game division lead over HOU, the team’s largest lead this late into a season (April 21-or-later) since 10/2/16 (+9.0 GA), the last day of team’s division-winning campaign in 2016…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 24 of the season’s first 25 days, including 9 straight to begin the year…from 2017-22, the Rangers had one day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).

SERIES STUFF: TEX improved to a 6-1 record in series finales yesterday…club is seeking to improve on their 4-3 record in series openers this season with a win tonight…Rangers have won 3 straight series for just 2nd time since the start of 2021 (also 3-0-0, 4/29-5/9/21 vs. BOS/at MIN/vs. SEA)… TEX is seeking to win 4 straight series for 1st time since taking 5 in a row from 6/15-7/1/18…team has gone undefeated in 2 series: 3-0, 3/30-4/2 vs. PHI; and 3-0, 4/17-19 at KC… the latter marked Rangers’ 1st undefeated road series of 3+ games since 9/5-8/19 at BAL (4-0)…TEX is 5-2-0 overall in series this year, going 3-1 at home 2-1on the road.

HAVE SCHEDULE, WILL TRAVEL: The Rangers are 6-3 (.667) on the road this season, tied for best away win pct. in the A.L. (HOU/TB: 6-3, NYY: 4-2)…have won 4 straight and 6 of last 7 away games after a 0-2 start…the 4 straight wins mark the club’s longest away win streak since a 4-0 span 6/11-17/22…Rangers are scheduled to play 13 of their next 19 games on the road from tonight thru 5/14.

VS. CINCINNATI: Texas begins a brief 3-G road trip against the Reds at Great American Ball Park today thru Wed…TEX has gone 4-2 in Interleague games this season, including 1-2 on the road (4/7-9 at CHC)…TEX has a 10-9 edge all-time vs. CIN, going 5-6 in Cincy, all games at GABP…TEX is 4-1-1 all-time in series vs. CIN, including 2-1-1 in 4 series at GABP…Rangers are 2-0-1 in last 3 series in Cincy…TEX has won 6 of 7 on the road, 1st 6-1 span away from Arlington since Sept. 2021.

HOMER HAPPY: Robbie Grossman’s 3-R HR in the 2nd inn. yesterday was TEX’s 7th HR of 3-or-4 runs over its last 7 G, as TEX has at least one such HR in 6 of 7 contests during that span…12 of the Rangers’ 27 HR this season have gone for 3-or-4 runs, easily the most in MLB…6 different Rangers have accounted for those 12 HR: 3-Heim, 2-Garver/García/ Grossman/Semien; 1-Jung…TEX is already just 8 HR shy of matching club’s 2022 total for HR of 3+ R (20)…each of the last 9 HR hit by TEX batters have come with men on base, the longest streak for TEX since 9 in a row from 7/1-4/04.

NOTHING ‘WEEK’ ABOUT ‘EL BOMBI’: Adolis García has had a week to remember from 4/17-23…here are some noteworthy tidbits:

• García batted .400/.458/.1.100/1.558 (8-20) in his 5 games last week with 4 HR, 2 2B, 14 RBI, and 8 R…his 14 RBI led all MLB players for the week, and he led the A.L. with 4 HR, 6 XBH, and 22 total bases.

• García’s 8 R were T2nd-most in the A.L., trailing only teammate Marcus Semien.

• On Sat. vs. OAK, García went 5-for-5 with 3 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 R, 16 total bases, 5 XBH, and a HBP…became just the 2nd player in MLB history to have 5 XBH and 8 RBI in a single contest, joining the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton in his 4-homer game on 5/8/12 at BAL.

• He is just the 3rd player in the modern era (since 1901) with at least 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, and 16 total bases in one game, joining Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges on 8/31/50 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon on 4/30/17.

• García’s 5 XBH matched the MLB record, and he matched

TEX club marks with 5 R and 6 times on base.
• García is batting .250 with an .853 OPS figure for the season, posting 7 HR, 28 RBI, and 18 R…his 28 RBI lead MLB, and he also ranks among A.L. season leaders in HR (2nd, 7) and R (T2nd, 18).

MARCUS WOULD LIKE A WORD: After going 1-for-3 with 1 R, 2 BB and 1 SB yesterday, Marcus Semien finished the week with a .450 BA (9-for-20), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 BB, 9 R and 2 SB.

• He ranks 1st in MLB w/ 21 R scored and T5th in A.L. w/ 20 RBI…he is the first player in Washington/Texas franchise history with 20+ RBI and 20+ R in his first 20 G of a season.

• During his last 9 G: .438 BA (14-for-32), 3 HR, 13 RBI, 9 BB, 13 R.

YOU WAITED THIS LONG TO MENTION DEGROM?: Jacob deGrom earned the win yesterday, improving to 2-0 in his 5th appearance/start of the season (W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R-1 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 1 HR, 80 pitches/57 strikes)…struck out a season high-tying 11 batters (2x, also 4/5 vs. BAL) while throwing just 80 pitches, the 12th instance since pitches were 1st tracked in 1988 of a Major League pitcher tallying 11+ SO on 80-or-fewer pitches (last NYY’s Domingo Germán, 11 SO/78 pitches on 4/15/23 on MIN)…it was the 2nd time deGrom has pulled the trick in his career (also 12 SO/76 pitches on 8/7/22 vs. ATL w/ NYM) and he is just the 2nd Ranger to accomplish the feat, joining Matt Perisho on 10/3/99 at LAA (12 SO/78
pitches)…additional notes on deGrom courtesy of Stathead:

• Yesterday’s outing was his 60th career game with 10+ SO, tied with Rube Waddell for 15th-most by any pitcher in the Modern Era (beg. 1901)…the only active ML pitchers with more career games of 10+ strikeouts: Max Scherzer (110), Chris Sale (79), Justin Verlander (72), and Clayton Kershaw (68).

• Recorded 11 SO without issuing a walk, just 15th outing of 11+ SO and zero walks in club history (beg. 1972) and 1st since Adrian Sampson on 6/2/19 vs. KC (11 SO/0 BB)…it was deGrom’s 16th career start with double-digit strikeouts and no walks, 10th-most by any pitcher in the Modern Era.

• deGrom has 43 SO and 3 BB through 5 starts in 2023, just the 6th time in the Modern Era for a pitcher to post 43+ SO and 3-or-fewer BB over his first 5 outings of a season.

HEATING UP: Leody Taveras matched his career/season high with 3 hits yesterday (4x, last 4/19/23 at KC), all of which were singles…has gone 7-for-15 (.467) over his last 4 G, raising his season BA from .105 to .265…per Statcast, has posted exit velocities of 95.0+ mph on 9 of last 15 batted balls dating back to 4/18…Ezequiel Duran registered a career/ game-high 112.8 mph exit velocity on his 5th-inning single, the highest exit velo. produced by a Ranger in 2023… Jonah Heim went 1-for-4 yesterday, and has reached base safely via H/BB in career-high 12 consecutive games (beg. 4/8), the longest on-base streak by a Texas batter this season.

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (2-2, 5.40)
TONIGHT: The 33-year-old right-hander (pronounced ee-VAHL-dee) is scheduled to make his 5th start/appearance of the season in tonight’s road trip opener in Cincinnati…has 5.0+ IP in all 4 starts, allowing 3-R-or-less in 3 of 4 outings… his 2.28 FIP is 5th in the A.L. and stands over 3 runs lower than his 5.40 ERA… ranks among A.L. qualifiers in SO/BB (7th, 6.00), HR/9 (8th, 0.42), and SO/9 (12th, 9.97)…Eovaldi is 1-1, 3.09 (4 ER/11.2 IP) in his 2 road starts this season with no HR allowed, 2 BB/11 SO…earned win in last start on Tues. at KC (6.0 IP, 2 R-ER), posting his 1st quality start of the year…is facing his 3rd different N.L. club, and his 2 A.L. starts have come vs. KC…Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS…ranked among A.L. leaders (min. 100.0 IP) in SO/BB (8th, 5.15) and BB/9 (9th, 1.65)…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…the Texas native is seeking a return to his 2021 form, when he was an All-Star with the Red Sox and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting…his Red Sox stint included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run, as he appeared in 3 of club’s 5 games during that year’s Fall Classic…has 241 games/222 starts with LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)…joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues…TEX is 2-2 in his 4 starts this season.

LAST START: Earned win in last outing Tues. at KC (W, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR, 95 pitches/62 strikes) in team’s 12-2 victory, overcoming a 23-pitch 1st inning to post his 1st quality start of the year…recorded season highs in IP (6.0) and pitches (95)…lone 1-2-3 inning was the 5th, when he retired Witt Jr., Melendez, and Sal Perez in order…marks his only clean inning in last 2 starts…TEX held just a 3-2 edige through 5 innings, but scored 5 times in the 6th and 4 times in the 8th to win going away.

VS. CINCINNATI: Eovaldi has gone 1-0, 0.60 (1 ER/15.0 IP) with 3 BB/12 SO and a .137 opp. BA in 2 G/GS in his career vs. the Reds…the 2 starts came in back-to-back outings with the Marlins in August 2014, most recently earning win on 8/8/14 at CIN (W, 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO)…that was his only career start at GABP…Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo HR in the 7th to give Eovaldi a 2-0 lead… former Ranger Jarrod Saltalamacchia had the other RBI for the Fish.

ON THE ROAD: Tonight’s outing will be Eovaldi’s 3rd road start of the season… is 1-1, 3.09 (4 ER/11.2 IP) in his 2 road starts with no HR allowed, 2 BB/11 SO… suffered a tough-luck loss in his 1st away appearance on 4/7 at CHC (L, 5.2 IP, 2 R-ER), as TEX was shut out 2-0…earned win in last outing Tues. at KC (see above)…in 2022, fared far better on the road (4-0, 2.64 ERA) than at Fenway Park (2-3, 5.26 ERA), but has traditionally performed better at home (31-32, 4.01 ERA) than on the road (38-38, 4.35 ERA) in his career.

• Has 12 road starts in 2022-23: 5-1, 2.71 (21 ER/69.2 IP), 10 BB/73 SO, 10 HR…in 2022, his 2.64 road ERA ranked 9th in the A.L.

2023: Opponents have batted .318/.344/.500/.844 (28-88) with 11 extra-base hits (HR, 3 3B, 7 2B), incl. opp. BA of .277 (13-47) vs. LHB and .366 (15-41) vs. RHB…batters are 7-for-9 w/ 3 XBH when putting 1st pitch into play, also 4-for-9 with a 0-2 count…has 24 strikeouts/4 walks, as he ranks among A.L. qualifiers in SO/BB (7th, 6.00), HR/9 (8th, 0.42), and SO/9 (12th, 9.97)…current SO/9 figure would be the highest of his career, surpassing prev. high of 9.68 in 2020 w/ BOS…recorded season-high 18 swing-and-miss strikes (Statcast) on 4/12 vs. KC (L, 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R-ER)…run support has been high (7+ R 2x) and low (one-orzero R 2x)…made Rangers debut in 16-3 Texas victory on 4/1 vs. PHI (W, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER)…became 1st Rangers starting pitcher to be awarded a win in his first start with the club since A.J. Alexy on 8/3/21 vs. COL…the Alvin, TX native became the 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his TEX debut (last Kip Wells on 8/2/06 at MIN).

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

RED HOTS
• Today the Reds selected from Louisville the contract of OF Henry Ramos (#31) and designated for assignment IF Jason Vosler.

• In the last 11 games beginning 4/13, the Reds’ bullpen has posted an ERA of 2.42 (44.2ip, 39h, 12er, 17bb, 47k), including an ERA of 2.10 in the last 7 games (25.2ip, 20h, 6er, 12bb, 27k).

• Reds relievers haven’t allowed a home run since Tue vs TB…the 5-game homerless streak ties the bullpen’s longest of the season.

• Reds batters haven’t homered in 6 games, their longest homerless streak since 4/16-4/22, 2018 (6g)…haven’t gone more than 6 games without a home run since 4/21-4/27, 2014 (7g)…the Reds last homered in the second inning on Mon vs TB (Kevin Newman off Jalen Beeks).

• The Reds’ 6-game losing streak is a season high…their longest losing streak of last season was 11 games (4/12-4/23).

• The Reds have played 17 consecutive days since their last day off, rainouts on 4/5 vs Cubs and on 4/6 in the Phillies’ home opener (4- 13)…barring unplayable weather over the next 3 days, this series will complete their streak of 20 games on 20 straight days.

TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 1 (0-3) of a brief 3-game homestand, all vs the Rangers.

• The Reds are coming off a winless 4-game road trip to Pit’s PNC Park, their first 4-game series sweep loss there since April 2019.

• Following Wed afternoon’s game the Reds hit the road again to face the Athletics (3g) and Padres (3g) in the first of their 3 trips to the West Coast.

SERIES NOTES
• The Redlegs are 9-10 all-time vs the Rangers, including 6-5 at Great American Ball Park.

• The Reds and Rangers are meeting for the eighth time overall and for the first time since 2019, also here at GABP.

• The Reds haven’t played in Arlington since 2016.

• The Reds have played only 1 interleague series this season, a 1-2 series loss vs the Rays last week at Great American Ball Park.

• From 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams (0-2 vs Cle, 2-0 at Cle, 1-2 at Tor, 1-1 at Bos, 3-0 vs TB, 2-1 at NYY, 2-1 vs Bal, 1-1 vs Bos)…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).

ATHLETICS UP NEXT
• Following this 3-game home series vs the Rangers and Thu’s off day in the Bay Area, beginning Fri night the Reds and Athletics will meet for their ninth series during the regular season and for the first time since 2019, also at Oakland Coliseum.

• The Reds are 9-13 during the regular season vs the Athletics, 5-9 at Oakland Coliseum.

• In 2013, Oak became the last current Major League team to visit Great American Ball Park…they last played in the Queen City in 2016.

• The Reds and Athletics met twice in the World Series…Oak won in 7 games in 1972, while Cin capped its wire-to-wire season with a 4-game sweep in 1990.

Tonight’s Pitcher – #40 Nick Lodolo, LHP
• Resides in Fort Worth, Texas…was selected by the Reds in the first round (7th overall) of the June 2019 first-year player draft…was Texas Christian University’s highest-ever baseball draft pick.

• Tonight is making his fifth appearance and start of the season…will be his first career appearance vs the Rangers…never has faced any of the Rangers’ batters.

• On 4/8 at Phi, his career-high 12 strikeouts were the most by a Reds lefthander since Amir Garrett had 12 strikeouts on 4/19/17 vs Bal…was Lodolo’s third career game with at least 10 strikeouts…became only the fourth Reds lefthander to record at least 7.0 scoreless innings with at least 12 strikeouts (Tom Hall on 5/14/72/g2 vs StL, Johnny Vander Meer 5 times, Rube Benton on 6/11/1915 vs Dodgers).

• Started the second game of the season and earned the 6-2 win vs the Pirates.

• In his 2022 Major League debut season received 2 third-place votes in the BBWAA’s Jackie Robinson Award voting for National League Rookie of the Year.

• In 2022 ranked among the National League rookie pitching leaders in ERA (4th, 3.66), wins (T5th, 4), strikeouts (3rd, 131), starts (T3rd, 19), innings pitched (5th, 103.1), opponents’ BA (4th, .235) and WHIP (3rd, 1.25).

• Led all Major League pitchers in hit batters (19), 4 shy of Jake Weimer’s 1907 single-season franchise record.

• Went 1-2, 5.52 in his first 3 career starts, but then from 4/28-7/4 missed 69 days and 61 games while on the injured list with a lower right back strain…was transferred from the 15- to the 60-day injured list on 6/21, when IF Donovan Solano came off the 60-day IL.

• Following 4 rehabilitation starts from 6/13-6/29 at ACL Reds (1gs) and Louisville (3gs), came off the injured list on 7/5 and finished the season 3-5, 3.35 over 16 starts.

• In his last 9 starts of the season beginning 8/17 went 1-3, 2.75 (55.2ip, 35h, 17er, 15bb, 67k, 6hr, .182baa, 0.90whip)…the Reds went 3-6 in those 9 starts.

• Beginning 8/17, finished the season ranked among the National League leaders in that span in starts (T3rd), innings pitched (T5th), ERA (8th), strikeouts (7th), opponents’ BA (4th) and WHIP (5th).

• On 9/9 at Mil (8ip, 0bb, 11k) and 9/14 vs Pit (6.1ip, 0bb, 11k) became only the second rookie since 1893, the year the pitching mound was
moved to its current distance, to record in consecutive apps 0 walks and at least 11 strikeouts, joining Dwight Gooden (9/12 & 9/17, 1984, 16k vs Pit, 16k at Phi).

• Is only the third Reds rookie since 1900 to record in consecutive apps at least 11 strikeouts, joining Gary Nolan (6/1 & 6/7, 1967, 12k vs Cubs, 15k vs SF) and Bruce Berenyi (8/24 & 8/29, 1981, 12k vs NYM, 11k at NYM).

MLB Preview: Houston Astros (12-10) at Tampa Bay Rays (19-3)

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MLB Preview: Houston Astros (12-10) at Tampa Bay Rays (19-3)

HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros continue their current, 6-game road trip tonight in St. Petersburg with the 1st of a 3-game series vs. the Rays at Tropicana Field…RHP José Urquidy (1- 1) will start for the Astros vs. Rays RHP Taj Bradley (2-0)… tonight will be Urquidy’s 3rd career start/app. vs. the Rays in the regular season and his 1st since 2021…he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2ER/12IP) in those 2 starts vs. TB.

VS THE RAYS: The Astros have had success vs. the Rays over the last 2 seasons, posting a 9-3 mark in that span…HOU was 5-1 vs. TB in 2022, which included a 3-game sweep at Tropicana Field, 9/19-21…the Astros have won 6 of their last 7 and 11 of their last 15 games vs. TB overall, and have won 5 of their last 6 games at Tropicana Field.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP: The Astros came from behind for the 3rd straight game to top the Braves, 5-2, yesterday to complete a 3-game sweep at Truist Park…HOU trailed, 2-0, before rallying for 2 runs in the 8th and 3 more in the 9th to win it… key blows were a 2-run single to tie it in the 8th by Yordan Alvarez, and a pinch-RBI single by Corey Julks to give HOU a 3-2 lead in the 9th…Alex Bregman added a 2-run single to provide insurance…RHP Bryan Abreu hurled a scoreless 9th to earn his 2nd save in as many outings…starter RHP Cristian Javier was strong, tallying 10 K’s in his 6.0 IP while allowing just 1 ER on 3 hits (Javier struck out 7 consecutive Braves at one point).

500 CLUB: Alex Bregman’s 2 RBI yesterday give him 500 for his career (13th player in franchise history to reach 500 RBI).

SWEEPSTAKES: The Astros 3-game sweep of the Braves was their 1st series sweep of the season and their 1st since taking a 3-game set over the Rays at Tropicana Field, 9/19-21 of 2022…it was the Astros 1st sweep of 3 games or more vs. the Braves since 6/2-4 of 1995 at Fulton County Stadium…Late Surges: The Astros outscored the Braves, 9-0, from the 8th inning on in the three wins (all come-from-behind).

ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the 4th game (3-0 thus far) of a 6-game road trip in which the Astros will visit two first-place opponents in ATL (14-8) and TB (19-3), who have a combined record of 32-10 (.762)…HOU is 6-3 on the road thus far in 2023…

ROAD SUCCESS: The Astros were an AL-best 51-30 (.630) on the road last season and are 101-70 (.591) on the road since the start of the 2021 season, which also is tops in the AL.

VS. THE BEST: The Astros are 9-6 this season vs. clubs that are at .500 or above, which continues a trend of recent years…in 2022, the Astros were an AL-best 42-27 (.609) vs. opponents that were .500 or better and were 35-20 (.636) in the regular season vs. opponents that qualified for the playoffs…additionally in 2022, HOU ended up with an 11-2 (.846) mark in the 2022 postseason (3-0 vs. SEA, 4-0 vs. NYY, 4-2 vs. PHI).

FIRST-PLACE CLUB: From April 7-26, five of the six clubs that the Astros have played or will play are currently in first place in their respective divisions…those clubs have a combined record of 88-44 (.667)…HOU is 9-6 in that stretch thus far with 3 games to play…the 1st place clubs are MIN, PIT, TEX, ATL and TB…TOR is not in 1st place, but are 13-9 on the season.

RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 4 straight games, 5 of their last 6, and 9 of their last 13 games, all vs. clubs with above-.500 records.

FAMILIAR PACE: Currently at 12-10, the Astros have a similar record to the 2022 and 2021 clubs after 22 games…they were 11-11 at this point in 2022 and went on to win 106 games and the WS…threy were 11-11 in 2021 and went on to win 95 games and the AL Pennant.

STREAKER: Mauricio Dubón singled in the 8th inning yesterday at ATL, extending his career-long hitting streak to 17 games… that is the longest hitting streak in the AL this season and the longest active streak in the Majors…he is 25×73 (.342) during the streak with just 4 strikeouts…Dubon has made all 18 of his starts at second base this season while filling in for the injured 2B Jose Altuve.

Longest Astros Hit Streaks – Before May 1 (source: Elias)

  1. Bob Watson – 19 games (4/9-27/1973)
  2. Mauricio Dubon – 17 games (4/2-current)
    T3. Craig Biggio – 16 games (4/5-26/2000)
    T3. Billy Hatcher – 16 games (4/6-23/1987)

MORE MAURICIO: Mauricio Dubón is T-1st in the AL in road batting average with a .429 clip (15×35)…he has played in 8 of the Astros 9 road games in 2023, hitting safely in all 8.

Highest AL Road Batting Avg.
T1. Mauricio Dubón: .429 (15×35)
T1. Jorge Mateo: .429 (12×28)

  1. Randy Arozarena: .394 (13×33)

UNDER THE RADAR: RHP Phil Maton and RHP Bryan Abreu have been outstanding in the early going this season…Maton has allowed just 2 hits and no runs in his first 9 appearances (10.2 IP) with 13 K’s…opponents are just 2×34 (.059) vs. him (RHH are 0x16, LHH are 2×18)…Abreu has tallied 19 K’s in his 12.1 IP while allowing just one run for an 0.73 ERA, also posting a .128 opponent’s batting average (5×39).

RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez’ 27 RBI are the most ever by an Astros player in the first 22 team games of a season.

Most RBI in First 22g – Astros Franchise History

  1. Yordan Alvarez: 27 in 2023
  2. Lance Berkman: 26 in 2002 & 2006
  3. César Cedeño: 24 in 1974

CLEAN GETAWAYS: With yesterday’s win in ATL, the Astros have now won 16 consecutive ‘getaway day’ games, dating back to last season…their last loss on a getaway day was on 8/7/22 at CLE (1-0 loss)…’getaway day’ is defined as the final game before traveling after a homestand or during/after a road trip.

TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP JOSÉ URQUIDY
LAST START – 4/18 vs. TOR: had a tough outing, allowing a season-high 4 runs on 7 hits through 4.1 IP in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays…surrendered solo home runs to Matt Chapman and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

EXIT VELOCITY: per Baseball Savant, has held opponent’s to an 83.9 mph exit average velocity, placing him in the 95th percentile for opponent’s exit velocity…is the lowest average exit velocity amongst Astros starters, with Luis Garcia the next-closest (87.6 mph).

SPIN CYCLE: is averaging a spin rate of 2689 (revolutions/minute) with his curveball, which is the highest mark of his career…set his previous career high of 2628 in 2022.

AGAINST THE RAYS: set to make his 3rd career start against Tampa Bay and 2nd start at Tropicana Field.

• has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2ER/12IP), including 12 strikeouts to 2 walks through his 2 starts against Tampa Bay…is his lowest ERA against an opponent in which he’s pitched at least 10 IP against…the Astros are 2-0 in games Urquidy has started against Tampa Bay.

• tossed 7.0 scoreless innings in first career appearance against the Rays on 5/1/21 at
Tampa Bay…still stands as tied for the longest scoreless outing in his career, which he
also accomplished on 6/23/21 at Baltimore.

POSTSEASON RECORD BOOKS: holds numerous postseason records of foreign-born players…leads all foreign-born players in MLB history with 3 World Series wins…has gone 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA (2ER/14.2 IP) in 5 World Series games…also just the 2nd Mexican-born player to receive a winning decision as a starter in the World Series, joining LHP Fernando Valenzuela (LAD, ‘81)

• through 12 career postseason games, has gone 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA (15 ER/36.1IP).

WITH THE ‘STROS: was originally signed by the Astros as an international free agent from Mexico on March 2, 2015…made his MLB debut on July 2, 2019 with a start at Colorado…since his debut, he ranks 5th amongst AL pitchers (min. 325 IP) by averaging 1.97 walks per 9 IP.

• is on 11 Mexican-born players to appear in a game with the Astros…his 357.1 IP in his career is the most of any Mexican-born pitcher in Astros history, directly ahead of RHP Aurelio Lopez, who pitched 116.0 innings for the Astros in the 1986-87 seasons…his 25 career wins are 2nd-most of any active Mexican-born player in MLB, trailing only Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (52)

TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:

SWEEPING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON — The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 4-1 victory on Sunday at Tropicana Field, their fifth series sweep of the season…Tampa Bay jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second frame courtesy of RF Luke Raley’s (1-for-3, HR, 2RBI, R) two-run homer and an RBI-groundout by 1B Yandy Díaz (1-for4, 2B, RBI)…DH Harold Ramírez (1-for-4, HR, RBI, R) added his fifth home run of the season in the third frame as the Rays held the White Sox scoreless over the final five innings.

Making his return from the injured list, RHP Zach Eflin (5.0IP, 3H, ER, 4SO) tossed 67 pitches over 5.0 innings of work.

RHP Yonny Chirinos (3.0IP, 2SO) retired all nine batters he faced, extending his scoreless inning streak to 18.0, the fourth-longest active streak in the majors… RHP Pete Fairbanks (1.0IP, SO) picked up his third save while extending his franchise-record scoreless inning streak to 29.0, the longest active run in the majors and longest streak by any reliever since New York-AL’s Clay Holmes (31.1IP) from 4/9-6/18, 2022, per STATS LLC. Ê Tampa Bay became the eighth team in MLB history (since 1901) to win 19 of its first 22 games, including the first since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers (also 19-3)…only the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1911 Detroit Tigers (both 20-2) have recorded more victories in their first 22 games.

RED HOT AT THE TROP — Tampa Bay has won 13 straight home games to open the season, the longest home win streak in franchise history and longest to start a season by any club since the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers (also 13 straight)…the Rays join the 2009 Dodgers as one of three teams since 1901 to win each of their first 13 home games in a season, along with the 1907 New York Giants (15G).

The 13-game home win streak is the longest in the majors since the New York Yankees’ 15-game run from 5/24-6/23, 2022…since 2012, only the 2022 Yankees and 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers (15G, 8/30-10/3, 2021) have strung together longer home win streaks within a single season.

The Rays lead the majors in several categories at home, including runs scored per game (6.77), runs allowed per game (2.77), home runs per game (2.18), batting average (.282), OPS (.891), ERA (2.36), opponents’ batting average (.170), opponents’ OPS (.516), WHIP (0.87) and pitcher strikeout rate (29.5%).

HOMER HAPPY — Tampa Bay has hit a major league-best 48 home runs, second most through a team’s first 22 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901) behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (52HR)…the current record through 23 games (52HR) is also held by the 2000 Cardinals, followed by the 2019 Seattle Mariners (49HR)…in 2022, it took the Rays 47 games to reach 48 home runs on the season.

Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 22 games, the longest streak to open a season in MLB history…marks the longest home run streak at any point in a single season since the 2019 Houston Astros (25G, 9/1-29, 2019).

The Rays have homered in 23 straight games overall dating back to 10/5/22, the longest streak in franchise history, surpassing a 21-game run from 9/20/15-4/12/16.

Tampa Bay has an MLB-best 12 players with multiple homers, ahead of San Francisco and St. Louis (10 each)…the Rays also have the most players with at least five homers (4), ahead of Los Angeles-AL and Atlanta (3 each).

RANDY LAND — Randy Arozarena has amassed 22 RBI on the season, tied for fourth most in the majors behind Texas’ Adolis García (28), Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (27) and New York-NL’s Pete Alonso (23)…marks the most RBI through a Rays hitter’s first 21 games of a season since Evan Longoria and Carlos Peña (24RBI each) in 2009.

Arozarena paces the majors in both go-ahead RBI (8) and game-winning RBI (5)… since the beginning of 2022, his 29 go-ahead RBI are tied for fifth in MLB, while his 17 game-winning RBI are tied for seventh.

This season, Arozarena ranks among qualified MLB outfielders in RBI (2nd, 22), hits (T3rd, 28), average (4th, .341), multi-hit games (T4th, 8), homers (T6th, 5), OPS (6th, .970), total bases (T7th, 46) and fWAR (8th, 1.1).

HOT HITTING HAROLD — Harold Ramírez has hit safely in nine straight games, slashing .457/.500/.743 (16-for-35) with five extra-base hits, 6 RBI and six multi-hit games in that stretch…since the streak began on 4/12, he ranks among MLB leaders (min. 35PA) in average (2nd), on-base pct. (T3rd) and OPS (4th, 1.243)…it matches the second-longest active hit streak in the majors, trailing only Houston’s Mauricio Dubón (17G)…it marks the third-longest hit streak of Ramírez’s career, trailing only a career-long 12-game run (7/15-8/26, 2022) and a 10-game stretch (5/21-30, 2019).

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK — The Rays lead the majors in runs scored (149) while surrendering the fewest runs (61)…Tampa Bay’s +88 run differential is the second-best mark through the first 22 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901), trailing only the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (+93)…the current record since 1901 through 23 games is +88, also held by the 1902 Pirates.

Tampa Bay’s 149 runs scored are the most through 22 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (142R)…the Rays are one of 23 teams since 1901 to score 149+ runs through 22 games, and the first since the 2003 New York Yankees (153R).

The Rays’ 61 runs allowed are the fewest through 22 games in club history, ahead of the 2019 team (65R)…since 2019, only the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers (56R) have allowed fewer runs through 22 games.

ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.71 ERA is the best mark in the majors ahead of New York-AL (3.06)…this includes the best starter ERA (2.54) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.91)…Rays pitchers pace the majors in opponents’ OPS (.561), opponents’ average (.192), HR/9.0IP (0.55), fewest pitches per IP (15.43) and WHIP (1.05) while trailing only Chicago-NL (86.8 mph) in lowest average exit velocity (87.3 mph).

IN THE BOX — Rays hitters lead MLB in batting average (.282), OPS (.890), on-base pct. (.355), slugging pct. (.535), hard-hit pct. (46.0%), extra-base hits (92) and total bases (402)… the Rays offense has produced the lowest groundball rate (37.6%) and the second-highest flyball rate (30.2%) behind Los Angeles-NL (32.0%).

OUT OF THIS WORLD — The Rays and Astros open their six-game season series tonight at Tropicana Field…Tampa Bay dropped five of six meetings with Houston in 2022, including all three at Tropicana Field…the three-game skid is the longest home losing streak against Houston in club history…the Rays have dropped six of seven and seven of their last 11 matchups with the Astros overall.

REWRITING HISTORY — Prior to a 6-3 loss in Toronto on 4/14, the Rays became the fourth team in MLB history to begin a season 13-0, joining the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers (13-0), 1982 Atlanta Braves (13-0) and 1884 St. Louis Maroons (20-0)…it marked the longest win streak in club history, surpassing a 12-game run from 6/9-22, 2004.

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP TAJ BRADLEY (2-0, 2.61)
TALKIN’ TAJ — Tampa Bay’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 18 prospect in baseball (MLB.com) will make his third career start tonight vs. Houston,
including his second home outing…went 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA (133.1IP, 38ER) over 28 starts between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham in 2022…was selected by the Rays in the fifth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.

BIG LEAGUE DEBUT — Bradley earned the win in his major league debut after tossing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts…fanned Rafael Devers in the first inning for the first strikeout of his career…became the third player to make their big league debut for the Rays this season, joining RHP Kevin Kelly on 4/1 vs. Detroit and RHP Braden Bristo on 4/13 vs. Boston.

SMOOTH SAILING — Bradley improved to 2-0 after tossing 5.1 scoreless innings on 4/18 at Cincinnati, scattering three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. Ê Bradley’s 17 strikeouts are the most by any Rays pitcher through their first two career appearances, surpassing the previous record held by Andy Sonnanstine (6/5-10, 2007)…the franchise record for the most strikeouts through a pitcher’s first three career appearances is held by Chris Archer (25, 6/20-9/8, 2012).

According to OptaSTATS, Bradley is the first pitcher in American League history to strike out 8+ batters and earn the win in each of his first two career appearances.

ONE TO REMEMBER — Bradley’s eight strikeouts on 4/12 vs. Boston were second most by a Rays player in his major league debut in club history, trailing only Wade Davis’ nine punch outs on 9/6/09 vs. Detroit…since the beginning of 2020, only Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie (10SO, 8/22/20 vs. DET) and Washington’s Joan Adon (9SO, 10/3/21 vs. BOS) have fanned more batters in their debuts.

DEBUT DERBY — Bradley became the second of three Rays to make their major league debut in 2023, along with RHP Kevin Kelly (4/1 vs. DET) and RHP Braden Bristo (4/13 vs. BOS)…he is the first pitcher to debut with the Rays as a starter since RHP Tommy Romero, who served as an opener on 4/12/2022 vs. Oakland.

The three debuts are tied with Cleveland and San Francisco for the third most in the majors this season, trailing Milwaukee and Oakland at four apiece…in 2022, nine players made their MLB debuts with the Rays, tied for fourth most in a season in club history and most since a franchise-record 12 debuts in 2018.

MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox (12-11) at Baltimore Orioles (14-7)

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MLB Preview: Boston Red Sox (12-11) at Baltimore Orioles (14-7)

BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:

STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games, after beginning the season 5-8. The Sox rank 13th in MLB in run differential (+11). The Sox have played more games than any other AL team (23)…They are in a stretch of 19 days without an off day from 4/8-26 (9-7 so far), their longest stretch of the season…They will not play on more than 10 consecutive days again until 8/15-30 (16 G).

RED SOX THROUGH 23 GAMES
Stat 2022 2023
W-L 9-14 12-11
Runs scored 81 132
Home runs 13 30
AVG .229 .252
OPS .622 .763
Walks 52 82

SERIES BUSINESS: The Red Sox are 5-2-0 in series…Last season, they went 1-5-1 in their first 7 series and did not earn their 5th series win until 5/26 (began 4-7-2). The Sox have won each of their last 3 series, each against a team that entered Game 1 with at least a share of 1st place (3-1 vs. LAA, 2-1 vs. MIN, 2-1 at MIL). The Sox have won 3 consecutive series for the 1st time since winning 7 straight from 6/3-26/22.

COMEBACK KIDS: The Red Sox have come from behind in 9 of their 12 wins, most in MLB…They trailed by multiple runs in 5 of those 9 wins, including by 4 runs on 4/15 vs. LAA and by 6 runs on 4/1 vs. BAL. The Sox have won 4 games in which they trailed after 7 innings, already matching their 2023 total (4-64)… That is the most such wins in MLB.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Red Sox defeated the Brewers yesterday in Milwaukee, 12-5…They trailed, 4-3, after 7 innings before scoring 9 runs in the 8th, their highest total in any inning since 5/4/19 at CWS (9 runs in 3rd inn.).

MACHO MAN: Masataka Yoshida hit 2 HR in the 8th inning yesterday, a solo shot that broke a 4-4 tie and then a grand slam that gave the Red Sox a 12-4 lead…According to Elias: Yoshida recorded the 65th instance of a player hitting 2 HR in an inning, including the 1st by a player born in Japan and the 4th by a rookie (most recently Joe Pepitone in 1962). It marked only the 2nd 2-HR inning in which at least one HR gave his team a lead in the 8th inning or later (also PHI’s Andy Seminick on 6/2/49 vs. CIN), and the 15th in which at least one was a grand slam.

RED SOX TO HIT 2 HOME RUNS IN AN INNING
Player Game Inn. Types
Masataka Yoshida 4/23/2023 at MIL 8th Solo, GS
David Ortiz 8/12/2008 vs. TEX 1st 3-R, 3-R
Nomar Garciaparra 7/23/2002 vs. TB-G1 3rd 2-R, 2-R
Ellis Burks 8/27/1990 at CLE 4th 3-R, solo
Bill Regan 6/16/1928 at CWS 4th 2-R, solo

SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox rank 3rd in MLB in runs scored (132)…In their last 10 games (beginning 4/14), they have averaged 6.1 runs per game with an .804 OPS. This is only the 9th time the Sox have reached 30 HR in 23 games or fewer (1st since 2002). The Sox have scored 9+ runs in a game 7 times (6-1), tied with TEX for 2nd most in MLB behind TB (8). The Sox have put 159 balls in play with 100+ MPH exit velocities, 2nd most in the AL behind TB (167).

RED SOX OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
Stat AL Rank
132 R 3rd
30 HR T-2nd
80 XBH 2nd
20.6 SO% 2nd
Stat AL Rank
.252 AVG 5th
.330 OBP 5th
.433 SLG 3rd
.763 OPS 3rd

LONG WAY TO GO: Each of the last 3 World Series Champions in 162-game seasons have been 12-11 or worse through their first 23 games: 2022 Astros (12-11), 2021 Braves (11-12), and 2019 Nationals (11-12). In all, 29 teams have lost at least 11 of their first 23 games and gone on to win the World Series, including 9 in this century…The Red Sox did so in 1903 (12-11) and 1916 (11-12).

TEAM EFFORT: Four different players have recorded a go-ahead RBI in the 8th inning or later for the Red Sox: Adam Duvall (4/1 vs. BAL), Yu Chang (4/15 vs. LAA), Alex Verdugo (4/18 vs. MIN), and Masataka Yoshida (4/23 at MIL). Rafael Devers leads the AL in HR (8), XBH (tied, 15), and total bases (tied, 54)…Alex Verdugo ranks T-2nd in the AL in hits (29) and runs (18), as well as 7th in AVG (.322) and 9th in OBP (.396).

RED SOX INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES OF LATE
Player Span (Start Date) Stats
Justin Turner Last 13 G (4/11) 1.018 OPS, 2 HR
Kiké Hernández Last 12 G (4/12) .923 OPS, 12 R
Yu Chang Last 7 G (4/15) .840 OPS, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Jarren Duran Last 7 G (4/17) .391 AVG, .994 OPS, 4 2B
Masataka Yoshida Last 4 G (4/20) .412 AVG, 2 HR, 9 RBI

OUT OF THE GATE: The Red Sox have scored in the 1st inning in 6 of their last 11 games (beginning 4/13 at TB)… They have not allowed a 1st-inning run in their last 4 games. The Sox have been out-scored in the 1st inning, 26-15… Their 9.78 ERA in the frame ranks 29th in the majors.

RUNNING RED SOX: The Red Sox are 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts…That is their longest streak of successful attempts to begin a season since 2015 (12-for-12). The only other team that has not been caught stealing this season is KC (13-for-13). The Orioles were 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts against the Sox in their opening series of 2023… Since then, opponents are 10-for-15 vs. BOS.

WHAT A RELIEF: The Red Sox rank 10th in MLB with a 3.35 bullpen ERA, after ranking 26th in 2022 (4.59). In their last 10 games, Sox relievers have posted a 2.48 ERA (11 ER/40.0 IP) with 41 SO and 12 BB.

RED SOX PITCHERS WITH A RELIEF ERA OF 2.50 OR LOWER
Pitcher Relief ERA IP ER
Kenley Jansen 0.00 7.0 0
Kutter Crawford 0.79 11.1 1
Josh Winckowski 1.65 16.1 3
John Schreiber 2.45 11.0 3

CLOSING TIME: The Red Sox have a 1.54 ERA in the 8th and 9th innings, tied with the Rays for lowest in MLB (7 ER/41.0 IP)…The Sox have out-scored opponents in those innings, 31-8. The Sox are 8-0 when leading after 6 innings. The Red Sox are 1 of 2 teams in MLB without a blown save this season (6-for-6; also MIA-5-for-5).

MOST SAVES IN MLB HISTORY
Rk. Pitcher SV

  1. Mariano Rivera …..652
  2. Trevor Hoffman …..601
  3. Lee Smith …………..478
  4. Francisco Rodriguez..437
    Rk. Pitcher SV
  5. John Franco………..424
  6. Billy Wagner……….422
    T7. Kenley Jansen .. 396
    Craig Kimbrel ……..396

PINCH ME: The Red Sox have used a pinch-hitter 27 times this season, most in MLB (9-for-24, 1 BB, 2 CI). The Sox’ .375 AVG in pinch-hit situations ranks 2nd in MLB…Their 9 pinch hits are 3 more than any other team.

SOX & O’S: The Red Sox are 7-2 in their last 9 games against the Orioles, having won each of the last 3 series. The Sox went 4-5 at Camden Yards last season, winning each of the last 2 meetings (W 17-4, W 1-0).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: 41 CHRIS SALE – LHP
Is making his 100th career start with the Red Sox, the 58th pitcher to reach that mark. Allowed 1 run while striking out 11 batters over 6.0 IP on Tuesday vs. MIN (3 H, 2 BB)…Recorded each of his first 7 outs via strikeout…Was his 51st career start with at least 11 SO (last: 8/13/19 at CLE, 12 SO). Has 30 SO in 18.0 IP (15.00 SO/9.0 IP)…Has 11.11 SO/9.0 IP in his career (2,094 SO/1,696.0 IP), the highest rate in the Live Ball Era (min. 1,000 IP). In 24 career games vs. BAL (18 starts), is 10-3 with a 3.21 ERA (39 ER/109.1 IP)…In 14 career games at Camden Yards (11 starts), is 7-2 with a 2.20 ERA (17 ER/69.2 IP). In his last 4 starts at Camden Yards, has 42 SO and only 2 BB…Has thrown 5.0+ innings and allowed 3 runs or fewer in each of his last 10 starts at the venue.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

A WILD FINISH: Adam Frazier scampered home on a wild pitch to give the Orioles a dramatic 2-1, 10-inning victory yesterday, completing the three-game sweep of the Tigers…The O’s did not have a baserunner until Ryan Mountcastle broke up Eduardo Rodriguez’s perfect game with a two-out single in the seventh inning…Jorge Mateo scored from first base on an Anthony Santander two-out, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning to tie the game.

WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won six consecutive games, eight of their last nine, and 10 of their last 12…Marks the team’s longest winning streak by the Orioles since a 10-game stretch from July 3-13, 2022…The 14-7 start to the season is tied for the third-best in team history (since 1954), done in 2017, 2005, 1997, 1994, 1985, 1970, and 1969, and trailing only 1966 (16-5) and 1968 (15-6).

Baltimore is tied for the second-best record in the AL with Texas, trailing only Tampa Bay (19-3); the O’s .667 winning percentage is tied for the fourth-best in MLB behind Tampa Bay (.864), Pittsburgh (.696), and Milwaukee (.682).

The Birds have won four straight games at Oriole Park for the first time since winning eight in a row from June 22-July 10, 2022.

The six-game winning streak is the second-longest active stretch in MLB, trailing the seven in a row the Pittsburgh has won.

MAKING THEIR PITCH: The Orioles have pitched to a 1.15 ERA (7 ER/55.0 IP) during the current six-game winning streak…Starters have thrown to a 1.25 ERA (5 ER/36.0 IP), the best in MLB during the streak, while the bullpen has a 0.95 ERA (2 ER/19.0 IP), third-best in MLB, over that period…This comes after the team had a 5.36 ERA (79 ER/132.2 IP) in the first 15 games through April 15, sixth-worst in MLB in that time.

O’s hurlers did not allow a run in 34 consecutive innings from the second inning on April 16 at Chicago-AL through the eighth inning on April 21; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the sixth-longest streak in club history (since 1954) and the longest since the O’s tossed 45 straight scoreless frames to end the 1995 campaign…According to STATS, it was the longest streak by an AL team in a single season since Baltimore’s 45-inning streak in 1995.

Baltimore starting pitchers had a scoreless innings streak of 29.2 from the second inning on April 16 through the sixth inning on April 22…Marks the longest such stretch by Orioles starters in a single season since a 42.0-straight scoreless stretch to end 1995.

THE CANO SHOW: Yennier Cano has set down the first 17 hitters he has faced to begin the season, including five on Saturday night…He is the first O’s pitcher to do so since Fred Holdsworth set the team record (since 1954) by retiring the first 24 batters he faced in the 1976 campaign from July 17-24.

HOME SWEET HOME: The O’s continue their six-game homestand tonight with the first of a three-game set against the Red Sox through Wednesday…The Orioles swept the series against the Tigers over the weekend…The O’s have gone 7-3 so far at home and their .700 home winning percentage ranks second in the AL and tied for second in MLB (see chart at right)…Baltimore went 4-3 (.571) in their season-opening homestand against the Yankees (1-2) and Athletics (3-1) from April 7-13.

AGAINST THE RED SOX: Baltimore and Boston meet for three games for the second time this season after the teams squared off at Fenway Park for the opening series of the year from March 30-April 2…After Wednesday, the O’s and Red Sox do not meet again until a three-game series September 8-10 in Boston before the teams wrap up the regular season with four games at Oriole Park from September 28-October 1. LOOKING AHEAD: Following the current homestand, the Birds embark on the longest road trip of the season with four games at Detroit from April 27-30, an off day on May 1, three games at Kansas City from May 2-4, and three games at Atlanta from May 5-7.

ON THE ATTACK: Baltimore is batting .239/.332/.409 (165-for-689) with 38 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs, 108 runs scored, 104 RBI, and 92 walks to start the season… The O’s rank fifth in the AL and tied for 10th in MLB in runs scored after finishing 10th in the AL and 20th in MLB with 674 runs scored in 2022…The Birds rank among AL teams in walks (1st, 92), on-base percentage (4th, .332), slugging percentage (4th, .409), and OPS (4th, .741).

The Orioles lead MLB with 4.11 pitches per plate appearance this season; the O’s have three players in the top six in the AL in pitches per plate appearance: Adley Rutschman (2nd, 4.40), Adam Frazier (4th, 4.35), and Anthony Santander (6th, 4.32); Gunnar Henderson (12th, 4.22) and Cedric Mullins (20th, 4.16) also rank in the top 20 in the AL.

NEED FOR SPEED: The O’s have 25 stolen bases, tied for second in MLB with the Pirates and trailing only the Guardians (28 SB) for the most in MLB this season…The 25 steals through the first 21 games of the year are the most in O’s history (since 1954) to open a campaign, though the team has not attempted a stolen base in the last four games since April 19…The O’s have only been caught stealing three times for an 89.3 percent success rate…Cedric Mullins is tied with Chicago-NL’s Nico Hoerner for second in MLB with nine stolen bases, behind only Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. with 12, while Jorge Mateo is tied for second in the AL and tied for fourth in MLB with eight steals…The duo’s 17 combined stolen bases are more than 17 MLB teams while four teams have eight-or-fewer steals to start 2023.

Mullins’ nine successful stolen bases are the most to begin a season by an Oriole since Adam Jones also swiped his first nine attempts in 2013; the last Orioles to steal 10-or-more bases successfully without being caught to begin a season are Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson, who each swiped their first 13 attempts, an O’s record, to begin 2006.

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY: The Orioles lead MLB with 26 Net Bases Gained, per Sports Info Solutions…Net Bases Gained is an all-encompassing baserunning stat that includes stolen bases, caught stealings, taking an extra base on hits, advancing on wild pitches, passed balls, and fly balls, and not getting thrown out on the bases… The O’s have taken 33 bases on wild pitches, passed balls, balks, sacrifice flies, and defensive indifferences this season, tied for the most in MLB with the Mariners, Rangers, and Red Sox.

STARTING PITCHER – #64 DEAN KREMER RHP

QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his fi fth start of the season, third at home, and second against the Red Sox this season tonight…Made a career-high 22 appearances (21 GS) in 2022, 11 appearances at home (10 GS), and 11 on the road… Owned an 8-7 record with a 3.23 ERA (45 ER/125.1 IP) and 87 strikeouts…Made six starts of 5.0-or-more scoreless innings, tied for seventh-most in the AL… Acquired by the Orioles along with 2B Breyvic Valera, RF Yusniel Díaz, RHP Zach Pop and 3B Rylan Bannon in exchange for SS Manny Machado on July 18, 2018… Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of UNLV.

LAST TIME OUT: Earned his first win of the season on April 18 at Washington, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and a hit batter in a season-high 6.2 innings; left with a runner on first base…Also marked his first quality start of the season… Issued no walks in a start for the first time since August 27, 2022 at Houston…Went 10 games (9 GS) between no-walk outings…Threw a season-high 95 pitches, 66 season-high strikes.

AGAINST BOSTON: Making his seventh career start against the Red Sox…Owns an 0-4 record with a 7.76 ERA (23 ER/26.2 IP) through his first six career outings against Boston…Made his 2023 debut on April 1 at Fenway Park; did not factor into the decision after allowing fi ve runs on six hits (2 HR) with one walk and three punchouts in 3.0 innings at Boston…Has pitched to a 3.48 ERA (4 ER/10.1 IP) in two career home starts against the Red Sox.

AGAINST THE AL EAST: Making his 25th career appearance (24th start) against the AL East…Sports a 2-11 record with a 5.91 ERA (74 ER/112.2 IP) through his first 24 appearances against divisional foes…Appeared in 10 games (9 GS) against the division in 2022, going 1-5 with a 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP) with three quality starts… Did not factor into the decision in his last start against the AL East on April 7 vs. New York-AL.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Went 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA (19 ER/58.0 IP) in 10 games (9 GS) with 46 strikeouts to 14 walks at Oriole Park in 2022…The Orioles owned a 6-4 record in those games…Allowed three earned runs-or-fewer in eight of his 10 home starts…Opposing batters slashed .236/.288/.311 (50-for-212) with just four home runs against Kremer at OPACY in 2022…Owns a 4-7 record with a 4.57 ERA (55 ER/108.2 IP) with seven quality starts in 21 career appearances (20 GS) at Oriole Park.

‘KREM’ OF THE CROP: Had his career-high scoreless streak snapped at 22.2 innings on July 4 vs. Texas…Marks the longest scoreless streak by an Orioles starter since Mike Mussina pitched 27.0 scoreless innings from September 21, 1995 to April 2, 1996…The last Orioles pitcher with a scoreless streak of at least 22.2 innings was Steve Johnson, who tossed 25.1 scoreless frames across eight games (three starts) from August 25 to September 29, 2012.

MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (6-17) at Cleveland Guardians (11-11)

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MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (6-17) at Cleveland Guardians (11-11)

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

ONWARD
• The Colorado Rockies continue their seven-game road trip tonight with the first of three games in Cleveland after dropping three of four in Philadelphia.

• The Rockies .261 winning percentage is last in the National League and tied with the 2005 club for the worst winning percentage through 23 games in franchise history.

• The Rockies have opened the season with seven consecutive winless series, the first time in franchise history that Colorado has failed to win any of their first seven series … have lost five and split two this season entering the set in Cleveland … the 2005 Rockies were the only other club in franchise history to go winless through their first six series of the season.

SPRING CLEANING
• Colorado has made 17 errors, tied with San Francisco for the most in the Majors, and has allowed an MLB-most 18 unearned runs through their first 23 games.

• Rockies pitchers have posted a 44.9 ground ball percentage so far this season, tied for the sixth-highest percentage in the Majors … opposing batters hold a .306 BABIP, the eighth-highest in the Majors, and are hitting home runs at a 1.55 HR/9 rate, the third-highest across baseball.

CHUCK (STILL) NAZTY
• Charlie Blackmon is sitting at 890 career runs scored, two shy of tying Larry Walker for the second-most in franchise history.

• Blackmon’s 291 career doubles are six short of tying Walker for the second-most doubles in franchise history.

• Germán Márquez needs just seven strikeouts to tie Jorge De La Rosa for the most strikeouts in franchise history … Márquez’s next win will be the 66th of his career, breaking a tie with Jeff Francis for the third-most wins in franchise history … De La Rosa holds the franchise record with 86 wins.

ARM BARN
• The Rockies bullpen has tossed 90.0 innings of relief through 23 games, the third-most in the Majors and the most in the National League … Rockies relievers have recorded 96 strikeouts, tied for the second-most in the Majors.

• Over the last 18 games since April 4, the bullpen has posted a 3.95 ERA (73.0 IP, 32 ER) with 35 walks and 78 strikeouts while allowing six home runs.

• Jake Bird ranks third in the NL with 18 strikeouts … has pitched 7.1 scoreless innings over his last four outings with three hits, two walks and 14 strikeouts.

• Justin Lawrence tossed a career-high 2.1 scoreless innings of relief April 20, allowing two hits with one walk and a career-high tying four strikeouts (also: May 8, 2021 at STL) … has not allowed a run on the road this season (5.2 IP) with two walks and 10 strikeouts.

• Brent Suter’s 1.26 ERA (14.1 IP, 2 ER) is the fourth-lowest in baseball among relievers with at least 13 innings pitched … his 14.1 innings pitched are the fifth-most among all relievers … the left-hander has spun more than one inning in eight of nines games this season

DÍAZZLING
• Elias Díaz’s 21 games at catcher are tied for the second-most in MLB … his .333 batting average ranks 10th in overall in the Majors and seventh in the NL … his 24 hits (22 as a catcher, two as a pinch-hitter) are the most among primary catchers in the Majors.

• His five caught stealings are tied for third in baseball while allowing six stolen bases, a 60 percent stolen base rate that is second in the Majors among catchers who have seen 10 or more attempts … his only two errors behind the dish came on two catcher’s interference calls on Opening Day.

KBOOM
• Kris Bryant hit two consecutive home runs on Monday and Tuesday, his first two home runs at Coors Field as a member of the Rockies … hit each of his first six home runs with the Rockies came on the road, including his first home run of the season last Friday at Seattle.

• Bryant is slashing .288/.360/.450 on the season and has reached base safely in 19 of 21 games … has reached base safely in 56 of 63 total games in his Rockies career, slashing .300/.370/.467.

THE HOTTEST OF CORNERS
• Ryan McMahon has made his last six starts at third base after starting his first 17 at second base in place of the injured Brendan Rodgers (2022 2B Gold Glove winner) … McMahon was a finalist for the Gold Glove at third base in both 2021 and 2022.

• At the plate since returning to the hot corner, McMahon is 8-for-24 (.333) with three doubles, one home run and four RBI.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #26 AUSTIN GOMBER LHP
HI, I’M AUSTIN
• Winter Garden, Fla., native enters his 10th professional season, his fifth in the Majors and his third with the Rockies.

• Acquired by Colorado, along with four other players including INF Elehuris Montero in exchange for 3B Nolan Arenado.

• Originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Atlantic University.

TURN THE TIDE
• Has been on the losing side of each of his first four starts this season, the eighth time a Rockies starter has started 0-4 through their first four starts of a season … first since Roy Oswalt (five straight, June 20-Sept. 14) and Jeff Manship (four straight, Aug.8-24) in 2013.

• His 12.12 ERA (16.1 IP, 22 ER) is the second-highest in baseball (highest in the NL) among pitchers with at least four starts.

• His .712 opponents slugging percentage is the second-highest in baseball behind teammate José Ureña (.821) … .356 opponent’s batting average is the third-highest in baseball.

• Logged a quality start in his first outing of the season, Apri 2 at San Diego, allowing three runs on four hits (two home runs) across six innings in a 3-1 Rockies loss.

LAST TIME OUT
• Last Wednesday against the Pirates, allowed nine runs on nine hits in two innings, walking three and walking one … seventh time in Rockies history a starter went two or fewer innings and gave up at least nine earned runs (last: José Ureña, Aug. 24, 2022 vs. Texas).

• Gomber also allowed nine earned runs over 1.2 innings on April 26, 2021 at San Francisco … John Thomson is the only other Rockies starter to allow exactly nine earned runs in a start of two innings (April 11, 1998 vs. Cincinnati).

ON GUARD
• Has faced Cleveland four times (one start), going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (8.0 IP, 6 ER) with three walks and six strikeouts.

• In his lone start on June 15, 2022 against the Guardians at Coors Field, took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings, walking one and striking out four.

• Today’s start will be his first appearance at Progressive Field.

ON YOUR LEFT
• Since joining the Rockies, has held left-handed hitters to a .228/.282/.388 slash line with 10 home runs allowed.

• Held opposing left-handed hitters to a .221 average last season (30-for136), the lowest lefty opponent average by a Rockies left-hander since Kyle Freeland in 2018 (.185) and the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced).

GO GO GOMBER
• Last season, made 17 starts and 16 appearances out of the bullpen in his second season as a Rockie … went 5-7 (Rockies 9-24) while posting a combined 5.56 ERA (124.2 IP, 77 ER) across his 33 appearances … his 124.2 innings pitched set a new career-high.

• Began the season in the Rockies rotation, making 12 starts through June 15 and going 3-7 with a 6.43 ERA (63.0 IP, 45 ER), 20 walks and 49 strikeouts.

• Moved to the bullpen at the end of June and made two relief appearances June 22 at Miami and June 26 at Minnesota … allowed four runs over a combined 4.1 innings (8.31 ERA).

• Went back to the rotation in July and made four starts prior to the All-Star Break, going 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA (21.2 IP, 10 ER), four walks and 15 strikeouts … allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last three starts prior to the Break, pitching to a 3.38 ERA (16.0 IP, 6 ER).

• Returned to the bullpen following the All-Star Break and posted a 4.68 ERA (32.2 IP, 17 ER) with seven walks and 24 strikeouts across 14 relief outings in the second half.

START IT UP
• As a starter in 2022, went 5-7 (Rockies 7-10) across 17 starts while pitching to a 5.75 clip (87.2 IP, 56 ER) … walked 25 and struck out 68 while opponents hit .292 (101-for-346) with 13 home runs … seven of his starts were quality.

• Posted a 5.72 ERA (50.1 IP, 32 ER) with 14 walks and 32 strikeouts across nine starts at Coors Field … 5.79 ERA (37.1 IP, 24 ER) with 11 walks and 36 strikeouts in eight starts on the road.

• 8.68 SO/9 on the road compared to a 5.72 SO/9 at home.

BACK IT UP
• Made 16 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022, his most since 18 relief outings as a rookie with St. Louis in 2018 … posted a 5.11 ERA 37.0 IP, 1 ER) out of the bullpen with nine walks and 27 strikeouts … opponents hit .254 (36-for-142) with seven home runs.

• Made 12 appearances of two or more innings, four with three or more innings and one career-long outing of 4.2 IP (Aug. 24 vs. TEX).

• In his outing against Texas on Aug. 24, became the first Rockie in history to toss 4.2 or more scoreless frames out of the ‘pen while allowing one or fewer hits.

HAPPY HOME VS. ROCKY ROAD
• In 51 career home games (26 starts) with both St. Louis and Colorado, is 11-9 with a 4.51 ERA (171.2 IP, 86 ER).

• Since joining the Rockies, has gone 8-7 with a 4.79 ERA (126.0 IP, 67 ER) at Coors Field with 33 walks and 90 strikeouts … in 2021, went 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (47.1 IP, 11 ER) in nine starts at home, posting a 0.95 WHIP.

• Since 2020, is 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA (137.2 IP, 59 ER) in 34 games (21 starts) in his home ballpark … in road games through the same span, is 7-13 with a 5.70 ERA (142.0 IP, 90 ER) in 38 games (25 starts).

WALK IT OUT…OR DON’T
• 2.45 BB/9 in 2022 was the lowest of his career while his 2.79 SO/BB ratio was his highest … BB/9 was the sixth-lowest among National League lefties and his SO/BB ratio ranked 10th (min. 120.0 IP).

• Did not issue a walk in seven-straight relief outings from Aug. 31-Sept. 29, the longest single-season streak by a Rockies lefty since James Pazos from Sept. 6-28, 2019 (seven games).

• Has walked three or more batters 11 times in 43 starts since joining the Rockies, going 0-9 with an 11.45 ERA (41.2 IP, 53 ER) in those starts … has walked two or fewer batters 33 times over that span, going 14-11 with a 4.20 ERA (177.2 IP, 83 ER) in those starts.

EARLY GOINGS
• Of his 52 career Minor League starts in which he pitched six or more innings, 49 were quality starts and 13 were scoreless.

• Made his Major League debut on June 2, 2018 vs. Pittsburgh and pitched three scoreless, hitless innings of relief for the Cardinals.

• In 2018, became the first Cardinals rookie left-hander since 1912 to win five games in the month of August … did not allow a hit to the first 14 right-handed batters he faced prior to June 25 (Rajai Davis, ninth-inning single).

THIS N’ THAT
• Did not allow more than five hits in any of his first eight starts at Coors Field in 2021 and allowed five hits just once (Aug. 7 vs. Miami) … recorded eight-straight starts allowing five or fewer hits at home, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history (Ubaldo Jiménez, 2008).

• Posted a 3.27 ERA with 238 strikeouts in his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University.

• First team All-Sun Belt Conference during his junior year with a league-leading 2.97 ERA.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:

GUARDS AVOID SWEEP AS BATS COME ALIVE
After dropping the first two tilts of the series to Miami in Saturday’s DH, the Guardians rebounded in the finale with a balanced 7-4 victory over the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

The win was highlighted by a sterling MLB debut from 24-yearold left-hander LOGAN ALLEN, who carved out 8 K’s across 6.0 frames to neutralize the Marlins offense (6.0IP, 5H, 1R-ER, 1BB, 8SO, 1HR, 86 pitches)…Allen’s lone blemish came on a 2-out solo homer by Jon Berti in the 3rd, as the southpaw permitted just 6 baserunners with Jorge Soler (1B/2B/BB) reaching 3x; Allen retired 8 of first 9 he faced prior to Berti HR and struck out the side around a one-out walk in his 6th and final frame …with Cleveland leading 6-1, Avisaíl García tightened the screws with a 3-run homer off JAMES KARINCHAK in the 8th inning before EMMANUEL CLASE recorded a perfect 9th for his 7th save. » AMED ROSARIO (4-5, 2B, 3B, 4R) & JOSH BELL (3-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, BB, R) each fell one knock shy of hitting for the cycle, while JOSÉ RAMÍREZ collected a game-high 4RBI…Ramírez (3, 2-run shot) & Bell (2, solo) combined for Cleveland’s first back-to-back homers of ’23 in the club’s 3-run 3rd off Jesús Luzardo (4.1IP, 8H, 4R-ER, BB, 6SO, 2HR, 96 pitches)…both players also tallied RBI-doubles later in the contest, while Ramírez added a sac fly.

The Clevelanders are 1-2 half-way thru current 6-game homestand against Miami (1-2) & Colorado (3 games)…club has dropped 6 of first 9 tilts at Progressive Field…Guardians (11-11) have lost 5 of last 7 overall, but still hold sole possession of 2nd place in AL Central standings, 1.0 game behind Minnesota (12-10).

MILE HIGH IN THE LAND
The Guardians play host to the Colorado Rockies for a 3-game set at Progressive Field…the two clubs last squared off from June 14-16, 2022, with Cleveland sweeping the Rockies at Coors Field… the Guardians are 15-13 all-time against Colorado, holding a 10-4 record at Progressive Field and a 5-9 record on the road…the two squads first met in 2002…Cleveland is 5-4 all-time in season series against Colorado and have won 8 of the last 11 matchups.

JOSH AND JOSÉ’S BIG DAY
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ and JOSH BELL teamed up for back-to-back home runs during Cleveland’s 3-run rally in the third inning yesterday, marking the first instance of back-to-back homers for the Guardians in 2023…the Guardians improved to 5-0 when Ramírez and Bell each contribute one-or-more RBI in a contest.

Bell fell a triple shy of recording the cycle and drove in a pair of runs in Sunday’s contest, recording his first 3-hit game since September 10, 2022 with San Diego…also marked his first multi-RBI game since August 21, 2022 with San Diego…after going 3-for38 to start the season, the switch-hitter is 15-for-41 (.366) with 8 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 RBI over his last 11 games…has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, slashing .366/.422/.707 during that stretch…from March 30 to April 10, Bell was hitting .105 (2-for19) against fastballs; since April 11, he is batting .455 (10-for-22) in at-bats ending with a fastball.

Ramírez tied Charlie Jamieson (296) for 7th-most doubles in franchise history yesterday with a two-bagger in the 8th inning… his 2-run home run (3) in the 3rd inning gave him his 7th go-ahead RBI on the season, ranking 2nd in MLB behind Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena (8)…he is currently in a 3-way tie with Brook Jacoby and Jack Graney for 20th-most hits in club history (1,178)…his 90 career multi-extra-base hit games is one away from tying Manny Ramirez and Ken Keltner for 6th in franchise history.

AMED IS 4 REAL
AMED ROSARIO fell a home run shy of the cycle in yesterday’s contest, turning in his 17th career 4-hit game…with his 4 runs scored, he became the first Guardian player to have 4 hits and score 4 times in a game since STEVEN KWAN on April 10 of last season…Rosario’s 12 4-hit games since the start of 2021 leads MLB ahead of LAD’s Freddie Freeman (10)…the shortstop’s 33 triples since the start of 2018 leads MLB during that span.

4-HIT GAMES, SINCE 2021
NAME TEAM # OF GAMES
Amed Rosario CLE 12
Freddie Freeman ATL/LAD 10
J.D. Martinez BOS/LAD 7
Luis Arraez MIN/MIA 6
Bo Bichette TOR 6

OUR BRAND OF BASEBALL
With two steals Sunday, Cleveland maintains the MLB lead with 28 stolen bases, three swipes ahead of Baltimore’s 25…this marks just the 11th time in club history and the first time since tallying 29 steals in 1996 that Cleveland has 28+ steals in the first 22 games of the season…the last MLB team before the Guards to tally 28+ steals through the team’s first 22 games of a season were the 2015 Houston Astros (29).

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ drove in Cleveland’s 5th run yesterday via the sacrifice fly…the Guardians are first in the AL and T2nd in MLB behind Pittsburgh (11) with 9 sacrifice flies…since the start of 2019, Cleveland’s 159 sac flies rank 2nd in the AL and 3rd in MLB behind Los Angeles-NL (164) and Houston (172)…JOSH BELL (21) is T9th in MLB during that stretch.

Cleveland is pacing MLB with 335 infield hits since the start of 2021, 23 ahead of Tampa Bay (322)…MYLES STRAW is T3rd in MLB over that period, legging out 48 infield hits…he is T2nd with 4 other players in MLB in 2023 with 6 infield hits, trailing NYM’s Jeff McNeil.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
Cleveland scored 4-or-more runs yesterday for the first time since April 16 at Washington when they scored 6 runs…the Guardians are now 8-1 when scoring 4-or-more runs and 3-10 when scoring 3-or-fewer runs in 2023…Cleveland was 87-13 (.857) when scoring 4+ runs in 2022, holding the 4th-best win percentage in MLB last season behind New York-NL (.916), Los Angeles-NL (.890) and Houston (.857)…since TERRY FRANCONA took over in 2013, the Guardians also possess the 4th-best win percentage when scoring 4+ runs, trailing New York-AL, Los Angeles-NL and St. Louis.

TONIGHT’S STARTER – #47 CAL QUANTRILL RHP
TONIGHT’S START
The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, second at home, this evening in the opening matchup of a 3-game series against the Colorado Rockies…is pitching on 4 days rest after tossing a quality start on April 19 in a 3-2 win at Detroit…the Guardians are 3-1 in Quantrill’s starts this season.

LAST TIME OUT
He last toed the rubber on April 19, earning the win in a 3-2 victory at Detroit…turned in his second consecutive 6.0-inning quality start and his sixth career quality start against Detroit (6.0IP, 4H, 0R/ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0HR, 83 pitches)…Quantrill threw 1-2-3 innings in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th innings…the Tigers posed the biggest threat in the sixth inning with an infield single and a double…Quantrill got out of the jam, but exited his start after six innings out of precaution after he was struck on the leg by a Kerry Carpenter line drive while recording the final out of the inning.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
Is 1-1 with a 4.64 ERA (11ER/21.1IP) in 6 career games (3 starts) vs. Colorado…Quantrill was tagged with the loss in his last start against the Rockies on September 15, 2019 at Coors Field when he was with San Diego, allowing 4R/ER on 6 hits, including one home run, with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks…his last appearance against Colorado was with San Diego at Coors Field on August 30, 2020, where he provided one inning of shutout and hitless relief, adding a strikeout to his name.

He is 5-5 with a 5.07 ERA (49ER/87.0IP) in 20 career games/15 career starts against the NL West…his teams have won 3 of 4 and 5 of the last 7 games he has appeared in against the NL West.

PROGRESSIVE FIELD’S PRO
In 45 games/35 starts at Progressive Field, Quantrill possesses a 14-1 record with 211.0 innings pitched on top of a 2.94 ERA, paired together with 151 strikeouts…among pitchers with 35-or-more starts at Progressive Field since it opened in 1994, he possesses the ballpark’s highest win percentage (.933), nearly 13% ahead of Orel Hershiser (21-5, .808)…in Quantrill’s last start at Progressive Field on April 8 against Seattle (5.0IP, 7H, 3R/ER, 1BB, 3SO), he suffered his first career regular season loss in Cleveland.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Over the last three seasons of home starts (2021-23), Quantrill leads MLB in win percentage of pitchers with at least 10 decisions (.938)…his 209.1 innings pitched since 2021 rank T5th in MLB with New York-AL’s Gerrit Cole, and he ranks T6th in MLB with 15 home wins since 2021…ground balls have been a key to Quantrill’s success at home as he ranks T3rd in MLB with Kris Bubic at 23 GIDP and T7th in MLB with 275 ground balls induced since 2021.

During his 2022 campaign, Quantrill (9-0 at home) was the only MLB pitcher to finish unbeaten with at least 9 wins at home…he and Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff (8-0 at home) were the only two qualified pitchers to finish unbeaten at home…ranked 2nd in MLB/1st in the AL with both 112.1 innings pitched and 73 runs of support (behind St. Louis’ Adam Wainright, 84).

CRAFTY CAL
Through his first four starts, Quantrill has relied heavily on his sinker as he has thrown it with over half his pitches this season… his sinker has kept hitters guessing as he has thrown 97 of them to left-handers and 99 to right-handers, holding them both to a combined .256 batting average…hitters have timed up his cutter, however, as the .313 opposing batting average is up from the .235 average he held opposing hitters to last season.

QUANTRILL’S PITCH ARSENAL, 2023
Pitch Type % MPH Opp BA
Sinker 53.1 93.0 .256
Cutter 29.3 88.3 .313
Changeup 8.7 85.9 .250
Curveball 2.4 83.8 .250

NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 24, 2023

NHL Editor
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NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 24, 2023

* With help from their star players, the Oilers evened their series and became just the third team in the past two postseasons to overcome a three-goal deficit to win.

* Dallas fended off a Minnesota rally to even its series at two games apiece with the help of veteran Tyler Seguin, who matched the Stars/North Stars record for power-play goals in a playoff game.
 

* Sebastian Aho climbed multiple franchise lists and achieved a rare feat as the Hurricanes picked up a win to head home with a 3-1 series lead.

* Sunday marked the second consecutive day and third time this postseason that all four road teams won (also April 18) – the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the first to feature three or more such days in a single postseason.



OILERS ERASE THREE-GOAL DEFICIT, EVEN SERIES WITH HELP FROM STAR PLAYERS
Leon Draisaitl (2-1—3) and Connor McDavid (0-3—3) both put up big performances Sunday as their team erased a three-goal deficit in the second period as well as a 4-3 deficit with just over three minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for Zach Hyman to play overtime hero. Edmonton overcame a three-goal deficit to win a playoff game for the fifth time in franchise history after two teams accomplished the feat in 2022 (FLA in Game 5 of 2022 R1 & STL in Game 5 of 2022 R2).

* Draisaitl, who notched all three of his points in the second period, recorded his 20th career multi-point playoff outing and tied Mario Lemieux (41 GP) for the third-fewest games to reach the mark in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (29 GP) and Sidney Crosby (37 GP).



* McDavid boosted his career playoff totals to 23-38—61 (41 GP). The Edmonton captain became the sixth player in NHL history to reach 60 career postseason points in 41 or fewer games, joining Gretzky (26 GP), Lemieux (34 GP), Draisaitl (38 GP), Peter Stastny (40 GP) and Joe Sakic (41 GP).

* Game 4 between the Kings and Oilers marked the eighth overtime contest of the 2023 First Round. Only three other opening rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the NHL realigned in 2014 have featured as many through the first 28 games of a playoff year: 2017 (11), 2021 (9) and 2014 (9).

STARS STYMIE WILD RALLY TO EVEN SERIES AT TWO GAMES APIECE
Tyler Seguin (2-0—2) and Roope Hintz (0-3—3) each posted multi-point performances while Minnesota-native Jake Oettinger made 32 saves – including a highlight-reel stop in the final 12 seconds of regulation – to fend off a Wild rally and help the Stars even the series in front of his parents at Xcel Energy Center.

* Seguin, the only Dallas player with a Stanley Cup, netted his second career multi-goal game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs following Game 2 of the 2011 Conference Finals as a 19-year-old. His performance Sunday also matched the franchise record for power-play goals in a playoff game – a feat only three other players have accomplished in Stars team history: Alexander Radulov (2 in Game 7 of 2020 R2), Brendan Morrow (2 in Game 3 of 2008 CQF) and Pat Verbeek (2 in Game 2 of 1998 CQF).



* Hintz recorded his second three-point outing of the 2023 First Round and became the fourth Stars/North Stars player in the past 30 years with as many three-point outings in a single series. He joined Joe Pavelski (2 GP in 2020 R1), Jamie Benn (2 GP in 2016 R1) and Mike Modano (2 GP in 2003 CQF).

* Oettinger went 17-1-3 following a loss during the 2022-23 regular season (1.97 GAA, .936 SV%, 4 SO) – tied with Connor Hellebuyck (17-9-1) for the most wins among all goaltenders in that scenario. His performance Sunday improved his career playoff save percentage to .941, the highest on record (since 1955-56) by a goaltender in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (min. 10 GP). The next closest: Joonas Korpisalo (.933).


AHO COMPLETES RARE TRIFECTA AS HURRICANES TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD
Sebastian Aho (1-2—3) recorded his fifth career three-point game in the postseason to tie Kevin Dineen (5) for the most in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history and secure the outright franchise lead for career playoff goals (20), surpassing Eric Staal (19). Carolina snapped an eight-game road losing streak in the playoffs dating to Game 4 of the 2021 Second Round to head home for Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead.

* Aho, who added to his own franchise mark for most career multi-point games in the postseason (13), netted his fourth career game-winning goal to tie Jordan Staal and Dineen for the second most in Hurricanes/Whalers history behind only current head coach Rod Brind’Amour (6). In doing, so he accomplished a rare trifecta of holding the outright franchise playoff record for career goals, assists and points, a mark only Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov can also claim among active skaters with their current team.



BOSTON’S BERTUZZI CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN FIRST-EVER STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Taylor Hall (2-2—4) produced his first career four-point playoff outing and Tyler Bertuzzi (1-1—2) found the score sheet for the fourth straight game to begin the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs – his first-ever trip to the postseason – as the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins pushed the Panthers to the brink of elimination with captain Patrice Bergeron and fellow veteran David Krejci missing from the lineup.

* Bertuzzi, who joined Joe Juneau (4 GP in 1992), Craig Janney (4 GP in 1988), Ken Smith (4 GP in 1945) and Bill Cowley (4 GP; 1936 to 1937) as the fifth Bruins player to record a point in his first four career playoff games, has 2-4—6 in the First Round and sits two points shy of the most by a Boston skater in their first-ever career postseason series (Ray Bourque:1-7—8 in 1980 PRLM vs. PIT & Jason Allison: 2-6—8 in 1998 CQF vs. WSH).



* Bertuzzi sits second in team scoring thus far in the postseason – one point behind Hall (4-3—7). The Bruins depth, which boasts an NHL-best five players with multiple goals in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, has the club within reach of advancing past the opening round for the fifth time in six seasons.

* Only three players in Bruins history have recorded more points in a road playoff game for the franchise than Hall: Rick Middleton (2-4—6 in Game 4 of 1983 DF), Barry Pederson (2-3—5 in Game 4 of 1983 DF) and Peter McNab (2-3—5 in Game 4 of 1982 DSF).

QUICK CLICKS

* #NHLStats: Live Updates – April 23

* Color of Hockey: Willie O’Ree, Bob Dawson to receive honorary doctorate degrees

*Matthew Tkachuk goes between-the-legs again for Panthers goal

* Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty fined for cross-checking


22-YEAR-OLD SCHMID LOOKS TO HELP DEVILS DRAW EVEN
The Devils are one of four teams taking to the ice Monday with the hopes of evening their First Round series at two games apiece and will do so after 22-year-old rookie goaltender Akira Schmid produced a 35-save performance in his postseason debut to stifle Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane and the Rangers in Game 3.



* Schmid, a Devils fifth-round selection in the 2018 NHL Draft (No. 136), appeared in six regular-season games for the club in 2021-22 and went 9-5-2 in 18 games for New Jersey during the 2022-23 regular season (2.13 GAA, .922 SV%, 1 SO). His success extends prior to the NHL, capturing USHL Goaltender of the Year honors in 2020-21 with the Sioux City Musketeers after posting a League-best save percentage (.921) and goals-against average (2.01).

* Only five goaltenders age 22 or younger in the past 30 years have won each of their first two career Stanley Cup Playoffs appearances: Carter Hart (3 GP in 2020 w/ PHI), Matt Murray (3 GP in 2016 w/ PIT), John Gibson (2 GP in 2014 w/ ANA), Carey Price (2 GP in 2008 w/ MTL) and Chris Osgood (2 GP in 1994 w/ DET).

Panthers’ Tkachuk Fined for Cross-Checking

NHL Editor
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Panthers’ Tkachuk Fined for Cross-Checking

NEW YORK – Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Boston Bruins forward Garnet Hathaway during Game 4 of the teams’ First Round Series in Florida on Sunday, April 23, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 20:00 of the first period. Tkachuk was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 4 Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (1-2) at Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)

NBA Editor
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NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 4 Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (1-2) at Los Angeles Lakers (2-1)

Lakers look to grab commanding 3-1 series lead vs. Grizzlies

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown that they can rise to the occasion on select nights, with the overall issue being an inability to stay healthy enough to sustain their top form.

The Lakers have a chance to push through their inconsistencies Monday when they play host to the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Los Angeles took a 2-1 series lead on Saturday with a convincing 111-101 home victory over Memphis as Anthony Davis scored 31 points with 17 rebounds, while LeBron James once again provided the energy while scoring 25 points with nine rebounds and five assists.

James has been around a while at age 38 with 20 seasons to his credit, but remains a productive star. And while James didn’t give his team 40, he did power the Lakers to a series lead.

Brooks only compounded his poor decision-making by swinging his left hand into James’ groin in Game 3, earning an ejection just as the second half started.

Brooks showed he might have learned a lesson by not speaking to the media after Game 3.

James and Davis struggled to stay on the floor together all season, but they appear to be in good health now, giving their team the look of a dangerous No. 7 seed. Now the Lakers figure to get a Grizzlies team with more of an early sense of urgency in Game 4.

For all the feel-good vibes the Lakers exhibited late Saturday night, they still have a long way to go before they can dispatch the No. 2-seeded Grizzlies. The Lakers won the opener at Memphis, then saw the Grizzlies rebound for a Game 2 victory while Ja Morant was out with a bruised right hand.

Morant returned in Game 3 to score 45 points on 13-of-26 shooting from the field, with 24 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. But the game was well out of hand by then, as the Lakers led by as many as 22 early in the final period.

Morant added 13 assists and Desmond Bane scored 18 points for Memphis, which shot 37.6 percent in the game and just 26.0 percent in the first half, when they trailed by as many as 29.

The Lakers led 35-9 after one quarter Saturday, but the Grizzlies see their 92-76 advantage over the final three quarters as a sign of good things to come.

NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 4 Preview: Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) at Miami Heat (2-1)

NBA Editor
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NBA Playoff Round 1 Game 4 Preview: Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) at Miami Heat (2-1)

The Miami Heat will set out to grab a commanding lead in their first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks at a time when the best player on each team is battling an injury.

The Bucks reportedly will have Giannis Antetokounmpo back on the court when the two Eastern Conference foes convene for Game 4 on Monday night in Miami. The eighth-seeded Heat lead the series 2-1.

Antetokounmpo, listed as questionable, participated in Monday’s morning shootaround and is expected to play, barring any setbacks. He missed the past two games with a lower back contusion. As for the Heat, star forward Jimmy Butler (bruised glute) also is listed as questionable.

Antetokounmpo was injured in Game 1, and the top-seeded Bucks split the two contests he missed.

Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo didn’t practice Sunday but was able to do individual work. Budenholzer said the team will continue to monitor the health of the two-time league MVP.

Without their star, the Bucks had big issues on Saturday when they were pounded 121-99 by Miami.

Milwaukee trailed by as many as 29 points and committed 18 turnovers — including five apiece by Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton — while struggling with the Heat’s defensive tactics.

Butler scored 30 points in 28 minutes on Saturday and is averaging an even 30 for the series. He was injured on a fall after driving for a basket with just over four minutes left in the third quarter and left for good a short time later.

Butler wasn’t interested in discussing his injury on Sunday, and Miami coach Erik Spoelstra downplayed the severity.

Duncan Robinson was 5-of-6 from 3-point range while scoring 20 points in Game 3. He figures to receive additional opportunities with the Heat short-handed on the perimeter.

Miami lost Tyler Herro (broken right hand) in Game 1 and fellow guard Victor Oladipo (torn patellar tendon in left knee) in Game 3. The Oladipo injury came on a drive to the hoop in which his knee gave out and he landed hard under the basket.

Also, Miami center Bam Adebayo (left hamstring) is less than 100 percent. He’s listed as probable for Game 4.

Meanwhile, Spoelstra said there will be multiple game plans and roster implementations looming based on whether Antetokounmpo plays for Milwaukee, which won the NBA title two seasons ago.

The Bucks know improved play is a must after being walloped in Game 3. If not, they could head home for Game 5 facing elimination.

Bucks guard Wesley Matthews (calf) will miss his third straight contest.

A’s acquire LHP Sam Long from San Francisco for cash considerations

MLB Editor
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A’s acquire LHP Sam Long from San Francisco for cash considerations

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s acquired left-handed pitcher Sam Long from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations, the club announced today.

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.

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