The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that free agent Minor League outfielder Raimfer Salinas has received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Blue Jays roster moves
The Toronto Blue Jays have made the following roster moves:
- OF Nathan Lukes has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and will be active for tonight’s game
- OF Jordan Luplow has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo
Dodgers recall Justin Bruihl
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl and optioned right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson.
Bruihl, 25, is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/6.0 IP) over five appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He has nine strikeouts while allowing three base runners (two hits and one walk). In 45 games (two starts) for the Dodgers, he is 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA (16 ER/42.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts while limiting left-handed hitters to a .195 (17-for-87) batting average against with 14 strikeouts. The southpaw was originally signed as non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017 after finishing his collegiate career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Jackson, 26, appeared in four games for the Dodgers, allowing eight runs in 8.1 innings with seven strikeouts and a save. In his career, he is 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA (13 ER/29.1 IP) and 26 strikeouts in 11 games for the Dodgers. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Utah.
MLB Preview: New York Mets (10-6) at Los Angeles Dodgers (8-8)
NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets defeated the A’s, 4-3, in 10-innings yesterday…The Mets earned their first sweep of the season and their first extra-inning victory…New York is a season-high four games over .500…The Mets continue their second road trip of the season an 11-day, 10-game trip (3-0) against the Athletics (3-0), Dodgers (three games) and Giants (four games).
WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Prior to tonight’s game, the Mets are expected to call up infielder Brett Baty from Triple-A Syracuse…In nine games this year at Triple-A, Baty hit .400 (14-35) with nine runs, two doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI and two steals with a .500 OBP and an .886 SLG…The left-handed hitter was selected with the 12th overall pick by the Mets in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Lake Travis High School in Texas.
LET’S GO STREAKING!: The Mets have won a season-high four straight games…The Mets are batting .226/.391/.459 in that span, while posting a 3.16 ERA (13 ER/37.0 IP) with 20 walks and 33 strikeouts…The Mets have outscored their opponents 29-13 in that span.
PITCHING IN: The Mets rank fourth in the NL with a 4.02 team ERA (63 ER/141.0 IP)…New York is tied for second in the NL with five saves.
EXTRA SPECIAL: The Mets are now 12-2 in extra-inning games dating back to 2021.
POWER STATION: Pete Alonso leads the majors with eight home runs…He is one of two Mets all-time with eight homers through 16 team games…Jeff Kent (1994) is the other…He is tied for fourth in the NL with 14 RBI, ranks second in the league with a .683 SLG and sixth with a 1.055 OPS…He has seven homers in his last 10 games, the most he’s had in any 10-game stretch in his career…Alonso is hitting .342/.432/.895 over his last 10 games with 12 RBI and 10 runs.
Rank Player HR GAMES
3rd Mike Piazza 220 972
4th Howard Johnson 192 1,154
T5th Pete Alonso 154 546
T5th Dave Kingman 154 664
7th Carlos Beltrán 149 839
Rank Player RBI GAMES
12th Daniel Murphy 402 903
13th Rusty Staub 399 942
14th Todd Hundley 397 829
15th Michael Conforto 396 757
16th Pete Alonso 394 546
METS ALL-TIME LEADERS
I LOVE L.A.: Alonso is a lifetime .360/.396/.880 hitter at Dodger Stadium…All seven of his homers against the Dodgers have come on the road…Has 16 RBI and 11 extra-base hits in 12 career games played here…His .880 SLG at the park is the highest all-time (min. 50 PA).
ROAD WARRIOR: Alonso has hit 88 home runs on the road in his career…That places him tied for sixth place in franchise history with
Carlos Beltran…Beltran recorded 88 homers in 434 road games…Next up is Howard Jonson who socked 102 in 580 away games.
THE WALKMAN: The Mets lead the majors with 85 free passes this season…Brandon Nimmo is third in the majors and second in the NL with 15 walks…Jeff McNeil has recorded 11 walks, while Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have 10 free passes each this season.
INVADER NIM: Brandon Nimmo has safely reached base in eight straight games, owning a .513 OBP in that span…Overall, in 15 games this season, Nimmo is batting .286 with nine runs, four doubles, eight RBI, 15 walks and a .463 OBP…His .463 OBP ranks seventh in the majors and fourth in the Senior Circuit…The left-handed hitter has drawn 338 walks in his career, which places him tied for 17th in franchise history with John Milner…Dave Magadan is 16th with 347 free passe…Nimmo has posted a .388 OBP, which is the third-highest in franchise history (min. 2,000 PA)…Only John Olerud (.425) and Dave Magadan (.391) had higher OBP.
MR. MOJO RISING: Brandon Nimmo has hit .349 (15-43) with seven runs, two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, four walks with a .429 OBP and a .535 SLG in 15 career games at Dodger Stadium…In 30 career games against the Dodgers, Nimmo has slashed .310/.408/.464 with 15 runs, three doubles, two triples, two home runs, seven RBI and nine walks.
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STARLING: Starling Marte is tied for fourth in the majors and tied for second in the NL with seven steals…He ranks third among active players with 321 career SB…Only Elvis Andrus (337) and Billy Hamilton (324) have more.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US: The Mets have stolen 20 bases this season, which is third in the majors and leads the National League…Brandon Nimmo, who is tied for seventh in the NL, has stolen three bases in 15 games this year…Nimmo stole a total of three bases in 151 games last season…Only three teams have not been caught stealing this season: the Red Sox (7 SB), White Sox (13 SB) and Royals (9 SB)…New York’s 95.2 percent success rate ranks first among the 14 clubs with at least 15 stolen base attempts in 2023.
TOMMY BOY: Tommy Pham has safely hit in four of his last five games…He is now batting .281 (9-32) with three runs, a double, two home runs, six RBI, four walks, two steals with a .361 OBP and a .500 SLG…He is one steal away from 100 for his career.
DOCTOR ROBERT-SON: David Robertson has appeared in eight games and has yet to allow a run…He allowed only four hits with nine strikeouts…He is holding left-handed hitters to a .143 (2-14) batting average this season…He has converted all four save opportunities he’s had this season…Overall, he has recorded 161 saves in his career…That is the seventh-most among active players.
PICK SIX: Francisco Lindor has hit safely in six straight games and in nine of his last 10 games…In 10 games since April 5, Lindor is batting .308 (12-39) with 11 runs, five doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI, five walks, two steals with a .400 OBP and a .744 SLG.
D-FENCE: The Mets have committed only two errors in 16 games this season…The team’s .996 fielding percentage is the best in the majors.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – DAVID PETERSON LHP #23
2023 STATS: 0-2, 4.91 E R A
PETERSON’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Four-Seam Fastball 31% 24% 33% 93.3 mph
Slider 25% 36% 20% 85.8 mph
Changeup 20% 4% 28% 86.0 mph
Sinker 17% 29% 12% 92.9 mph
Curveball 7% 7% 7% 79.0 mph
PETERSON NEWS & NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Went 5.2 innings in his first start at Citi Field this season on April 11 vs. San Diego..Let up two runs and six hits, walked two and had a season-high six strike outs.
CITY OF ANGELS: Peterson has made one start against the Dodgers in his career, June 6, 2022…Peterson allowed one earned run in 3.2 innings pitched and the Mets took home the victory at Dodgers Stadium, 9-4.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Peterson has a 3.65 ERA (25 ER/61.2 IP) in his last 15 road outings last season and this season, including 11 starts…He is 5-10 with a 4.70 ERA (67 earned runs/128.1 innings) in his career on the road…Peterson has struck five or more batters in his last 10 starts on the road, matching Frank Viola’s franchise record by a left-handed pitcher from August 1, 1989 – June 1, 1990.
LETHAL LEFTY: Peterson has limited lefties to a .180 (18-100) average since 2022…He whiffed 32 of the 96 left-handed batters he faced last year, a 33 percent strikeout rate that ranked fourth among all left-handed pitchers to face a minimum of 90 LHB in 2022.
SLIP ‘N’ SLIDE: Peterson held batters to a .175 (24-137) average with his slider last season and 78 of his 126 strikeouts came on the pitch…His 52.0 slider-strikeout percentage was the second-highest in MLB (min. 150 PA) behind only teammate Edwin Díaz (54.7) and his 47.9 whiff percentage with the pitch was the third-highest in the majors behind only Díaz (54.7) and Seattle’s Andres Muñoz (50.8).
FOUR-HIT WONDER: The southpaw allowed four hits or fewer in 12 of his 19 starts and 21 of his 28 appearances overall last season…He has held the opposition to four hits or fewer in 39 of his 54 career games.
STRIKE ‘EM OUT, STRIKE ‘EM OUT: Peterson struck out at least five batters in 11 straight starts from June 20-September 9 last season, the second-longest streak by a left-handed starter last season…It was the sixth-longest streak by a Mets left-handed starter in franchise history…Peterson had 82 strikeouts across 58.2 innings during that span (13 G/11 GS) good for a 12.58 K/9 ratio.
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: Peterson made four appearances (three starts) during spring training…He threw 12.0 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit over those four outings…Struck out 13 and walked eight…Peterson last pitched in a minor league game on March 25…In his last Grapefruit League appearance of the spring, allowed one hit, struck out four and walked four over 4.0 scoreless frames vs. the Cardinals on March 19.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
CAME UP SHORT: The Dodgers dropped their rubber match with the Cubs yesterday, falling to Chicago, 3-2, and losing their second series of the season. Los Angeles left nine men on base, went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left the tying run on in the final frame. As the six-game homestand (1-2) rolls on, the Boys in Blue welcome in the New York Mets to Dodger Stadium for the first of three games tonight, beginning at 7:10 p.m. After the series finale’s 12:10 p.m. matinee on Wednesday, the Dodgers will fly to Chicago and begin an eight-day, seven-game road trip against the Cubs (4) and Pirates (3), beginning with a 4:40 p.m. PT start on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. The Dodgers lost their season series with the Mets last year, splitting four games at Dodger Stadium and losing two of three at Citi Field. Los Angeles lost just two series after the All-Star break last season, falling to the Mets on the road and Washington at Dodger Stadium. 2022 marked the first time the Dodgers lost a season series to the Mets since 2015.
BIG RED: The Dodgers will turn to right-hander Dustin May this evening as the big Texan takes the mound for the fourth time this season. May has never made a start against the New York Mets, appearing in just one game and tossing 1.0 scoreless inning at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 15, 2019. He has limited the opposition to a Major League best .115 opponents batting average (7-for-61) this season and also leads the Majors in opponents’ slugging percentage (.164) and opponents’ OPS (.370).
HOME RUNS TO THE MAX: Dodger third baseman Max Muncy went 0-for-4 yesterday, but is still tied with Ryan Mountcastle and Patrick Wisdom for third in the Major Leagues with six home runs, trailing just Pete Alonso (8) and Rafael Devers (7). Muncy’s 14 RBI are tied for fourth in the NL.
JUSTIN TIME: Today, the Dodger recalled left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl and optioned righthander Andre Jackson to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Bruihl, 25, is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/6.0 IP) over five appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He has nine strikeouts while allowing three base runners (two hits and one walk). In 45 games (two starts) for the Dodgers, he is 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA (16 ER/42.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts while limiting left-handed hitters to a .195 (17-for-87) batting average against with 14 strikeouts. The southpaw was originally signed as non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017 after finishing his collegiate career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
ROOKIE BALL: Dodger rookie outfielder James Outman and Dodger rookie infielder Miguel Vargas have combined to score 15 runs this season, which is tied with Oakland’s pair of Ryan Noda (9) and Estuery Ruiz (6) for the most by a rookie duo in Major League baseball. Outman owns a .990 OPS and has walked in 10 of his 15 games with an at-bat this season. He has also reached base safely in 13 of his 15 games with an AB this year and his 10 RBI ranks fourth on the team, trailing just Max Muncy (14), Will Smith (12) and Trayce Thompson (11). Vargas collected his first multi-hit game of the season Saturday night and scored the game-winning run in the final frame after delivering a clutch one-out double. Vargas’ 13 walks this season are tied with Paul Goldschmidt for third in the National League, trailing just Juan Soto (16) and Brandon Nimmo (15).
WALK THIS WAY: The Dodgers walked four times yesterday and rank second in baseball with 80 walks, four shy of tonight’s opponent, the New York Mets. Los Angeles has recorded five or more free passes in 11 of its 16 games this season and the 80 walks are tied with the 1977 club for the third most in L.A. Dodger history through 16 games, trailing the 1960 squad (85) and the ’99 team (83).
DIGGING THE LONGBALL: The Dodgers belted a solo homer yesterday, courtesy of Chris Taylor, who went deep in his second consecutive start. Los Angeles continues to lead the National League with 27 home runs, trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays (36) for the most in the Majors. The club has recorded five 3+ homer games this season and also leads the NL with six triples (T-1st, ML). The club ranks second on the Senior Circuit with 85 runs scored and 57 extra-base hits. Taylor has hit the Mets well over the course of his career, slashing .293/.346/.586 with six homers, seven doubles, 18 RBI and 19 runs scored in 30 games played. Four of those six home runs have come at Dodger Stadium.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. METS: RHP DUSTIN MAY (1-1, 1.47 ERA in 3 GS in 2023)
2023 NOTES:
• Gave up his first loss of the season last Tuesday against the Giants, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up two hits, two runs and four walks while striking out three
• Texas native took the mound in five games (four starts) during Cactus League play, posting a 5-4 record with 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) and 20 strikeouts against just seven walks
• Pitched in Spring Training for the first time since 2021…missed 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery
vs. METS:
• May will face the Mets in his first career start against the club…he tossed one inning of relief at Citi Field on September 15, 2019, giving up one hit and striking out two in his only outing against them
MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (12-4) at San Diego Padres (8-9)
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Padres tonight open a three-game series with the fifth of seven games between the clubs this season…The two played just eight days ago at Truist Park in Atlanta.
• San Diego won three-of-four games between the two clubs last week, outscoring Atlanta, 25-14… The Padres are responsible for three of the four losses Atlanta has this season…Against all other opponents, the Braves are 11-1.
• Atlanta went 3-4 against San Diego last season, snapping a streak of five consecutive years in which the Braves won the season set…Atlanta needs a sweep this week to win the season series.
• Atlanta is 8-2 in its last 10 games as the visiting team here at Petco Park, dating to the 2019 season…The Braves swept the Padres here in 2019 and 2021, and split four games last season.
• LH Max Fried has never lost to the Padres, going 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA (5 ER/22.0 IP) in three starts, including a three-hit shutout here at Petco Park in 2021…The 6-foot-4, 190-pound California native was originally drafted by the Padres in the first round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, before Atlanta acquired him via trade in 2014.
• LH Ryan Weathers has never started against Atlanta, but pitched 2.0 innings in relief versus the Braves last season…He allowed one unearned run and fanned three…The 6-foot-1, 230-pound lefty has made a pair of starts for the Padres this season, compiling a 1-0 record with a 2.70 ERA (3 ER/10.0 IP).
WIN: Atlanta beat Kansas City, 5-4, yesterday to complete a three-game sweep of the Royals…The Braves outscored the Royals, 24-10, over the three games.
• The win moved the Braves to 12-4 (.750) on the season, the club’s best mark through 16 games since the 2013 club started 13-3…Just five Atlanta teams have opened with a better record through 16 games since the team moved to the city in 1966; the 1982, 1983, 1994, 1997 and 2013 clubs all opened 13-3 through 16 games.
• Atlanta improved to 8-1 (.889) on the road this season, and has outscored opponents, 56-24, away from Truist Park…The Braves’ .889 winning
percentage on the road is best in baseball… Cleveland ranks second with a .700 mark (7-3).
• Yesterday’s win for Atlanta was the club’s 100th on the road since the start of 2021, and they are one of just two teams in baseball to win 100 such games in that span…Only the Dodgers, at 105-64 (.621), have been better on the road over the last three years than the Braves.
• Atlanta also improved to 5-1 in one-run games following yesterday’s victory, and the Braves’ five one-run wins are tied with Cleveland for most in the majors.
ROSTER MOVES: The Braves today reinstated LHP Max Fried from the injured list, and placed LHP Lucas Luetge on the 15-day injured list with left bicep inflammation, backdated to April 14.
• Fried started Opening Day for Atlanta, and pitched 3.1 one-run innings before exiting with a left hamstring strain.
• Fried’s 52 wins over the past four seasons are most in the National League, and most by any left-hander in baseball…Only one pitcher, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, has more wins than Fried since the start of 2019…Cole has 60 wins.
• Additionally, the Braves have 71 wins in games started by Fried since the beginning of 2019, the most such wins by a pitcher in the National
League… Only Cole again, whose teams have won 75 of his starts, has more in the majors.
MURPHY EXTRA BASES: Each of Sean Murphy’s last 10 hits have gone for extra bases, dating to a fourth-inning double on April 6…He has seven doubles and three homers during the streak.
• The streak matches the longest run of consecutive extra-base hits in Atlanta history (since 1966), tying the mark set by Gary Matthews, Sr. in 1979… Matthews had 10 in a row from June 17-23.
• Only one player in Braves franchise history (since 1900) has a longer such streak…Wally Berger of the Boston Braves had 12 consecutive extra-base hits in August of 1935.
• The last player in baseball with at least 10 consecutive extra-base hits was Houston’s Alex Bregman, who had 11 straight in August of last season.
• The last catcher with such a streak was Detroit’s Dustin Garneau in 2021, who tallied 11 straight from August 22 to October 3.
• Research courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.
WINS ABOVE REPLACEMENT: Seven position players have compiled at least 1.0 fWAR through the season’s first three weeks, and Atlanta is the only club with two players to do so…INF Matt Olson has compiled exactly 1.0 fWAR, while OF Ronald Acuña Jr. leads all position players in baseball with 1.2 fWAR.
• Acuña Jr. is batting .373/.455/.567 with three homers and 16 runs and 11 RBI on the season… He is the only player in baseball with at least 25 hits, 15 runs and 10 RBI.
• Olson is batting .313/.413/.656 on the season, with five homers and 17 RBI…He leads the National League with 17 RBI, 11 extra-base hits and 42 total bases.
SCORE FIRST: Atlanta jumped out to a 3-0 lead in yesterday’s third inning, and the Braves are 11-0 when scoring first this season.
• Atlanta’s 11 wins when scoring first are second most in the majors, trailing just Tampa Bay’s 12 such wins.
Streak
Atlanta beat Kansas City, 5-4, yesterday afternoon, and the Braves have won each of their last six games. It is the longest active winning streak in baseball. The Braves’ run is tied for the second-longest winning streak in baseball this season, matching a six-game streak for the Brewers from April 1 to April 7. The longest winning streak of the season belongs to Tampa Bay, who opened the year 13-0. Atlanta had three longer streaks all of last season, winning eight straight games twice and an MLB best-tying 14 consecutive games in June.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #54 Max Fried LHP
Today’s Game
• Set to make his second start of the season and fourth against San Diego.
• Fried was activated from the 15-day injured today…Lucas Luetge was placed on the 15-day IL with left bicep inflammation.
• Landed on the injured list with a strained left hamstring on April 30.
• Made his third career Opening Day start after he also started the opener in each of the last two seasons.
• Fried was the first Braves lefty to make consecutive Opening Day starts since Hall-of-Famer Warren Spahn started six straight, 1957-1962.
• Prior to Fried, the last Braves lefty to start Opening Day was Tom Glavine in 2002.
• Fried was one of just five pitchers in baseball to start on Opening Day in each of the last three seasons…Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola has made a majors-most six straight Opening Day starts, while Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, Cleveland’s Shane Bieber and the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole are each set for their fourth consecutive start in their openers.
• His 52 wins over the past four seasons are most in the National League, and most by any left-hander in baseball.
• Only one pitcher, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, has more wins than Fried since the start of 2019…Cole has 56 wins.
• Additionally, the Braves have 70 wins in games started by Fried since the beginning of 2019, the most such wins by a pitcher in the National League… Only Cole again, whose teams have won 71 of his starts, has more in the majors.
SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:
Darvish goes 7.0 strong innings with 1 run allowed, but Friars are unable to capitalize on 6 ABs with RISP, fall 1-0 to Brew Crew
• Yu Darvish allowed just 4 hits on 1 run (earned) with 12 punchouts and 2 walks allowed…in the 2nd inning, Darvish lost track of his number of disengagements and was cited for a balk in advancing Garrett Mitchell to 2B…Mitchell then stole 3B and scored the eventual game-winning run by scoring on a sac fly.
• Said Bob Melvin, “There was a little bit of an issue of how we handled that one…Sometimes with PitchCom, you hit a button and it gives a different pitch. This time, it was from a pitch out to a throw over.’’
Padres honor San Diegan Johnny Ritchey; to wear 6 different uniforms in 6 days
• Tonight the Padres will wear their 1948 replica jerseys from the Pacific Coast League Padres to honor San Diegan Johnny Ritchey breaking the color barrier 75 years ago with the PCL Padres…the Padres and Ritchey came to an agreement in mid-November 1947 (after Jackie debuted the previous Spring), making him the first Black player to sign a PCL contract…if you count the Padres’ road pinstripes on Wednesday @ NYM, it’ll be 6 uniforms in 6 days.
Batting with runners in scoring position
• In a week’s time since April 10, the Padres have hit .154 with RISP, the 2nd worst mark in baseball in that span ahead of just the Pirates’ .146 clip.
• SD’s 28 hits and .200 AVG this year with RISP are both the fewest hits and lowest clip in the NL. Today is Game 12 in a stretch of playing 18 games in 18 days; 21 games in 22 days
• San Diego had their 1st off day on April 5 in Atlanta and won’t enjoy their 2nd until April 24, playing 18 games in 18 days from April 6-23 and 21 games in 22 days from April 6-27…their 3rd off day will be on April 28 (in Mexico City)…their 1st off day in San Diego won’t be until May 4.
Since the Padres’ series in Atlanta…
• Since taking the series and 3 straight games in Atlanta from April 7-9, the Padres went 1-2 in New York against the Mets and 1-3 against the Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego for a 2-5 overall record.
• San Diego has been out-scored 31-21 by their opposition, scoring 3.1 runs per game in that time…their 21 runs scored since April 10 are the 3rd fewest in the big leagues, ahead of the Angels (20 runs) and D-Backs (19 runs).
• The Braves are 8-2 (.800) at Petco Park since 2019, which is the highest winning percentage of any NL team in that time…over that span, all NL visitors are 115-127 (.475) at Petco Park.
STARTING PITCHER – RYAN WEATHERS #40
Weathers gets the ball for 3rd start of the season
23-year-old Ryan Weathers takes the mound for his 3rd start of the season, his 2nd start at Petco Park and his 1st career start vs. the Braves…faced the Braves as a reliever on Sept. 25, 2021, his penultimate appearance of the 2021 campaign, and tossed 2.0 innings of 2-hit ball, allowing 1 unearned run in SD’s 10-8 defeat.
Vs. Braves hitters
5 Braves hitters have 1 AB vs. Weathers, with Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario both 1-for-1 against the left-hander, while Ozzie Albies, Huascar Ynoa and Travis d’Arnaud have gone 0-for-1.
Weathers goes 5.0 innings and allows 1 earned run vs. Mets
In his most outing, last Tuesday vs. the Mets at Citi Field, Weathers earned his 5th career big league win, allowing 1 ER on 3 hits in SD’s 4-2 victory…it marked the 2nd time he’s gone 5.0+ IP while allowing 1 ER-of-fewer, with the other time coming on April 22, 2021 @ LAD… Ryan’s family, including his father, David Weathers, were in attendance, and following the start Ryan said: “When they’re here, it kind of eases the nerves a little bit.”
Pickoffs becoming a weapon
Weathers picked off Pete Alonso at first base in the 4th inning last Tuesday at Citi Field, his 10th pickoff in 108.1 big league innings…his 9 pickoffs in 2021 led the Majors, 2 ahead of tonight’s Braves starter, Max Fried’s 7.
Weathers solid in season debut
After making just 1 start/appearance for SD’s big league club in 2022, Weathers cracked the Padres Opening Day roster for the 2nd time in his career this season (also: 2021) and tossed 5.0 innings of 5-hit, 2-run ball last Monday, April 3 vs. ARI in SD’s 5-4 walk-off victory.
MLB Preview: Chicago Cubs (8-6) at Oakland Athletics (3-13)
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
NEXT STOP, OAKLAND: The Chicago Cubs tonight play game one of a three-game set against Oakland to close out the road trip … yesterday, the Cubs earned the series victory with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers … it was the club’s third-straight series win.
Drew Smyly picked up his first win of season, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing one run on four hits, two walks and striking out three batters … Brad Boxberger earned his first save of the season, striking out three batters and allowing one hit in the ninth.
Patrick Wisdom launched a home run for the third-straight game and Cody Bellinger immediately followed Wisdom with a homer of his own to seal the Cubs win … it was the second set of back-to-back home runs for the Cubs this season (also Happ and Suzuki, April 14 at LAD).
EASY AS 1-2-3: The Cubs yesterday picked up their third series win of the season, in the fifth series of the year … the Cubs previously won three series this early in the season in 2020, when they did so in the third set (July 31-Aug. 2) … in 2022, it took until the 11th series (May 13-15) and until the 10th series (May 4-5) in 2021 to register their third series victory … the last time Chicago picked up four series at this point in the season was the 2020 campaign, when they did so Aug. 2-4, in the fourth series of the year.
With the win yesterday at Los Angeles, the Cubs earned their third consecutive series win … the previous time the Chicago picked up three-straight series victories was Sept. 19-Oct. 2, 2022 (4 sets), against Miami (2-1), Pittsburgh (3-1), Philadelphia (3-0) and Cincinnati (3-0).
10 KKKKs: Cubs pitching has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in each of the last four games … the previous time Chicago’s pitching staff had at least 10 Ks in four consecutive games was June 26-20, 2022 … the last such streak of five games or more was April 5-12, 2021 (7 games).
HE’S UN-BELLI-VABLE: Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger in his last 10 games, dating to April 4, is hitting .316 (12-for-38) with two doubles, two homers, six RBI, nine runs scored and a .372 on-base percentage, after starting the season 1-for-15 (.067) … in that span, Bellinger ranks sixth among N.L. outfielders in batting average … in his last five games, he is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a .409 OBP and a .737 slugging percentage.
THE LEIT SHOW IS SHINING: Cubs reliever Mark Leiter Jr. this season has made seven appearances (6.1 IP) without allowing a run and has surrendered just three hits while striking out 12 batters … 10 of his 12 punchouts have come against lefties, which paces all major league relievers.
He ranks second with 12 K’s among N.L. relievers who have yet to give up a run … ranks tied for third among N.L. relievers with 17.08 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (min. 5 G).
CATCH HIM IF YOU CAN: Nico Hoerner Saturday recorded his eighth stolen base of the season, in the team’s 13th game, becoming just the second Cub (since 1901) to steal eight bags by the team’s 13th contest … in 1907, Jimmy Slagle picked up eight stolen bases in the team’s first 12 games … Slagle notched his ninth stolen base in team-game number 15. (h/t Ed Hartig and Jordan Bastian)
The Cubs have tallied 19 stolen bases so far this season, which is the fourth-most in the majors and second-most in the N.L. … their pace of 1.36 stolen bases/game is the third-highest in the majors.
SO FAR, A RELIEF: Cubs hitters have posted a .291 average (57-for-196) against relief pitchers this season, the highest mark in the majors … Chicago’s .361 on-base percentage against bullpen arms ranks third-best in the majors.
The Cubs are batting .274 against pitchers in all roles, the fourth-best average in the majors.
ABOUT THE ROTATION: Cubs starting pitchers have a 3.11 ERA (25 ER/72.1 IP) in the season’s early going, tied for the best mark in the N.L. and third in the majors … through the first 14 games of last season, the rotation had a 6.08 ERA (and a 4.00 ERA through the first 15 games of last year).
In fact, Cubs pitching as a whole has posted a 3.58 ERA, good for seventh best in the majors and second best in the N.L.
‘PENNING SOME THOUGHTS: Chicago’s bullpen has tossed 53.1 innings thus far, tied for the fourth-fewest innings in the majors … Twins relievers have thrown the fewest with 47.2 frames, followed by the Dodgers (51.0) and the Brewers (51.2) … Chicago’s relievers have recorded 11.47 strikeouts per nine innings and a 30.6% strikeout rate, both the best marks in baseball.
LET ME SHARE SOME WISDOM: Patrick Wisdom yesterday blasted a go-ahead solo home run, his third long-ball in as many games … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 14.47 at-bats, the third-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber, 12.08, and Pete Alonso, 14.33).
Wisdom’s 59 homers since the start of the 2021 season are tied for the 10thmost among N.L. hitters.
Wisdom last hit home runs in at least three-consecutive games May 20-23, 2022 (4 games) … prior to Wisdom’s stretch last season, the last Cub to hit homers in four-straight games was Anthony Rizzo, July 29-Aug. 1, 2015.
Starting Pitcher – #19 RHP Hayden Wesneski (0-0, 7.50)
Last Time Out
Hayden on April 11 vs. Seattle received a no-decision, tossing 1.1 inning, the shortest outing of his career as a starter … allowed a career-high seven runs (two earned) and four walks … failed to strike out a batter for the first time in his career.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
4/11 SEA ND, 14-9 1.1 5 7 2 4 0 64-37 0-6
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 0-0 13.50 1 1 1.1 5 7 2 4 0
Road 0-0 5.79 1 1 4.2 6 3 3 2 4
AVG vs. LHB: .500 (6-for-12) / AVG vs. RHB: .333 (5-for-15)
Hayden will make his third start of the 2023 campaign tonight, his second on the road … will make his second career interleague start, following his last outing, April 11 vs. Seattle (2 ER/1.1 IP). Went 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA (4 ER/17.0 IP) and 22 strikeouts in five Cactus League starts … did not allow a run in his first 11.2 IP of the spring before surrendering his first runs in his fourth start of Spring Training.
2022 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 2-1 2.18 4 2 20.2 15 5 5 4 21
Road 1-1 2.19 2 2 12.1 9 4 3 3 12
AVG vs. LHB: .159 (7-for-44) / AVG vs. RHB: .221 (17-for-77)
Hayden in 2022 made his major league debut, appearing in six games (four starts) with Chicago, going 3-2 and posting a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) … recorded 33 strikeouts, registered a 0.94 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average.
After his debut on Sept. 6, his 2.18 ERA ranked ninth among qualified major league pitchers.
Made his major league debut in relief Sept. 6, 2022, against Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) … he earned his first career win in the outing … became the first reliever in major league history (since at least 1901) to make his major league debut with at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing two or fewer hits and striking out at least eight batters.
Made his first major league start Sept. 17 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings … became the first Cubs rookie with a start of at least 7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior (July 19, 2002).
In the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs’ first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so, Sept. 11, 2004 against the Marlins.
Was acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1 for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost four straight, 10 of the last 11 and 13 of the last 15…are 3-13 (.188) overall and have the lowest winning percentage in the majors behind the Royals (4-12, .250)…it matches the worst record in Athletics history after 16 games…the 1951 Philadelphia A’s and 1966 Kansas City A’s also started the year 3-13…both of those clubs lost game 17 to fall to 3-14…were swept in a three-game series by the Mets to start the homestand and have now lost each of the first five series of the season…the only other times in Athletics history the A’s lost the first five series of the season are 1935, 1946 and 1951…have never lost the first six series…this is the A’s 56th season in Oakland where they have won 17 American League West titles, four AL Wild Cards, six AL pennants and four World Championships…it is the Athletics franchise 123rd season in the American League…since 1901, the A’s have 17 AL West titles plus 15 AL pennants and nine World Championships… only the Yankees (27) and Cardinals (11) have won more World Championships.
EXTRA INNING GAMES AND OTHER CLOSE CALLS: The A’s played their third extra inning game of the season yesterday and are 0-3 in those games…the
three losses are tied with the Mariners for the most in the majors and the three games are tied for third most…six of the A’s first 16 games have been decided in the winning teams last at bat and the A’s are 2-4 in those games… two of the A’s three wins have been by one run and Oakland is 2-4 in one-run decisions…the six one-run games are tied for second most in the majors (Guardians, 9) as are the four one-run losses (Reds, 5).
OFFENSE: The A’s are batting .290 (63-for-217) with eight home runs and 34 runs scored over the last six games after hitting .198 with eight home runs and 28 runs scored over the first 10 contests…are tied for the fourth fewest runs scored in the majors (62), have the fifth lowest OPS (.683), sixth lowest slugging percentage (.370) and are tied for the sixth fewest extra base hits (40)…have been hit by a pitch five times in the last two games and have nine for the season, which is tied for sixth most…have been shutout three times, which is tied with the Brewers and Royals for the most in the majors.
ON THE BASES: The A’s stole three bases yesterday after stealing a season-high four bags on Saturday…it marks just the second time over the last 11 years the A’s have stole three or more bases in back-to-back games (Aug. 1-3, 2021)…were a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts in the three-game series against the Mets and are 18-for-19 (94.7%) for the season…are tied for fifth in the majors in stolen bases and stolen base percentage.
PITCHING: The A’s allowed seven runs in the final two games of the Mets series after yielding 17 runs on Friday night…have allowed 125 runs for the season, which is 28 more than any other team (White Sox, 97)…it is the most by any team over the first 16 games since the Rockies had 126 in 1998… have a 7.60 ERA, which is nearly two earned runs higher than the next closest team (Tigers, 5.87)…also have the highest opponents OPS (.874), on-base percentage (.379) and slugging percentage (.495) in the majors and the third highest batting average (.272)…walked seven batters yesterday, which was the A’s fourth game with seven or more walks this year…that matches the season total from last year…have 86 walks for the season, which is the most in the majors…also have the most home runs (31) and hit batters (14), the third fewest strikeouts (111) and are tied for the fourth most wild pitches (9).
WITH THE BASES LOADED: A’s opponents are 12-for-21 (.571) with four grand slams, six walks and two hit by pitches with the bases loaded…the walks and grand slams are the most in the majors and the hit by pitches are tied for the most…the four grand slams match the second highest season total by an A’s team over the last six years (surrendered six last year).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers have compiled a 9.16 ERA, which is more than two earned runs higher than the next closest team (Red Sox, 6.81)…the A’s are the only team without a win from their starting pitchers (0- 8)…the season-opening streak of 16 consecutive games without a win from a starter is the longest such streak in Athletics history (previous: 10 in 1979 and 1997)…starters have 73.2 innings pitched, which is fifth fewest in the majors.
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen has a 5.88 ERA, which is fourth highest in the majors…has 67.1 innings pitched, which is second most to the Red Sox (69.1)…had a save on Opening Day but have none since then…the one save is tied with the Phillies for the fewest in the majors…have three blown saves, which is tied for eighth most…has allowed 15-of-32 (46.9%) inherited runners to score, which is the fifth highest percentage.
DEFENSIVE DOINGS: The A’s have not committed an error in the last four games and have made three errors over the last 10 games after making eight miscues over the first six contests…have 11 errors overall, which is sixth most in the majors…the A’s have a 0-7 record when going errorless and are 3-6 when making one or more errors…are tied for seventh in the majors with three outfield assists…have two passed balls, which are tied for third most… had just three passed balls all last year.
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 0-3 on their second homestand of the season, a six-game stand against New York-NL (0-3) and Chicago-NL (three games)… went 2-4 on the season-opening six-game homestand against Los Angeles-AL (1-2) and Cleveland (1-2) and are now 2-7 (.222) at home for the season, which is the second lowest home winning percentage in the majors (Royals, 1-9/100)…went 1-6 on their first road trip to Tampa Bay (0-3) and Baltimore (1-3)…leave following the game Wednesday for a seven-game road trip to Texas (three games) and Los Angeles-AL (three games) that starts on Friday.
NIGHT AND DAY: The A’s are 3-5 in night games and 0-8 during the day…the only other team without a win in a day game is the Dodgers, who are 0-3… are batting .300 (86-for-287) with 45 runs in eight night games (5.6 runs per game), .162 (41-for-253) with 17 runs in eight day games (2.1 runs per game)…have the third best night batting average in the majors and the lowest day batting average.
THIS AND THAT: The A’s are 3-9 when the opponent starts a right-handed pitcher, 0-4 when they start a left-hander…are the only team in the majors without a win when the opponent starts a lefty…have a run differential of -63, which is the lowest in the majors (Tigers, -37)…the A’s are 1-4 when scoring six or more runs in a game…the A’s average time of game is 2 hours and 48 minutes, which is second slowest in the majors (Orioles, 2:49)…have not averaged under 2:53 per game since 2010 (2:43).
THE INJURED LIST: The A’s placed Domingo Acevedo on the injured list last Wednesday and now have seven players on the IL (Blackburn, Brown, Piña, Rucinski, Snead, Tarnok)…began the season with five players on the IL after starting the season with three last year…used the IL 31 times last year, which broke the Oakland record of 27 set in 2016 and matched in 2021…however, used the IL nine times for Covid in 2022 and three times in 2021.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Kyle Muller (0-0, 5.52 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season and the 15th of his career…was the A’s Opening Day starter and became the first rookie pitcher in Oakland history to make a start on Opening Day…prior to that, the last Athletic rookie to start an opener was Eddie Smith on April 19, 1937 for the Philadelphia A’s…Muller had just 11 career starts entering the opener and the only Opening Day starting pitchers in Oakland history with fewer career starts entering the game are Sonny Gray (2014), Carlos Reyes (1996) and Vida Blue (1971), who all had 10 career starts…at the age of 25 years and 174 days, Muller was the youngest Opening Day starting pitcher for the A’s since Sonny Gray in 2015 (25 years, 150 days)…was the A’s third different Opening Day starting pitcher in the last three years (Montas, Bassitt) and the fifth in the last six (Fiers, Graveman)…begins his third season in the majors and is on his first Opening Day roster…was acquired from Atlanta
in the three-team, nine-player trade on Dec. 12, 2022 that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves.
THIS AND THAT: Opponents are 3-for-19 (.158) with runners in scoring position over his first three starts…allowed a .143 average with RISP last year and has yielded a .159 (10-for-63) average with RISP in his career…has allowed three runs over the first four innings of his starts this year for a 2.25 ERA (3 er in 12.0 ip)…has surrendered four runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth for a 20.25 ERA (6 er in 2.2 ip) from the fifth inning on.
FIRST START: He had a no decision in the A’s 2-1 win over Los Angeles (AL) on Opening Day, March 30 in Oakland…retired each of the first seven batters and blanked the Angels on two hits over the first four innings…allowed his only run in five innings of work when Urshela singled, advanced to second on a Kemp error and third on a wild pitch before scoring on an O’Hoppe single…the A’s scored twice in the eighth for the win.
SECOND START: He had a no decision in the A’s 6-4 loss to Cleveland in 10 innings April 5 in Oakland…matched his career high with 5.2 innings pitched… did not allow a run over the first five innings, scattering three hits and three walks…retired the first two batters in the sixth inning before hitting Gimenez and allowing a single to Straw…was relieved by Acevedo, who allowed both runners to score, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead…Cleveland added two more in the seventh before the A’s tied the game with a four-run eighth inning to get him off the hook.
LAST START: He was the losing pitcher in the A’s 12-8 loss at Baltimore last Tuesday…allowed six runs on a career-high seven hits in 4.0 innings of work… Oakland scored once in the first but he allowed a run in the bottom of the first…the A’s took a 2-1 lead in the third but he allowed the tying run in the bottom of the third…had a 7-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth but allowed a three-run home run to Mouncastle and was relieved by Jackson with no outs and a runner on first.
MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (9-7) at Colorado Rockies (5-11)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:…split their four-game series in St. Louis…Have played back-to-back extra inning games on the road for the first time since July 13-14 in Miami…Won a season-high four straight games from 4/3-7…Have not lost back-to-back games since dropping the final two contests of their season-opening series in Cincinnati.
CONNOR’S RETURN TO COORS: Last year as a member of the Rockies, Connor Joe reached base safely in 90 of his 110 games with a plate appearance…Joe had a 35-game on-base streak from April 29 to June 9, tied for the seventh-longest streak in club history with Todd Helton in 2006 and Larry Walker in 2002 (the only player in MLB with a longer on-base streak in 2022 was Paul Goldschmidt – 46 games).
SOUTHPAW SIGHTINGS: Tonight is the third time in five games and the fifth time this season the Pirates will be opposed by a left-handed starter…Thursday night in St. Louis the Pirates won 5-0 against Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery… Saturday afternoon Pittsburgh prevailed 6-3 in 10 innings at Busch while facing starter Steven Matz…Carlos Santana is 6-for-13 with three doubles off lefties this year…Connor Joe is 4-for-11 with a double and homer off southpaws.
RICH ON THE HILL: Rich Hill gets the start tonight in game one of this three-game series against the Rockies…Hill allowed two runs in 6.0 innings while losing a 7-0 decision in his last outing Wednesday afternoon against the Astros at PNC Park… The 43-year-old lefthander signed a one-year contract with the Pirates on January 5 after spending 2022 with Boston, where he went 8-7 with a 4.27 ERA in 26 starts.
THE RESILIENT PIRATES: The Pirates were walked off in 10 innings for the first time this season on Sunday one day after beating the Cardinals 6-3 in 10 innings…Pittsburgh has alternated losses and wins in each of its last nine games since winning a season-high four straight games from April 3-7…Pittsburgh’s longest losing streak of the season (two games), came in its season-opening series in Cincinnati after winning on Opening Day.
THE BRIDGE TO BEDNAR: Colin Holderman is one of three National League relief pitchers entering today to work at least 8.0 innings without allowing a run this season…The only other two National League relievers to do it are New York’s David Robertson (8.1ip) and San Francisco’s Tyler Rogers (8.0ip).
CLOSING IN ON 1800: Carlos Santana’s next game will be the 1800th of his big league career…Santana ranks seventh among active players in games played behind Miguel Cabrera (2708), Nelson Cruz (2017), Joey Votto (1991), Elvis Andrus (1963), Evan Longoria (1921) and Andrew McCutchen (1910).
ON THE ROAD: The Pirates have hit 12 home runs on the road this season…That’s tied for the fifth-most in all of MLB behind the Giants (19), Braves (17), Orioles (13) and Rays (13)…The Bucs are 6-4 after their first 10 road games of the year, which is their best start away from home since 2019 (also 6-4).
STRANDED: Pittsburgh’s bullpen has allowed just four of its 21 inherited runners to score this season (19.0 percent), which is tied with the Marlins for the third-best in all of MLB…The only two teams in MLB to allow a lower percentage of inherited runners to score are the Brewers and Mets (18.2 percent each).
AGAINST THE ROCKIES: Andrew McCutchen is a .307 (51-for-166) lifetime hitter with seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 23 RBI at Coors Field…McCutchen’s second career three-homer game came here at Coors Field on April 26, 2016…Bryan Reynolds has gone 12-for-27 (.444) with four doubles and a homer in six career games at Coors.
GETTING STRETCHED OUT: Pittsburgh’s starters have worked at least 6.0 innings in each of the last six games…That’s the longest stretch since making eight straight of at least 6.0 innings from April 10-19, 2019…The starting staff has recorded a 2.43 ERA (37.0ip/10er) during this current six-game stretch…The starting staff has also thrown the fourth-most innings (85.1) among all National League teams coming into today.
HEATING UP: Rodolfo Castro has hit safely in six straight and seven of his last eight games, going 11-for-24 with a pair of doubles, home run and 1.247 OPS…In addition, Castro’s .581 on-base percentage since April 8 ranks first in all of MLB… Colorado’s Elias Diaz ranks second in that time (.565).
TODAY’S STARTING PTICHER – 44 – LHP RICH HILL
RICH HILL: The 43-year-old lefthander is making his fourth start this evening…Lost a 7-0 decision (6.0ip/2er) in his last start Wednesday afternoon against the Astros.
vs. COLORADO: 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA (38.0ip/24er) in seven career starts…His win came in his last appearance against the Rockies on 9/9/18 at Coors Field after winning a 9-6 decision as a member of the Dodgers…His last loss came on 6/29/18 after allowing one run in 6.2 innings while also recording 10 strikeouts.
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
WHAT’S GOING ON
• The Colorado Rockies return home to Coors Field for a brief three-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• The Rockies were swept in a three-game road trip to Seattle, their first time being swept this season … lost yesterday’s series finale 1-0, their first shutout loss of the season.
• Colorado has dropped five-straight games, having been outscored 31-15 over the stretch … are batting .213 (35-for-164) over the losing streak, including .162 with runners in scoring position … lost at least five straight four times in 2022, dropping a season-high seven straight games Sept. 24-Oct. 1.
• Following this homestand, the Rockies embark on a seven-game road trip to Philadelphia (Thursday-Sunday) and Cleveland (April 24-26).
SERIESLY
• The Rockies have not won any of their first five series of the season, dropping three and splitting two … last went winless through their first five series of the season in 2019, when they dropped or split their first five series before sweeping San Diego in two games for their first series win.
• The last time Colorado went deeper into a season without winning a series was in 2005, when they recorded their first series win in their seventh series of the season, April 22-24 vs. Los Angeles-NL.
FREE LESSONS
• Tonight’s starting pitcher Kyle Freeland has gone 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA (18.2 IP, 2 ER) through his first three starts of the season, the sixth-lowest ERA in the Majors and the lowest in the National League … allowed his first two runs of the season in his last start, April 11 vs. St. Louis, both coming on solo home runs.
• Freeland’s 0.96 ERA is the lowest in franchise history through a starting pitcher’s first three starts of the season, besting Chad Kuhl’s 1.10 ERA through his first three starts of 2022 … the lowest ERA by a Rockies starter through their first four starts of a season was Ubaldo Jiménez’s 0.95 ERA (28.1 IP, 3 ER) to start the 2010 season.
YO-HO-HO
• The Rockies went 3-3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022, winning two of three at Coors Field while dropping two of three at PNC Park.
• Colorado is 5-1 over their last six home games against the Pirates after losing six in a row to Pittsburgh at Coors Field Aug. 7, 2018-Sept. 1, 2019.
• Elias Díaz played the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh from 2015-19 … in seven games against his former club, he has gone 8-for-22 with one double, one triple and one home run.
• Kris Bryant is a career .351 (127-for-362) hitter against the Pirates with 19 home runs, his second-most against an single opponent (23 home runs vs. Cincinnati).
AS DÍAZ DOES
• Elias Díaz had his career-long nine-game hitting streak and 12-game on-base streak snapped yesterday when he lined out in a pinch-hit appearance … despite losing the streaks, is still batting .429 (15-for-35) with three doubles and two home runs over his last 13 games.
• Díaz’s .362 batting average (17-for-47) is the sixth-best in the National League.
ARM BARN
• Over the last 11 games the Rockies bullpen has posted a 3.40 ERA (42.1 IP, 16 ER) with 22 walks and 48 strikeouts while allowing just two home runs.
• Since allowing one earned run in his first outing of the season, LHP Brad Hand has put together six consecutive scoreless appearances (4.2 IP), striking out eight through this span.
• Brent Suter was tagged for four unearned runs Saturday but has allowed just two earned runs through 10.1 inning (six games) this season, good for a 1.74 ERA while tied for the most innings of relief in the NL …the left-hander has fanned nine while walking three and giving up seven hits.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #21 KYLE FREELAND LHP
DENVER KID
• Kyle Freeland will make his fourth start of the season tonight, his third at Coors Field.
• The 29-year-old Denver native graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, 15 minutes south of Coors Field … selected in the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft (eighth overall), the third player in University of Evansville history to be drafted in the first round.
• The Rockies announced on April 19, 2022 that they agreed to a five-year contract extension with Freeland covering the 2022-26 seasons … the extension includes two arbitration years and three years of free agency.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
• Freeland enters his start today with a National League-leading 0.96 ERA (18.2 IP, 2 ER), a mark that ranks sixth across the Majors among qualified starting pitchers … Freeland ranks second in ERA across baseball among pitchers with at least 18.0 innings pitched, trailing Shohei Ohtani (0.47 ERA, 19.0 IP, 1 ER).
• Freeland’s ERA is the lowest in franchise history for a starting pitcher through his first three starts of the season (min. 18.0 IP).
A HOT START
• Didn’t factor into the Rockies’ 9-6 loss to St. Louis in his last start on April 11, espite exiting with the Rockies leading 6-2 … allowed two runs, both on solo home runs.
• Home run to Tommy Edman on the second batter of the game snapped a 13.0 inning scoreless streak to begin the season, tied with Jason Jennings (2001) for the second-longest streak to begin a season in franchise history, behind Jhoulys Chacín (14.1 IP, 2010).
• Prior to the start, became the first pitcher in franchise history to toss at least six scoreless innings in each of his first two appearances of the season … was also the first Rockie since Jorge De La Rosa on April 9, 2010 to toss at least six scoreless innings in the Home Opener (7.0 IP vs. San Diego).
HOPE OPENER x3:
• With his start on April 6, Freeland became the franchise leader for starts in a Home Opener with three (also: 2017 and 2022 both vs. Los Angeles-NL) … tossed 6.2 shutout innings against the Nationals, allowing four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
• Started Opening Day at Coors Field in 2022, April 8 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers … made his Major League debut in the Rockies’ Home Opener in 2017, April 7 vs. the Dodgers … allowed one run across six innings in the 2-1 win.
CAPTAIN HOOK
• Is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA (36.0 IP, 15 ER) in seven career starts against the Pirates, 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA (20.1 IP, 4 ER) through his last five.
• In his last outing against Pittsburgh, on May 24, 2022, tossed 84 pitches through 4.1 innings while battling illness at PNC Park … gave up one earned run on two hits, walked two, hit one batter and fanned six.
LAND OF THE FREE
• Appeared in two games for the USA in the World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs on three hits over 6.0 innings (3.00 ERA), striking out five and walking two.
• In the Championship Game vs. Japan, struck out WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani … Freeland’s 41 pitches in the game were the most by any pitcher who appeared during the contest.
• In three Cactus League starts, went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 ER) with one walk and five strikeouts.
THIS ‘N THAT
• Finished fourth in 2018 NL Cy Young Award voting going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA (202.1 IP, 64 ER) … became the second pitcher in Rockies history to ever finish in the top five in Cy Young voting (also: Ubaldo Jiménez, third place in 2010).
• Pitched 8.1 no-hit innings on July 9, 2017 vs. Chicago-AL, the longest no-hit bid for a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field in franchise history.
THE YEAR TWENTY THOUSAND AND TWENTY-TWO (2022)
• Finished the 2022 season posting a 4.53 ERA across 31 starts … of those 31 starts, 13 of them were quality, his most in a full season since logging 24 quality starts in 2018 … set career-highs in runs allowed (96), earned runs (88).
YOU’RE GROUNDED
• Since his debut in 2017, Freeland ranks second in the Majors and leads the National League with 105 GIDP (Kyle Gibson leads the Majors with 115).
FINISHED STRONG
• Has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of his last 16 starts since July 25 of last season, compiling a 7-4 record with a 3.34 ERA (91.2 IP, 34 ER) … posted a 3.90 ERA (140.2 IP, 62 ER) in 24 starts since June 4.
• Spun five or more frames in 21 of his last 24 starts and six or more innings 16 times through this span (13 quality starts).
THE HOME RUN HIGHWAY
• His 19 home runs allowed in 2022 were his fewest since 2018 (17) … his 0.98 HR/9 was the 13th-lowest in the National League in 2022 … his lowest HR/9 rate since he posted a 0.76 clip in 2018.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
• Allowed 22 of his 96 runs in the first inning (23 percent) in 2022, tied for the eighth-most in the Majors … opponents slashed .328/.382/.492 in the first frame … 42 hits allowed in the first inning were the third-most in the Majors.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEELS
• Making the 154th start of his career tonight, two shy of tying Jason Jennings for the fifth-most in franchise history … passed Jon Gray for the sixth-most starts on April 6.
• His 51 career wins rank ninth in franchise history, two behind Jon Gray and Pedro Astacio with 53 each.
• Recorded the 600th strikeout of his career Aug. 10, 2022 vs. St. Louis, the eighth pitcher in franchise history to reach the mark … his 652 strikeouts are the seventh-most in franchise history … trails Jeff Francis in sixth with 742 strikeouts.
• Career 4.20 ERA ranks fourth all-time among Rockies starting pitchers min. 75 starts) … 105 career opponent grounded into double plays are the fourth-most in franchise history (min. 50 GS).
MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (9-7) at St. Louis Cardinals (7-9)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are in first place in the NL West, 1.0 game ahead of the Dodgers, and have been in or tied for first place since April 8.
♦ The D-backs split their last series @ Cardinals from April 28-May 1, 2022 (4 games).
♦ Josh Rojas, since April 4, is batting .421 (16-for-38)/1.018 OPS with 5 doubles, 6 RBI, 4 walks and 2 stolen bases.
♦ Geraldo Perdomo, in 9 starts, is hitting .400 (10-for25)/1.156 OPS with 3 doubles, 1 homer, 8 RBI, 5 walks and 1 stolen base.
♦ Merrill Kelly opened with 6.0 hitless frames and finished with a quality start (6.0+ IP, 3 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 7 K) in his last start on April 11 vs. Brewers.
THE STREAK IS BACK
♦ Yesterday vs. Marlins, Zac Gallen tossed 6.2 scoreless innings to extend his scoreless-inning streak to 14.2…it also marked the first time in his career where he was perfect through the first 4.0 innings of a start.
♦ Since 2020, Gallen’s 15 scoreless starts of 6.0 + innings are third most in the Majors, behind Corbin Burnes/MIL (18) and Gerrit Cole/NYY (16).
In 2022, Gallen established the D-backs’ record for consecutive scoreless innings (44.1) from Aug. 8-Sept. 11, 2022, surpassing Brandon Webb’s 42.0-inning stretch (July 20-Aug. 17, 2007) and was the longest in the Majors since Zack Greinke’s/LAD 45.2-scoreless frames in 2015.
ZEROED
♦ With their 5-0 win yesterday, the D-backs shut out the Marlins for the first time since June 28, 2018 @ Marlins Park.
♦ It marked the D-backs’ second shutout in their last 6 games (also: 3-0; April 10 vs. Brewers).
SMALL BALL
♦ The D-backs’ 87 bunt attempts since 2022 (sacrifice hits + bunt hits + bunt outs) are the most in baseball, ahead of the Angels (78) and Nationals (72).
♦ Since 2022, Arizona’s 33 sacrifice bunts lead the Majors while its 27 bunt hits are the third most, behind the Giants (32) and Nationals (29).
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 37 extra-base hits (26 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR) are second in the NL, behind the Phillies (40).
♦ Arizona has 2+ extra-base hits in 13 of its 16 games.
FOR THE TAKING
♦ The D-backs’ 60 pct. extra bases taken percentage leads the Majors, ahead of the Braves (58%), Red Sox (51%) and Reds (50%).
Percentage runner advanced more than 1 base on single or 2+ bases on a double
TONIGHT’S STARTER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
AT A GLANCE: In his fi fth season with the D-backs.
• Played 5 seasons in the Rays’ system (2010-14) then 4 seasons (2015-18) with the SK Wyverns in the KBO League.
• Rays’ eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: I s making his third career start @ Busch Stadium.
• Looking for his first win of the 2023 season.
• 509 career strikeouts with the D-backs ranks 8th all-time among starters in franchise history, behind Randy Johnson (2,077), Brandon Webb (1,065), Robbie Ray (998), Patrick Corbin (897), Curt Schilling (875), Zack Greinke (683) and Dan Haren (570).
LAST START: On April 11 vs. Brewers, opened with 6.0 hitless frames and fi nished with a quality start (6.0 IP, 3 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 7 K).
VS. CARDINALS: Is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA (9 ER in 24.0 IP) in 4 career starts.
• Is 1-1 with a 0.75 ERA (1 ER in 12.0 IP) in 2 career starts @ Busch Stadium.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending National League Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals continue their seven-game homestand by welcoming the first place Arizona Diamondbacks to St. Louis for the opener of a three-game series tonight at Busch Stadium … The Cardinals walked-off the Pirates in extras yesterday to split a four-game series to open their homestand.
WILD, WILD WEST: Tonight is the first of 16 consecutive games against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions … Since 2019, the Cardinals are a combined 65-52 vs. both West Divisions, including a 41-17 mark at home.
IT’S WHACKING DAY: Since Arizona joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1998, the Cardinals .620 win percentage (103-63) against the Diamondbacks is the highest in MLB among National League and common interleague opponents … Arizona’s .380 winning pct. vs. the Cardinals is also their worst against any annual opponent … St. Louis’ .648 home winning pct. vs. the Diamondbacks is its 4th-best at Busch Stadium III (2006-present).
CENTURY CLUB: Oliver Marmol earned his 100th career win as Cardinals manager yesterday, going 100-78 in his first 178 games … Marmal is now the:
• 8th-fastest Cardinals manager to reach 100 wins in terms of games
• 11th MLB manager in the Expansion Era (1961-present) and 93rd overall in MLB history to win his 100th game before his 37th birthday
• 52nd manager all-time to reach 100 wins with a winning record before age 37 and first since Sparky Anderson (age 36.216, 100-59 record) in 1970.
• 3rd Cardinals manager to reach 100 wins with a winning record before age 37, joining player managers Rogers Hornsby (age 30.057, 100-79 record in 1926) and Frankie Frisch (age 36.341, 100-72 record in 1934).
SHIVER ME TIMBERS: Oliver Marmol’s first career win as Cardinals manager was April 7, 2022 in a 9-0 shutout win over the Buccos on Opening Day, and since Oli became skipper in 2022, his clubs have beaten Pittsburgh (15) more than any other team.
NOOT NEWS: California native Lars Nootbaar crushed NL West opponents at an OPS of 1.376 last season, the highest single-season mark in Cardinals history and the 6th-highest all-time in MLB history (min. 50 plate appearances) vs. the NL West.
WALK-A-THON: Lars Nootbaar has walked three times in consecutive games, tying the franchise record for the 19th time, most recently by Andrew Knizner (July 24-25, 2021) … Shohei Ohtani (Sept. 22-24, 2021) is the most recent MLB player to walk 3+ times in three straight games, while Babe Ruth (June 12-15, 1930) holds the MLB record for consecutive 3+ walk games (4) … Nootbaar’s eight total free passes in his first three games this season ties the MLB record held by six others and most recently matched by Detroit’s Robbie Grossman in 2021 … Nootbaar surpassed Wally Moon (7, 1958) & Miller Huggins (7, 1913) to set the Cardinals franchise record.
GO-AHEAD GORMAN: 22-year-old Nolan Gorman ranks T-10th in MLB with a team-leading 14 RBI this season … Only two other Cardinals age 22 or younger have had as many RBI in their first 16 games: Joe Medwick (18 in 1934) and Albert Pujols (14 in 2002) … The last Major Leaguer age 22 or younger with 14+ RBI in their first 16 games was Fernando Tatis Jr. (18 in 2020). – Orf
START ME UP: Over the last five starts since May 12-present), the Cardinals rotation has recorded a 2.22 ERA (7er/28.1ip) with 24 strikeouts and an opposing .732 OPS .. All five starters pitched 5.1 innings or longer and allowed two earned runs or fewer in their starts.
WAINO REHAB: Adam Wainwright is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment in Double-A Springfield on Wednesday afternoon at ammons Field, throwing approximately 55-60 pitches against Midland (AA-Athletics) … Wainwright has missed the first 16 games of the season due to a groin injury suffered in March while working out with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
BASES FULL OF BIRDS: St. Louis is hitting just .118 (2-17) with the bases loaded, 5th-lowest in MLB (Arizona is last at 0-for-3) … Cardinals
hits with the bases juiced include Nolan Arenado’s game-tying, 7th-inning, three-run double at Colorado on April 11 and Tommy Edman’s walk-off RBI single vs. the Pirates yesterday.
TWIN KILLINGS: The Cardinals lead MLB with 20 double plays turned defensively over the first 16 games this season … Last season, St. Louis also led MLB in twin killings (181), which was nearly 30 more than second place Colorado (154).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: According to Elias, the Cardinals have played the 5th-toughest schedule (.586) to open the 2023 season, with their opponents combining for a .586 win pct … Oakland leads MLB with a .617 opponent win pct.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JACK FLAHERTY (1-1, 1.76)
TONGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Opponent BA (.184, 5th), Walks (14, T-1st)
• Makes his 4th start of the season tonight and his 2nd at home.
• Is 2/3 innings short of qualifying for NL leaders in NL (1.76) which would rank 8th.
• Walked 13 batters in his first 10.0 IP, but issued just one free pass in 5.1 IP last Wed. (4/12) in his first career appearance at Coors Field.
• Needs one strikeout to tie Andy Benes for 27th all-time in Cardinals history at 614.
• Has held his opposition to six hits or fewer in 28 consecutive starts dating back to Sept. 20, 2020, 2nd only to Jacob deGrom (36; 8/19/20-present).
• Owns a career mark of 8-3, 3.02 ERA in 15 career starts in the monh of April. Had his streak of 6-straight April decisions snapped in his 4/7 start at MIL, with his previous April loss also vs. MIL in 2019.
• Trails only Wainwright & DeJong in years of Cardinals service on 40-player roster.
• Has held his opposition to a .206 career batting average, ranking 13th among MLB pitchers with more than 500 career innings pitched in the Live Ball Era (post-1920); just behind Nolan Ryan (12th, .204) and Sandy Koufax (14th, .205).
• Missed a total of 122 games last season due to a right shoulder injury (64 games from April 7-June 14 and another 58 games from June 27-Sept.4)
• Since becoming a full-time starting pitcher in 2018, ranks 15th among MLB pitchers with a 10.32 strikeouts/9 IP (min. 500 IP).
• St. Louis sports a 54-47 overall record in Flaherty’s 101 career starts. In his first 51 starts from his MLB debut (9/1/2017) until the 2019 All-Star Break, St. Louis went 21-30 (.412). In his last 48 starts (July 16, 2019-present), St. Louis is 33-17 (.688).
• In 101 career starts, is 35-10 when receiving 2+ runs of support, 28-2 when receiving 3+ runs, and 23-0 with 4+ runs of support. Has received 2 or fewer runs of support in 60 of 101 (59.4%) career starts.
• Is 20-13 in 50 career games (47 starts) at Busch Stadium. His .188 opponent batting average is the lowest in stadium history (min. 100 IP), while his 292 strikeouts (8th) and 2.79 ERA (7th) at Busch both rank in the Top 10 among all pitchers in the ballpark’s history (since 2006).
LAST TIME OUT
• Made his first career appearance at Coors Field and limited the Rockies to one earned run (lead-off HR) over his 5.1 IP, striking out 6 in the Cardinals 7-4 win last Wed. (4/12).
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/12 @COL W 7-4 — 5.1 5 2 1 1 6 1 85-56
2023
• Threw 5.0 innings of no-hit ball in his first start of the season vs. TOR (4/1), became the 16th pitcher since 1901 to issue seven walks in a scoreless and hitless outing of any length (Langs); and the 5th pitcher in Cardinals history to pitch exactly 5.0 innings without allowing a hit or a run in a start.
• Ran his streak of consecutive games with six hits or less to 27 in a 4-0 loss at MIL (4/7). Allowed just two runs on four hits. His 60th career start receiving two runs of support or less. Walked six batters in the game, first Cardinals pitcher to walk 6+ batters in consecutive games since Carlos Martínez (2018).
MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (14-2) at Cincinnati Reds (6-9)
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN — The Rays avoided a series sweep and snapped a fourgame losing streak to Toronto with an 8-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre…RF Josh Lowe (2-for-5, 2B, 3RBI, R, SB) drove in a career-high-tying three runs and C Christian Bethancourt (1-for-5, HR, 3RBI, R) clubbed a three-run homer in the sixth inning, his third long ball of the season.
LHP Shane McClanahan (6.0IP, 4H, ER, 2BB, 6SO) picked up his fourth win in as many games, becoming the third Rays pitcher to earn a win in each of his first four starts of a season, joining Matt Moore (5GS, 4/5-27/13) and Tyler Glasnow (4GS, 3/30-4/16, 2019).
LHP Colin Poche (1.0IP), LHP Garrett Cleavinger (1.0IP, H, BB, SO) and RHP Jason Adam (1.0IP, H, BB) each chipped in scoreless relief appearances.
Tampa Bay’s 14-2 mark is the best 16-game start by any MLB club since Boston in 2018 (also 14-2)…the 14-2 run matches the best start by any team since 1988 (also: San Francisco in 2003).
ROSTER MOVES — Prior to tonight’s game, the Rays selected the contract of RHP Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Durham…in a pair of corresponding moves, RHP Trevor Kelley was optioned to Durham and RHP Shawn Armstrong was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
GOING, GOING, GONE—Tampa Bay has hit 36 home runs, third most through a team’s first 16 games of a season in MLB history behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (39HR) and 2019 Seattle Mariners (37HR)…the Rays would need four homers today to match the record for most homers through 17 games (40HR), set by the 2000 Cardinals…Tampa Bay has already registered three 4+ homer games (4/4 at WSH, 4/7 vs. OAK and 4/11 vs. BOS) after recording only one such contest in 2022 (6/21/22 vs. NYY).
Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 16 games, the second-longest streak to open a season in MLB history behind only the 2019 Mariners’ 20-game run… marks the Rays’ longest streak at any point in a single season since an 18-game run from 8/19-9/8, 2017.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL — The Rays lead MLB in both runs scored (114) and fewest runs allowed (42)…since 2018, only the Rays and the 2022 Dodgers (119-41; 7/27-8/13, 2022) have scored 114+ runs while permitting 42-or-fewer runs over a 16-game span at any point in a season.
Tampa Bay’s +72 run differential is the second-best mark through 16 games in MLB’s Modern Era (since 1900), trailing only the 1905 New York Giants (+73)…the Giants currently hold the record through 17 games (+72).
Tampa Bay’s 114 runs scored are its most through 16 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (93R)…the only other club since 2001 to reach that threshold through 16 games was Seattle in 2019 (123R).
The Rays’ 42 runs allowed are second-fewest through 16 games in club history, behind the 2019 team (40R).
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.54 ERA is the best mark in the majors…this includes the second-best starter ERA (2.59) behind Minnesota (2.58) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.47) behind Milwaukee (2.26) and New York-AL (2.36)…Rays pitchers rank among MLB leaders in opponents’ OPS (1st, .559), FIP (1st, 3.20), first-pitch strike pct. (2nd, 64.6%), opponents’ average (2nd, .198), WHIP (2nd, 1.06), fewest pitches per IP (2nd, 15.1) and average exit velocity (3rd, 87.3 mph).
Tampa Bay has allowed just seven home runs across 142.0 innings, good for an MLB-best 0.44 HR/9.0IP…marks the fewest homers permitted by any major league club through 16 games since New York-NL in 2016 (6HR).
This success comes despite Tampa Bay using 17 different pitchers, tied for third most in MLB behind Seattle and Miami (18 pitchers each).
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters rank among MLB leaders in runs scored (1st, 114), OPS (1st, .897), slugging pct. (1st, .541), extra-base hits (1st, 69), total bases (1st, 292), batting average (2nd, .280) and hard-hit pct. (4th, 45.0%)…Tampa Bay has plated 10+ runs in an MLB-leading four games and scored 7+ runs in 10 of its 16 games.
REWRITING HISTORY — Prior to Friday night’s 6-3 loss in Toronto, 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)…marked the longest win streak in club history, surpassing a 12-game run from 6/9-22, 2004.
The Rays won each of their first nine games by 4+ runs, the second-longest streak to open a season in MLB history behind the 1884 Maroons (13 straight)… ties the fourth-longest overall streak of 4+ run wins in MLB history and marks the longest since the 1939 New York Yankees (10G, 8/20-28, 1939).
Tampa Bay pitching strung together a 32.0 scoreless inning streak from 4/8-11, the longest streak in club history and longest single-season streak in MLB since St. Louis from 8/5-9, 2015 (38.0IP)…the streak included a franchise-record three consecutive shutouts (4/8-10) — Tampa Bay became the first club to record three straight shutouts within a single season since Cleveland in 2017 (8/25-27, 2017).
The Rays turned in back-to-back 11-0 wins over Oakland, 4/8-9, becoming the fourth team in MLB history to record consecutive shutout wins, both by 11+ runs, joining Baltimore in 2019 (6/28-29, 2019), Detroit in 1936 (9/22/36) and the 1885 New York Giants (3G, 5/25/28, 1885).
Through their first 11 games of the season, the Rays had hit 29 homers and allowed only 20 runs…per Elias, that marked the highest difference between home runs hit and runs allowed at any point in a season in MLB history.
QUEEN CITY SHOWDOWN — The Rays and Reds meet this week in Cincinnati for the lone series between the two clubs this season…Tampa Bay was swept in a three-game set at Great American Ball Park last season (7/8-10, 2022) — the Rays most recent win in Cincinnati came on 4/12/14 (1-0)…the Rays have not dropped four straight games to the Reds since a seven-game skid from 6/10/03-6/27/11 to open the all-time series between the two clubs.
SPREADING THE WEALTH — The Rays have an MLB-leading 11 players with multiple homers: Brandon Lowe (5HR), Yandy Díaz (4HR), Wander Franco (4HR), Randy Arozarena (3HR), Christian Bethancourt (3HR), Josh Lowe (3HR), Isaac Paredes (3HR), Luke Raley (3HR), Harold Ramírez (3HR), Manuel Margot (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR)…the next closest team is San Francisco (9 players). Ê Tampa Bay also has an MLB-best nine players with 3+ HR…the next closest team is Los Angeles-NL (6 players).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP JALEN BEEKS (0-0, 3.00)
IN A PINCH—LHP Jalen Beeks will serve as an opener tonight at Cincinnati…he pitched as an opener once this season on 4/10 vs. Boston…in the start, he tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and two strikeouts.
SPRING CLEANING—In six Spring Training outings, Beeks pitched to a 2.45 ERA, allowing two runs and three walks with 10 strikeouts…Beeks held opponents to a .154 average (4-for-26) and posted a 0.95 WHIP
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• Class AA Chattanooga’s LHP Andrew Abbott has been named Southern League Pitcher of the Week…in his first 2 starts of the season went 1-0, 0.00 (10.2ip, 2h, 0r, 1bb, 25k, 0.28whip, .059baa)…he leads all minor league pitchers in strikeouts…in Thu’s 8-3 win at Mississippi he recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts without a walk in 6.0 shutout innings (2h).
• In yesterday afternoon’s 14-3 loss, the Phillies scored 9 runs in the top of the first inning off starter Luis Cessa (3+ip, 14h, 11er, 3bb, 0k, Bryson Stott leadoff HR, 88 pitches).
• Cessa became the fifth pitcher since 1900 to allow at least 9 runs in the first inning and then pitch into the fourth (Mil’s Dave Bush 7/20/2010 at Pit, Col’s Mark Redman 4/26/2008 at LAD, SD’s Brett Tomko 8/9/2002 at Cin, Chi’s Nixey Callahan 9/6/1900 at Phi)…courtesy @Eliassports.
• Was the Reds’ largest deficit before their batters came to the plate since the Dodgers scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning off Paul Wilson and Matt Belisle on their way to a 13-6 win here on 5/6/2005.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Dave Wills’ Rays and Game 5 (2-2) of a 7-game homestand that included a 2-2 series split with the defending National League champion Phillies.
• Following this series the Reds will make a brief road trip to Pit for a 4-game weekend series vs the Pirates, then return to Great American Ball Park for a 3-game homestand vs the Rangers before heading out to the west coast Oak (3g) and SD (3g).
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds and Rays are meeting for the seventh time overall and for the second consecutive season.
• The Reds are 13-5 all-time vs the Rays, including 3-0 here last season and 7-2 overall in Cincinnati.
• The Reds’ 18 games vs the Rays are tied for their fourth-fewest vs any opponent in the American League (Orioles 15, Angels 16, Red Sox 17, Mariners 18, Rangers 19).
• The Reds won 4 of the 6 series vs the Rays, including 3-game series sweeps in June 2003 at Tropicana Field, June 2005 at Great American Ball Park and July 2022 at GABP.
• Dating back to the 2014 season, the Reds have won the last 4 games vs TB at GABP, including last season’s 3-0 series sweep here in July.
• The Rays last won in Cincinnati on 4/12/14 (1-0 win).
• 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).
PIRATES UP NEXT
• The Reds will face the Pirates this weekend in a 4-game series at PNC Park.
• The Reds earned a 2-1 series win vs Pit in the series that opened this 2023 championship season.
• Beginning in 2021 at Great American Ball Park, the Reds are 14-8 vs Pit with a 134-78 advantage in runs scored… the Reds have won 22 of the last 41 games overall vs the Pirates, including 19 of the last 28 games vs Pit at GABP.
• The Reds went 14-29 at Pit’s PNC Park the previous 5 seasons, including an 11-game losing streak spanning 2018-2019 and an 8-game losing streak there to begin the 2019 season.
LEADING OFF
• In the first inning, Reds batters lead the Major Leagues in on-base percentage (.426) while ranking second in batting average (.350, Atl .403) and T7th in runs scored (12).
• When leading off the Reds’ half of the first inning, Jonathan India is hitting .462 (.533obp, .846slg, 6-13, 2bb, 2 2b, 1hr, 6r)…his 6 runs scored in the first inning tie Sea’s Julio Rodriguez for the most by a leadoff hitter in the Major Leagues… NYY’s Aaron Judge leads all batters, regardless of spot in the order, with 7 runs scored in the first inning.
REHABBING
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (3g, 0-0, 0.00, 3ip, 1h, 0r, 2bb, 3k, 1.00whip, .100baa)…in Sat night’s 7-3 Bats win at Toledo threw a scoreless eighth inning (1bb, 4bf, 21 pitches)…was scheduled to pitch again yesterday at Toledo but was rained out.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is assigned to Louisville on rehab (2gs, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr)…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in the 8-1 loss on 4/9 vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…started Fri’s 7-6 loss at Toledo (5ip, 3h, 3er, 2bb, 5k, Andy Ibáñez solo HR, 1wp, 19 batters, 79 pitches)…could make his next start for the Reds, possibly Wed vs the Rays.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
• In just his second season, tonight is making his 28th Major League appearance and start…will be his second career appearance vs the Rays.
• In Wed’s 5-4 loss at Atl recorded his third career 10-strikeout game.
• Was the Reds’ 2023 Opening Day starting pitcher.
• At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0… courtesy @EliasSports.
• Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, in his age 22 season ranked among National League rookie pitching leaders in starts (1st, 24), innings pitched (2nd, 125.2), strikeouts (2nd, 164), opponents’ BA (2nd, .222), WHIP (2nd, 1.21) and ERA (6th, 4.44).
• Last season led the Reds’ staff in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
• Was 1 of only 7 pitchers in the National League and 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues to throw a shutout.
• Was the National League Player of the Week for 6/6-6/12, the only Reds player so honored in 2022 (2gs, 1-0, 0.75, 12ip, 3h, 1er, 2bb, 15k, .079baa).
• In 2022 became the only Major League rookie since 1900 to produce in a season at least 3 apps in which he threw at least 6.0 innings with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 1 hit (5/15 at Pit, 6/6 vs Ari, 8/1 at Mia)…no pitcher in modern history, regardless of rookie status, has produced more than 3 such games… in his final start of the season, in Game 160 vs Cubs, recorded 6.0 innings and 8 strikeouts but allowed 2 hits.
• From 8/5-9/16 missed 43 days and 40 games while on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain…went 4-12, 5.26 in 20 starts prior to the injury and 1-1, 0.78 in 4 starts after he came off the 15-day IL.
• Following his 2022 rookie season was the Reds’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exemplary contributions to his community.
• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the June 2017 first-year player draft…was rated by MLB.com the best overall prospect and by Baseball America the best high school player in that draft…the Twins selected high school SS Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
• Heading into the 2017 draft, became the 13th high school athlete ever to appear
MLB Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (10-6) at Houston Astros (7-9)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were unable to complete the sweep of the Rays yesterday as they fell, 8-1…Are 4-1-0 in series play to begin the campaign, having won each of their last four series. Toronto has still won nine of its last 12 contests… Finished its 1st homestand at 4-2 with an average attendance of 36,538 at Rogers Centre, good for 3rd highest among AL ballparks.
THE HITS KEEP FLOWING: Bo Bichette singled in the 1st and again in the 8th inning yesterday to finish 2-for-4…Now has eight multi-hit games, tied with teammate Matt Chapman for the most in the AL. The 25-year old has hits in 13 of the 16 games so far, going 27-for-72 (.375) with four doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored…The 27 hits are tied with Bryson Stott for the most in the Majors while his 43 total bases are now the most in MLB (2nd: Matt Olson – 42)…Among AL batters, currently ranks 3rd in AVG and 8th in SLG (.597). The shortstop has gone 25 plate appearances since his last strikeout, tied for the 5th-longest active streak in MLB…Has decreased his strikeout rate from 22.2% in 2022 to 9.3% this season…The 12.9% improvement is the largest among all AL hitters (courtesy Stats Perform).
VLAD HABITS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Toronto’s lone run yesterday as he plated George Springer with a 1stinning single…Also walked to finish with a 1-for-3 afternoon…Has reached base safely in all but one game this season, now 24-for-62 with a double, two homers, eight RBI, and a 9BB/6K ratio for a .387 AVG (2nd in the AL), a .473 OBP (3rd), and a .973 OPS (14th). The Gold Glove first baseman’s 24 hits are tied with teammate Matt Chapman for 2nd most among AL batters (T-4th in MLB), trailing only teammate Bo Bichette (27)…Has recorded 32 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in MLB (2nd: Matt Chapman – 30).
STICK WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield doubled in the 4th inning yesterday before picking up a single in the 9th, finishing the day 2-for-4…Has reached base safely in all 12 of his games played this season, batting .273 (12-for-44) with three doubles, six RBI, and three walks…Is now batting .279 (46-for-165) with 13 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in his 56 games since being traded to Toronto last August.
FEELING THE GLOVE: Kevin Kiermaier doubled off lefty Shane McClanahan in the 5th inning yesterday…Has gone 6-for-18 (.333) off LHPs so far this season…Is now batting .327 (16-for49) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI to start his Blue Jays career (.816 OPS)…His 16 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 15). The three-time Gold Glove winner has also landed MLB’s Play of the Week for his catch to rob a home run in the 2nd inning of Toronto’s Home Opener on April 11 vs. DET.
HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays return to the road, holding down a 6-4 record while away from Rogers Centre…Their 10 road games are tied for the most in MLB…After this three-gamer in Houston, will have an off-day on Thursday before taking on the Yankees (10-6) in the Bronx for three dates over the weekend. Toronto’s .600 road win% currently ranks T-4th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road AVG (.288) and road hits (106) while ranking 2nd in OBP (.352), 3rd in OPS (.773), and 6th in SLG (.421)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.28), 13th in opponents’ batting average (.269), and 14th in WHIP (1.45).
KEVIN’S K’S: Kevin Gausman is making his 4th start of the season, coming off an 8.0-inning effort on April 12 vs. DET in which he racked up a season-high 11 strikeouts…His 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) is the best mark in his career through three starts…His 25 K’s are the most ever by a Blue Jay in the first three starts of a season.
A CHAPPY FEELING: Matt Chapman is batting .421 (24-for-57) with eight doubles, three home runs, seven walks, and 15 RBI… His 1.204 OPS is the best in the Majors…Ranks 1st in the AL in both AVG (.421) and OBP (.484) while T-2nd in total bases (41)…Also has an average exit velocity of 98.4 MPH, the highest in MLB (2nd: MJ Melendez – 97.3).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched an AL-high 156 hits (2nd: TB – 151)…Are 2nd in the AL in team batting average (.277), 3rd in in OBP (.346) and OPS (.756), and sit 6th in SLG (.410)…Have had 218 batters reach base safely (T-2nd in the AL)…Are now on a streak of 31 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy Stats Perform).
VS. THE ASTROS: All-Time: 29-36
2022: 4-2 Road: 11-22
Road: 2-1 Minute Maid Park: 11-22
The Blue Jays went 4-2 in their six meetings with the Astros last season, taking two of three games at each ballpark…Scored 26 runs while the Astros scored 27 as Toronto claimed each of its four wins by one run… Are 11-22 all-time at Minute Maid Park but have taken four of their last seven games there. George Springer played seven seasons for the Astros and hit .270 with 137 doubles, 13 triples, 174 home runs and 458 RBI (.852 OPS)…Made three All-Star teams and was named 2017 World Series MVP…In his five games against them, has gone 5-for-18 (.278) with a double, three homers, and three RBI. Whit Merrifield went 10-for-31 (.323) with a double, a triple, and a homer in his seven games vs. the Astros last season…In 32 career meetings, is batting .294 (40-for-136) with nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, and 20 RBI (.799 OPS). Matt Chapman leads all current Blue Jays with 72 games played vs. Houston…Has gone 61-for-262 (.233) with 18 doubles, a triple, 14 homers, and 33 RBI in those contests for a .769 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 4th start of the season and his 3rd on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019).
His 25 strikeouts are the most ever by a Blue Jay in his first 3 starts of a season (2nd: Juan Guzman – 24 in 1992 and 1996). Owns a 2.79 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the 2nd-best mark among qualified hurlers (1st: Corbin Burnes – 2.52).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/6 at KC, throwing 6.0 shutout frames with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts…Didn’t allowed an earned run for a 2nd straight outing to begin the season. Took the loss in his season debut on 4/1 at STL, giving up 3 runs (all unearned) on 8 hits and a walk over 6.0 innings with 7 strikeouts.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS: His career-best 2.32 FIP ranked 2nd among all MLB hurlers (Carlos Rodón – 2.31)…Was 5th in the AL with 205 strikeouts and finished 11th in ERA (3.35). Picked up his 2nd win on 5/1 vs. HOU, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball, giving up 6 hits with no walks and a season-high 10 strikeouts…Became the 1st Blue Jay pitcher in 2022 with a double-digit strikeout game… Joined Cy Young as the only pitchers since 1903 to begin a season with five straight starts with no walks and no home runs allowed (min. 20 IP)… His 41 punchouts without any walks are the 2nd-most thru the first five games of a season in MLB history (Corbin Burnes – 49K in 2021).
Twirled 6.1 innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 5/7 at CLE, giving up 6 hits with 5 strikeouts while walking his 1st batter of the season (Franmil Reyes with 2 out in the 4th)…Faced 136 consecutive batters to the begin the year without issuing a walk, the longest streak in franchise history (Paul Quantrill – 90 in 2001), and the 3rdlongest streak across the Majors since 1974 (Mark Eichhorn – 146 in 1991, Dan Quisenberry – 146 in 1982).
Earned the win on 8/2 at TB, throwing 8.0 shutout innings with a hit, a walk, and 10 strikeouts…Became the first Blue Jays pitcher to go 8+ scoreless since Alex Manoah on 9/13/21 vs. TB, and the first to do so on the road since Ryan Borucki on 9/17/18 at BAL…Recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 4th time this season and 3rd time in his last 6 starts. Named AL Player of the Week for 8/1-8/7, going 1-0 with 14.0 scoreless innings pitched (7H, BB, 15K)…Was his 1st PotW nod…Was the 9th Blue Jays pitcher to take Player of the Week honours…Became the 2nd pitcher in team history to tally at least 15 K’s without more than 1 BB across 2 consecutive scoreless outings, joining Brandon Morrow (4/28-5/3/12).
Picked up his 9th win on 8/19 at NYY…Scattered 4 hits and a walk over 7.0 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts… Marked his 6th scoreless outing of the season and the 3rd in his last 4 starts. Landed a no-decision on 9/21 at PHI as he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings 5H, 2BB, 8K)…Was his 6th outing of 6+ scoreless IP. Took a no-decision on 9/26 vs. NYY, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk over 6.1 innings with 7 punchouts…Became the 2nd pitcher in team history to record 200 K’s in his 1st season as a Blue Jay (Roger Clemens – 292 in 1997).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Set career-best marks in 2021 innings pitched (192.0), wins (14), quality starts (20), ERA (2.81), strikeouts (227), opponents’ AVG (.210), and WHIP (1.04). Named an All-Star for the 1st time in his career in 2021 and finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting…Signed a 5-year deal with Toronto on 12/1/21. Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE ASTROS: Facing the Astros for the 6th time in his career and 2nd time as a Blue Jay…Met Houston once last season on 5/1 in Toronto, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball with 6 hits, no walks, and 10 punchouts…Has faced the current group of Astros for a total of 67 plate appearances in his career, surrendering just 2 home runs (Altuve, Bregman) and issuing 3 walks with 22 strikeouts.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champs, will open a three-game series against the Blue Jays tonight in what is their first game of the 2023 season against an AL Eastern opponent…the Astros will start RHP Cristian Javier, who’s making his fourth start of the young season, opposite RHP Kevin Gausman and the Jays.
LEGEND OF THE FALL CLASSIC: RHP Cristian Javier was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Majors last season, as evidenced by his .171 opponent average, 0.97 WHIP and 173 strikeouts in his 134.1 innings pitched in the regular season… he followed that up with a huge performance in the postseason, making two scoreless starts for Houston, including an incredible performance in Game 4 of the World Series…trailing 2-1 in the series, the Astros started Javier in Game 4 in Philadelphia and he proceeded to toss the first 6.0 innings of a no-hitter in the Astros 5-0 series-turning win…the Astros went on to win Games 5 and 6 to clinch their title…the Astros Game 4 no-hitter
marked just the second no-hitter in World Series history.
SPACE CITY MONDAY: The Astros will celebrate Space City Monday by wearing their Nike City Connect Space City uniforms for every home game date on Mondays throughout the season… the jerseys, which are available for purchase at the Astros Team Store, pay tribute to Houston’s rich history in space travel.
VS. THE JAYS: The Astros and Blue Jays, two perennial contenders, will match up for their first series of the 2023 season this week in Houston…the Blue Jays won the season series last year, 4-2, taking both three-game series played…this series is a reunion between the Astros and OF George Springer, who played his first seven years (2014-20) in an Astros uniform… IF Cavan Biggio, the son of Astros Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, also plays for the Blue Jays.
AT THE HELM: Astros skipper Dusty Baker is in his 26th season as a manager and his fourth at the helm in Houston…Baker, who ranks ninth all-time in managerial wins with 2,100 wins, has an outside shot of moving up to sixth all time by seasons end…en route, he’d have to surpass Joe McCarthy (8th, 2,125), Bucky Harris (7th, 2,158) and Sparky Anderson (6th 2,194).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Last night on Sunday Night Baseball, the Astros and Rangers were in a scoreless ballgame heading into the 7th before a six-run Rangers rally eventually led to a 9-1 Astros loss…LHP Framber Valdez (1ER/6IP) started for Houston and tossed 6.0 scoreless frames before running into trouble in the 7th…offensively, 2B Mauricio Dubón extended his hitting streak to 11 games, SS Jeremy Peña stole a career high three bases and PH César Salazar tacked on his first MLB hit.
ON THE BUMP: The Astros pitching staff ranks fourth in the Majors in strikeouts (150) and sixth in ERA (3.48)…the starters have worked to a 3.30 ERA, which ranks fifth in the Majors.
EARLY LEAGUE LEADERS: LF Yordan Alvarez ranks tied for first in the Majors in RBI (20) and ranks tied for sixth in the American League in home runs (4), along with RF Kyle Tucker… Tucker also ranks second in the AL in walks (14) and seventh in OBP (.441)…2B Mauricio Dubón owns an 11-game hitting streak, which ties as the longest active streak in the AL.
RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez (20 RBI) is the second player in club history to post 20 RBI within the team’s first 16 games, joining Lance Berkman, who drove in 21 in the Astros first 16 games of the 2002 season…Alvarez has done his work while playing in just 14 of the Astros 16 games on the season.
FILLING IN NICELY: 2B Mauricio Dubón, who’s on a career-long, 11-game hitting streak, is off to a strong start to the season, posting a .340 (17×50) average with nine runs scored, three doubles and a pair of RBI in 12 games played… Dubón, who started most of his games at shortstop and center field in 2022, has made all 12 of his starts at second base this season while filling in for the injured 2B Jose Altuve.
MISSING PIECE: The Astros are playing without their leadoff man, 2B Jose Altuve, who suffered a right thumb fracture while playing in the WBC…Altuve is expected to be sidelined from baseball activity for approx. two months…in his stead, the Astros have started IF Mauricio Dubón (12g) and IF David Hensley (4g) at the keystone, while SS Jeremy Peña (8g), OF Chas McCormick (6g) and Dubón (2g) have shared leadoff duties.
CHAS SIDELINED:CF Chas McCormick has missed the last two games after exiting Friday night’s game with vision issues… McCormick is off to a strong start to the season, as he’s hitting .275 with an .883 OPS, while accumulating five extra-base hits and four stolen bases in 11 games.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP CRISTIAN JAVIER
LAST START – 4/11 AT PIT: allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 6.0 innings…it was the first time in 9 starts that the Astros lost a game in which Javier started, dating back to 8/31/22 at TEX.
• Javier is on a career-high 5-game winning streak through his last 9 starts…in those 9 outings, he recorded a 2.15 ERA (12ER/50.1IP) with 58 strikeouts, a 0.89 WHIP and a .181 opponent batting average.
JAVIER IN ‘23: has allowed just 2 walks through his 3 starts this season (17 IP) and his 1.06 walks-per-nine innings average is the 3rd-lowest from an AL starters this season.
‘22 CAMPAIGN: was one of the most effective pitchers in the AL in ‘22….among pitchers with 140+ innings pitched, posted the lowest opponent batting average in the AL (.170), which was 16 points lower than 2nd-place finisher RHP Justin Verlander (.186), who won the AL Cy Young…also ranked 2nd in K’s per 9.0 (11.74) and 4th in WHIP (0.95) in 2022…his 11.74 K’s per 9.0 ratio trailed only RHP Shohei Ohtani (11.87) (min. 140IP).
POSTSEASON HEROICS: delivered one of the most historic starts in MLB postseason history in Gm. 4 of the ‘22 World Series, throwing six hitless innings to begin Astros combined no-hitter in 5-0 win…also struck out nine batters to just two walks in start…was the second no-hitter in World Series history and first combined no-hitter.
• Became the 10th pitcher in W.S. history with a no-hit bid of 6+ innings and was first to do so since Jerry Koosman (NYM) (6 IP) in Gm 2 of the 1969 W.S. at BAL…was followed by RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Rafael Montero and RHP Ryan Pressly to complete the no-hitter, with each pitcher contributing one inning.
• has recorded a 2.20 ERA (8ER/32.2IP) 14 postseason games (2 GS) in his postseason career, dating back to ‘20…it’s the 2nd-lowest ERA of any postseason pitcher (min. 30 IP) since the beginning of the ‘20 postseason, trailing only Braves RHP Ian Anderson (1.26 ERA)…has held opponents to a .127 average (14×110) in his postseason career…is the lowest postseason opponent’s batting average of any MLB pitcher (min. 30 IP) since ‘20… the Astros are 11-3 in postseason games Javier has appeared in.
INVISABALL’: has held opponents to a .184 average (210×1144) throughout his MLB career…it’s the lowest opponent’s batting average (min. 300 IP) of any MLB pitcher since entering the league in ‘20…the next-closest players are CLE Triston McKenzie and MIL Corbin Burnes (.196).
NO-NO: contributed seven innings to a combined no-hitter vs. the Yankees on June 25 at Yankee Stadium…it was the 14th no-hitter in Astros history and the third combined no-hitter…Javier struck out a then-career high 13 batters…it was just the 2nd no-hitter tossed against the Yankees since 1959, with the Astros also delivering the other one (2003).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: finished 3rd in the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year voting after leading all AL rookies in ERA (3.48)…marked the highest finish by an Astros rookie pitcher since Roy Oswalt finished second in the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year voting.
• was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019…recorded a 1.74 ERA (22ER/113.2IP) with a career-high 170 strikeouts between three levels in the Astros system.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT: will be making his 2nd career start against the Blue Jays, with both coming at Minute Maid Park…his start in 2021 against Toronto, was the only start of the ‘21 season, that he allowed 5-or-more runs.
