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MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6) at St. Louis Cardinals (6-8)

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MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6) at St. Louis Cardinals (6-8)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:…have been shut out twice in their last three games…Are off to their best start since going 10-4 in their first 14 games of the 2018 season…Won in walkoff fashion for the first time this season Tuesday night…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.

ROSTER MOVE: Prior to today’s game, the Pirates placed infielder Ji Man Choi on the 10-injured list (retro to April 14) with a strain of the left Achilles tendon…Infielder Tucupita Marcano has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis…The 23-yearold Marcano was hitting .422 (19-for-45) with seven doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, .458 OBP, .689 slugging percentage and 1.147 OPS in 11 games with Indianapolis at the time of his promotion to the big leagues…Coming into today, Marcano ranked third in the International League in batting, tied for first in hits and doubles, tied for fourth in extra base hits (nine) and tied for seventh in total bases (31).

ABOUT TODAY’S STARTER: Roansy Contreras will make his third start of the season this afternoon here at Busch Stadium…Contreras earned a win in his season debut after allowing one run in 5.2 innings against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 4…Beginning with his outing on July 7 at Cincinnati, Contreras is 3-1 with a 3.49 ERA (28.1ip/11er) in his last six starting assignments on the road (the Pirates are also 5-1 in those games)…His only loss during the stretch came on September 21 at Yankee Stadium.

ABOUT RO: Roansy Contreras ranked fifth among all National League rookies in ERA (3.89) and strikeouts (86) and third in batting average against (.225) in 2022…He also posted the seventh-lowest ERA (3.53) among all rookies in MLB with at least 50.0 innings pitched beginning with his start on July 7 through the end of the season while his .202 batting average against in that time ranked third among MLB rookies with at least 50.0 innings of work.

GETTING STRETCHED OUT: Pittsburgh’s starters have worked at least 6.0 innings in each of the last four games…Last year the starting staff went four straight games with least 6.0 innings worked once from July 23-26…The starting staff has recorded a 1.80 ERA (25.0ip/5er) during this current four-game stretch…The starting rotation’s 73.1 innings pitched are tied for the fourth-most among all NL teams behind the Padres (81.1ip), Dodgers (77.2ip) and Brewers (77.1ip).

AND THE WHIFF: Johan Oviedo became the first Pirate to record a double digit strikeout game this season with his career-best 10-strikeout performance Friday night…Three Pirates recorded 10-strikeout games in 2022 (the last to do it was Roansy Contreras on September 21 at Yankee Stadium)…The last Pirate to record at least 10 punchouts against the Cardinals was Joe Musgrove, who had 11 on September 20, 2020.

ZEROING IN: Johan Oviedo’s scoreless streak ended at 15.1 innings Friday night after allowing his only run of the game in the sixth inning…Oviedo’s streak of 15.1 innings is the longest scoreless streak in MLB this season…The second-longest scoreless streak in MLB in the early portion of the season belongs to St. Louis’ Jordan Montgomery (15.0ip).

HONORING JACKIE: In conjunction with MLB’s league-wide celebration commemorating the 76th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier and the 50th anniversary of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, players and coaches will continue the tradition of wearing blue “42” jersey numbers today.

HEATING UP: Rodolfo Castro reached base safely twice in four plate appearances Friday after singling in his first at-bat and drawing a walk in the sixth inning…Castro has now hit safely in four straight and five of his last six games, going 7-for-15 with a double, home run and 1.370 OPS.

MAKE THAT A DOUBLE: Andrew McCutchen is one double shy of tying Dave Parker for the seventh-most doubles (296) in team history (Thursday night McCutchen moved past Bill Mazeroski into sole possession of eighth place for career doubles in Pirates history)…McCutchen’s 395 career doubles are also the fourth-most among active players, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (610), Joey Votto (453), Evan Longoria (424) and Freddie Freeman (418).

CARLOS SANTANA’S HITS: Carlos Santana went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, walk and RBI Thursday night…Since April 5, Santana is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with five doubles, two home runs, six RBI and a 1.148 OPS.

PROVIDING RELIEF: Pittsburgh’s bullpen enters today ranked fifth among National League teams with a 3.81 ERA…Pirates relievers have also surrendered a total of three home runs this year, which is tied for the second-fewest in MLB along with the Red Sox, Brewers and Mariners…The only team to allow fewer home runs out of the bullpen are the Rangers (two).

PIRATING: The Pirates enter today second in the National League and tied for fourth in all of MLB with 16 stolen bases.. The only three teams in all of MLB with more stolen bases are the Guardians (21), Orioles (21) and Diamondbacks (18).

STARTING PITCHER – 59 – RHP ROANSY CONTRERA
ROANSY CONTRERAS: The 23-year-old righthander is making his third start of the season today…Lost an 8-2 decision (3.1ip/7er) at home against the Astros in his last start.

vs. ST. LOUIS: 1-0 in four appearances (three starts) last year…He allowed two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings in his season debut on 4/9 at Busch, started and had a no-decision in a 6-4 win at Busch on 6/15, allowed one run in 5.1 innings while winning an 8-2 decision at PNC Park on 9/9, and had a no-decision in his start at Busch on 10/2.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending National League Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals and division rival Pittsburgh Pirates play the third game of a four-game series today at Busch Stadium … The Arizona Diamondbacks make their annual visit to St. Louis on Monday for three games … Last night’s win moved the Cardinals to 4-1 in the second game of series this season after starting 0-5 in series openers.

NOOT NEWS: The Cardinals today activated Lars Nootbaar from the 10-Day Injured List and optioned 1B/OF Juan Yepez to Memphis (AAA) following last night’s game … Nootbaar missed the previous 13 games after jamming his left thumb while sliding into third base on Opening Day.

100: Oliver Marmol is closing in on his 100th career win as Cardinals manager, going 99-77 over his first 176 games … A win today would make Marmol 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 (14) more than any other team.

10 YEARS FOR ARENADO: Congratulations to Nolan Arenado for reaching 10.000 years of Major League service time today … Since making his MLB
debut on April 28, 2013 with the Rockies, the 2nd round pick from El Toro High School has made seven NL All-Star teams while earning 10 consecutive Gold Gloves, six Platinum Gloves, and five Silver Sluggers.

SATURDAY IN THE PARK: The Cardinals (2-0) are one of seven MLB teams to be undefeated on Saturday this season … Last season, St. Louis was an MLB-best 21-7 (.750) on Saturday, including a 12-3 mark at home while wearing their Saturday cream uniforms.

AHOY, MATEY: St. Louis has won the season series over Pittsburgh for nine consecutive seasons (2014-22) and 20 times in the last 23 years since 2000 (excluding 2008, 2012, 2013). BURIED TREASURE: St. Louis owns MLB’s best overall win pct. against the Pirates (.590, 108-75) dating back to 2013 when the two teams squared off in the Division Series.

STREAKING WITH GOLDY: Paul Goldschmidt has reached base safely in all 14 games this season, tied with two others for MLB’s 2nd-longest active on-base streak behind Xander Bogaerts (15) … Goldschmidt, who ranks among MLB leaders in on-base percentage (.460, 10th) and times on base (29, T-4th), has compiled 52 double-digit on-base streaks in his career, highlighted by his career-best 46-gamer last season … Goldy’s longest on-base streak to begin a season is 15 games in 2013.

BURLY BALL: Rookie Alec Burleson has hit safely in a career best nine consecutive games (.324, 11-34) sice April 2, T-4th longest active hitting streak in MLB … Among rookies this season, only Jordan Walker (12 games) has recorded a longer hitting streak.

ZEROS TO HEROES: St. Louis is 2-0 in games following shutouts (12-4 last season) … Twice this season the Cardinals have been shut out and then blanked the same opponent the following game: April 7-8 (L 4-0 & W 6-0 at Milwaukee) and April 13-14 (L 5-0 & W 3-0 vs. Pirates).

MAYBE IT’S A SIGN: The last time the Cardinals sported a 3-5 record in their first eight home games was 2011.

THIS DATE IN CARDINALS HISTORY (April 15, 2016): The Cardinals set a Busch Stadium III record with six home runs in a 14-3 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Jackie Robinson Day … 12 of 13 runs came from blasts by Matt Holliday (twice) Aledmys Díaz, Randal Grichuk, Brandon Moss, and Matt Adams.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP STEVEN MATZ (0-2, 8.18)
TODAY’S GAME
• Makes his 159th career appearance (149th start) and 13th start as a Cardinal.

• Is seeking his 1st win as a starter at Busch Stadium since May 2, 2022 vs. Kansas City.

• Missed 102 games on the Injured List with a left shoulder impingement (5/23-7/16) and strained left knee (7/24-9/16). Was activated from his second stint in mid-September and was added to the bullpen where he made five appearances.

• Prior to the 7/23/22 start at Cincinnati, Matz had missed approx. two months with a left shoulder impingement.

• Ranks 3rd in MLB in Pitch Tempo with bases empty (11.5 sec/pitch) and 5th with runners on base (14.8 sec/pitch), leading all Cardinals.

• Has yet to allow a hit (0-for-8) against opposing left-handed batters to begin the season.

• His lifetime .619 winning percentage (13-8) in the month of April ranks 7th among active pitchers with 20 or more career April decisions. San Diego’s Michael Wacha leads the list at .778 (21-6).

• Ranks 14th among active MLB left-handed pitchers with 8.68 SO/9 IP (min. 700 IP).

• St. Louis is his third MLB organization, entering his second Cardinals season with a 50-52 record and 4.32 ERA in career 157 games (147 starts) while pitching for the New York Mets (2015-20), Toronto Blue Jays (2021) and St. Louis (2022-23).

• Went 2-0, 1.53 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances (three starts).

LAST TIME OUT
• Logged 5.2 IP in his start last Mon. (4/10) at Coors Field, but was dinged for 6 runs on 9 hits and suffered his 2nd-straight loss, losing 7-4 to the Rockies.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/10 @COL L 7-4 L-2 5.2 9 6 6 2 4 0 92-60

CAREER
• Joined the Cardinals on a four-year contract (2022-25) after previously pitching for the New York Mets (2015-20) and Toronto Blue Jays (2021) organizations.

• In 2021, tied for the American League lead with 14 wins among left-handed pitchers.

• Since 2021, his 19 total wins rank T-10th among MLB left-handers, with Julio Urias (37) leading the list.

• Has landed on the Injured List 11 times over his Major League career, missing time in every season except for 2021 in which he missed time for a positive COVID-19 test.

• Also missed the 2010 and 2011 minor league seasons after undergoing Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.

• His one career complete game shutout is also a “Maddux” where he threw 99 pitches on July 27, 2019 vs. Pittsburgh.

• Finished 6th in the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year voting, going 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in 22 starts.

MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (8-6) at Chicago White Sox (5-9)

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MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (8-6) at Chicago White Sox (5-9)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

ADLEY CLUTCHMAN PART DEUX: Adley Rutschman hit a go-ahead three-run double on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the seventh inning last night as the Orioles rallied to beat the White Sox, 6-3, in the series opener at Guaranteed Rate Field…Baltimore tied a season high by walking nine times, joining Opening Day on March 30 at Boston.

The O’s have won all five series openers this season.

AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: The O’s and White Sox continue their first series this season with two more games at Guaranteed Rate Field…Baltimore and Chicago-AL will play six times in 2023 with the Orioles hosting the Sox from August 28-30…The O’s went 5-2 against the White Sox in 2022, taking three of four games in Chicago from June 23-26 and two of three at Oriole Park from August 23-25.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Orioles have a scheduled off day on Monday before traveling to Washington, D.C. for two games against the Nationals from April 18-19…Following another off day on Thursday, the O’s open a six-game homestand with the Tigers from April 21-23 and Red Sox from April 24-26.

ON THE ATTACK: Baltimore is batting .253/.343/.447 (117-for-463) with 30 doubles, 20 homers, 80 runs scored, 78 RBI, and 61 walks in 14 games to start the season…The O’s rank second in the AL and third in MLB in runs scored after finishing 10th in the AL and 20th in MLB with 674 runs scored in 2022…The team is also third in the AL and fifth in MLB in doubles and third in the AL and sixth in MLB in total bases (207) this season.

NEED FOR SPEED: The O’s 21 stolen bases are tied with the Guardians for the most in MLB…Baltimore and Cleveland are the first MLB teams since 2000 with 21 steals in the first 14 games to begin a season…The 21 stolen bases by the Orioles through their first 14 games of the year are the most in O’s history (since 1954) to open a campaign… The O’s have only been caught stealing once for a 95.5 percent success rate…Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins are tied for the MLB lead with Chicago-NL’s Nico Hoerner with seven steals…The seven steals are more than eight MLB teams this season and the duo’s 14 combined stolen bases are more than 24 MLB teams to start 2023.

BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman notched his sixth career go-ahead plate appearance in the seventh inning or later last night with his three-run double with both of his such plate appearances this season coming in the last two days…He tallied his first career walk-off as a professional on Thursday, homering in the ninth inning…Rutschman has tallied a hit in a career-high eight consecutive games since April 7, the longest streak by an O’s batter this season, while slashing .462/.611/.885 (12-for-26) with two doubles, three home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI, and 10 walks during that stretch…He’s also reached base safely in 11 straight games, tied for the secondlongest of his career and one shy of his career high, since April 3 with a .510 on-base percentage in that span.

Rutschman ranks among AL leaders in walks (T-1st, 12), on-base percentage (2nd, .492), batting average (4th, .377), OPS (4th, 1.134), hits (5th, 20), slugging percentage (7th, .642), and total bases (T-7th, 34).

His 32 times reaching base safely this season lead MLB; he is the only MLB player this season to reach safely at least four times in four different games.

Since the start of 2022, he ranks third in MLB with a .308 batting average (12- for-39) on 0-2 pitches (min. 40 PA).

He has hit four home runs this season, tied with Los Angeles-AL’s Logan O’Hoppe for the most among primary catchers; last year, Rutschman didn’t hit his fourth homer until his 38th game on July 7.

Homered in back-to-back games (4/9-10) for the first time in his career.

Rutschman is batting .412/.524/.588 (7-for-17) against lefties this season after slashing .173/.287/.265 (17-for-98) against southpaws in his rookie year.

MOUNT UP: On Tuesday, Ryan Mountcastle became the third player in Orioles history with nine RBI in a game, tying Jim Gentile (5/9/61 at MIN) and Eddie Murray (8/26/85 at CAL) for the team record…Mountcastle leads MLB with 19 RBI, is tied for the MLB lead with six home runs (see chart at right), and is tied for third in MLB with 10 extra-base hits and 37 total bases.

He drove in 12 runs in the Oakland series to become the first O’s player with 12 RBI in one series since Rafael Palmerio from August 15-18, 1996 at Oakland (5G) and the first to do so in a four-game series since Dan Graham had 13 RBI from July 21-23, 1980 at Minnesota.

His grand slam in the seventh inning on Tuesday was the second of his career (5/22/21 at WSH) and the first by an O’s batter in 2023; the blast traveled 456 feet, the farthest home run by an Oriole this season and the farthest of his career.

His 10 barrels this season rank tied for third in MLB, per Statcast; his 23 batted balls of 95+ mph are tied for eighth-most.

HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays is tied for second in MLB with 13 runs scored… Among AL leaders, he is tied for fourth in doubles (6), tied for fifth in extra-base hits (9), tied for ninth in total bases (32), and 10th in batting average (.333) and slugging percentage (.627)…Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, and Adley Rutschman all rank in the top 10 in the AL in slugging this season.

Hays’ double off Jimmy Lambert in the eighth inning last night was 110.5 mph, the hardest-hit ball of his career, per Statcast; four of his five hardest-hit balls and eight of his hardest-hit 13 balls in 2023 have come in the last five days.

Hays scored eight runs in the Oakland series, becoming the first Oriole to score eight runs in one series since Jonathan Villar scored nine times from July 25-28, 2019 at Los Angeles-AL.

He scored a career-high four runs on April 11 vs. Oakland.

Tuesday marked his second game this year with at least four hits, joining a five-hit effort on April 1 at Boston; he and Adley Rutschman are two of the four MLB players with two games of at least four hits this season; since the start of 2022, Hays and Los Angeles-NL’s Freddie Freeman both have six games with 4+ hits, most in the majors.

He homered in back-to-back games from April 10-11 for the third time in his career.

STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON RHP

QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his fourth start of the 2023 campaign this afternoon against Chicago-AL…In 270 career appearances (264 GS), Gibson owns a 92-91 record with a 4.50 ERA (762 ER/1522.1 IP)..The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has also spent time with the Twins, Phillies, and Rangers across 10 Major League seasons.

LAST TIME OUT: Earned his third straight win to start the season on April 10 vs. Oakland, allowing one run on fi ve hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work…Became the first O’s pitcher in club history (since 1954) to start and win each of his three first appearances with the team…His teams have scored at least four runs in each of his last eight starts, tied for the longest-active streak in MLB with Colorado’s Ryan Feltner…Has won each of his first three starts to begin a season for the second time in his career (2014)…Marked his second straight quality start…Threw 92 pitches, 57 strikes.

CAREER AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: Making his 19th career start against the White Sox…Owns a 9-5 record with a 2.91 ERA (38 ER/117.2 IP) in his first 18 career starts against Chicago-AL…With the Rangers, he did not factor into the decision in his last start against the White Sox on April 24, 2021, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and five punchouts in 6.0 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field…Has logged 12 career quality starts against Chicago-AL.

CAREER AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: Making his 92nd career appearance (88 GS) against the AL Central…Owns a 32-31 record with a 4.49 ERA (253 ER/506.2 IP) and 39 quality starts through his first 91 appearances…With the Rangers, he was dealt the loss in his last start against the AL Central on July 19, 2021 at Detroit, surrendering eight runs on 10 hits (1 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.0+ innings at Comerica Park.

ON THE ROAD: Went 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA (42 ER/65.1 IP) and a .271 opponent average (70-for-258) in 13 road starts with the Phillies in 2022…In 136 career road appearances (132 GS), he owns a 45-43 record with a 4.50 ERA (382 ER/763.2 IP)…Will be his 12th career road start against the White Sox; has gone 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA (22 ER/72.2 IP) through his first 11 starts at Chicago-AL.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA (94 ER/167.2 IP) in 31 starts with the Phillies, the fifth time in his career making at least 30 starts in a season… Made his Phillies debut on April 9 vs. Oakland (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 10 K)…Made his 250th career start on July 27 vs. Atlanta…Retired the first 18 batters he faced on August 5 vs. Washington over 8.0 innings, the longest perfect game bid of his career…Struck out 11 batters on August 16 at Cincinnati, his second double-digit strikeout game of the season, the most in his career…Gibson’s final nine starts averaged 10.37 K/9… Had a career-best 3.00 K/BB ratio (144 K/48 BB).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Appeared on his fifth career Postseason roster in 2022 with the Phillies and made his World Series debut in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park, working 1.0 scoreless inning out of the bullpen with one hit and one strikeout in Philadelphia’s 7-0 loss to the Houston Astros…In two relief appearances during the 2022 Postseason, he worked 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost three straight games and six of their last eight as they continue a six-game homestand this afternoon against Baltimore.

RHP Michael Kopech is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in third place in the American League Central, a season-high 5.0 games behind the Twins and 3.0 behind Cleveland. l The Sox opened the homestand last night with a 6-3 loss to the Orioles after carrying a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning.

Following this series, the White Sox continue the homestand with three games vs. Philadelphia (4/17-19) … after an off day on Thursday, they take a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26).

The Sox went 2-4 trip on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12 and 1-2 on their first homestand vs. San Francisco from 4/3-6.

TODAY’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high four games below .500.

Sox starting pitchers own a 1.86 ERA (6 ER/29.0 IP) with 33 strikeouts and a .171 (18-105) opponents average over the last five games.

Through four home games, the White Sox have posted a 9.25 ERA (37 ER/36.0 IP) with 31 walks allowed (7.8 per 9.0 IP).

The White Sox are hitting .182/.229/.297 (30-165) with 11 runs scored over the last five games.

The Sox have issued eight-plus walks three times in 14 games this season.

Baltimore-area native Gavin Sheets is 12-20 (.600) with one home run and five RBI over his last six games against Baltimore.

Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in all 13 of his games this season, hitting safely in 10.

LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Adley Rutschman hit a three-run double off Reynaldo López with two outs and two strikes in the seventh inning to cap a four-run rally, and Baltimore went on to defeat the White Sox, 6-3.

Jake Burger hit a solo home run off Tyler Wells in the second, and the Sox extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth on RBI singles by Andrew Benintendi and Eloy Jiménez, but the Orioles answered with four in the seventh and two in the eighth.

Mike Clevinger posted a ND in his Sox home debut despite allowing one hit with five walks and five strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless IP … Clevinger threw 6.0-plus scoreless IP while allowing only one hit for the third time in his career.

Jake Diekman (0.1 IP), López (0.2) and Jimmy Lambert (1.0) each gave up two runs in relief.

White Sox pitchers limited the Orioles to six hits but issued a season-high tying nine walks.

Elvis Andrus hit a pair of doubles.

NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .287 (37-129) average with runners in scoring position … they ranks second in the AL in hits with RISP.

The Sox are hitting .185/.290/.333 (5-27) with RISP over the last five games.

WHITE SOX VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Baltimore leads the season series, 1-0, and has won four of the last five games in Chicago.

The Orioles won the 2022 season series, 5-2, taking three of four games in Chicago from 6/23-26 and two of three at Camden Yards from 8/23-25.

Chicago’s 7-0 record against Baltimore in 2021 marked the first time in franchise history it swept a season series of seven-plus games.

Sox pitchers own a 3.00 ERA (44 ER/132.0 IP) and 159 strikeouts against Baltimore since the start of the 2021 season.

BALTIMORE COLT
Gavin Sheets grew up 15 miles north of Baltimore in Lutherville, Md. … Sheets is a career .389/.463/.611 (14-36) hitter with two home runs and six RBI in 11 games against the Orioles … his father, Larry, played six seasons (1984-89) for Baltimore, hitting 31 homers in 1987.

SEARCHING FOR HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 1-3 at home this season after going 37-44 (.457) in 2022, the 12th-best winning percentage in the American League … by comparison, the Sox were 53-28 (.654) at home in 2021, the best record in the AL and their best mark since 2008 (54-28).

Through four home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 37-19, and outhomered, 13-2.

FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
All-Star SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (right flexor strain) Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and Joe Kelly (right groin strain) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.

CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 12-6 with a 1.52 ERA (26 ER/153.2 IP) and 180 strikeouts over his last 26 starts dating to 5/29/22.

During that stretch, Cease leads MLB in ERA and opponents average (.166) … he has allowed one or no earned runs in 21 of the 26 starts.

SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .275/.340/.445 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank second in on-base percentage and OPS (.785) and fifth in slugging.

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

Luis Robert Jr. is a career .357/.407/.633 (70-196) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .617 slugging percentage vs. LHP.

ELVIS BECOMES MR. 2,000
Elvis Andrus became the 290th player in MLB history to reach 2,000 career hits on 4/5 vs. San Francisco with a fifth-inning single off Logan Webb.

Andrus ranks fourth among active players with 2,006 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,094), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,028) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 58 with the White Sox.

STARTING PITCHER – #34 STARTER MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his third start of the season, second at home and first against the Baltimore Orioles.

Has gone 7-12 with 3.75 ERA (66 ER/158.1 IP), .211 (122-579) opponents average and 153 strikeouts in 35 career starts … is 3-3 with 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP), .225 (47-209) opponents average and 80 strikeouts in 40 career relief appearances.

Has recorded 100-plus strikeouts in each of his last two seasons (2021-22).

Spent his first full season in the major leagues in 2021, pitching out of the bullpen (40 games) while making four starts … opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons … missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery (performed on 9/18/18 by Dr. Neal ElAttrache).

Was acquired by the White Sox from Boston with OF Luis Basabe, RHP Víctor Díaz and INF Yoán Moncada in exchange for LHP Chris Sale on 12/6/16.

LAST START
Suffered the loss on 4/9 at Pittsburgh despite recording his first quality start of the season … allowed one run on two hits over 6.0 IP … struck out five and walked three … threw 102 pitches (68 strikes).

Surrendered a sacrifice fly to Jack Suwinski after Canaan Smith-Njigba tripled in the second inning.

Departed the game in the seventh with the White Sox trailing, 1-0 … Chicago’s offense was held scoreless.

Owned a 60.9 first-strike percentage and 12.5 swingstrike percentage (13 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 51 fastballs (95.9 mph avg; 98.0 mph max), 43 sliders (85.3 avg; 87.8 max), seven changeups (89.0 avg; 90.2 max) and one curveball (80.9 avg).

2022 SEASON RECAP
Made 25 starts in his first full season as a member of the White Sox starting rotation … his 25 starts were the most of his professional career, and his 119.1 IP tied for the second-most (126.1 in 2018 with Class AAA Charlotte).

Allowed one hit or less in 5.0-plus IP five times, including 6.0 hitless IP on 8/12 vs. Detroit … the five such starts tied the Yankees’ Néstor Cortés and Houston’s Cristián Javier for the most in MLB, and tied Carlos Rodón (2021) for the most by a White Sox pitcher since 1920.

Limited right-handers to a .186/.269/.328 (46-247) slash line with 43 strikeouts … ranked among the American League leaders vs. righties in average (4th), OPS (9th, .597), slugging percentage (10th) and on-base percentage (12th).

Had two stints on the injury list, the first time from 8/23-9/7 with a left knee strain, and the second time from 9/17 to the remainder of the season with right shoulder inflammation.

Was on the Paternity List from 5/17-20 … welcomed his second son, Vander, on 5/20.

CHANCES ARE SLIM
Has limited the opposition to a .196 (28-143) average with RISP and .176 (13-74) mark with RISP/two outs in his career.

Opponents batted .149 (10-67) against him with RISP and .125 (5-40) with RISP/two outs in 2022.

HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball held the opposition to a .189 (64-243) batting average, the sixth lowest in Major League Baseball in 2022 among all pitchers with at least 250 plate appearances.

Had the highest four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season among MLB starting pitchers (min. 2000 pitches).

COMFORTS OF HOME
Has gone 3-7 with a 3.87 ERA (39 ER/90.2 IP), .196 (64-326) opponents average and 87 strikeouts over 19 career starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Went 2-5 with a 3.01 ERA (23 ER/68.2 IP), .157 (37- 235) opponents average and 52 strikeouts in 13 home starts (seven quality) in 2022 … allowed two runs or less eight times and one or fewer five times.

VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his second career start (fourth appearance) against Baltimore and second at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Suffered the loss in his last start vs. the Orioles on 6/24/22 in Chicago, allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 6.0 IP.

Tossed 2.0 perfect IP over two relief appearances against Baltimore in 2021.

Has gone 1-3 with a 3.27 ERA (12 ER/33.0 IP), .127 (14-110) opponents average and 25 strikeouts over seven career starts against the American League East … is 1-3 with 3.89 ERA (18 ER/41.2 IP), .170 (25-147) opponents average and 44 strikeouts in 15 games lifetime.

MLB Preview: San Francisco Giants (5-8) at Detroit Tigers (4-9)

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MLB Preview: San Francisco Giants (5-8) at Detroit Tigers (4-9)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:

TODAY’S GAME: The Giants and Tigers face off for game two of this three-game set at Comerica Park…this series here in Detroit kicks off a string of 14 consecutive days with a game for the Giants, with their next off day coming on April 28, a day prior to their México City series vs. San Diego.

EYE OF THE TIGER: Despite last night’s loss, the Giants have fared well vs. the Tigers, posting a 16-11 all-time record against them that includes SF’s sweep in the 2012 World Series…the teams met four times last season, with each team splitting a pair of games at home (Stats, LLC).

MR. RELIABLE: Last night, RHP Tyler Rogers came out of the bullpen to appear in his 200th career game…since his MLB debut on August 27, 2019, no pitcher in the Majors has appeared in more games than Tyler, with the closest being KC’s Scott Barlow at 190…the right-hander led the NL in appearances in 2020 and 2021 and wrapped up last season tied for sixth with 68 games pitched…in 200 games, Tyler has accumulated a 2.85 ERA while posting a 15-8 record with 17 saves.

NO FREE PASSES: Today’s starter RHP Anthony DeSclafani has yet to walk a batter over his two starts this year…the veteran, who’s allowed just a single run over his 12.1 innings this year, is one of just three pitchers to have fanned at least 10 batters this season without issuing a walk (Stats, LLC).

LEADERSHIP: IF/OF Thairo Estrada’s three-hit night started with his first career leadoff homer…he came a triple short of a cycle yesterday and raised his batting average to .370 this season…his .370 average is tied for ninth-best in MLB and matching MIA’s Garrett Cooper the fifth-best mark in the NL.).

APRIL SHOWERS: IF J.D. Davis hit a three-run homer to tie the game in the 8th last night, snagging his third homer this month…Davis his hit exceptionally well in the month of April throughout his career, with his .333 average with nine home runs.

ALL OR NOTHING: With Estrada’s leadoff homer and Davis’ game-tying three-run shot, the Giants have accumulated 23 homers so far in 2023, the most in the first 13 games of a season in franchise history…the 1958, 2000 and 2001 clubs currently have the 14-game mark, also with 23…SF also leads the MLB with 60.3% (38 of 63) of their runs coming via the big fly (SIS).

STARTING STRONG: Despite posting a 1-5 record so far this season, Giants starters have a 3.15 ERA overall in the year, third-best in MLB…they have also walked a Major-League low 14 batters and have struck out 70, third-best in the NL and trailing the Reds (75) and Dodgers (74).

SCARY HOURS: Detroit’s walk off win over the Giants last night came off the bat of Nick Maton, who hit a three-run homer on a 3-0 count…according to Sports Info Solutions, this was only the fifth 3-0 walk off home run in the last 15 seasons in MLB (see chart below).

Walk off Home Runs on 3-0 Count, last 15 seasons
Joey Votto 2014 Reds
Chris Davis 2015 Orioles
Adam Frazier 2018 Pirates
Jordan Luplow 2020 Guardians
Nick Maton 2023 Tigers

ONE MORE THING ABOUT LAST NIGHT…: That was SF’s first walkoff loss of the season yesterday…since 2022, SF’s 10 walkoff losses are fourth-most in the Majors behind Arizona (12), Miami (11) and New York-AL (11).

WHAT’S THIS…MORE SUN??: After four straight night games, the Giants are right back to playing a day game…SF started the season with nine straight day games (three at the Yankees, three at the White Sox and three more at home vs. the Royals)…SF plays during the day today and tomorrow as well as the last game of the road trip in Miami.

TODAY’S STARTER – ANTHONY DeSCLAFANI RHP #26
2023 RECORD: 1-0, 0.73 ERA

TODAY’S OUTING: Takes the hill for his third start of the season this afternoon against the Tigers…the veteran, who returns from an injury-plagued 2022, is embarking on his ninth Major League season and third in a Giants uniform.

LAST TIME OUT: Had another solid start on Sunday as the Giants topped the Royals 3-1 at Oracle Park…threw 6.1 innings and allowed a run – his first this season – on three hits with seven strikeouts…the outing was his longest since September 14, 2021 vs. San Diego, when he pitched 6.2 innings, while his seven strikeouts were his most since also fanning seven batters on July 22, 2021 at Dodger Stadium.

LUCKY CHARM: Since joining the Giants in 2021, SF is 26-12 (.684) when DeSclafani takes the hill, winning 10 of his last 13 starts VS.

DETROIT: Made one career start against the Tigers on August 2, 2020 here at Comerica Park as a member of the Reds…did not factor in decision despite throwing 5.0-shutuout innings and allowing just three hits with two strikeouts in the outing.

JUST CALL ME A.L.: Has fared quite well in Interleague play throughout his career, going 7-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) vs. AL opponents…over his last 11 games (10 starts) vs. the other league, DeSclafani is 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA (15er, 61.1ip) with an opponent’s batting average against of .216…his teams have gone 9-2 in those 11 starts.

EARLY BIRD: DeSclafani has been well situated in his starts this year, with the leadoff man in an inning is going just 1-for-13 with five strikeouts …in his first time through the order, opponents are 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts.

A WIN IS A WIN: Was named the winning pitcher in SF’s exhibition against Team USA on March 8 after throwing 3.0-shutout innings and allowing just one hit with two walks while striking out 2022 National League MVP and Hank Aaron Award winner Paul Goldschmidt.

INJURED LIST: Had his 2022 campaign cut short with right ankle inflammation, an old injury that resurfaced after just three starts last year…landed in the 10-day IL for the first time on April 22 and was later transferred to the 60-day IL, missing 53 games…made two more starts at the Major League level before landing in the 15-day IL once again on June 28 with the same injury….was transferred to the 60-day on July 7 and missed the remainder of the season…DeSclafani underwent surgery to fix his peroneal tendon, which is on the outside of the ankle joint, on July 21 in Green Bay, WI… the surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson.

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS WALK OFF GIANTS IN SERIES OPENER: The Tigers opened their series against the Giants with a dramatic 7-5 win in 11 innings on Friday
night. Trailing 5-4 with two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Nick Maton launched a 3-0 pitch from Camilo Doval over the right field fence for
a three-run homer to give the Tigers the win. Javier Báez reached base four times in the game, going 2×3 with a double, two RBI and two walks,
while Eric Haase and Matt Vierling each had two hits, including a double. Joey Wentz started for Detroit and threw 5.2 innings, allowing only one run on six hits with a walk and a career-high seven punchouts. Tyler Alexander pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief, while José Cisnero
worked out of a jam in the top of the 11th to pick up his first win of 2023.

ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers have made the following roster moves: *Optioned RHP Garrett Hill and INF Ryan Kreidler to Triple A Toledo following last night’s game *Reinstated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 15- day injured list *Recalled LHP Tyler Holton from Triple A Toledo

IN THE NICK OF TIME: Nick Maton provided the heroics in last night’s game with his walk-off, three-run homer in the 11th inning. It marked
his second career walk-off hit (other, August 23, 2022 vs. Cincinnati) and his first career walk-off homer. According to Stats, LLC, it marked the first since 1988 in either a regular season or playoff game where a walk-off homer had been hit in a 3-0 count. Maton has now recorded an
extra-base hit in four straight games, the longest streak of his career.

BÁEZ ON BASE: Javier Báez was on base four times in last night’s victory, going 2×3 with a double and two RBI. The performance marked the fourth time in his career that he has recorded two-or-more hits and drawn two-or-more walks in the same game (last, September 14, 2021 vs. St. Louis) and the 21st time that he has been on base four-or-more times in a game.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE-Y: Joey Wentz put together one of the best starts of his young career last night against the Giants, giving up only one run on six hits with a walk and a career-best seven strikeouts. After throwing only 22 of his 47 pitchers for strikes in his last outing, Wentz pounded the strike zone last night as 65 of his 94 pitches were strikes, including throwing first pitch strikes to 82.6% of the batters he faced.

TIGERS AND GIANTS: The Tigers and Giants continue their only series of the season this afternoon at Comerica Park. Detroit and San Francisco split their four-game season series in 2022, including a 1-1 record at Comerica Park. The Giants hold a 12-11 edge in the all-time series with the Tigers holding an 8-7 advantage in games played in Detroit.

INTERLEAGUE ACTION: The Tigers are 1-0 in interleague games this season after last night’s win. With the balanced schedule in 2023, Detroit will play 46 games against National League opponents, compared to 20 in previous season. The Tigers went 11-9 in interleague play last season, including a 5-5 record at Comerica Park.

TIGERS ON THE IL:
• RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 15-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)

• RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 15-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)

• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 15-day IL on April 12)

• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)

• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)

• LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)

UPCOMING MATCHUPS:
• Sunday, April 16 vs. SF – 1:10 p.m. (BSDET/97.1)
LHP Matthew Boyd (0-1, 4.00) vs.
RHP Logan Webb (0-3, 6.35)

TODAY’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – Michael Lorenzen • 0-0, 0.00 ERA (0.0IP/0ER)
• Lorenzen will make his Tigers regular season debut today against San Francisco after being reinstated from the injured list prior to the game.

• Made an injury rehab start with Triple A Toledo last Saturday vs. Omaha, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing four runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. • Has faced the Giants seven times in his career, including once as a starter, and has a 0-1 record with a 6.35 ERA (11.1IP/8ER) and four strikeouts…in two career appearances, including one start at Comerica Park, Lorenzen is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (6.2IP/1ER) and two strikeouts.

• Made three starts during Spring Training and had a 0-0 record with a 4.91 ERA (7.1IP/4ER) and nine strikeouts.

• Started 18 games with the Angels in 2022 and went 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA (97.2IP/46ER) and 85 strikeouts…finished the season strong, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.36 ERA (26.2IP/7ER) and 30 strikeouts over five starts from September 9-October 4.

MLB Preview: Minnesota Twins (10-4) at New York Yankees (8-6)

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MLB Preview: Minnesota Twins (10-4) at New York Yankees (8-6)

MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

THE TWINS: After completing their six-game homestand with a record of 4-2 (2-1 vs. both Houston and Chicago-AL), the Twins began their seven-game, eight-day roadtrip with consecutive victories over the Yankees in New York the last two nights…today they will play the third of four at Yankee Stadium and finish the series tomorrow afternoon…they will travel to Boston on the off-day Monday, then play the Red Sox for three games at Fenway Park from Tuesday-Thursday.

Their current four-game winning streak matches their season-high, previously done to open the season, from March 30-April 3.

Twins are looking to win 11 of their first 15 games for the third time since 1961…also in 2001 (12-3), 1972 (12-3) and 2010 (11-4).

THE CARLOS CORREA GAME: The Twins beat the Yankees last night at Yankee Stadium by a score of 4-3, scoring all four runs after the fifth inning…Louie Varland was the starter, allowing three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched with eight strikeouts…he allowed three solo home runs, two coming to the first two Yankees he faced (Volpe & Judge)…Emilio Pagán (W), Jorge López (H) and Jhoan Duran (S) combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts…Carlos Correa put the Twins on the board with a sixth inning home run, Kyle Garlick homered in the next inning, then Correa doubled-in two runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead…the Correa home run was measured at 331 feet, the shortest for a Twin in the Statcast Era (since 2008).

MAX HEALTH: The Twins have reinstated outfielder Max Kepler from the 10-day Injured List… Kepler, who missed the Twins’ last10 games with right patellar tendinitis, went 2-for-16, with a walk and a home run in four games prior to landing on the 10-day Injured List on April 8…to make room for Kepler on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A St. Paul…Wallner played in six games for the Twins, going 0-for-8 with one walk.

STARTING STRONG: Below are Twins starting pitching ranks in all of baseball:
ERA BAA INNINGS FIP WHIP HITS K’s OPS
MIN – 2.46 MIN – .189 MIN – 84.0 TB – 2.37 MIN – 0.89 TB – 54 MIN – 104 TB – .557
TB – 2.65 TB – .209 SD – 81.1 MIN – 3.20 TB – 1.04 CHC – 55 TB – 88 MIN – .561
SF – 3.15 MIL – .222 KC – 77.2 LAD – 3.41 LAD – 1.11 MIN – 57 TEX – 85 LAD – .664
MIL – 3.38 LAA – .232 LAD – 77.2 PHI – 3.53 MIL – 1.16 NYY – 60 CWS – 85 MIL – .668
LAA – 3.48 LAD – .234 MIL – 77.1 ATL – 3.72 SF – 1.17 LAA – 60 BOS – 76 LAA – .680

ROC MILESTONES: Rocco Baldelli needs two wins to reach 300 managerial victories in his career… below are the Twins’ all-time managerial wins leaders (left) and Baldelli’s milestone victories (right):

NOTE: Since 2019, Baldelli ranks fourth in the AL in wins, trailing Kevin Cash (335), Aaron Boone (335) and Terry Francona (308).

TWINS-YANKEES: The Twins and Yankees are playing the third of seven scheduled games in 2023…after this four-game series, the Twins will host the Yankees for three games from April 24-26 at Target Field…since 2002, the Twins have gone 40-98 against the Yankees in regular season play…since the start of 2017, they are 4-16 in regular season games at Yankee Stadium.

Carlos Correa is hitting .322 (48-for-149) with nine doubles, 13 home runs, 33 RBI, 17 walks, a .389 on-base percentage, a .644 slugging percentage and a 1.034 OPS in 39 career regular season games against the Yankees…he has hit safely in eight straight against New York, homering five times in that span…additionally, he has homered in four-straight games at Yankee Stadium.

BRAND NEW (YORK) STATE OF MIND: Including the 2022 season series finale, the Twins have won three straight over the Yankees for the first time since July 13-14, 2013 (2 at NYY)-May 30, 2014 (1 at NYY)…a win today would give the Twins four-straight wins over the Yankees for the first time since September 21-22, 1993 (2 at NYY)-May 17-18, 1994 (2 at MIN).

Three straight wins in one single season in New York would mark the first time since winning three straight at old Yankee Stadium from May 2, 3 and July 6, 1992.

During the last three wins at Yankee Stadium, Correa is 5-for-11 (.455) with one double, three home runs, six RBI and a 1.864 OPS… also two go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning.

ARE YOU SERIES?: The Twins are looking to win a series over the Yankees for the first time since taking two out of three September 10-12, 2018 at Target Field…their last series victory in NY came in a three-game series May 30-June 1, 2014 (2-1)…Twins have won a four-game series over the Yankees just four times since 1961: September 2-4, 1966 in MN; July 3-5, 1967 in MN (sweep); May 23-25, 1969 in NY; and July 5-8, 1984 in MN.

C4 U.S. TOUR: In his last 33 road games, dating back to August 13, 2022, Carlos Correa is hitting .325 (41-for-126) with six doubles, six home runs, 19 RBI, 14 walks, a .392 on-base percentage and a .931 OPS…since that date, he ranks fifth in the AL in road OPS and sixth in both batting average and on-base percentage (minimum 100 plate appearances).

DAY MEN, FIGHTERS OF THE NIGHT MEN: The Twins are playing their 10th day game today…nine day games are tied with Chicago-AL, New York-NL and San Francisco for the most in baseball…they have gone 6-3 in day games, tied with New York-NL for second-most day wins in baseball, trailing Tampa Bay, who is 7-0 in such games.

Notables hitters in day games this season: Christian Vázquez is 7-for-16 (.438), Donovan Solano is 9-for-25 (.360), Ryan Jeffers is
5-for-14 (.357), Byron Buxton is 12-for-36 (.333).

JACKIE ROBINSON DAY: As has been tradition each season since 2004, MLB and Clubs are commemorating Jackie Robinson Day at ballparks throughout the league tomorrow – the anniversary of Robinson’s historic MLB debut as he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947…yesterday morning, Byron Buxton, Nick Gordon and third base coach Tommy Watkins went on a special tour of the Jackie Robinson Museum with MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds.

Players, managers, coaches, umpires and all on-field personnel will once again wear Robinson’s iconic number.

‘42’ logo will appear on as a patch on New Era caps.

Special batting practice t-shirts, which have been designed by The Players Alliance and provided by Nike, will be worn by players pre-game.

ADDITIONALLY: Twins are 20-31 all-time on Jackie Robinson Day (since 1961)…the Twins have won four of their last five Jackie Robinson Day’s at home, dating back to 2015.

STARTING PITCHER – TYLER MAHLE 51
Making his third start and appearance of 2023 and second road start…also his 121st career appearance and 120th start.

Facing New York-AL for the first time in his career…1-0, 4.50 ERA (12.0 IP, 6 ER) with one walk and 12 strikeouts in two career starts vs. AL East opponents.

Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds via trade on August 2, 2022 in exchange for minor league infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, and left-handed pitcher Steve Hajjar

LAST TIME OUT: In his first start at Target Field this year, Mahle lost to the Houston Astros in the series finale on April 9, going 6.0 innings with four runs and eight hits allowed, one walk and six strikeouts…Astros outfielder Chas McCormick drove in all four runs off Mahle, hitting a two-run home run in the third inning and a two-run double in the fifth…Mahle threw 90 pitches for the first time in his last six starts dating back to August 5, 2022…right-hander Hunter Brown started for Houston and earned the win…Mahle’s only run support was an RBI double from infielder Donovan Solano in the bottom of the fourth inning…Twins lost 5-1 but won the three-game series 2-1.

TWO STARTS AGO: Mahle won his 2023 season debut, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing one run and five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts vs. the Miami Marlins April 3…opposed Marlins right-hander Johnny Cueto…Mahle retired nine of 10 batters in a stretch from the second to the fifth inning with five strikeouts…he allowed his lone run in the bottom of the fifth when former Twin Luis Arraez hit an RBI single…threw 83 pitches and left with Twins leading 8-1 after 5.0 innings…eight runs of support were tied for fourth most in his career…Minnesota won 11-1 to take the series opener.

NEW YORK NEWBIE: Tonight is Mahle’s first career start against the Yankees…New York-AL is the 27th opponent he has faced in his major league career; yet to face Cincinnati, Boston and Tampa Bay…is 9-11, 4.62 ERA (126.2 IP, 65 ER) with 57 walks and 125 strikeouts in 26 career starts when facing a team for the first time…in his last three starts facing new opponents, Mahle is 2-0, 3.57 ERA (17.2 IP, 7 ER) with three walks and 20 strikeouts…against the American League East division, Mahle is 1-0, 4.50 ERA (12.0 IP, 6 ER) with one walk and 12 strikeouts in two career starts, both in the 2022 season vs. Baltimore and Toronto.

AT HOME ON THE ROAD: Mahle has better career numbers on the road than at home, going 20-21, 3.73 ERA (321.1 IP, 133 ER) with 104 walks and 315 strikeouts in 62 career road starts…in 58 home appearances (57 starts), Mahle is 13-19, 5.02 ERA (299.2 IP, 167 ER) with 124 walks and 347 strikeouts…since 2021, Mahle is 13-5, 2.79 ERA (154.2 IP, 48 ER) with 46 walks, 170 strikeouts and a .205 opponent batting average in 28 road starts…his 2.79 ERA on the road since 2021 ranks seventh in baseball (min. 150.0 IP).

LEFT VS. RIGHT: Left-handed hitters are batting .100 (1-for-10) with three strikeouts against Mahle this season…righties are hitting .375 (12-for-32) with two doubles, one home run and 10 strikeouts… all eight hits Mahle allowed in his last start April 9 vs. Houston were to righties…is holding lefties to just 2-for-26 (.077) in his six starts with the Twins since being traded from Cincinnati last season.

Owns a .192 (125-for-652) opponent batting average against left-handed hitters since the start of 2020, second best in the majors in that span (min. 500 AB), behind only Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff (.186).

MAHLE’S MIX: Mahle has utilized a four-pitch arsenal this year, primarily relying on a four-seam fastball and slider…averaged 92.9 mph and topped out at 94.6 mph with his four-seam fastball on April 9 vs. Houston…recorded seven whiffs with his slider and four with his splittler in his last start… here’s a look at Mahle’s 2023 repertoire, per Baseball Savant:

PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (#, vs. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (93.4)……… 50.9% (88 pitches, 68/20)……………………………. .353 (6-for-17), 2 2B, 5 K
Slider (84.3)……………………… 33.5% (58 pitches, 55/3)……………………………. .350 (7-for-20), 1 HR, 7 K
Split Finger (85.8)……………… 13.3% (23 pitches, 9/14)………………………………………. .000 (0-for-3), 1 K
Cutter (86.2) ……………………….. 2.3% (4 pitches, 0/4)……………………………………………….. .000 (0-for-2)

2022 NOTES:
Combined to go 6-8, 4.40 ERA (120.2 IP, 59 ER) with 43 walks and 126 strikeouts in 23 starts between Reds and Twins.

Began sixth major league season with Cincinnati and was club’s Opening Day starter for first time in career…started April 7 at Atlanta, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with two walks and seven strikeouts, earning the win.

Went 3-2, 2.83 ERA (57.1 IP, 18 ER) with a .212 opponent batting average in nine starts from May 29-July 30, leading up to trade with Twins.

Acquired by Minnesota via trade with Cincinnati August 2, in exchange for infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, and left-handed pitcher Steve Hajjar.

Earned first win as Twin in second start with Minnesota August 12 at Los Angeles-AL, pitching 6.0 shutout innings with three hits allowed, two walks and six strikeouts.

Placed on 15-day Injured List August 20 with right shoulder inflammation; reinstated on September 3; placed back on 15-day IL the next day, ending his season.

NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their season-high 10-game homestand today with the third game of a four-game series vs. Minnesota (0-2 thus far)…will also play three-game sets vs. Los Angeles-AL (4/18-20) and Toronto (4/21-23)…went 4-2 on their recent road trip, winning two-of three in Baltimore and Cleveland.

Have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

With an 0-2 start to their four-game series vs. the Twins, snapped their four-series winning streak to start the season…according to Elias, it was just the fifth time in franchise history the Yankees won their first four series (also won their first five series in 2010 and 1926 and also won their first four series in 1922 and 2020).

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Twins, 4-3, on Friday at Yankee Stadium…LHP Nestor Cortes (7.0IP, 5H, 2ER, 0BB, 7K, 2HR, 2HP) made his third start of the season and did not record a decision despite allowing just 2R over 7.0IP…SS Anthony Volpe (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI, 1BB) and CF Aaron Judge (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game…DH Giancarlo Stanton (2-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) hit his fourth home run of the season with a solo HR in the sixth inning…LF Oswaldo Cabrera (2-for-4, 1SB) picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season…RHP Clay Holmes (1.0IP, 2H, 2ER, 1BB) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing a two-run double to Carlos Correa in the eighth inning…LHP Wandy Peralta (1.0IP, 1BB, 2K) tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

TWINNING: The Yankees are 98-40 (.710) vs. Minnesota since 2002, the Majors’ best record by any team vs. an opponent in its own league in that span…including the postseason, have gone 114-42 (.731) vs. the Twins since 2002.

With an 0-2 start to their four-game series vs. the Twins, snapped their seven-series winning streak vs. the Twins (since 2019) and their eight-series winning streak against the Twins at Yankee Stadium (since 2015).

Are still 13-5 in their last 18 games vs. the Twins (since 7/23/19) and 23-9 in their last 32 games vs. Minnesota (since 9/18/17).

Including the postseason, are still 19-4 in their last 23 games vs. the Twins in the Bronx since 2017 and 24-5 vs. Minnesota at Yankee Stadium since 2015.

ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge hit his fifth home run of the season on Friday with a solo HR in the first inning…has 5HR in his 14 games this season…marks the third time in the last 10 years a Yankee has hit 5HR through the club’s first 14 games (also Judge’s 8HR in 2020 and Gary Sánchez’s 6HR in 2019).

His 5HR are tied for the third-most in the AL and tied for the fifth-most in the Majors.

Has reached base in 13 of 14 games this season.

Has reached base in 46 of his last 47 games (since 8/29/22).

STANTON ISLAND: OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton hit his fourth
home run of the season on Friday with a solo HR in the sixth
inning…has reached base in 11 of 12 games this season.

Is hitting .313 (10-for-32) with 4R, 2 doubles, 2HR and 5RBI in his last eight games (since 4/4).

MAGIC WANDY: LHP Wandy Peralta has not allowed a run in six relief appearances this season (5.2IP, 2H, 3BB, 9K)…has held opponents to a .105 BA (2-for-19)…has not allowed a hit to his last 12BF.

BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 13-of14 games this season…their 23HR are tied with San Francisco (23HR in 13G) for the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (34HR in 14G) and Los Angeles-NL (26HR in 14G).

IN THE BIG INNING: INF Anthony Volpe and OF Aaron Judge hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game on Friday vs. Minnesota…it marked the 12th time in franchise history the Yankees have accomplished the feat and the first since DJ LeMahieu and Judge did so on 6/25/19 vs. Toronto.

Marked the first time the Yankees hit back-to-back home runs this season.

NEW YORK GIANTS: OF Aaron Judge and DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton both homered on Friday vs. Minnesota…marked the 28th time during the regular season the pair has both homered in the same game with the Yankees…marked just the third time the Yankees lost one of those games (are 25-3 in those games)…the duo has also homered in four Yankees postseason games, with the Yankees winning each of those games.

Friday marked the second time this season the duo has homered in the same game (also 4/2 vs. San Francisco).

NASTY NESTOR: LHP Nestor Cortes made his third start of the season on Friday and did not record a decision despite allowing just 2R over 7.0IP…is 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA (17.1IP, 5ER) in three starts this season.

Has allowed 2R-or-fewer in nine consecutive starts since 8/21/22, going 5-0 with a 1.78 ERA (50.2IP, 10ER)…his nine-start streak of allowing 2R-or-fewer matches the longest such streak by a Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history (excludes Chad Green’s 12-start streak as an opener from 6/11/17-8/12/19-G2)…in addition to Cortes’ other nine-start streak from 9/25/21-5/15/22, Luis Severino (9/12/18-4/20/22), Michael Pineda (4/5-9/5/14) and Art Ditmar (7/26-9/9/59) have all recorded nine-start streaks.

Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in each of his last 15 starts (since 7/14/22), tied with Ron Guidry (15GS from 4/8- 6/22/78) and Bob Shawkey (15GS from 6/15-9/7/1917- G2) for the fourth-longest such streak in franchise history…trails only Russ Ford (20GS from 8/9/1910-G2- 5/27/1911-G2), his own 19-start streak (8/15/21-6/2/22- G1) and Luis Severino (16GS from 4/16-7/7/18).

Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 41-of-45 starts since the beginning of 2021 and 2R-or-fewer in 35 of those starts… in 53 appearances (45 starts) since the beginning of 2021, has gone 16-7 with a 2.61 ERA (268.2IP, 78ER), 281K and a .203 (199-for-981) opponents’ BA.

Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in each of his last 24 starts at home (since 7/4/21-G2), the longest such streak by a Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history (next: Domingo Germán – 16GS from 4/1/19-6/6/21)…is the longest streak in the Majors (excluding openers) since Lance McCullers Jr. recorded a 27-start streak from 5/18/15-6/30/17 (Ryne Stanek had a 30-start streak as an opener from 5/26/18- 7/3/19)…has gone 8-2 with a 2.32 ERA (135.2IP, 35ER) in that span…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in 20 of those 24 starts.

CLOSE CALLS: Five of the Yankees’ six losses this season have been by 3R-or-fewer…four of their six losses have been by 2R-or-fewer and three of their losses have been by one run.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DOMINGO GERMÁN (0-1, 5.87 ERA)
RHP Domingo Germán will make his third start of the season today vs. Minnesota…the 30-year-old will start on regular four days’ rest…did not record a decision in his last start on Monday at Cleveland after allowing 2R/1ER and a career high-tying 5BB in 3.0IP (2H, 0K)…made his season debut on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia and took the loss, allowing 4ER over 4.2IP (4H, 0BB, 8K, 2HR)…his 8K were his most in a game since recording 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston…in 2022, went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…allowed 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 consecutive starts from 7/27-9/30/22…missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome…in six seasons with the Yankees, is 26-22 with a 4.40 ERA (421.1IP, 206ER) and 437K in 94 career games (72 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.

LAST TIME OUT: Made his second start of the season on Monday at Cleveland and did not record a decision after allowing 2R/1ER over 3.0IP (2H, 5BB, 0K)…his 5BB allowed tied a career high (also 5BB on 4/1/19 vs. Detroit)…also marked his first career start with 0K.

VS. MINNESOTA: Is 1-0 with a 5.48 ERA (21.1IP, 13ER) and 23K in five career games (three starts) vs. Minnesota.

Made his last start against the Twins on 9/7/22-G1 at Yankee Stadium (ND, 6.0IP, 7H, 3ER, 1BB, 6K, 1HR).

Allowed a career-high 8ER over 3.2IP (9H, 2BB, 3K, 3HR, 2HP) on 7/23/19 at Minnesota.

Is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA (17.2IP, 5ER) and 20K in four career appearances (two starts) vs. the Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Is 5-4 with a 4.92 ERA (75.0IP, 41ER) and 84K in 17 career appearances (12 starts) against AL Central teams…is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA (36.2IP, ER) and 49K in eight career appearances (five starts) at home vs. AL Central teams.

DOMINGO’S DEBUT: Made his season debut on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia and took the loss, allowing 4ER over 4.2IP (4H, 0BB, 8K, 2HR)…marked his fourth
career start with at least 8K and 0BB allowed (9K, 0BB on 4/18/19 vs. Kansas City; 9K, 0BB on 6/19/18 vs. Seattle; 9K, 0BB on 6/9/18 at New York-NL)…his 8K were his most in a game since recording 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston…allowed 1BB-or-fewer for the ninth time in his last 12 starts (since 8/6/22 at St. Louis)…allowed 4ER for a second straight start (4ER on 10/5/22 at Texas, his final regular season start in 2022)…marks the fourth time in his career he’s allowed 4ER-or-more in consecutive starts.

HOME SWEET HOME: Has gone 12-9 with a 3.93 ERA (199.0IP, 155H, 92R/87ER, 70BB, 222K, 40HR) in 45 career games (34 starts) at Yankee Stadium… has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 30 of his 34 home starts…went 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA (33.1IP, 14ER) and 28K in seven starts at Yankee Stadium in 2022.

Has held opponents to a .209 BA (155-for-740) at Yankee Stadium in his career, compared to a .253 BA (222-for-878) on the road.

His 10 wins at Yankee Stadium since 2019 are tied with Nestor Cortes for the fourth-most wins by any pitcher during that span, trailing only Gerrit Cole (17), Jameson Taillon (12) and Masahiro Tanaka (11).

2022: Went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…opponents hit .236 (65-for-275, 11HR); LH .230 (31-for-135, 5HR); RH .243 (34-for-140, 6HR).

Surrendered 3R-or-fewer in 12 of his 14 starts, including 2R-or-fewer in eight starts and 1R-orfewer in four starts.

Allowed 1BB-or-fewer in nine of his 14 starts in 2022.

Missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome (4/8-7/21-G1).

Surrendered 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 straight starts from 7/27-9/30 (previous: nine straight starts from 4/22-6/6/21)…also allowed 2R-or-fewer in four straight starts from 7/27-8/12, tying the longest streak of his career (also four straight starts from 5/9-27/21).

Allowed 1R-or-fewer in back-to-back starts from 8/6-12…marked the fourth time in his career he has accomplished the feat (also from 5/15-20/21, 7/3-12/19 and 9/29/18-4/1/19).

Tossed at least 6.0 innings in four consecutive starts from 8/22-9/7-G1…matched the second-longest such stretch of his career, trailing only a five-start stretch from 4/7-5/5/19…also did so in four straight starts from 6/7-7/18/19 and 6/4-19/18.

Did not record a decision on 8/27 at Oakland despite tossing a career-high 7.2 scoreless innings (3H, 0BB, 5K, 0HR, 1HP)…did not allow a hit over his first 5.1IP and retired 16 of his first 17BF (1HP) before allowing an infield single to Nick Allen in the sixth inning.

Made his only relief appearance of the season on 9/16 at Milwaukee, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings (1H, 1BB, 2K)…marked his first relief outing since 10/1/21 vs. Tampa Bay…was his longest relief appearance since 7/11/21 at Houston (2.0IP).

Made just one postseason appearance — his first career postseason appearance — in ALCS Game 3 vs. Houston, tossing a scoreless inning of relief (2BB, 1K).

MMA Preview: UFC on ESPN 44 – Edson Barboza (22-11) vs Billy Quarantillo (17-4)

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MMA Preview: UFC on ESPN 44 – Edson Barboza (22-11) vs Billy Quarantillo (17-4)

Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo is the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 44 a.k.a. UFC Kansas City, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 15

Edson Barboza’s recent record looks very bad, but the Brazilian featherweight is trying to make himself relevant again. He’ll achieve that if he beats Billy Quarantillo on Saturday. Unfortunately for him, bookmakers don’t think that’s going to happen.

Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo Odds

MoneylineOdds
Edson Barboza+145
Billy Quarantillo-175

*Odds taken from Sports Odds Direct on Friday, April 14, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

  • Place: T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
  • Time: ~10:00 PM ET
  • How to Watch: ESPN 2 / ESPN+

Edson Barboza’s Chance to Resurrect His UFC Career

The 37-year-old fighter is 22-11 in his professional career, but seven of those losses happened in his last 10 fights. Plus, he’s coming off two straight defeats. Knowing this, it seems that if he doesn’t improve his record, his UFC story could come to an end.

His recent record might be poor, but the fact is that this guy has fought against the UFC elite, which explains why he lost so many fights. Among the fighters he lost to are Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. Both of those losses happened at the time when Barboza was fighting in the lightweight division. Since 2020, he’s been fighting in the featherweight division and is 2-3 in his weight class.

His losses happened to Dan Ige (split decision) Giga Chikadze (TKO), and Bryce Mitchell (unanimous decision). He could’ve won against Ige, while Chikadze absolutely destroyed him. In the fight against Mitchell, Barboza got out-wrestled – his opponent took him down four times.

Reasons Why Billy Quarantillo is the Favorite

Billy Quarantillo is a -175 favorite which is no surprise given that he’s 17-4 in his professional career. Further, only one of his four losses happened inside the distance. And it happened seven years ago.

This guy is a well-rounded fighter who knows how to avoid getting punched/kicked. That said, he looks capable of dealing with Barboza’s strongest weapon, which is striking.

One thing that doesn’t go in his favor is that he just doesn’t have too much experience fighting at a top level. The Dana White Contender Series alumnus has fought seven UFC fights, but he’s never taken on such an experienced rival as Barboza.

MLS Preview: Real Salt Lake (2-4-0) at FC Dallas (3-2-2)

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MLS Preview: Real Salt Lake (2-4-0) at FC Dallas (3-2-2)

Real Salt Lake is unbeaten in its last five visits to FC Dallas (W1 D4) after avoiding defeat just three times in its first 18 visits in all competitions (W1 D2 L15). The only team to go unbeaten in more than five straight MLS matches in Dallas was San Jose Earthquakes from 2003 to 2009 (8 straight – W4 D4).

FC Dallas’ 1-0 win at Inter Miami FC on Saturday ended a run of 14 straight matches (including playoffs) without a clean sheet. FC Dallas had recorded consecutive clean sheets just once since the start of the 2021 season, doing so against Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy last July.

Real Salt Lake came from behind to defeat Charlotte FC, 3-1, on Saturday, ending a four-match losing streak. Both of Real Salt Lake’s wins this season have been in come-from-behind efforts as they’ve conceded the opening goal in all six of their matches in 2023.

Jesus Ferreira scored his 40th career MLS goal in FC Dallas’ 1-0 win over Inter Miami FC with new teammate Jesus Jimenez providing the assist. Jimenez is the 20th different FC Dallas player to provide an assist on a goal for Ferreira in his MLS career.

Jefferson Savarino had a goal and an assist in Real Salt Lake’s 3-1 win over Charlotte FC on Saturday. Since returning to the club last May, Savarino leads Real Salt Lake in goals (8) and assists (8), while his 16 goal contributions re twice as many as any other player in that time (Sergio Cordova, Andrew Brody, – 8 each).

MLS Preview: Philadelphia Union (2-4-1) at Chicago Fire (2-1-3)

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MLS Preview: Philadelphia Union (2-4-1) at Chicago Fire (2-1-3)

The Philadelphia Union scored a 90th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire at Subaru Park on March 11, Philadelphia’s eighth win in its last nine home matches against the Chicago Fire in all competitions. The Philadelphia Union have managed just two wins in their last 11 visits to Chicago dating back to 2014, however (D3 L6).

The Chicago Fire’s 2-1 win over Minnesota United FC on Saturday took them to nine points through six matches this year (W1 D3 L2), equaling their total from this stage last year. A win over the Philadelphia Union would give Chicago 12 points through seven games, a total it hasn’t achieved since 2008 (16 points through 7 games).

The Philadelphia Union have collected just one point from their last four regular season matches (D1 L3), their worst four-match span in a single season since March-April 2018. The Philadelphia Union have lost four straight regular season road matches for the first time since a six-match run in 2017-18.

Kei Kamara scored both goals in the Chicago Fire’s win Saturday at Solider Field, his 91st and 92nd goals in home matches in his career. Kamara has now scored more goals in home matches than any other player in MLS history, doing so with 10 different teams, surpassing Chris Wondolowski’s 91 (all with San Jose Earthquakes).

The Philadelphia Union (at Atlas on Wednesday) have lost their weekend match following each of their last two Concacaf Champions League matches. Prior to that, the Philadelphia Union had played the weekend following a Concacaf Champions League match six times and lost just once (W4 D1 L1).

MLS Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-2-3) at Austin FC (2-3-1)

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MLS Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-2-3) at Austin FC (2-3-1)

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have won three of its first four meetings with Austin FC, including a 2-0 win in the last meeting in October. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC could become the second team to record four wins over Austin FC in MLS play, joining Los Angeles Football Club (5, including playoffs).

After winning consecutive matches in early March, Austin Fc has just one point from its last three matches, including a 3-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Football Club on Saturday. Austin FC has just one regular season losing streak since the beginning of June 2022, losing three in a row in August-September last year.

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are winless in 13 consecutive away matches in all competitions (D6 L7) following a 3-0 loss at Los Angeles Football Club in the Concacaf Champions of League on Tuesday. Vancouver has won only four of its last 47 away matches in all competitions, though two of those, including the most recent win, have come in Texas.

Maximiliano Urruti has scored a career-best nine goals in 21 career appearances against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, finding the net against Vancouver for five different teams, including Austin FC. Urruti has scored at least once against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in six of the last seven season dating back to 2016, only failing to do so in 2020.

Vancouver Whitecaps held the Portland Timbers to just two shots in its 1-0 victory Saturday, the fewest its ever held an opponent to in a match in the club’s MLS history. Portland did not attempt a shot in the first half, the second time in club history Vancouver has played a half without facing a shot (1st half vs San Jose Earthquakes in September 2014).

MLS Preview: Atlanta United FC (4-1-2) at Toronto FC (1-1-5)

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MLS Preview: Atlanta United FC (4-1-2) at Toronto FC (1-1-5)

Atlanta United FC has lost only one of its last six matches against Toronto FC (W3 D2) dating back to the start of the 2021 season. Including playoffs, it was Toronto FC that suffered only one defeat n the first eight meetings between the sides (W4 D3) from 2017 through 2020.

Toronto FC is unbeaten in six straight matches, though five of those, including the last three, have ended in draws. The other match in that time, a 2-0 win over Inter Miami FC, is Toronto FC’s only victory in its last 13 MLS matches dating back to late August last year (D6 L6).

Atlanta United FC has lost only one of its first seven matches this season (W4 D2), a 6-1 defeat at Columbus Crew SC on March 25. Atlanta United FC has conceded a total of four goals in its other six matches this season, not allowing more than one in of those games.

Mark-Anthony Kaye completed 108 of 112 pass attempts in Toronto FC’s draw with Nashville SC on Saturday. His 96.4 percent passing accuracy is the highest of any player to attempt 110 or more passes in MLS match since passing data has been tracked (2010).

Giorgos Giakoumakis scored Atlanta United FC’s lone goal in its draw with New York City FC on Saturday. Giakoumakis has scored in each of his first three MLS starts and could become just the seventh player in league history to score in each of his first four starts, joining Amine Bassi, who has done so for Houston Dynamo FC this year.

MLS Preview: Nashville SC (3-2-2) at New York City FC (2-2-3)

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MLS Preview: Nashville SC (3-2-2) at New York City FC (2-2-3)

Nashville SC is unbeaten in three all-time meetings with New York City FC, winning twice at home and drawing once away, including a 2-0 home win on February 25. Nashville SC is the only team New York City FC has played at least three times in MLS competition without ever winning.

Since the season opening defeat at Nashville SC, New York City FC has lost only one of its last six matches (W2 D3). New York City FC’s only two wins this season have come over Inter Miami FC and D. C. United, wo have totaled two combined points in the last five matchdays.

There have been only eight combined goals in Nashville SC’s seven MLS matches this season (6 for, 2 against)as Nashville SC is the seventh team in MLS history to concede only two goals through its first seven games of a season. Nashville SC is the only one of those seven teams to lose twice in that time.

Atlanta United FC’s lone goal in its 1-1 draw with New York City FC came off a corner in the 70th minute. Five of the eight goals New York City FC has conceded this season have come on set pieces, tied for the most in MLS this year (with Portland Timbers).

Nashville SC has kept clean sheets in in five of its first seven matches this season, equaling the most t this stage of the season in league history (with 12 other teams, including FC Cincinnati this year). Six teams have kept six clean sheets for the first eight matches of a season, but only one (Columbus Crew SC – 2020) since 2013.

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