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MLB Preview: Chicago Cubs (6-5) at Los Angeles Dodgers (7-6)

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MLB Preview: Chicago Cubs (6-5) at Los Angeles Dodgers (7-6)

CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:

CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE: The Chicago Cubs tonight start a six-game road trip in California after a six-game homestand during which they went 4-2 and came away with the first two series wins of the season … the Cubs failed to pick up the series sweep against the Mariners, losing on Wednesday 5-2 in the final game of the series … Marcus Stroman churned out his third quality start in as many outings this season, throwing 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits, two walks and striking out six batters … Chicago scored in the first and ninth innings, with Cody Bellinger blasting his second home run of the season.

The Cubs, who have won five of their last seven games, are rested and relaxed after an off-day yesterday, and start a six-game west coast swing against the Dodgers (3 games beginning today) and Athletics (3 games starting April 17).

The Cubs are in a stretch of 19 games (4-2) all against A.L. or N.L. West teams that started on April 7 against Texas and ends on April 27 against San Diego … in fact, the Cubs are in the seventh game (4-2) of 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.

GOING BACK, BACK TO CALI, CALI: Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger and infielder Edwin Rios make their return to Dodger Stadium for the first time since signing with the Cubs this offseason.

Bellinger played 745 games with Los Angeles (N.L.) across six seasons, batting .248 (652-for-2,627) with 134 doubles, 19 triples, 152 home runs, 422 RBI and an .819 OPS … while with the Dodgers he was named the 2017 N.L. Rookie of the Year, the 2019 N.L. Most Valuable Player and a two-time N.L. All-Star (2017, 2019) and won the 2019 Gold Glove Award and the 2019 Silver Slugger Award … in 11 games with the Cubs this season, Bellinger is hitting .238 (10-for-42) with a double, two homers, nine RBI and four walks.

Rios batted .219 (57-for-260) with nine doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, 43 RBI and a .492 slugging percentage in 112 games with Los Angeles over parts of four seasons … he was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft and made his MLB debut with them June 27, 2019 … Rios has made three appearances with the Cubs and picked up a home run as his lone hit this season.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE: The Cubs on Wednesday agreed to terms with Ian Happ on a three-year contract extension that will cover the 2024-26 seasons.

Happ last season was named to his first N.L. All-Star Team and earned his first career Gold Glove Award, having led N.L. left fielders with 13 defensive runs saved … he also set career marks with a .271 batting average, 42 doubles, 72 RBI, 155 hits, 252 total bases and 158 games played.

In 689 career major league games, Happ owns a .250 batting average (541-for-2,166) with 312 runs scored, 120 doubles, 105 home runs, 314 RBI and 284 walks that contribute to a .340 on-base percentage … he owns a .992 fielding percentage (4 E/477 TC) with 17 assists in 353 games in left field.

Happ was selected by the Cubs in the first round (ninth overall) in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Cincinnati and made his MLB debut May 13, 2017.

MAN OF STEELE: Today’s starting pitcher Justin Steele comes into today’s game with a 1-0 record and 0.75 ERA after going 6.0 innings in each of his first two starts and allowing just one run across the outings.

Prior to this season, the previous Cubs pitcher to open the season with consecutive starts of at least 6.0 innings and one or no runs allowed was Tyler Chatwood in 2020 (Marcus Stroman also opened this season with two outings of 6.0 innings pitched and one or no runs allowed) … prior to that, Jason Hammel opened the 2016 campaign with four-straight starts of at least 6.0 innings and one or no runs surrendered.

In his last 12 games, dating to June 29, 2022, Steele has a 1.36 ERA (10 ER/66.1 IP) … his ERA ranks second among major league pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched in that span, behind only Justin Verlander (1.26)

ABOUT THE ROTATION: Cubs starting pitchers have a 3.62 ERA (22 ER/54.2 IP) in the season’s early going, the second-best mark in the N.L. and seventh in the majors … through the first 11 games of last season, the rotation had a 5.32 ERA (and a 6.10 ERA through the first 12 games of last year).

SO FAR, A RELIEF: Cubs hitters have posted a .293 average (46-for-157) against relief pitchers this season, the fourth-highest mark in the majors behind Milwaukee (.319), Toronto (.295) and Arizona (.294) … Chicago’s .356 on-base percentage against bullpen arms ranks seventh-best in the majors and fourth in the N.L.

WORD TO THE WISE: Patrick Wisdom on Saturday delivered a solo homer vs. the Rangers … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 15.02 at-bats, the third-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber, 12.03, and Pete Alonso, 14.53).

Wisdom’s 56 homers since the start of the 2021 season are tied for 12th-most among N.L. hitters.

THIS AND THAT: Nico Hoerner has a nine-game on-base streak and is hitting .390 (16-for-41) with three doubles, three RBI and a .419 on-base percentage during that span … among National League hitters, he is tied for first in runs (12), tied for second in stolen bases (5), his 17 hits are tied for fourth and his .347 batting average on the season is tied for eighth.

Starting Pitcher – #35 LHP Justin Steele (1-0, 0.75)
Last Time Out
Justin earned his first win of the 2023 campaign, April 8 vs. Texas … has made a quality start in five of his last six outings … had his seven-start streak of five-plus strikeouts in an outing snapped … has tossed at least 6.0 innings, allowing one run or fewer in both of his starts in 2023 … the four walks matched a career high (done 7x, last Aug. 26, 2022 at Milwaukee).

2023 Splits and Season Notes
Justin is making his third start of the 2023 season tonight, first on the road … has posted a 0.92 ERA (5 ER/48.2 IP) since July 22, 2022, the lowest ERA in the majors during the run (min. 9 GS) … right-handed hitters are batting .125 (4-for-32) against him. Went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA (4 ER/13.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts in four Cactus League starts in 2023 … started and tossed the first 2.0 innings of the Cubs combined no-hitter, March 3 at San Diego

2022 Splits and Season Notes
Justin in 24 starts in 2022 went 4-7 with a 3.18 ERA (42 ER/119.0 IP), 50 walks and 126 strikeouts … finished among the team leaders in strikeouts (1st), strikeouts per batter faced (1st, 4.06), HR per 9.0 IP (1st, 0.61) and innings pitched (2nd, 119.0). © His season was cut short when he was put on the Injured List Sept. 2 with a low back strain. Posted a 2.78 ERA (22 ER/71.1 IP) at Wrigley Field, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 14 starts. Became the first Cub draftee with a 10-strikeout game since Jeff Samardzjia (May 16, 2014 at San Francisco). Became the 11th lefthander in Cubs history to strike out nine-plus batters in consecutive outings, May 15-21. In July and Aug. combined, made nine starts and posted a 1.46 ERA (8 ER/49.1 IP), which leads the majors in the stretch (min. 45.0 IP) … his 0.96 ERA (3 ER/28.0 IP) in the month of August was fourth-lowest in the majors during that span.

Career Notes
Justin is in his 10th season in the Cubs organization … is 9-11 with a 3.35 ERA (70 ER/188.0 IP) in 46 games (35 starts) after making his MLB debut in 2021. Owns a career 18-23 minor league record with a 3.44 ERA (133 ER/348.0 IP) over 89 outings (80 starts). Was added to the Cubs 40-man roster Nov. 20, 2018. Received Carolina League mid-season All-Star honors in 2017, as he went 6-7 with a 2.92 ERA (32 ER/98.2 IP) over 20 starts with Single-A Myrtle Beach. Was named a MiLB.com Cubs Organizational All-Star in both 2015 and 2017. Selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of George County High School in Lucedale, Miss. Was named 5A Player of the Year in Mississippi by coaches in 2014 and won the Mississippi Hall of Fame Award for High School Baseball the same season. Was committed to the University of Southern Mississippi before signing with the Cubs.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:

BACK AT THE RAVINE: The Dodgers stormed back from an early 3-0 deficit to claim their second series win of the season, beating the Giants in San Francisco, 10-5, on Wednesday night. Los Angeles ended up 3-4 on its seven-game road trip after dropping three of four to begin their 2023 road slate in Arizona. Clayton Kershaw recorded career win No. 199, giving up just two earned runs over 6.0 innings and running his career record vs. San Francisco to 25-15 with a 2.02 ERA. This evening, the Boys in Blue begin a six-game homestand with the first of three games against the NL Central’s Chicago Cubs. Next week, Los Angeles will welcome the New York Mets to Dodger Stadium from Monday-Wednesday. The Dodgers won all seven games vs. the Cubs last season, sweeping a three-game set in Chicago and taking all four contests at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers outscored the Cubs 44-20 in those games and overall are on a 10-game winning streak vs. Chicago dating to June 25, 2021.

MAD MAX: The Dodger offense ignited in the sixth inning Wednesday night, as the club scored five runs in the frame following an incredible 15-pitch at-bat by Freddie Freeman that ended with a bases-loaded walk. Following a sacrifice fly from Will Smith, Dodger infielder Max Muncy cemented his second huge night of the series, connecting for a three-run homer, his second longball of the game. For Muncy, the two homers represented his 11th-career multi-homer contest and gave him four home runs and a whopping 11 RBI in the three-game set. Since 1920, Muncy’s 11 ribbies ties him for third all-time by a Dodger in a three-game series:

DODGERS – RBI in a 3-GAME Series (Since 1920)
Gil Hodges, 12 vs. CIN 1949
Frank Howard, 12 vs. SF 1962
Max Muncy, 11 at SF 2023
Babe Herman, 11 at NYG 1930
Mike Piazza, 11 at COL 1995

Muncy’s 25-career home runs vs. the Giants rank third among active players, trailing just Nolan Arenado (33) and Paul Goldschmidt (28). However, Muncy’s has ripped those 25 homers in just 297 plate appearances while Arenado (635) and Goldschmidt (659) have had considerably more. Overall, Muncy is tied for second in the National League in both home runs (5) and RBI (13), trailing just Pete Alonso (6) in the homer category and Bryan Reynolds (14) in RBI.

WALK THIS WAY: The Dodgers walked seven more times on Wednesday and have recorded five or more free passes in 11 of their 13 games this season. Los Angeles leads the Major Leagues with 72 free passes and their 72 walks are the most in L.A. Dodger history through 13 games, as they trail just the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers (85) and the 1941 Dodger squad (73) for most walks in franchise history through 13 contests.

DIGGING THE LONGBALL: The Dodgers belted three homers on Wednesday night, the two by Max Muncy and one by Trayce Thompson, who now has four on the season. The club has recorded five 3+ homer games this season and their 24 homers lead the National League, trailing only the Rays (32) for the most in baseball. Los Angeles also leads the National League with 79 runs scored, six triples (1st, ML), 52 extra-base hits, a .358 OBP, a .495 slugging percentage and an .853 OPS.

NOW THAT’S A START: Dodger rookie outfielder James Outman went 2-for-5 with an RBI on Wednesday night. On the season, Outman is slashing .289/.438/.684 with a 1.122 OPS. He has walked in nine of his 12 games with an at-bat this season and has reached base safely in 11 of his 12 games with an AB this year. His 10 RBI ranks fourth on the team, trailing just Max Muncy (13), Will Smith (12) and Trayce Thompson (11) while his nine walks are tied with Freddie Freeman for third on the squad, trailing just Miguel Vargas (13) and Mookie Betts (11). Dating back to 2022, Outman has appeared in 16 career games with an at-bat and in those contests has racked up 37 total bases. According to Sportradar, his 1.194 OPS is through his first 16 career games with an AB is the fourth highest all-time in Los Angeles Dodgers history, behind Yasiel Puig (1.267) and Matt Kemp (1.252).

TONIGHTS STARTER vs. CUBS: RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD (0-1, 6.30 ERA in 2 GS in 2023)

2023 SEASON NOTES:
• Made his season debut April 2 and tossed 6.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits in a no decision

• Pitched in five games (four starts) during spring ball, going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA (12 ER/18.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts against just two walks…held a 1.13 WHIP

• Only victory came in his second start in Dodger blue against San Diego, where he fired 3.0 scoreless frames with two strikeouts without issuing a walk

VS. CUBS:
• Will face the Cubs for the sixth time in his career…owns an overall 1-2 record in five starts with a 5.67 ERA (17 ER/27.0 IP) and 1.78 WHIP after striking out 33 batters and walking 10

• Last pitched against Chicago on Aug. 28, 2019, where he went three innings, giving up nine runs on nine hits and struck out five

2022 NOTES:
• Began his season with the Los Angeles Angels before getting traded at the deadline to the Philadelphia Phillies…earned a 10-10 record over 25 games (24 starts) with both clubs, striking out 95 batters and walking 31 en route to a 3.94 ERA (59 ER/134.2 IP)

• Recorded wins in his first two starts of the season (April 9 vs. HOU, April 16 at TEX), marking the first time in his Major League career he earned back-to-back victories to start the season in as many outings

• With the Angels, posted a 5-8 record in 15 starts with a 3.83 ERA (34 ER/80.0 IP) and 1.21 WHIP with 64 strikeouts…with the Phillies, bettered his record to a 5-2 mark in ten games (nine starts) with 31 strikeouts and a 4.12 ERA (25 ER/54.2 IP)

• Limited hitters to a .263 overall average, with righties kept at a .256 (77-for-301) and lefties at .272 (61-for-224)

• Returned to the Postseason for the first time since 2016, totaling a 0-1 record across four games (two starts) with a 3.24 ERA (3 ER/8.1 IP) and 0.84 WHIP…was one of two Phillies pitchers with previous World Series experience

• Started Game 5 of the World Series for the Phillies, taking the loss after allowing two unearned runs on three hits and four strikeouts through 3.0 innings…signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on December 16

CAREER NOTES:
• 2016 All-Star right-handed pitcher joins the Dodgers after splitting his time last season between the Angels and Phillies…owns a 57-42 Major League record over eight seasons with a 1.18 WHIP and 3.45 ERA (331 ER/862.2 IP)…has struck out 880 batters and walked 197 for a 9.20 strikeout-per-nine innings mark

• Across nine Postseason appearances, the righty has tallied a 2-2 mark with a 2.62 ERA (10 ER/34.1 IP) with 44 strikeouts and .190 opponents’ batting average…was a member of the 2015 New York Mets World Series roster and 2022 Philadelphia Phillies roster

• Threw his first two career complete games on Sept. 2 at San Francisco and on Sept. 30 vs. Miami, both in 2018…has fired four complete games in his career (also: May 2, 2019 vs. CIN, Aug. 4, 2022 vs. WSH)

• Named to the 2016 NL All-Star team, his first and only All-Star selection…did not pitch in the game due to arm fatigue

• Started three games during the 2015 playoffs with the New York Mets and earned the win in two of the three outings…his 26 strikeouts were tied for second-most by a rookie in postseason history and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series vs. Kansas City, becoming the second youngest Met to win a World Series game

• Smashed his first Major League home run, a solo homer to dead center, on May 27, 2015 vs. Philadelphia (off Sean O’Sullivan), also his first Major League hit…has hit seven doubles, six home runs, and 15 RBI at the Major League level

• Made his Major League debut as a Met at Chicago-NL on May 12, 2015, pitching 5.1 innings in his first big league start, striking out six…earned his first career win five days later on May 17 vs. Milwaukee after firing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts

• Picked up the save in the Futures Game in 2014, a 3-2 triumph for the United States over the World Team…in 1.0 inning, allowed one hit, no runs, no walks and one strikeout…started and hurled a scoreless inning for Team USA in the 2013 Futures Game at Citi Field as a member of the Mets farm system

• Originally signed by Blue Jays scout Steve Miller in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft

MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (8-5) at Miami Marlins (6-7)

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MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (8-5) at Miami Marlins (6-7)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:

No release available.

MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight begin a six-game homestand, their second ‘stand of the year, with the first of three gms vs. Arizona. Will also face San Francisco for three gms on this homestand from Monday-Wednesday. Are coming off a 3-3 road trip to New York and Philadelphia, dropping two of three at Citi Field and taking two of three at Citizens Bank Park. Are looking for their third straight win at loanDepot park tonight.

TEALING BACK TIME
Throughout the year, the Marlins are celebrating their 30th Anniversary. Each Friday home game, the Marlins will wear their original 1993 teal pinstripe uniforms for a Flashback Friday! The team will also don teal hats and teal helmets. Game balls are emblazoned with the commemorative logo as are the base jewels.

• Prior to tonight’s game, the Marlins opened their pop-up Marlins Museum presented by Fanatics in left field behind section 29. The museum holds historic Marlins artifacts including the first pitch thrown in Marlins history by Charlie Hough on Opening Day in 1993. Hough will be on hand for tonight’s festivities.

WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
Miami came from behind for a 3-2 win in 10 innings at Philly. RHP Edward Cabrera held the Phillies to 2 runs in 5.0 innings in the start, striking out 4 and walking 1. LHP A.J. Puk tossed 2.0 scoreless innings for the win. The Marlins bullpen combined to toss 5.0 scoreless frames, allowing just 1 baserunner (a single). DH Jorge Soler (2×4) hit a game-tying solo home run to lead off the eighth inning. Was measured to to have an exit velocity of 107.8 mph. LF Bryan De La Cruz (3×5) had two RBI singles in the game, including the game winner in the top of the 10th.

CUBANO GIGANTE
OF/DH Jorge Soler has already collected 5 doubles and 4 home runs in his first 12 games of the year. His 9 extra-base hits are tied with Atlanta’s Matt Olson for most in the National League in 2023.

• Soler is averaging a 96.3 mph exit velocity in 2023, tied for fifth highest in the Majors and tied for third among NL batters,

•Three of his four HR this season have tied the game or given the Marlins the lead and owns 7 such homers as a Marlins (17 HR total),

TURNING THE TRENDING TIDE
The Marlins are 3-0 in one-run games this season. Miami played 64 games decided by one run in 2022, the most such games in the Majors last season. Miami’s 40 one-run losses were the most in a season in club history, the most since the 1975 Houston Astros (41), and just three shy of the single-season record for one-run losses during the Live Ball Era (since 1920) held by the 1968 White Sox (44).

COLD FEET
The Marlins are winless in each of their first four series openers in 2023, while combining to go 6-3 in the remaining games of series.

CYCLE TIME
2B Luis Arraez on Tuesday in Philadelphia became the first player in Marlins history to hit for the cyle, coming in the 4,700th game in franchise history during the 30th anniversary. Was baseball’s first cycle since St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado last July 1 vs. Philadelphia (with Skip Schumaker serving as Cardinals bench coach). There had been 111 cycles in the Majors since the Marlins franchise began play in 1993.

• Doubled in the first inning, tripled in the sixth inning, homered in the seventh inning and singled in the eighth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, during the Expansion Era, was just the seventh cycle to be completed in the same order, also: Eddie Rosario (9/19/21 w/ATL at SF), Jake Cronenworth (7/16/21 w/SD at WAS), Freddie Freeman (6/15/16 w/ATL vs. CIN), Daryle Ward (5/26/04 w/PIT at STL), Keith Hernandez (7/4/85 w/NYM at ATL) and Mike Phillips (6/25/76 w/NYM at CHC).

• Is the first player to hit for a cycle in the month of April since Minnesota’s Jorge Polanco on April 5, 2019 at Citizen’s Bank Park, and the 20th to accomplish the feat within his team’s first 12 games of a season.

• Became the sixth Venezuelan-born player to hit for a cycle, joining Eduardo Escobar (6/6/22 w/NYM at SD), Pablo Sandoval (9/15/11 w/SF at COL), Carlos Gonzalez (7/31/10 w/COL vs. CHC), Carlos Guillen (8/1/06 w/DET at TB), and Cesar Tovar (9/19/72 w/MIN vs. TEX).

• Was the 19th player to hit for a cycle vs. the Philadelphia Phillies; the 25th player to hit for a cycle in Philadelphia (inc, the Philadelphia A’s) and the fifth to accomplish the feat at Citizens Bank Park, joining (Nolan Arenado, 7/1/22 w/STL), Jorge Polanco (4/15/19 w/MIN), Brad Wilkerson (4/6/05 w/WAS) and David Bell (6/28/04 w/PHI vs. MON) – credit: Elias Sports Bureau

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
INF Luis Arraez has 23 hits in his first 13 games of the year, with 8 multi-hit games. Marks the most hits among all Major Leaguers and his .500 batting avg. (23×46) is tops in the Majors among all qualified hitters. His 1.254 OPS is also the best mark in the National League.

• Arraez’s 23 hits are the most for a player in their first 13 gms with the Marlins, ahead of the prev. high of 21 held by Cameron Maybin (2008) and Dee Gordon (2015).

• Are also the most for a player in the first 13 games of the season since Justin Turner went 23×54 and Ronald Acuna Jr. went 23×52 in 2021. The last player to have more hits in the first 13 games was White Sox infielder Tim Anderson’s 24×53 start in 2019.

• Became the second player in Marlins history to reach base safely as the starting leadoff hitter in each of the first four games to start a
season, joining Hanley Ramirez in 2006 (credit: Elias).

• Has struck out just 4 times in 52 plate appearances, tied for the least amount of strikeouts in the NL among players with at least 50 plate appearances. Only Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has less strikeouts (3 times in 61 plate appearances).

• Has been very productive in his first at-bat of the game, going 6×10 (.600) with 2 walks in the first inning of games.

PASSING BYE
In the bottom of the seventh inning in Monday’s loss at Philadelphia, C Jacob Stallings was charged with a passed ball. Snapped a streak of 260 consecutive games without a passed ball. Is the longest streak all time (prev. best was held by Hall of Famer Johnny Bench). Had last permitted a passed ball on August 14, 2020 at Cincinnati with Pittsburgh (3rd inning).

TODAY’S STARTER – #28 TREVOR ROGERS
• Trevor Rogers will make his third start of the season today and his third career start against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

• Last faced Arizona on May 3, 2022. Allowed 5 runs on 6 hits in 4.1 innings (2 home runs).

• Made 23 starts in his sophomore campaign in 2022 coming off a runner-up ROTY season in 2021. Made two separate IL stints, including a season-ending lat strain.

• Made 19 starts from the start of the season until July 25 when he was placed on the IL with low back spasms. Allowed three runs or more in 11 of those outings. Pitched to a 5.85 ERA, going 5-14 with 41 walks and 83 strikeouts.

• In 4 starts after returning from injury (Aug. 31 – Sept. 17), posted a 3.72 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

• The team went 5-18 in Rogers’ starts last season.

• Held lefties to a .194 batting avg, .296 slugging pct., .584 OPS and just 1 home run (111 BF). Right handed batters hit .299 with a .520 slugging pct.,
.886 OPS and had 14 home runs (366 BF).

MLB Preview: Milwaukee Brewers (9-4) at San Diego Padres (7-7)

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MLB Preview: Milwaukee Brewers (9-4) at San Diego Padres (7-7)

MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: Is game 5 (2-2) of a 10-game road trip to Arizona (1-2), San Diego (1-0) and Seattle (3g)…..following this trip and an off day next Thursday, the team returns to American Family Field for a 9-game homestand against Boston (3g), Detroit (3g) and Los Angeles-AL (3g).

IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: RHP Jason Alexander (right rotator cuff), LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), RHP Adrian Houser (right groin), OF Tyrone Taylor (right elbow), INF Luis Urías (left hamstring), LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow) and RHP Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder) are on the IL…..Alexander, Ashby and Wilson are on the 60-day IL.

IN THE STANDINGS (15 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 13, SECOND: 0, THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the second-place Pirates by 1.0 game.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 3-1-0 in series play.
Game 1: 3-2, Game 2: 3-1, Game 3: 3-1, Game 4: 0-0
Sweep Wins (1): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5)
Sweep Losses (-): None

AT HOME: The Brewers are 5-1 at home, going 2-0-0 in series play…..the team went 46-35 at home last season, going 15-8-4 in series play.

ON THE ROAD: The Brewers are 4-3 on the road, going 1-1-0 in series play…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play.

MANAGER: Craig Counsell – the longest-tenured active manager in the National League and third in the majors – is in his ninth season as Brewers manager (624-559) and eighth full season…..he has the most wins (624) and games managed (1,183) of any manager in franchise history…..Counsell was named the 19th manager in franchise history on 5/4/15, replacing Ron Roenicke…..he is signed through the 2023 season.

2022 IN REVIEW: The Brewers went 86-76 last season, missing the postseason for the first time since 2017…..the team was eliminated from NL Central contention on September 27 and eliminated from postseason contention on October 3, snapping their franchise-record four consecutive years of making the playoffs…..the team won at least 86 games for the fifth consecutive full season (since 2017), joining the Dodgers (since 2012), Astros (since 2017) and Yankees (since 2017) as the only teams to accomplish the feat during this stretch (does not include 2020).

LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made three replay challenges this season, going 1-2…..their last challenge (lost) came on 4/12 at Arizona as an out call at first base (Willy Adames) stood

TONIGHT’S STARTER: #52 – LHP ERIC LAUER (2gs, 1-1, 7.71)
LAUER AT A GLANCE: Eric Lauer, 27, will be making his third start…..he last started last Saturday in a 6-0 loss vs. St. Louis (4ip, 7h, 6r, 6er, 3bb, 4k, 2hr, 93 pitches)…..his other start came on 4/2 at Chicago-NL as he earned a 9-5 win (5.1ip, 5h, 2r, 2er, 2bb, 6k, 1hr, 89 pitches)…..he was acquired from San Diego, along with INF Luis Urías and a player to be named or cash, in exchange for RHP Zach Davies and OF Trent Grisham on 11/27/19 (trade completed on 5/27/20 – cash).

LAST SEASON: Lauer went 11-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 29 starts last season…..the team went 17-12 in his starts…..he posted career highs in starts (29-tied), wins (11), innings pitched (158.2), strikeouts (157) and quality starts (13)…..he held opponents to a .228 batting average…..Lauer was on the 15-day injured list from 9/10-9/22 with left elbow inflammation…..he came back to end the season with 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

CAREER: Is 33-32 with a 4.17 ERA in 112 games/105 starts (559.1ip, 259er)…..is in his sixth Major League season with San Diego (2018-19) and Milwaukee (2020-23)…..was the Padres’ Opening Day starter in 2019…..Lauer was selected by San Diego in the first round (25th overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Kent State University.

CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Is 11-8 with a 3.73 ERA in 29 games/28 starts (154.1ip, 64er)…..is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 1 start this season (4ip, 6er)…..went 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 13 starts last season (77.1ip, 22er)…..CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 15-16 with a 4.78 ERA in 56 games/51 starts (267.1ip, 142er)…..is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 1 start this season (5.1ip, 2er)…..went 5-5 with a 4.76 ERA in 16 starts last season (81.1ip, 43er).

CAREER vs. PADRES: Is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 2 starts, both coming at American Family Field (12ip, 2er)…..he did not receive decisions in a 2-1, 10-inning defeat on 5/26/21 (6ip, 4h, 1r, 1er, 1bb, 6k) and a 6-4, 10-inning defeat on 6/5/22 (6ip, 6h, 3r, 1er, 2bb, 4k, 1bk).

SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:

Despite Trent Grisham’s game-tying 8th inning homer, the Padres fall 4-3 to the Brewers in 1st game of the 4-game set

• Starter Nick Martinez went 6.0 IP with 3 runs allowed (all earned) on 5 hits, and 2 homers…he punched out 2 and walked 3.

• The Padres bullpen combined for 4.0 innings of 1-hit, scoreless ball, and the Brewers won with the ghost runner at 2B scoring on a Rowdy Tellez sac fly to RF.

• Down 3-1 in the 8th inning, Trent Grisham hit a 2-out, 2-run home run to right-center field to tie the game at 3-3.

Uniform Breakdown: Padres to wear 5 different uni’s in the next 5 days
• Last night, the Padres wore their normal white pinstripes, on Friday, they’ll wear the City Connect uniforms, and on Saturday, every club will wear No. 42 to commemorate the anniversary of April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke MLB’s color barrier…on Sunday, the Padres will wear their camo jerseys for their Military Appreciation Sunday, and on Monday, 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…if you count the Padres’ road pinstripes on Wednesday @ NYM, it’ll be 6 uniforms in 6 days.

Tatis homers 3x last night for Triple-A El Paso, set to return on April 20 @ AZ
• Fernando Tatis Jr. went 5-for-6 last night with 3 homers, a double, and 8 RBI…in 6 games for Triple-A El Paso, he’s hitting .478 (11-for-23).

• Tatis will be eligible to return to the ML team on April 20 (start of a 4-game series @ AZ)…He’ll serve the final 20 games of his suspension from MLB’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program to start the season after serving 60 G from Aug. 12 through the Padres’ 12-game 2022 Postseason run.

Padres in a stretch of playing 18 games in 18 days; 21 games in 22 days
• San Diego had their 1st off day on Wednesday and will not enjoy their 2nd one until April 24th, playing 18 games in 18 days from April 6-23…their 3rd off day will be on April 28, and since April 6, their current stretch of games are also 21 games in 22 days.

• San Diego is also starting the regular season with 24 games in 25 days…they had 1 off day on April 5, they will have one in Chicago on April 24th, and they’ll have their 1st off day in San Diego on April 28.

Injury Updates
• Joe Musgrove, who was placed on the IL after fracturing his left big toe in mid February, hurt his shoulder making a play on a come backer in his rehab start last week…he’ll throw a bullpen on Friday and will hopefully make his final rehab start next week and join the team after.

• Drew Pomeranz has suffered a neck strain, and he’s still making rehab appearances since having flexor tendon surgery in 2021

TODAY’S STARTER – MICHAEL WACHA 52
Wacha aims to improve to 3-0 on season against familiar foe

31-year-old Michael Wacha strives for his 3rd consecutive win to start his Padres tenure tonight vs. the Brewers, a team he’s made 15 appearances (14 starts) against…he’s yet to get tagged with a loss vs. the Brew Crew in his career, going 6-0 with a 3.38 ERA (28 ER, 74.2 IP) and a .268 opp. AVG. Christian Yelich is 4-for-16 (.250) vs. Yelich with 2 XBH (1 2B, 1 HR) while Jesse Winker is 5-for-15 (.333)…all other Brewers hitters with at least 1 AB vs. Wacha are a combined 2-for-8.

Wacha silences Braves in first road start
Last Sat, April 8 at ATL, Wacha struck out a career-high-tying 10 batters across 6.0-shutout innings of 2-hit ball in SD’s 4-1 victory…he retired the first 10 batters he faced before allowing two hits and walking a batter…his last 10 strikeout performance came on June 9,
2015 @ COL while with STL.

Wacha earns win in Padres debut
Earned the win in his first start in Padres brown and gold Sat, April 1 vs. COL, going scoreless through the first 4 frames before surrendering a combined 4 earned runs in the 5th and 6th as SD went on to win the contest 8-4…it was Wacha’s first matchup vs. an NL West opponent since the 2019 campaign, and he is now 10-9 with a 4.01 ERA (86 ER, 193.0 IP) in his 37 career app. (36 starts) vs. the division.

Welcome to the Pads
Enters his 12th professional season and his 11th big league season in ’23…he owns a career 74-50 record and a 4.05 ERA (519 ER, 1153.2 IP) in 225 ML appearances (204 starts) across 10 seasons for STL (2013-19), NYM (2020), TB (2021) and BOS (2022).

A Wacha in the (Petco) Park
Has made a total of 6 starts at Petco Park, and turned in 5 quality starts, going a combined 4-1 with a 3.16 ERA (13 ER, 37.0 IP)…he earned the winning decision in each of his first 3 starts at Petco from 2015-17, and his Padre debut on April 1 was his first-non QS at Petco.

Fast starts becoming a trend for Wacha?
Having started ’23 with a 2-0 record and a 3.00 ERA, Wacha is aiming to replicate his fast start in ’22 for BOS, when he had a 2.61 ERA through his first 20 starts before allowing 14 runs over 13.1 IP in his final 3 outings…he allowed 2 runs-or-fewer and 4 hits-or-fewer in
each of his first 6 starts last season

Barkeep…order me another 10-plus win season
The 2022 campaign was Wacha’s 3rd season with 10-or-more wins (17 wins in 2015 and 12 in 2017), and it was his 6th season making 20-or-more starts (and the 3rd time in the last three 162-game seasons).

When it matters most
Has made 8 career Postseason appearances (6 starts) between STL (2013-15) and TB (2021)…owns the MLB Postseason rookie records for longest scoreless-innings streak (18.2 IP in 2013) and most strikeouts in a single Postseason (33 in 2013).

Wacha approaching the 10.000 ML service time plateau
Wacha entered the 2023 campaign with 9.062 years of ML service time, which ranked 5th on SD’s Opening Day roster, behind only Nelson Cruz (15.000), Yu Darvish (11.000), Matt Carpenter (10.145) and Manny Machado (10.056)

MLB Preview: Cleveland Guardians (7-6) at Washington Nationals (4-9)

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MLB Preview: Cleveland Guardians (7-6) at Washington Nationals (4-9)

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:

YANKEES TAKE RUBBER MATCH, 4-3
Prior to yesterday’s scheduled team off day, the Guardians dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to New York-AL in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale, as Oswaldo Cabrera delivered a two-out RBI-single in the 9th to break a 3-3 tie and complete the Yankees come-from-behind win…Cleveland finished 2-4 on first homestand of 2023 against Seattle (1-2) & New York-AL (1-2) following a season-opening 5-2 road trip thru Seattle (3-1) & Oakland (2-1)… Guardians (7-6) have won 7 of last 12 and hold sole possesion of 2nd place in the AL Central standings, 2.0 games behind Minnesota (9-4).

Cleveland’s offense built a 3-0 advantage in the contest to back a solid Major League debut by starter PEYTON BATTENFIELD (4.2IP, 4H, 2R-1ER, 0BB, 3SO, 66 pitches)…a pair of 1st-inning hits by STEVEN KWAN (single) and JOSÉ RAMÍREZ (double) set up RBI-singles by JOSH NAYLOR and JOSH BELL…AMED ROSARIO also cracked a solo homer (1) off Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt (4.0IP, 6H, 3R-ER, 1BB, 3SO, 1HR, 72 pitches) to lead off the 3rd…New York-AL answered with a pair of runs in the 5th, capitalizing on 3 consecutive singles and an errant relay throw from the outfield that struck 2nd-base umpire Larry Vanover in the head…Franchy Cordero greeted TREVOR STEPHAN with a game-tying solo shot on his fourth pitch of the 7th inning, Cordero’s second homer and fourth RBI of the series.

WASHINGTON WALKTHROUGH
From Friday to Sunday, the Guardians travel to Washington D.C. for a 3-game set against the Nationals…the two clubs last squared off from September 27-29, 2019 in D.C….Washington swept all three games in decisive fashion (8-2, 10-7, 8-2)…the Guardians are 8-11 all-time against the Washington franchise, holding a 5-3 record at Progressive Field and 3-8 record when on the road…the two sides first squared off in 2002 when the Nationals were known as the Montreal Expos, then squared off in 3-game sets in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019…in 8 total games played at Nationals Park, Cleveland holds a 2-6 record.

JOSÉ BEING JOSÉ
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ saw his 15 game hit streak dating back to last season snap on Monday against the Yankees…he and HOU’s José Abreu were the only two MLB hitters to open the 2023 season with one-or-more-hits in each of their first 10 games…Ramírez, leads MLB this season with 4 intentional walks after tallying the most in baseball last year with 20…his 4 go-ahead RBI rank T2nd in MLB this season…his 6 doubles and one triple both rank T5th in the league, respectively…Ramírez also leads MLB in both extra base hits and doubles since 2017.

Ramírez (295) is now just one double away from tying Charlie Jamieson (296) for the 7th-most doubles in franchise history…his 192 career home runs rank T10th in club history with Al Rosen, needing one more to sit alone in 10th.

EXTRA-BASE HIT LEADERS IN MLB, 2017-23
PLAYER XBH
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ 423
Nolan Arenado 404
Mookie Betts 396
J.D. Martinez 393

DOUBLES LEADERS IN MLB, 2017-23
PLAYER XBH
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ 225
Nick Castellanos 224
Mookie Betts 216
Xander Bogaerts 212

SMALL-BALL SHOWDOWN
Heading into tonight’s contest, Washington (5) and Cleveland (6) are struggling to find power as the two clubs have hit the fewest home runs of any MLB clubs this season…the Nationals (.333, 29th in MLB) and Guardians (.345, 27th) also rank in the bottom 4 in the league in slugging percentage…strikeouts could come at a premium as both the Nats (5.63-to-1, 1st) and Guards (5.22-to-1, 4th) rank in the top 5 of MLB in plate appearances-per-strikeout… both sides have experience in sacrifice situations this season as Washington (3) is tied for most sacrifice hits in MLB with San Diego and Cleveland paces the league with 8 sacrifice flies…Washington is tied with Chicago-NL for fewest strikeouts in MLB and also ranks 2nd in the NL in singles (85)…Cleveland ranks 1st in MLB with 9 intentional walks while also ranking 2nd in walks (63)…their 12 infield hits are also T1st in the AL, T3rd in MLB.

GUARDIANS OF THE BASEPATHS
The Guardians are T1st in MLB with 19 steals, ranking even with Baltimore, and have only been caught twice in 21 attempts… marks the 12th time in club history and the first time since 1994 that Cleveland has 19 steals in the first 13 games of the season… the last team before the Orioles and Guardians this season with 19-or-more steals through the team’s first 13 games was the 2020 Padres.

MYLES STRAW ranks T2nd in MLB with 6 stolen bases with Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. and Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins, behind the Orioles Jorge Mateo (7)…the Guardians feature five players in the top 25 in MLB in stolen bases (also Ramírez, Giménez, Kwan and Rosario) the most of any MLB team.

ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ continues to lead MLB in runs scored this season, reaching home plate 14 times through 13 games…Straw accomplished the same feat last season…Giménez and Straw are the first pair of Cleveland teammates to score 14+ runs in 13-orfewer-games in consecutive seasons since Grady Sizemore in 2007 and Travis Hafner in 2006.

PATIENCE AT THE PLATE
Though the season’s first 13 games, STEVEN KWAN leads MLB with 275 pitches seen, with Atlanta’s Matt Olson trailing just behind him at 269…AMED ROSARIO also ranks T21st (233)…as a team, the Guardians lead the AL and rank 2nd in MLB behind San Diego (2,131) in pitches seen (2,079)…Cleveland’s 23.7% swingand-miss-percentage is the 5th-best in MLB and 3rd-best in the AL.

TONIGHT’S STARTER – 47 CAL QUANTRILL RHP
TONIGHT’S START
The 28 year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his third start of the season, his second on the road, in the opener of this 3-game set against Washington…will be pitching on extended 5 days’ rest after shouldering a 3-2 loss on Saturday vs. Seattle…Quantrill’s first start on the road came in a 6-5 win, April 2 at Seattle (ND, 4.2IP, 8H, 5R-4ER, HR, 2BB, 3SO)…is in his third full season with the Guardians after being acquired by Cleveland from San Diego during the 2020 season in a deal that included Mike Clevinger.

LAST TIME OUT
Last start came in a 3-2 loss on April 8 vs. Seattle at Progressive Field, as Quantrill surrendered 3R/ER on 7 hits with 3 K’s and one walk…the loss snapped a 14 game home win-streak and was his first career loss at Progressive Field…he had not lost a start at home since September 9, 2019 when he was with San Diego – a span of 36 starts…started off the game giving up three straight singles and navigated out of the inning, only allowing 2 runs to score…he settled down, allowing one run over his next 4.0 innings…marked first time to complete 5.0 innings in 4 career games/3 starts-against Seattle (0-1, 5.65 ERA).

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
This will be his first career start against Washington…with today’s start, he will have faced every team in MLB besides Cleveland and Miami…the righty has made 4 career starts against the NL East, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.57 ERA (6ER/21.0IP) – his best ERA against any division.

Tonight marks Quantrill’s 23rd career appearance and 12th start in Interleague Play, owning a 3-1 record and a 3.24 ERA (26ER/72.1IP) with 60 strikeouts and 26 walks in his 22 prior appearances…he recorded a save in Interleague Play on August 18, 2020 vs. Texas while he was with San Diego.

RECENT ROAD WARRIOR
After starting the 2022 campaign with a 1-5 record across his first 7 road tilts, Quantrill bounced back after the All-Star break to win 5 consecutive decisions across his final 6 starts away from home (5-0, 2.31ERA; 9ER/35.1IP) – all 6 of those team victories… Quantrill compiled 32 strikeouts and received 4-or-more runs of support in 5 of those 6 road outings from July 22 until end of season…he enjoyed a 9.42 RSA on the road in that span, ranking 3rd in the AL and 4th in MLB, behind TOR’s Kevin Gausman (9.92), TOR’s Ross Stripling (10.16) and ATL’s Kyle Wright (11.23).

CAL AND HIS PALS
Quantrill received an MLB-best 6.33 runs of support-per-9.0 innings in 2022…over the course of a full season, his run support average was the highest by a qualified Cleveland pitcher since Jake Westbrook (6.73) and Paul Byrd (6.59) in 2006…Guardians hitters supplied four-or-more runs of support in 12 of his last 17 starts to end 2022…Quantrill’s 22 team wins in games he started ranked 4th in MLB and 3rd in the AL last season…offense supplied 83 total runs of support (7.65 runs/game) through his final 17 starts of 2022, with Quantrill going 11-0 in that span…in the righty’s first 2 starts of 2023 the Guards have combined for just 5 runs of support.

RUN SUPPORT AVERAGE LEADERS, 2022
NAME TEAM RSA RS RECORD
Cal Qauntrill CLE 6.33 131 15-5
Kyle Wright ATL 6.29 126 17-5
José Urquidy HOU 6.24 114 13-8
Jameson Taillon NYY 6.24 123 14-5
José Berríos TOR 5.86 112 12-7

CUTTER MISCUES
Through his first two starts, opposing batters are 8-for-21 (.381) with 3 doubles in at-bats ending with his cutter…in 2022, opposing batters finished with a .235 average (55-for-234) with 47 strikeouts in such at-bats…the 47 strikeouts were the most of any pitch in his repertoire

WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:

WELCOME HOME
Following a day off on Thursday, the Washington Nationals open a five-game homestand on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians…The Nationals will enjoy another off day on Monday before welcoming the Baltimore Orioles to D.C. for a two-game series starting on Tuesday.

• Washington completed the road trip with a 3-4 record despite outscoring the Rockies and Angles 31-28 across the seven games.

• Nationals pitchers held Shohei Ohtani (1-for-7, BB, 4 SO) and Mike Trout (0-for-11, HBP, BB, 4 SO, R) to just one hit during the three-game series at Los Angeles.

BULLPENNING
Ricky Bones’ bullpen has inherited 10 runners over the last three games and none of them have come around to score…During this three-game stretch, Nationals relievers have pitched to a 0.84 ERA (1 ER/10.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts, five walks and four hits allowed (.118 opp. AVG).

• On the season, the bullpen ranks fourth in the National League in opponents’ on-base percentage (.304) and in opponents’ batting average (.231).

PLAYIN’ THE HITS
Washington’s ranks tied for sixth in the National League in hits (109) and eighth in the with a .251 batting average…Despite being one-hit for the sixth time in team history (2005-pres.) on Tuesday night, the Nationals have recorded double-digit hits in three of their last six games.

• Nationals hitters have struck out just 87 times, tied for the fewest in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs.

DEFENSE NOT RESTING
Thanks to strong infield defense so far this season, Nationals opponents have a .232 batting average on ground balls, sixth-best in the National League (MLB avg: .245)…In 2022, the Nationals had the third-highest opponents’ batting average on ground balls in Major League Baseball (.260).

• Washington has turned 15 double plays this season, tied for the most in Major League Baseball.

ROLLIN’ ROBLES
Victor Robles ranks in the National League in batting average (5th, .359) and on-base percentage (10th, .444).

• He is 12-for-29 (.414) with two doubles, four RBI, two walks, two stolen bases and four runs scored over his last nine games…He’s hit safely in six of the nine games with five multi-hit efforts.

• Robles has struck out just six times this season and his 12.8% strikeout rate ranks 12th in the NL.

BACK IN BLOOM
The Nationals popular cherry blossom-themed City Connect uniforms debuted last season and return in 2023 with on-field wear dates scheduled for every Friday and Saturday home game with the exception of Jackie Robinson Day on April 15.

• The City Connect design is a celebration of the beautiful gift of cherry blossom trees from the people of Japan to the city of Washington, D.C.

• Just as the cherry blossoms are sewn into the city’s culture, they are threaded into the uniforms themselves.

• The bold lettering across the chest echoes the District’s chiseled monuments and takes inspiration from the iconic W shape of the 1924 World Series champion Washington Senators.

OPPONENT
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
The Nationals and Guardians will face off three times in 2023, all in D.C…Nationals outfielder Alex Call made his Major League debut for the Guardians in 2022 after spending four seasons (2019-22) in their system…Former National Josh Bell returns to Nationals Park for the second time since being traded to San Diego at the 2022 Trade Deadline

TODAY’S STARTER – #32 TREVOR WILLIAMS
Veteran right-handed starter signed a two-year contract with the Nationals in Dec. 2022…From 2018-21, Williams was exclusively a starter, but he transitioned to a versatile swingman in 2021 and 2022…He is 35-41 with a 4.33 ERA in 118 career starts and 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 41 relief outings…Was a second-round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2013 but was traded to Pittsburgh in 2015 while pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

LAST START
Earned his first win as a member of the Washington Nationals on April 8 at Colorado…Allowed two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and zero walks in 5.1 innings of work.

vs. CLEVELAND
Is 1-1 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) in two career starts against Cleveland…Tossed his lone career shutout at Cleveland on July 23, 2018 with Pittsburgh…Allowed four hits with one strikeout and two walks in a rain-shortened 6.0 inning win.

2023 SPRING TRAINING
Went 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in six Spring Training starts…Started the Exhibition game vs. New York (AL) on March 28.

• Allowed just one earned run on five hits in his final two starts of Spring Training (10.0 IP).

2022
In his second season with the Mets, went 3-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games (nine starts)…Went 2-4 with a 4.19 ERA in nine starts and 1-1 with one save and a 2.47 ERA in 21 relief appearances…Tossed a career-high and team-best 25.1 consecutive scoreless innings from July 7 to Sept. 4…Was tied for the sixth-longest streak in MLB (4th in NL) in 2022… He went 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 13 games (three starts) against the NL East Recorded his first career save on July 14 at Chicago (NL), pitching the final three innings (3 H, 4 SO) of the 8-0 win…2022 Pitch Mix: 4-Seam Fastball (52.8%) Changeup (13.1%) Sinker (12.6%) Slider (11.7%) Curveball (9.7%).

2021
Began the season with the Cubs before being acquired along with shortstop Javier Báez…Posted a 3.06 ERA in 10 appearances (three starts) with the Mets… Did not surrender a home run in his first eight games with the Mets, becoming the ninth pitcher in franchise history to accomplish that feat (min. 20.0 IP).

2018
Put together the best season of his career, finishing seventh in the National League in ERA…Was the only pitcher to make 10 starts of at least 6.0 innings without allowing a run (Justin Verlander, 2nd with 9)…His 1.38 ERA after the All-Star break was second-lowest among all starting pitchers behind Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell (1.17)…Recorded a then-career-high 21.0 scoreless innings streak from July 11 to Aug. 5 and a 20.2 scoreless innings streak from Aug. 22 to Sept. 10…Was credited with his first career shutout in a rain-shortened 7-0 win at Cleveland on July 23 (6.0 IP).

2017
Made his first career Opening Day roster and took part in his first full Major League season…Ranked third among National League pitchers (min. 150.0 IP) with 0.84 HR/9.0 innings…Ranked first in ERA (4.07), fourth in innings (150.1) and fourth in strikeouts (117) among National League rookies with at least 100.0 innings…Threw a career-high 114 pitches in a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings on August 23 vs. Los Angeles (NL)…Faced off against Rich Hill, who took a perfect game into the ninth inning and lost his no-hit bid on Josh Harrison’s walk-off homer in the 10th inning.

2016
Made his Major League debut on Sept. 7 vs. St. Louis…Earned the win after allowing one run (unearned) in 3.0 innings of relief…Was the MVP of Triple-A Indianapolis after going 9-6 with a 2.53 ERA in 20 games (19 starts).

MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (8-5) at St. Louis Cardinals (5-8)

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MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (8-5) at St. Louis Cardinals (5-8)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:…shut out the Cardinals 5-0 in the opener of their four-game series and seven-game road trip…Are off to their best start since going 9-4 in their first 13 games of the 2018 season…Won in walkoff fashion for the first time this season Tuesday night…Have won seven of their last 10 games…Won a season-high four straight games from 4/3-7…Have not lost back-to-back games since dropping the final two games of their season-opening series in Cincinnati.

ROSTER MOVES: Prior to tonight’s game, the Pirates activated catcher Austin Hedges from the concussion injured list… Catcher Tyler Heineman has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Hedges on the active roster…In addition, right-handed pitcher Chase De Jong has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retro to April 13) with a lumbar spine muscle strain…Right-handed pitcher Robert Stephenson (right elbow inflammation) has completed his rehab assignment with Indianapolis and has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list…Stephenson will wear uniform No. 43… Stephenson made four relief appearances (3.1ip/5h/3r/3er/5bb/6so) on rehab with Indianapolis.

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Johan Oviedo will face the Cardinals for the third time tonight since being acquired by the Pirates last year on August 2 along with infielder Malcom Nuñez…Oviedo has a 1-4 record and 3.67 ERA (54.0ip/22er) in 15 career appearances (eight starts) at Busch Stadium…Since allowing five runs in 4.0 innings of relief against the Pirates on June 27, 2021, Oviedo has a 2.66 ERA (20.1ip/6er) in eight appearances (two starts) at Busch.

HERE’S THE LINE ON OVIEDO: Johan Oviedo brings a scoreless streak of 10.1 innings into tonight’s start, which is the fourth-longest active streak in MLB…The only three pitchers with longer active scoreless streaks coming into today are Drew Rasmussen (13.0ip), Bryce Elder (12.1ip) and Shohei Ohtani (12.0ip).

LAST TIME OUT: Johan Oviedo earned his first win of the season in his last start on Sunday against the White Sox at PNC Park…Oviedo scattered five hits in 6.2 innings in the 1-0 win…Since making his Pirates debut on September 2, he has gone 3-2 with a 3.21 ERA (42.0ip/15er) in nine starts.

BUCCO BLANKINGS: The Pirates have recorded two shutouts this year…That’s tied with the Cubs for second in the National League (the Brewers lead with three)…The last time Pittsburgh recorded two shutouts within the team’s first 13 games of the season came in 2019 after recording three within the first six games.

CANNONBALLS COMING: Pittsburgh is tied for fourth in the National League with 17 home runs through the first 13 games of the season (the Dodgers lead with 24)…Last year the Bucs didn’t hit their 17th home run until the team’s 26th game on May 7 at Cincinnati in the second game of a doubleheader…It’s the most home runs for the Bucs through the first 13 games of the season since 2018 (18 in the first 13 games).

THE DRIVE FOR FIVE: The Pirates bring a four-game road winning streak into today (the Bucs had two four-game road winning streaks last year)…The last time Pittsburgh won five straight games on the road came from August 29 to September 9, 2019.

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.

AGAINST THE CARDS: Bryan Reynolds has gone deep twice in his last five games at Busch Stadium and has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 games here…Jack Suwinski has hit safely in eight of his last nine games against the Cards, going 11-for-23 (.393) with three home runs (Suwinski homered four times in 16 games as a rookie last year vs. St. Louis)… Ji Hwan Bae hit safely in five of his six games against the Cardinals last year, going 8-for-20 (.400)…Andrew McCutchen has recorded has recorded 83 hits at Busch Stadium III, which are the second-most among active visiting players behind Joey Votto (112).

PROVIDING RELIEF: Pittsburgh’s bullpen enters today ranked third among National League teams (ninth in MLB) with a 3.51 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, Angels, Brewers and Mariners…The only team to allow fewer home runs out of the bullpen are the Rangers (two).

24 – RHP JOHAN OVIEDO
vs. ST. LOUIS: 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA (10.0ip/4er) in two starts…He allowed two runs in 6.0 innings, losing a 2-1 decision in his start on 9/30/22 at Busch Stadium…He also allowed three runs (two earned) across 4.0 innings of work and had a no-decision at PNC Park on 10/5/22.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending NL Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals and division rival Pittsburgh Pirates play the second game of a four-game series tonight at Busch Stadium … The Arizona Diamondbacks make their annual visit to St. Louis on Monday for three games … After last night’s game, the Cardinals fell to 0-5 in series openers (0-3 at home) this season.

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: Although dropping four of its last five to the Buccos, St. Louis owns MLB’s best overall win pct. against the Pirates (.588, 107-75) dating back to 2013 when the two teams squared off in the Division Series.

ARRRRRRRRRRRGH: For the first time in a series since April 1, 2019, the Cardinals have a worse overall record than Pittsburgh in head-to-head
matchups … The last time St. Louis played Pittsburgh where the Pirates had a better record through at least 13 games played was Aug. 4, 2018
(Cardinals 56-54; Pirates 57-53).

NADO CYCLE: The Cardinals are giving away 25,000 Nolan Arenado Cycle Bobbleheads to fans tonight in celebration of his cycle last season on July 1 at Philadelphia, the 2nd of his career and 17th by a Cardinal in franchise history … Arenado tripled in the first inning, belted a two-run homer in the third, doubled in the 6th, and hit an infield single to third base in the 8th.

MORE CYCLE NOTES: Prior to Arenado, Mark Grudzielanek (April 27, 2005 vs. Milwaukee at Busch Stadium II) was the last Cardinal to cycle and
still is the last player (home or visiting) to hit for the cycle in the city of St. Louis … Pittsburgh’s Daryle Ward (May 26, 2004 at Busch II) is the last opposing player to cycle in St. Louis … Busch Stadium III (2006-present) has yet to witness a cycle.

STREAKING WITH GOLDY: Paul Goldschmidt has reached base safely in all 13 games this season, tied with four others for MLB’s 2nd-longest active on-base streak Xander Bogaerts (14) this season … Goldschmidt, who ranks among MLB leaders in on-base percentage (.475, T-6th) and times
on base (28, T-3rd), 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.

NOOT NEWS: OF Lars Nootbaar began an injury rehab assignment with Springfield (AA) last night at Arkansas (AA-Mariners), going 0-for-5 with one RBI and two strikeouts while seeing 15 pitches … Nootbaar has missed the previous 12 games since jamming his left thumb while sliding into third base on Opening Day.

ZEROS TO HEROES: St. Louis was 12-4 in games following goose eggs last season and won the following day after its first shutout this season in Milwaukee.

MAYBE IT’S A SIGN: The last time the Cardinals sported a 2-5 record in their first seven home games was 2011.

WALKER’S HISTORIC HITTING STREAK ENDS: Rookie Jordan Walker snapped his historic 12-game hitting streak to begin his career last night, a Cardinals rookie record and tied for the 6th-longest all-time by any player to begin a MLB career … At age 20, Walker also matched Philadelphia Athletics outfielder Eddie Murphy’s 111-year-old record, of hitting safely in each of his first 12 games in 1912 at age 20.

OFF THE BAT: According to Baseball Savant, St. Louis leads MLB in hard hit balls of 95+mph (160) and ranks 3rd in average exit velocity (90.5 mph) … Paul Goldschmidt is 5th in MLB in hard hit balls (23) and 8th in average exit velo (95.6), while Alec Burleson ranks 3rd among MLB rooks in average exit velo (93.2).

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JAKE WOODFORD (0-2, 9.00)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: HR Allowed (4, T-4th)
• Today’s start marks his 3rd of the season (13th career) and 68th career appearance. • Makes his first career start vs. PIT after eight relief appearances. The Pirates are his 9th different opponent to make a start against with the Cubs as his most with four.

• Earned his first Major League win against the Pirates on Sept. 19, 2020, coming on in relief of Kwang Hyun Kim. Threw two-thirds of an inning and inherited the win.

• Seven of his 12 career starts have come against N.L. Central opponents, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.25 ERA. Has not allowed more than three runs in any of those seven starts.

• Career 3-5 with 4.64 ERA (54.1 IP/28 ER) in 12 career starts with the Cardinals going 7-5 in those games.

• Ranks 6th among MLB pitchers in Avg Vertical Movement on the curveball (7.7 in.).

• Had a strong Grapefruit League season, going 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 5 games (2 starts). He led the pitching staff with 18 strikeouts in his 17.2 IP.

LAST TIME OUT
• Allowed three runs over 4.2 innings, all coming off hits by Willy Adames on a two-RBI double and a solo home run. Struck out a season-high five in his second loss, a 6-1 decision at Milwaukee.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/9 @MIL L 6-1 L-1 4.2 6 3 3 1 5 1 87-57

CAREER
• Former first round selection out of high school made his Major League debut in 2020 in the second game of a doubleheader after the Cardinals returned from a 17-day absence from playing due to a COVID breakout. Has pitched as both a starter and out of the bullpen.

• Switched uniform number from No. 40 to No. 44 prior to the 2023 season to allow Willson Contreras to wear the same number he had since the start of his career with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.

• Finished the 2022 season on an 11.1-inning scoreless streak, winning each of his last four decisions.

• Since his MLB debut in 2020, ranks 4th in MLB in GIDP/9 IP (1.34), trailing teammates Dakota Hudson (1.44) and Andre Pallante (1.37) – min. 100 IP.

• Has career marks of 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA in 11 career Major League starts (49.2 IP) and 5-1 with a 3.53 ERA in 55 relief appearances (91.2 IP).

• Ranked in the Top 15 among MLB pitchers in average of vertical movement on his curveball each of the last three seasons at 14th in 2020 (6.3 inches), 11th in 2021 (7.2 inches) and 10th in 2022 (8.0 inches). Baseball Savant.

2023
• Allowed career-highs with six runs and three home runs, while matching his career-high with seven hits in his first start of the season, an 8-4 loss to ATL (4/3) at Busch Stadium. Surrendered a 473-foot home run to Austin Riley, the 2nd-longest by an opposing play at Busch Stadium in the 1st inning.

• Was hit for three runs over 4.2 innings in his second start of the season at MIL (4/9). All three runs were knocked in by Willy Adames on a two-RBI double and a solo home run.

MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (9-4) at Kansas City Royals (4-9)

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MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (9-4) at Kansas City Royals (4-9)

ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Royals tonight open a three-game interleague series in what is scheduled to be the only meetings between the two clubs this season.

• Atlanta and Kansas City have not played since 2019, when the Royals won three of four games between the clubs, including a two-game sweep at Truist Park.

• The Braves have played just seven total games here at Kauffman Stadium, last in 2019, and have compiled a 3-4 record in the park…Atlanta has never won a series here; the Braves and Royals split two games in 2013 and 2019, and Kansas City won two of three in 2016.

• Atlanta and Kansas City have played just 17 times since the advent of interleague play in 1997, with the Braves going 8-9 in these games…Atlanta’s 17 games versus the Royals are its second fewest against any A.L. team, just two more than the Braves have played against Cleveland…For comparison, Atlanta has played Boston 86 times in interleague play.

• RH Charlie Morton has made just four career starts against the Royals, compiling a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA (12 ER/24.1 IP)…He has faced just two teams in baseball less than he has Kansas City, making three starts against the White Sox and just one against the Pirates…The 6-foot-5, 235- pound right-hander has made 40 career interleague starts, going 12-11 with a 3.64 ERA (93 ER/229.2 IP) and fanning 242.

• RH Brady Singer has never faced Atlanta, but has pitched against four members of the Braves’ current roster…OF Eddie Rosario is 4-for-11 with a home run, while C Sean Murphy is a perfect 2-for-2… The 6-foot-5, 210-pound native of Leesburg, FL, has made a pair of starts in 2023, going 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA (6 ER/11.0 IP), and Kansas City has won both of his turns.

WIN: Atlanta beat Cincinnati, 5-4, on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep of the Reds…Eddie Rosario’s eighth-inning, go-ahead home run was his first homer of the season.

• Atlanta trailed in all three games versus Cincinnati, and has four come-from-behind victories this season…That total is tied for fifth most in the majors, and two off the major league lead of Arizona and Toronto.

• The Braves are also one of just five teams in baseball to be .500 or better in games in which they trail at any point…Tampa Bay (3-0), Toronto (6-5), Arizona (6-5) and Pittsburgh (5-5) all have non-losing records when trailing.

• All three games against Cincinnati were decided by just one run, and Atlanta improved to 4-1 in one-run games following Wednesday night.

• Atlanta’s four one-run wins are tied for the most such victories in the majors.

ROSTER MOVES: The Braves today recalled INF Vaughn Grissom from Triple-A Gwinnett and placed INF Orlando Arcia on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist fracture.

• Initial X-rays on Arcia’s wrist came back negative following a hit-by-pitch during Wednesday’s game, however an MRI and CT scan yesterday revealed a microfracture.

• The club also announced yesterday that RHP Ian Anderson underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, TX…Anderson was on Gwinnett’s injured list.

• Grissom has appeared in 10 games with the Stripers this season, and is batting .366/.458/.585 with two doubles, two triples and a home run…In 71.0 innings at shortstop for Gwinnett, he has committed just one error.

RONALD ACUÑA JR.: Had three more hits Wednesday night, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI…He is batting .370/.452/.537 on the season.

• He doubled leading off the bottom of the first inning, and his eight first-inning hits are two more than anyone else in baseball…He is batting .667/.692/1.083 with a 1.776 OPS in the inning.

• Among hitters to bat leadoff in at least 10 games this season, Acuña Jr. ranks first in average (.370), OBP (.452), OPS (.989) and hits (20).

• He is one of just seven players in baseball, regardless of batting order position, with at least 20 hits this season, and the only player with 20- or-more hits and five-or-more stolen bases.

ROAD TRIP: Atlanta embarks on its second road trip of the season tonight, after going 5-1 to open the year at Washington and St. Louis.

• The Braves’ .833 winning percentage on the road this season is best in the National League, and trails just the undefeated Rays (3-0) for the best road mark in the majors.

• Atlanta’s five wins away from home are tied for second most in baseball, trailing just Toronto’s six.

• The Braves went 46-35 (.568) on the road last season, tied for the fourth-best road record in the majors…Since Atlanta’s streak of division titles began in 2018, the Braves’ 207-153 (.575) mark on the road is third best in baseball, behind just the Dodgers
(221-140, .612) and Astros (211-151, .583).

PITCHES SEEN: Atlanta batters are seeing an average of 4.07 pitches per plate appearance this season, fifth most in the majors…The Braves have seen 2,064 total pitches this season, more than all but three teams in baseball.

• Matt Olson paces the club by seeing an average of 4.41 pitches per plate appearance, seventh most in the National League.

Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #50 Charlie Morton
Today’s Game
• Set to make his third start of the season and fifth career appearance against Kansas City.
• His 4.44 career ERA against the Royals is the third highest among American League opponents.
• Is 12-11 with a 3.64 ERA in 40 inter-league starts throughout his career.
• Scattered six hits, three runs, two earned runs, three walks and a home run through 5.0 frames in his last start against San Diego.
• Struck out Jake Croneworth to record his 1,700th career punchout.
• Became the 15th active pitcher to record as many strikeouts…Max Scherzer leads active hurlers with 3,207.
• Made his first start of the season against St. Louis.
• Allowed three runs and nine hits through 5.1 innings pitched while earning his first win of the season.
• Only struck out one hitter through 5.1 innings pitched against the Cardinals, marking just the ninth time in his career Morton pitched at least 5.0 frames while failing to record at least two punchouts and the first since June 5, 2015 against Pittsburgh.
• Entering his age 39 season, Morton is tied for the fifth-oldest active pitcher in the majors.
• Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Morton has thrown his curveball on 37.2% of pitches, the second highest rate in baseball among qualified starters.
• During that span hitters missing on 51.8% of curveballs thrown, the second highest rate in the majors…The MLB average is 11.9%.
• Only Chicago’s Drew Smyly’s throws a curveball more often (42.6%.)

2022 Recap
• Made 31 starts during his 15th major league season and went 9-6 with a 4.34 ERA (83 ER/172.0 IP) and 205 strikeouts…Compiled 1.6 bWAR on the year.
• His 205 strikeouts on the season were tied for ninth most in the majors…Since June 1, his 159 strikeouts were fifth most in baseball.
• Morton’s 205 strikeouts last season were fifth most in the National League, and he is one of just three pitchers in Atlanta franchise history to log at least 200 strikeouts in multiple seasons…He struck out 216 last year…Hall-of-Famers John Smoltz (five seasons) and Phil Niekro (three seasons) were the only others to do so
• Since the start of the 2018 season, Morton’s 904 strikeouts are fifth most in the majors…Only Gerrit Cole (1,207), Max Scherzer (1,050), Aaron Nola (1,011) and Robbie Ray (931) have more.
• Started on August 21 vs. Houston, and allowed five hits and two runs over 6.0 innings…Walked two and struck out 11…Took a no-decision after the Astros rallied for a 5-4 win.
• Fanned 12 in his previous outing, and had double-digit strikeouts in back-toback games for the fourth time in his career…He last did so in 2019, and has never fanned 10+ in three straight games.
• Had 45 total strikeouts in June, most in the National League and tied for tops in the majors…The White Sox’ Dylan Cease also had 45.
• Morton had never previously struck out 45+ batters in five or fewer starts in a single month…His previous high was 40 strikeouts, done over five starts in May of 2018.
• Furthermore, since the mound-to-plate distance was first set at 60’6” in 1893, Morton is the only Braves pitcher to fan at least 45 batters in five or fewer starts in a single month.
• Research courtesy the Elias Sports Bureau.
• With his start on May 25, became the 10th active pitcher in the majors to make 300 career starts.
• Over his first 150 career starts, from his debut through August 20, 2015, Morton compiled a 44-65 record and a 4.46 ERA…In his next 150 starts, he went 66-33 with a 3.61 ERA.
• Struck out Wil Myers in the third inning of his start, April 14 at San Diego, for the 1,500th strikeout of his career.
• Became the 18th active pitcher to reach 1,500 career strikeouts, with Max Scherzer’s 3,043 strikeouts pacing active players.

Career Recap
• A 15-year major league veteran, has compiled a 116-101 record and a 4.03 ERA (805 ER/1797.0 IP) across 323 games, 322 starts…Has fanned 1,697 and pitched a pair of shutouts.
• Has pitched for Atlanta (2008, ‘21-22), Pittsburgh (2009-15), Philadelphia (2016), Houston (2017-18) and Tampa Bay (2019-20).
• Is a two-time All-Star (2018 & 2019) and won the 2017 World Series while with Houston and 2021 World Series with Atlanta.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:

HIT PARADE: One night after a heartbreaking loss in extra innings, the Royals exploded for a 10-1 win over the Rangers on Wednesday night in Arlington…Brad Keller allowed just 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk in 6.2 innings, with 7 strikeouts, lowering his ERA through 3 starts to 2.12 (4 ER in 17.0 IP)…the offense pounded out a season-high 14 hits and scored 3 runs in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and 4 in the 7th to make for a happy flight home.

Bobby Witt Jr. went 6-for-13 (.462) in the 3 games in his home state of Texas, including 3 hits and a career-high 3 steals on Wednesday night, making him the youngest player in Royals history with a 3-hit, 3-steal game…in fact, he became the sixth different American League player since World War II to record a 3-hit, 3-steal game at age 22 or younger, following Elvis Andrus (Aug. 15, 2009), Álex Rodríguez (June 24, 1998), Rickey Henderson (twice in 1980), Al Kaline (Sept. 23, 1957) and Luis Aparicio (Sept. 22, 1956).

TRIP TRACKER: After going 1-6 on the season-opening homestand, the Royals went 3-3 on the trip to San Francisco (2-1) and Texas (1-2)…as has been the case through the first two weeks, Kansas City’s starting pitching was its strength on the trip, as the starters posted a 3.53 ERA (14 ER in 35.2 IP), .229 opponents’ average (30-for-131) and yielded only 7 walks (1.8 BB/9)…but the offense improved dramatically on the trip, scoring 4.5 runs per game while batting .243, after scoring 2.4 runs per game while batting .167 on the first homestand.

ROSTER MOVES: Following Wednesday night’s win in Texas, the Royals optioned right-handed pitcher Dylan Coleman to Triple-A Omaha…today, the Royals recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Staumont, who recorded 4.0 scoreless innings in 4 appearances with the Storm Chasers, with 7 strikeouts and only 1 walk.

HBD, HOOV!: Royals Bench Coach Paul Hoover is celebrating his 47th birthday today…Hoover had a 14-year playing career, including parts of seven seasons in the big leagues, but maintained his rookie status during his final season in the Majors in 2010 at age 34…he shares this date of birth with former Royal Brandon Finnegan (30), 1995 World Series champion Steve Avery (53), three-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, Brad Ausmus (54), Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (57) and two-time World Series champion David Justice (57).

STARTING SOMETHING: Brad Keller continued the Royals run of strong starting pitching with 6.2 innings of 1-run ball in Wednesday night’s win, becoming the second straight Royals starter to pitch into the 7th inning, following Jordan Lyles’ 6.1 innings on Tuesday night…in fact, Royals starting pitchers have completed at least 5.0 innings in 12 of their 13 games (92.3%), which trails only the Twins, whose starters have lasted 5.0 innings in all 13 of their games…last season, Royals starters went 5.0 innings 107 times in 162 games (66.0%), which ranked tied for 18th in the Majors…Keller’s start on Wednesday night also marked the ninth time in 13 games that a Royals starter has allowed 2 runs or fewer, which are the 3rd-most such starts of any team, trailing only the Rays and Twins (10 each)…the Royals ranked 28th in that category last season with 70 such starts…and after ranking 27th in the Majors in 2022 with a 4.76 starter’s ERA, the Royals rotation through 13 games this season has posted a 3.47 ERA (28 ER in 72.2 IP), 5th best in the Majors behind the Rays, Twins, Giants and Astros.

HOME: After flying home from Texas Wednesday night and enjoying an off day yesterday—which snapped a run of 12 straight days with a game—the Royals will begin their second homestand of the season tonight vs. the Braves…this stay will end with 3 games vs. Rangers next Monday through Wednesday, and the Royals will enjoy another off day next Thursday, April 20 before hitting the road for a season-long 10-game trip to Anaheim (3 games), Arizona (3) and Minnesota (4) to end the month of April.

STEALING STRIKES: Pitch framing was an area of emphasis during Spring Training, and new Bench Coach Paul Hoover—who also works with the catchers—and new Pitching Coach Brian Sweeney brought some fresh ideas to the Royals, who ranked among the worst last season in pitch framing metrics…in particular, the Royals were 27th last season in “stealing strikes,” or called strikes that were outside the zone…but through the first 13 games this season and with the same two catchers, the Royals rank tied for 6th in the Majors in this category.

Last season, Salvador Perez ranked 27th out of 40 catchers (min. 500.0 innings caught) with -4 Defensive Runs Saved…he’s already made dramatic improvements by this measure this season, as he ranks tied with Christian Vázquez, Gabriel Moreno and Connor Wong for 1st among catchers with 3 DRS.

VS. BRAVES: The Royals are 9-8 all-time vs. the Braves, however the two teams have not faced off since 2019, when Kansas City went 3-1, including a 2-game sweep in Atlanta from July 23-24, 2019…this weekend’s series marks Atlanta’s fourth trip to Kauffman Stadium, where the Royals have won a 3-game series vs. the Braves in 2016 and split a pair of 2-game sets in 2013 and 2019…entering tonight, the Royals 17 regular season games vs. the Braves are their 4th fewest vs. any team, more than only the Mets (16), Phillies (15) and Dodgers (15).

The Braves are one of seven National League teams the Royals own an all-time winning record against (.529)…despite having only faced off in five of Kansas City’s last 19 seasons since 2004, the Royals have gone 3-1-3 in series play, with their only loss coming in a 3-game series sweep in Atlanta in 2010.

Royals Executive VP and GM J.J. Picollo worked for the Braves from 1999-2005 and served as the Director of Minor League Operations in his final year before joining Kansas City in 2006…while with Atlanta, he also held positions as the Assistant Director of Player Development and as an Area Scouting Supervisor for Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington D.C.

Peter Moylan, who pitched for the Royals from 2016-17, returns to Kansas City this week as part of the Braves Bally Sports crew…following a 12-year big league career, Moylan is now in his fifth season appearing on the Braves Live pregame and postgame shows, and is in his second season calling games in the booth.

PACE OF PLAY: The new pitch timer rules implemented for 2023 have already produced dramatic results through the first 15 days of the regular season…through 178 games that have ended in 9 innings, the average game time has been 2 hours, 37 minutes, and only 19 of the 178 games (10.7%) have lasted at least 3 hours… the Royals 13 games have averaged 2 hours, 28 minutes, which is 9 minutes below the league average and is the 2nd-fastest average time this season, longer only that the Twins (2:27)…compared to 9-inning games across the Majors last season, average time of game is down 26 minutes, while batting averages are up from .243 to .249, runs per game are up from 8.6 to 9.4 and stolen base success rates have jumped from 75.4% to 81.3%…the current success rate of steals would shatter the Major League record set in 2021 at 75.7%.

TONIGHT’S STARTERS: RHP BRADY SINGER (1-0, 4.91)
BRADY SINGER is making his 3rd start of the season and 66th of his career tonight vs. Atlanta…it’s his 9th career Interleague start and 1st vs. the Braves…Singer is in his fourth season in the Majors and was selected by Kansas City in the 1st round (18th overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida.

LAST START: Singer did not figure into the decision of last Saturday’s 6-5 comeback win in San Francisco, in which he allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and no walks in 6.0 innings, with 4 strikeouts…he retired the first nine batters before yielding a HR to LaMonte Wade Jr. to begin the Giants 4-run 4th inning, in which he allowed 5 hits, including RBI singles by Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford…he went on to retire six of the next seven, but allowed back-to-back 2-out hits in the 6th, including an RBI single by Crawford…that put Kansas City in a 5-1 hole, which they overcame with a run in the 7th, 3 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th to mark the most thrilling win of the young season.

HIGH NOTES: Over his last 12 starts dating back to Aug. 9, 2022, Singer is 7-1 with a 2.93 ERA (24 ER in 73.2 IP) and .238 opponents’ average (64-for-269)…the Royals are 10-2 in those outings and he has held opponents to 1 run fewer in 7 of those 12 starts.

A STAR IS BORN: Singer pitched a career-best 153.1 innings in 2022 in a career-high-tying 27 appearances (24 starts)…he began the season in the bullpen, but only pitched in 3 of the Royals first 16 games before being optioned to Triple-A on April 28…he returned on May 17 and made a team-high 24 starts from that point on.

Upon joining the starting rotation last May 17, Singer went 10-5 with a 3.11 ERA (51 ER in 147.2 IP), 8th best in the American League from May 17 through season’s end…his 10 wins were the most by a Royal since Jason Vargas tied for the Majors lead with 18 in 2017…Singer’s 3.23 ERA (55 ER in 153.1 IP) for the season was the 5th best by a Royal (min. 150.0 IP) in the Wild Card Era (since 1995), trailing only Zack Greinke in his 2009 Cy Young Award-winning season (2.16), James Shields in 2013 (3.15) and 2014 (3.21) and Yordano Ventura in 2014 (3.20)…the last Royal with a lower ERA than Singer’s and a higher win percentage (.667) was David Cone during his 1994 Cy Young Award-winning season, in which he went 16-5 (.762) with a 2.94 ERA (56 ER in 17.12 IP).

Singer made 7 starts last season in which he pitched at least 7.0 innings and allowed 1 run or fewer, which tied for the 4th-most such starts in the American League, trailing Martín Pérez (9), Justin Verlander (8) and Shohei Ohtani (8)…it was the most such starts by a Royal since Edinson Vólquez had 7 in 2015, and the last Royal with more such starts was Shields (10) in 2014.

He had a career-high 12 strikeouts last July 23 vs. Tampa Bay, a game in which he did not allow a hit until the 6th inning…his 12 strikeouts were the most by a Royal in three years, and he followed that start with 10 strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless innings—with just 1 hit allowed—on July 28 at Yankee Stadium…in doing so, he became the seventh Royal with back-to-back 10-strikeout starts, joining Nate Karns (May 8-13, 2017), Ventura (Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2015), Greinke (April 18-24, 2009), Bret Saberhagen (July 4-9, 1989), Bill Butler (July 15-20, 1969) and Kevin Appier, who had a franchise-record three straight such starts in 1996.

Brady recorded 7.0 scoreless innings in back-to-back starts last May 17 and May 22 upon his return from Omaha, and extended his scoreless streak— which began on April 10—to 18.2 innings before it was snapped on May 28 in Minnesota, marking the longest scoreless streak by a Royal since Wade Davis recorded 22.0 consecutive scoreless innings in 2015.

CHANGE OF TUNE: Brady threw 182 changeups in 24 starts in 2022, which accounted for 8.0% of his 2,273 pitches after returning from Triple-A Omaha on May 17…that total was more than double the 88 changeups he threw in 27 starts in 2021, which equaled 3.8% of his pitches thrown…after returning from Omaha on May 17 with a focus on mixing in the changeup, Singer went 10-5 with a 3.11 ERA (51 ER in 147.2 IP), after going 9-15 with a 4.67 ERA (103 ER in 198.1 IP) in his previous 42 career appearances (39 starts)…from May 17 through season’s end, opponents went 8-for-34 (.235) vs. the changeup.

Through 2 starts this season, the changeup has accounted for 9.0% of his pitches, but opponents are 2-for-3 in at-bats ending on the changeup.

CASTING CALLS: In 24 starts after his May 17 recall last year, Brady induced a called strike on 478 of his 2,273 pitches (21.0%), 2nd most in the Majors, trailing only Adam Wainwright (519)…Singer’s rate of 21.0% called strikes led the Majors after his recall (min. 1,500 pitches), ahead of Wainwright (20.8%)…since his 2020 debut season, Singer’s called-strike rate of 21.0% ranks 2nd in the Majors (min. 3,000 pitches), trailing Wainwright’s rate of 21.2%.

WALK THIS WAY: Singer issued 35 walks in 153.1 innings in 2022 for a 2.05 BB/9, a significant improvement on the rate he recorded in his first two seasons from 2020-21, when he issued 76 walks in 192.2 innings for a 3.55 BB/9…Singer’s walk rate in 2022 was the best by a Royal (min. 150.0 IP) since James Shields posted a 1.74 BB/9 in 2014…Singer’s 4.29 K/BB ratio (150 K/35 BB) tied Nestor Cortes for 10th best in the American League in 2022 (min. 150.0 IP) and was the 4th-best mark in franchise history, trailing only Zack Greinke (4.75 in 2009), Bret Saberhagen (4.49 in 1989) and Danny Duffy (4.48 in 2016).

Since the start of last season, Singer has recorded at least 5.0 innings without issuing a walk in 10 of his 26 starts—including his start last week in San Francisco—which are tied for the 3rd most in the American League during that span, trailing only Corey Kluber (13) and Jameson Taillon (12).

INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: Brady is making his 1st career start tonight vs. the Braves, but it’s his 9th career start vs. a National League opponent… he’s 3-2 in his 8 previous starts with a 4.12 ERA (20 ER in 43.2 IP), and both of his losses came as a rookie in 2020…in his last 6 Interleague starts since 2021, he’s 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA (13 ER in 35.2 IP) and .220 opponents’ average (28-for-127), including wins over the Pirates, Dodgers and Diamondbacks.

HOME: Since the start of last season, Singer is 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA (30 ER in 99.2 IP) in 16 appearances (15 starts) at Kauffman Stadium, and has not lost here since last June 26 vs. Oakland, a game in which he pitched a career-high 8.1 innings…in 10 starts since his last home loss, he’s 7-0 with a 1.68 ERA (12 ER in 64.1 IP) and has held opponents to 1 earned run or fewer eight times out of 10, leading the Royals to a 9-1 record during that span.

MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (7-6) at Chicago White Sox (5-8)

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MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (7-6) at Chicago White Sox (5-8)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

ADLEY CLUTCHMAN: Adley Rutschman hit a 1-0 pitch from Trevor May in the ninth inning into the bleachers in right-center field as the Orioles beat the Athletics, 8-7, Thursday afternoon at Oriole Park to take three of four games in the series…The win marked Baltimore’s first in a series finale this season and first via walk-off…It also was the first walk-off win for the O’s since August 25, 2022 vs. Chicago-AL when Anthony Santander singled in the 11th inning and the first walk-off home run by the Orioles since Rougned Odor’s two-run blast on May 20 vs. Tampa Bay.

Baltimore finished 4-3 during the season-opening homestand.

The O’s had nine walk-off wins last year, tied for fifth-most in MLB.

AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: The O’s and White Sox meet for the first time this season in a three-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field…Baltimore will play six times in 2023… The Orioles will host 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.

BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman notched his first career walk-off as a professional yesterday, homering in the ninth inning…The homer was the first walkoff hit by an O’s catcher since Welington Castillo’s walk-off home run on May 19, 2017 vs. Toronto (see chart at right)…Rutschman has tallied a hit in a career-high seven consecutive games since April 7, the longest streak by an O’s batter this season, while slashing .458/.581/.875 (11-for-24) with one double, three home runs, seven runs scored, five RBI, and seven walks during that stretch…He’s also reached base safely in 10 straight games since April 3 with a .477 on-base percentage in that span.

Entering today’s games, Rutschman ranks among AL leaders in average (3th, .373), OPS (4th, 1.094), hits (5th, 19), on-base percentage (5th, .467), total bases (T-7th, 32), and slugging percentage (10th, .627).

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 (see chart at right), is tied for the MLB lead with six home runs with New York-NL’s Pete Alonso, is tied for third in MLB with 10 extra-base hits and 36 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 third in MLB, per Statcast; his 21 batted balls of 95+ mph are tied for eighth-most.

HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays went 3-for-4 with two runs scored yesterday and finished the Oakland series 9-for-17 with two doubles, two homers, eight runs scored, three RBI, and a walk…He became 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… Hays batted leadoff on Tuesday for the first time this season and finished 4-for-5 with
a double, a homer, a career-high four runs scored, and two RBI…He is only the second Oriole since 2015 to score four runs in a game, along with Ryan Mountcastle, who did so on May 30, 2022 at Boston…Hays homered in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday for the third time in his career and for the first time since April 24-26, 2022.

Three of Hays’ four hardest-hit balls and seven of 12 in 2023 came in the Oakland series, including his leadoff double on Tuesday, which was 110.2 mph, per Statcast; that is the second-hardest hit ball of his career, trailing only a 110.3 mph home run on May 14, 2021.

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 three MLB players with two games of at least four hits this season (MIA’s Luis Arráez); since the start of 2022, Hays and Los Angeles-NL’s Freddie Freeman both have six games with 4+ hits, most in the majors.

NEED FOR SPEED: The O’s 19 stolen bases are tied with Cleveland for the most in MLB…Their 19 stolen bases through their first 13 games of the season 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 percent success rate…Jorge Mateo has swiped seven of those, which leads MLB, while Cedric Mullins is tied for second in the majors with six steals… They are the only pair of teammates with at least six stolen bases apiece and their 13 combined stolen bases are more than 24 MLB teams have this season.

ROSTER MOVES: The O’s made several moves today, recalling RHP Yennier Cano and RHP Spenser Watkins from Triple-A Norfolk…LHP Keegan Akin was placed on the Paternity List and LHP Cole Irvin was optioned to Norfolk after yesterday’s game.

STARTING PITCHER – #68 TYLER WELLS – RHP

QUICK HITS: Slated to make his second start (3rd appearance) of the season tonight against the White Sox…Went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA (49 ER/103.2 IP) in 23 starts for the O’s in 2022…Made his first career start on April 10, 2022 at Tampa Bay; dealt the loss after allowing four runs on three hits (1 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings…Did not walk a batter in five consecutive starts from April 21 to May 15, becoming the only Oriole starting pitcher in franchise history (since 1954) to not walk a batter in five consecutive games…Allowed three earned runs-or-fewer in 17 straight starts from April 16 to July 15…Ended the 2022 season on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation… Originally selected by Minnesota in the 15th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State, San Bernardino before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2020.

LAST TIME OUT: Dealt the loss on April 9 vs. New York-AL after allowing four runs on six hits (2 HR) with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Surrendered a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the third inning and a two-run home run to Franchy Cordero in the fifth inning.

SEASON DEBUT: Did not factor in the decision on April 3 at Texas, recording two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of scoreless relief, facing one batter over the minimum; the only baserunner reached on an error…Originally scheduled to start on April 4 at Texas but entered in relief in the fourth inning on April 3 after Kyle Bradish exited the game in the second inning with a right foot contusion.

CAREER AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: Making his first start (2nd appearance) against Chicago-AL; dealt the loss on July 11, 2021 at Oriole Park after allowing three runs (2 ER) on one hit (1 HR) with one walk and four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief; surrendered a three-run homer to Adam Engel in the 10th inning.

CAREER AGAINST AL CENTRAL: In 16 career appearances (7 GS) against AL Central opponents, Wells is 4-3 with a save and a 3.77 ERA (19 ER/45.1 IP)…Dealt the loss in his last outing against the division on September 19, 2022 vs. Detroit after allowing five runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts, his last appearance of the season before landing on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Wells won five straight starts from June 11 to July 3, 2022, tied for the fifth-longest streak in MLB last season…Pitched to a 1.93 ERA (6 ER/28.0 IP) with 21 strikeouts to eight walks in that span, holding opposing batters to a .168 (17-for-101) batting average…The O’s owned a 9-5 record in his final 14 starts, including wins in eight straight from May 30 to July 8, after going 2-7 in his first nine outings.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost six of their last nine games as they open a six-game homestand tonight against Baltimore.

RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in third place in the American League Central, 4.0 games behind the Twins and 2.0 behind Cleveland.

The Sox are coming off a 2-4 trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2), which ended on Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to the Twins … all three games were decided by two runs or less.

Following this three-game series, the White Sox continue the homestand with three vs. Philadelphia (4/17-19) before taking a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26).

The Sox went 1-2 on their first homestand vs. San Francisco from 4/3-6.

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox own a 2.12 ERA (8 ER/34.0 IP) with 46 strikeouts over the last four games, but are hitting .180/.216/.286 (24-133) with eight runs scored during that span.

Mike Clevinger is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA (13 ER/31.2 IP) in six career starts against the Orioles.

Luis Robert Jr. is tied for second in the American League with five home runs, one more than his combined total of four in April 2021-22.

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

Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in all 12 of his games this season, hitting safely in 10.

The Sox are 13-13 in stolen-base attempts this season.

ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s game, the White Sox made the following six roster moves:
Reinstated OF Eloy Jiménez (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list;

Placed 3B Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured list (retro to 4/11) with lower back soreness;

Recalled LHP Tanner Banks from Class AAA Charlotte;

Optioned RHP Jesse Scholtens to Charlotte;

Claimed INF/OF Nick Solak off waivers from Seattle and optioned to Charlotte;

Transferred RHP Matt Foster (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.

WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to six hits as they suffered a 3-1 loss at Minnesota in the deciding game of the series.

Lucas Giolito suffered the loss despite allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … the Twins scored twice off Aaron Bummer in the eighth to extend the lead to 3-0.

Lenyn Sosa accounted for Chicago’s only run with a solo homer off Jhoan Duran in the ninth, his second career.

The Sox went 0-4 with RISP and left seven runners on base.

NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .282 (35-124) average with runners in scoring position … they ranks second in the AL in hits and third in at-bats with RISP.

The Sox are hitting .136/.208/.318 (3-22) with RISP over the last four games.

WHITE SOX VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Orioles won the 2022 season series, 5-2, after going 0-7 in 2021 … they won three of four games in Chicago from 6/23- 26 and two of three at Camden Yards from 8/23-25.

The White Sox batted .238/.302/.328 (58-244) with a 3.29 ERA (23 ER/63.0 IP) and were outscored, 29-18.

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 2.78 ERA (38 ER/123.0 IP) and 149 strikeouts against Baltimore since the start of the 2021 season.

BALTIMORE COLT
l Gavin Sheets grew up 15 miles north of Baltimore in Lutherville, Md. … Sheets is a career .389/.450/.611 (14-36) hitter with
two home runs and six RBI in 10 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 1-2 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).

ON THE AIR
Len Kasper will fill in for Jason Benetti in the TV booth for White Sox games tomorrow vs. Baltimore and on 4/29 vs. Tampa Bay, with Connor McKnight joining Darrin Jackson on the radio call for both games … Gordon Beckham will fill in for Steve Stone in the TV booth for the Sox trip to Tampa Bay and Toronto from 4/21-26 (no Sox broadcast on

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 2,004 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,092), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,025) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 56 with the White Sox.

STARTER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his third start of the season and first at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).

Has appeared in just 33 games (32 starts) since the start of the 2020 season … missed the entire 2021 season to continue his recovery from his second Tommy John surgery … also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012.

Was originally drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB Draft … was traded to Cleveland in August 2014 … made 101 major-league appearances (88 starts) with Cleveland from 2016-20 … was traded to San Diego in August 2020, appearing in just 27 games (16 starts) with Padres from 2020-22.

LAST START
Earned his second straight win on 4/8 at Pittsburgh … allowed four runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout in 5.1 IP.

Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading, 6-4 … threw 88 pitches (54 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to win, 11-5.

Owned a 46.2 first-strike percentage and 3.4 swinging-strike percentage (four swing and misses) vs. 26 batters … threw 43 four-seam fastballs (94.2 mph avg; 97.0 mph max), 29 sliders (78.7 avg; 81.3max), eight changeups (86.9 avg; 88.3 max), six curveballs (77.2 avg; 79.3 max), two sinkers (91.0 avg; 91.0 max).

2022 SEASON RECAP
Went 7-7 with a 4.33 ERA (55 ER/114.1 IP), .233 (102-437) opponents average and 91 strikeouts over 23 appearances (22 starts) with San Diego.

Was 3-3 with a 2.81 ERA (16 ER/51.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts in 10 games (nine starts) from 5/17-8/11.

Began the season on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right knee suffered during spring training.

Was placed on the 15-day injured list for the second time on 5/22 (retro to 5/21) with a right triceps strain … was reinstated on 6/5 and started that day at Milwaukee (ND, 1 ER/3.0 IP, 5 SO) before going on the COVID-19 related IL from 6/11-16.

Earned his 50th career victory on 9/20 vs. St. Louis, allowing three hits over 5.2 scoreless IP.

JUST WIN BABY
Dating back to 2022, Clevinger has gone 9-7 with his team going 17-8 in his 25 appearances (24 starts).

Is averaging 5.70 runs of support during that span.

In his last seven outings the Padres and White Sox have gone a combined 6-1, winning five straight, when Clevinger takes the mound.

APRIL LOVE
Has gone 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA (13 ER/54.0 IP), .206 (40-194) opponents average and 53 strikeouts in nine career starts in the month of April … has surrendered one total home run in April, good for a 0.17 HR/9, the second best in baseball among active players (min. 50.0 IP).

His 2.17 career ERA in April ranks eighth among active major-league pitchers (min. 50.0 IP).

TAKE ME HOME
Is 3-3 with a 2.92 ERA (16 ER/51.0 IP) and .201 (38- 189) opponents average over his last 10 road starts.

Owns a 25-11, 2.92 ERA (109 ER/335.2 IP), .219 (272-1240) opponents average and 369 strikeouts over 65 career appearances (57 starts) at home.

His 2.92 career ERA at home ranks 15th among active pitchers (min. 330 IP).

START STRONG
Posted a 2.04 ERA (10 ER/44.0 IP) and .173 (27-156) opponents average across the first two innings in 2022, compared to a 5.76 ERA (45 ER/70.1 IP) and .267 (75- 281) mark from the third-seventh.

Limited opponents to a .196 (37-189) average the first time through the lineup in 2022, compared to a .244 (43- 176) mark the second time through the lineup and a .306 (22-72) average the third time through the order.

VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES || AL EAST
Will make his seventh career start against the Orioles and fourth as the home pitcher.

Is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA (13 ER/31.2 IP) and .237 (27- 114) opponents average vs. Baltimore … has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts against Baltimore.

Suffered his first career loss to the Orioles in his last start on 6/28/19 at Camden Yards (7 ER/1.2 IP).

Is making his first start against the American League East since 2019 … owns a 9-4 record and 4.29 ERA (47 ER/98.2 IP) in 21 career games (18 starts) vs. the division.

MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (13-0) at Toronto Blue Jays (8-5)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (13-0) at Toronto Blue Jays (8-5)

TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:

NEXT MAN UP — The Rays ran their season-opening win streak to 13 games with a 9-3 victory over Boston on Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field…Yandy Díaz (1-for-4, HR, RBI, R) launched his fifth career lead-off homer and Brandon Lowe (2-for-4, HR, 2RBI, 2R) homered for his fifth consecutive start…Harold Ramírez (3-for-4, 2 2B, 3RBI, 2R) delivered a bases-clearing double to cap off the Rays’ seven-run outburst in the fifth inning.

Rays starter LHP Jeffrey Springs (3.0IP, H, ER, 5SO) was removed from the game in the fourth inning with left arm ulnar neuritis…in his major league debut, RHP Braden Bristo (3.0IP, BB, 4SO) picked up the save after holding the Red Sox hitless over the final three frames…became the third Ray to debut this season, tied with Milwaukee for most in the majors (also RHP Kevin Kelly on 4/1 vs. DET & RHP Taj Bradley on 4/12 vs. BOS).

The Rays have won 13 consecutive home games over the Red Sox since 4/23/22, the longest home win streak over a single opponent in club history.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS — Prior to tonight’s game, the Rays announced RHP Yonny Chirinos has been recalled from Triple-A Durham while RHP Braden Bristo was optioned to Durham…Chirinos, 29, has appeared in 49 games (29 starts) with Tampa Bay from 2018-22, going 15-10 with a 3.54 ERA and 58 walks against 205 strikeouts. LUCKY NUMBER 13—The Rays are 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)…with a victory tonight, Tampa Bay will set the Modern Era record (since 1901) for most consecutive wins to open a season.

The Rays’ 13-game win streak is their longest in club history, surpassing a 12- game run from 6/9-22, 2004…the last MLB team to win 13 straight at any point in the season was Seattle from 7/2-17, 2022 (14G).

Tampa Bay’s 10-game win streak at Tropicana Field is tied for the fifth-longest home win streak to open a season by any team since at least 1901, the longest since New York-AL in 2020 (also 10G)…marks the Rays’ longest overall home win streak since a club-record 12-game streak at Tropicana Field from 8/9-9/10, 2018.

The Rays’ three-game road win streak is their longest to begin a season since a seven-game road streak to kick off the 2010 season.

BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL — The Rays lead MLB in both runs scored (101) and fewest runs allowed (30)…the last team to score 100+ runs and allow 30-or-fewer runs over a 13-game span at any point in a single season was the 1931 New York Yankees (105-29; 9/15-27, 1931).

Tampa Bay’s +71 run differential is third-best in MLB history through 13 games of a season, behind the 1884 St. Louis Maroons (+115) and 1884 New York Gothams (+73)…the Maroons and Gothams held +117 and +82 run differentials, respectively, through 14 games.

Tampa Bay’s 101 runs scored are its most through 13 games in club history, ahead of the 2006 Rays (73R)…since 1902, only four teams have plated more runs through 13 games: the 1932 New York Yankees, (109R), 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (106R), 1997 Colorado Rockies (105R) and 2019 Seattle Mariners (104R).

The Rays’ 30 runs allowed are second-fewest through 13 games in club history, behind the 2019 team (26R)…the last MLB club to yield 30-or-fewer runs through its first 13 games was Cleveland in 2020 (also 30R).

BOMBS AWAY — Tampa Bay has hit 32 home runs, third most through a team’s first 13 games of a season in MLB history behind the 2019 Seattle Mariners and 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (33HR each)…the Rays would need two homers tonight to match the record for most homers through 14 games (34), also set by the 2019 Mariners and 2000 Cardinals.

Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 13 games, tied for the third-longest streak to open a season in MLB history…only Seattle (20G in 2019) and Cleveland (14G in 2002) have longer such streaks.

The Rays have hit more home runs (32) than their total number of runs allowed (30)…Tampa Bay leads the majors in homers, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (24HR), while boasting the lowest team strikeout rate (19.0%) in the AL, trailing only Washington (17.8%) and Arizona (18.7%) across all of MLB.

PITCHING PROWESS — Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has produced an MLB-leading 2.23 ERA, including the best starter ERA (2.15) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.34) behind Milwaukee (1.65) and New York-AL (2.24)…Rays pitchers rank among MLB leaders in opponents’ average (1st, .189), opponents’ OPS (1st, .528), WHIP (2nd, 0.94), lowest walk rate (3rd, 6.8%) and highest strikeout rate (3rd, 26.8%).

Tampa Bay has allowed just six home runs across 117.0 innings, good for an MLB-best 0.46 HR/9.0IP…marks the fewest homers allowed through 13 games in franchise history, ahead of the 2019 Rays (9HR).

NORTH OF THE BORDER — The Rays and Blue Jays kick off a 13-game season series this evening in Toronto…Tampa Bay went 10-9 against Toronto in 2022, outscoring the Blue Jays, 82-73 (+9)…the clubs split their 10 meetings at Rogers Centre last season despite the Rays posting a +7 (47-40) run differential in those games.

The Rays have dropped two straight to the Blue Jays (9/24-25, 2022)…Tampa Bay is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak to Toronto since 9/28/19- 7/24/20…that streak marks the only time since the beginning of 2018 the Rays have lost three consecutive games to the Blue Jays.

SCORELESS SAVANT — Tonight’s Rays starter, RHP Drew Rasmussen, has opened the season on a 13.0 scoreless inning streak, the fourth-longest streak to open a season by a starting pitcher in club history, behind only Mark Hendrickson (14.0IP in 2006), rotation-mate Jeffrey Springs (13.2IP this season) and Matt Moore (13.1IP in 2013)… overall, Rasmussen’s streak is 10th longest by any Rays pitcher to open a season.

Dating back to last season, Rasmussen has strung together a 16.2 scoreless inning streak, the third-longest active streak in the majors…Rays closer RHP Pete Fairbanks (26.0IP) owns the longest active run.

SPREADING THE WEALTH — The Rays have an MLB-leading 10 players with multiple homers: Brandon Lowe (5HR), Yandy Díaz (4HR), Wander Franco (4HR), Randy Arozarena (3HR), Isaac Paredes (3HR), Luke Raley (3HR), Harold Ramírez (3HR), Josh Lowe (2HR), Manuel Margot (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR)…the next closest team is San Francisco (8 players).

Tampa Bay also has an MLB-best seven players with 3+ HR…the next closest team is Los Angeles-NL (5 players)…the Rays have four players with 10+ RBI, including Randy Arozarena (16RBI), Wander Franco (12RBI), Brandon Lowe (12RBI) and Isaac Paredes (10RBI)…Los Angeles-NL is the only other team in the majors that has four players with 10+ RBI.

TODAY’S STARTER: RHP DREW RASMUSSEN (2-0, 0.00)
RAS EFFECT — Pitching in his sixth big-league season, Rasmussen is coming off a career year in his first season as a regular member of the Rays rotation…went 11-7 with a 2.84 ERA (146.0IP, 46ER) over 28 starts, holding opponents to a .222 average (121-for-545)…was originally acquired by the Rays along with RHP J.P. Feyereisen on 5/21/21 in exchange for SS Willy Adames and RHP Trevor Richards.

CUT AND DRY — After adding his cutter to his arsenal during the 2021 offseason, Rasmussen utilized the offering 32.8 pct. of the time in 2022, the ninth-highest rate in MLB (min. 1,500 total pitches)…per Baseball Savant, the pitch produced a 30.0 pct. whiff rate, second-best in the majors on any pitcher’s cutter behind HOU Luis Garcia (42.8%) (min. 700 cutters thrown).

Has thrown his cutter 35.0 pct. of the time through two starts this season, inducing a 43.3 pct. whiff rate.

OFF AND RUNNING — Rasmussen improved to 2-0 after throwing 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts on 4/9 vs. Oakland…the eight strikeouts were his most since striking out a career-best 10 batters on 9/9/22 at New York-AL.

Marked his fourth consecutive quality start dating back to 9/24/22, the longest such streak of his career (prev. 2GS, 8/31-9/9, 2022).

ANYTHING DREW CAN DO—Rasmussen’s 13.0 scoreless inning streak is the fourth longest by a Rays starting pitcher to open a season in club history, trailing only Mark Hendrickson (14.0IP, 2006), Jeffrey Springs (13.2IP, 2023) and Matt Moore (13.1IP, 2013)…Rasmussen’s streak is also the 10th longest by any pitcher to begin a season in Rays history (Elias).

Name Dates IP
Mark Hendrickson 4/6-27, 2006 14.0
Jeffrey Springs 4/2-14, 2023 13.2
Matt Moore 4/5-17, 2013 13.1
Drew Rasmussen 4/3-current 13.0
Collin McHugh 5/6-9/30, 2021 12.0

O CANADA — In eight career appearances (7 starts) vs. the Blue Jays, Rasmussen is 1-3 with a 2.33 ERA (38.2IP, 10ER)…in his last start vs. Toronto on 9/24/22 at Tropicana Field, he took the loss after allowing a run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 6.1 innings…he last pitched at Rogers Centre on 9/14/22 and took the loss after throwing 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk with one strikeout.

KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER — In 22 career appearances (16 starts) vs. AL East opponents, Rasmussen is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA (94IP, 23ER)…last season, he held AL East foes to three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts, while allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight of those 10 outings.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays managed eight hits but only a lone run as they dropped the finale of their three-game series with the Tigers by a score of 3-1 last night…Lost for the 1st time this season when outhitting an opponent (now 7-1). Toronto had its three-game winning streak ended… Has still won seven of its last nine games.

0 to 500, REAL QUICK: Bo Bichette recorded singles in the 1st and 5th innings last night…Finished 2-for-4 for his 6th multi-hit effort (T-4th in the AL)…Has hits in 11 of the 13 games so far, going 20-for-59 (.339) with two doubles, four homers, nine RBI, and 10 runs scored…The 20 hits are tied for 3rd most in the AL while his 34 total bases are tied for 5th and his .339 AVG ranks 11th. The 25-year old now has 498 career hits in 406 games played…With his next two knocks, will become the fastest player in team history to reach the 500-hit
plateau.

GETTING ON WITH IT: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Toronto’s lone run last night with an RBI single in the 3rd…Also walked for a 1-for-3 evening…Has reached base safely in all but one game this season, now 21-for-51 with a double, two homers, seven RBI, and a 7BB/3K ratio for a .412 AVG (2nd in the AL), a .492 OBP (2nd) and a 1.041 OPS (8th)…The 21 hits are 2nd most among AL batters…His 30 times on base are the most in the among all MLB batters. The 24-year-old has now recorded 28 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in MLB (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 26)…Recorded 265 hard-hit balls over the course of last season, the most in the Majors (2nd: José Abreu – 256).

A CHAPPY FEELING: Matt Chapman did not play last night but was 2-for-3 with a walk on Wednesday…Marked his AL-leading 8th multi-hit game of the season…Extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the 3rd-longest streak of his career (16G in 2021; 14G in 2018)…Has gone 20-for-39 (.513) with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI over that stretch (1.507 OPS). The reigning AL Player of the Week is now batting .489 (23-for-47) with eight doubles, three home runs, five walks, and 15 RBI for a 1.390 OPS…His .851 SLG, his 1.390 OPS, and his 40 total bases are all the
best in the Majors…Is still currently tied with Luis Arraez for the MLB lead in hits, is tied with Nick Castellanos for the most doubles, and is tied with Wander Franco for the most extra-base hits (11)… Ranks 1st in the AL in both AVG (.489) and OBP (.538) while 4th in RBI (15)…Also has an average exit velocity of 98.8 MPH, the highest in MLB (2nd: J.D. Martinez – 97.9).

HOME SWEET DOME: The Blue Jays are playing their 1st homestand of the 2023 campaign…Have the fewest home games played among the 30 MLB clubs…Their .580 win% (47-34) at home last season ranked 4th in the AL…After a 2-1 series with the Tigers, are playing the Rays for three dates this weekend. Toronto batters finished 2nd in the AL in 2022 in home AVG (.261), 4th in home OBP (.326), 4th in home SLG (.434), and 4th in home OPS (.760)…The pitching staff posted a 4.04 ERA during home contests (10th in the AL) with a .248 opponents’ AVG (11th) and a 1.23 WHIP (8th).

SEEING FAMILIAR FACES: Toronto is playing its first divisional games of the 2023 season…Is the furthest the club has gone into a campaign without an AL East opponent since 2009, when they met the Orioles for Game 25 on May 1. The Jays have won 20 of their last 30 games vs. AL East foes…Went 43-33 (.566%) in divisional play in 2022, the 2nd-best winning percentage within the division (NYY – .618) and the club’s best since registering a .581 win% in 2006 (43-31).

HITTING IT: The Blue Jays are 2nd in the Majors with a team batting average of .284 (1st: TB – .287)…Have also notched an MLB-high 133 hits (2nd: PHI – 127)… Currently rank 2nd in the AL in OBP (.342) and while sitting 3rd in OPS (.770) and 4th in SLG (.427)…Have had 177 runners on base (2nd in the AL to TB – 180)… Are now on a streak of 28 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy
Stats Perform).

THE D-JAYS: According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 13 Defensive Runs Saved to lead all AL teams (2nd in MLB: MIL – 18)…The group is led by four runs saved in center field (tied for 1st in MLB) and three at second base (1st in MLB).

RECORD-BREAKING ROOF ROLLBACK: The Rogers Centre roof was open for the 1st time of 2023 Wednesday night…Was the earliest date to be open in the history of the building (since 1989), surpassing the previous mark of April 16, set in 2002

VS. THE RAYS: All-Time: 200-238
2022: 9-10 Home: 113-105
Home: 5-5 Rogers Centre: 110-98
The Blue Jays went 9-10 vs. the Rays last season, splitting the 10 games here at Rogers Centre…Last won a season series in 2017 (10-9)…Their .384 (33-53) win percentage vs. TB since 2018 is their lowest vs. any AL opponent. Whit Merrifield went 12-for-32 (.375) with five doubles, three home runs, and 10 RBI in his 10 games vs. Tampa Bay last season (1.206 OPS)…In 39 career meetings, is hitting .324 (48-for-148) with 12 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, and 25 RBI (.974 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has reached base safely in each of his last 15 games against the Rays, going 17-for63 (.270) with five doubles, two homers, 11 RBI, and two walks…Is the 2nd-longest active streak vs. TB (Time Anderson – 17G)…Has hit .257 (62-for-241) with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, and 35 RBI across 61 games against them (.797). Kevin Kiermaier is facing his former club for the 1st time…Was drafted by the Rays in 2010 and played 10 seasons there, winning three Gold Glove Awards and one Platinum Glove Award…Batted .248 with 273 extra-base hits and 316 RBI over 914 games.

STARTING PITCHER – José Berríos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 3rd start of the season…Lost his last start on 4/8 at LAA, surrendering 6R/4ER over 4.0+ frames with 6 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts (71 pitches – 43 strikes). Has made 142 starts since the beginning of 2018, tied for the 3rd most among MLB hurlers (Aaron Nola – 146, Gerrit Cole – 143).

2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took the loss in his season debut on 4/3 at KC, giving up 8 runs on 9 hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings with 7 strikeouts (89 pitches – 56 strikes).

2022 HIGHLIGHTS:
Equaled his 2021 totals with 32 starts, 12 wins, and 17 quality starts. Earned his 4th win on 6/4 vs. MIN, tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball with the only damage coming off a two-run homer from the 3rd batter of the game…Gave up just 3 hits on the day with a pair of walks and a career-high 13 strikeouts (12K on 4/3/21 at MIL; 12K on 6/24/18 vs. TEX)…The 13 punchouts were the most by a Blue Jay hurler since Robbie Ray’s 13 K’s on 9/15/21 vs. TB. Picked up his 7th win of the year on 7/12 vs. PHI…Surrendered 3 runs on 6 hits over 6.0 innings with no walks and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts (13K on 6/4/22 vs. MIN)…Became the 3rd pitcher in franchise history to strike out at least 13 batters without walking any, joining Roger Clemens (4x) and Robbie Ray (2x)…Induced a season-high 20 swing-and-misses, one off his career high set on 6/17/19 vs. BOS. Earned the win on 7/31 vs. DET, throwing 7.0 innings of one-run ball while scattering 3 hits and a walk with 6 punchouts on 80 pitches (56 strikes)… In 6 July starts, went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA (12 ER/36.0 IP), 7 walks, and 42 strikeouts. The Jays won each of his 13 home starts from 9/19/21-7/31/22, passing Roy Halladay (12G from 5/31/07-4/6/08) for the longest streak in franchise history. Gave up 2R/1ER over 6.1 frames on 9/12 vs. TB with 6 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts…Reached 1,000 career innings after striking out Taylor Walls to end the 2nd inning…Became the 6th Puerto Rico-born pitcher to reach the milestone before the age of 29. On 9/27 vs. NYY, fanned Aaron Hicks in the 4th inning for his 1,000th career punchout…Became the 5th Puerto Rican-born player to reach 1,000 strikeouts and the fastest to reach the milestone, doing so in 179 games (2nd: Javier Vázquez – 182 games).

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Drafted in the 1st round (32nd overall) by the Twins in 2012. Pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, going 1-0, 8.10 ERA (6.2 IP, 6 ER) with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Named to 2018 and 2019 AL All-Star teams, pitching 1.0 inning in both games. Acquired by Toronto from Minnesota on 7/30/21 in exchange for INF Austin Martin and RHP Simeon Woods Richardson. In 2021, set a career high with 204 strikeouts, good for 5th in the AL…His 3.52 ERA was 5th best in the AL while his 192.0 innings pitched ranked 2nd.

VS. THE RAYS:
Facing the Rays for the 9th time in his career…Has met Tampa Bay at Rogers Centre 3 times, posting a 1.96 ERA (4 ER/18.1 IP) while surrendering no more than 2 runs in any contest…Pitched at least 5.0 innings in 8 of his 9 career starts vs. TB.

MLB Preview: San Francisco Giants (5-7) at Detroit Tigers (3-9)

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MLB Preview: San Francisco Giants (5-7) at Detroit Tigers (3-9)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:

TODAY’S GAME: The Giants and Tigers face off in Detroit for a three-game series at Comerica Park…tonight’s game 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 Mexico City series vs. San Diego.

LOGAN LOCKED IN: The Giants and RHP Logan Webb agreed to a five-year contract extension earlier today…the contract, worth $90 million, begins in 2024 and runs through 2028… Webb will earn $8 million in 2024, $12 million in 2025, $23 million in 2026, $23 million in 2027 and $24 million in 2028… the 26-year-old has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since his breakout season in 2021, finishing 2022 with 15 wins, 163 strikeouts and the National League’s seventh-best ERA (2.90)..since July 9 of the 2021 season, Webb ranks inside MLB’s top-20 with 22 wins (tied for seventh), 289 strikeouts (tied for 14th), a 2.92 ERA (18th) and 308.2 innings (second to only reigning Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara).

Most Innings Pitched in MLB Since July 9, 2021
Name Innings Pitched
Sandy Alcántara (MIA) 336.1
Logan Webb (SF) 308.2
Framber Valdez (HOU) 304.2
Name Innings Pitched
Aaron Nola (PHI) 299.2
Corbin Burnes (MIL) 298.2
Gerrit Cole (NYY) 296.1

ROSTER MOVES: In addition to Webb’s extension, the Giants placed OF Bryce Johnson on the 7-day Injured List (retroactive to April 13) with a concussion he suffered making a leaping catch against the wall on Wednesday…RHP Sean Hjelle (#64) was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, his second recall of this season…additionally, C Austin Wynns cleared waivers and elected free agency and OF Austin Slater was placed on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento.

COULD GO EITHER WAY: LHP Sean Manaea has allowed the sixth-most home runs on the road since the start of 2022 (18)…Detroit hitters have just one homer here at Comerica Park in 2023 and 53 since the start of 2022, second fewest in the Majors in that span…the Tigers have struggled clearing the fence against lefties this year with two such homers and just 30 since Opening Day of 2022, also second fewest in MLB…C/ OF Eric Haase is the only current Tiger to take Manaea yard. JEKYLL & HYDE: In wins vs. losses, the Giants’ run-disparity has been dramatic as illustrated below:

Giants Offense In Wins vs. Losses Through 12 Games
In SF’s Five Wins
Runs Scored ………………………………..43
Runs Per Game……………………………8.6
Run Differential………………+28 (43-15)
Home Runs ………………………………….17
Hits…………………………………………….58
Batting Average ……………314 (58×185)
OPS………………………………………..1.047
In SF’s Seven Losses
Runs Scored ………………………………..15
Runs Per Game……………………………2.1
Run Differential………………-31 (15-46)
Home Runs ……………………………………4
Hits…………………………………………….45
Batting Average ……………198 (45×227)
OPS…………………………………………..560

HAVE MERCY: Despite only two starts in the three-game series, Dodgers IF Max Muncy had 11 RBI…Colorado’s OF Jeffrey Hammonds was the last to have 11 or more RBI in a three-game series vs. the Giants from May 12-14, 2000… Dodgers OF Frank Howard set the record with 12 RBI July 27-
29, 1962.

WATCH IT MOVE: Giants pitchers have leaned away from the four-seam fastball, relying more heavily on their high-velocity pitches with movement…San Francisco ranks first in lowest four-seam usage, and first in two-seam usage (Stats, LLC). MLB,
Lowest Four-Seam Fastball Usage – 2023 (Stats, LLC)

Team Percentage San Francisco Giants 12.1
Colorado Rockies 26.9
Kansas City Royals 27.9
Team Percentage New York Yankees 28.2
Boston Red Sox 29.1

ALL OR NOTHING: IF Thairo Estrada’s ninth-inning solo homer was the Giants’ 21st of 2023, which is the most in the first 12 games of a season in franchise history…over 20% of the Giants’ hits this season have left the yard, with the team’s 20.4% ranking third in MLB (Stats, LLC)…they trail only the Dodgers (26.3%) and the Rays (22.9%)…the Giants also lead MLB with 58.6% of their runs coming via the big fly (SIS)… despite high power numbers, SF also has 131 strikeouts in their first 12 games, which is the tied for third most in MLB history, trailing the 2020 Braves and Brewers (132).

Percent of Runs via the Home Run (SIS)
Team Percent HR/Runs
Giants 58.6% 34/58
Marlins 58.5% 24/41
Dodgers 54.4% 43/79
Team Percent HR/Runs
Padres 52.5% 31/59
Athletics 49.0% 25/51

HIT THE MIDDLE: The four, five and six hitters in the Giants lineup have dealt the brunt of their damage this season, batting .304 (42×138), which is second in the Majors behind Philadelphia (Stats, LLC)…Detroit starter LHP Joey Wentz has been burned most bt the middle third of the lineup…in his 39.2 career MLB innings, hitters 4-6 are batting .277 (13×47).

RUF IN THE DIAMOND: IF/OF Darin Ruf wasted no time reacclimating to the Giants’ lineup, narrowly missing a home run off LHP Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday…in 709 career plate appearances against lefties, Ruf is a .272 hitter with 39 home runs, 103 RBI and an .891 OPS…his 22 home runs vs. lefties while with SF were tied for third most in the National League during his previous Giants tenure.

TODAY’S STARTER – SEAN MANAEA LHP #52
2023 RECORD: 0-0, 4.50 ERA

WITH THE GIANTS: In his first season with Giants…signed two-year, $25 million contract with an opt-out after this season with San Francisco this offseason after spending 2022 with San Diego.

LAST OUTING: Following a short relief outing in his Giants debut, Manaea made his first start for the Giants on April 8 against Kansas City, the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2013…a late blown-lead by the bullpen cost him his first win as a Giant, but the lefty was strong nonetheless, striking out eight while allowing one run on three hits and a walk in 6.0 innings…a solo home run to IF Bobby Witt Jr. was his only blemish…the eight punchouts were Manaea’s most since June 2, 2022 at Milwaukee…per SIS, Manaea received at leats four outs and four swing-and-misses on all three of his pitches.

VS. DETROIT: He has faced Detroit five times during his career, the most recent coming on July 25, 2022 at Comerica Park…an error led to five unearned runs as the lefty surrendered a career-high nine runs total in a 3.1-inning defeat…prior to that outing Manaea had thrown at least 6.0 innings and allowed three or fewer runs in his first four career starts vs. Detroit…no Tigers hitter has more than five career at-bats vs. Manaea with C/OF Eric Hasse possessing the lone home run (a grand slam).

HOMESICK: Manaea’s career road ERA is nearly a whole run higher than at home…in 439.0 road innings, the southpaw is 26-29 with a 4.49 ERA, 406 strikeouts and a .746 OPS compared to his 3.65 career home ERA, 400 strikeouts and .692 OPS.

WHO BLINKS FIRST: Since the start of 2022 Manaea is tied for sixth most home runs (18) surrendered on the road…the Tigers have managed just one home run at Comerica Park this season, and 53 since the start of 2022, which is the second fewest in the Majors… Detroit also has only two home runs vs. lefties this season, and the second fewest big flies against southpaws since the start of last season (30).

MANAEA PITCH ARSENAL / STATCAST INFO (2023)
Pitch Type Usage Percentage Avg. Velo BAA SO
Sinker 38.9% 94.5 mph .273 4
Changeup 36.3% 85.8 mph .091 3
Slider 24.8% 84.8 mph .167 2

MANAEA VS. DETROIT TIGERS (CAREER)
Last Win: 4/15/21 vs. DET (w/OAK) Last Loss: 7/25/22 at DET (w/SD)
W-L ERA G/GS IP H ER BB SO
2022 0-1 10.80 1/1 3.1 8 4 1 4
Career 3-2 3.81 5/5 28.1 29 12 6 27
at SF — -.– — -.- — — — —
at DET 1-1 5.79 2/2 9.1 13 6 2 6

LAST SEASON: Was 8-9 with a 4.96 ERA (87 ER, 158.0 IP) in 30 games (28 starts)…he struck out 156, the second highest mark of his career, in his first National League season…allowed 29 home runs, a career-high…his 1.65 home runs per nine innings were the most among pitchers with at least 150.0 innings.

2023 SPRING TRAINING: Manaea worked out at Driveline in the offseason and saw an increase in velocity this spring, reaching 96 mph after averaging 91.2 mph in 2022…he was 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA, 14 strikeouts, a 0.96 WHIP and a .215 opposing batting average across 17.2 innings in five games (four starts).

APRIL FLOWERS: Manaea’s not been one for slow starts to a season…Including his one career March start, the first month of a campaign has been kind to the lefty…in 24 career March/ April games, Manaea has a 3.09 ERA, 134 strikeouts, and monthly bests 0.99 WHIP, .188 opposing batting average and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings over 139.2 innings…Two of Manaea’s three career shutouts have been in April, including his
no-hitter vs. Boston on April 21, 2018.

CALIFORNIA LOVE: All eight seasons in the Majors have been with California teams, pitching for Oakland 2016-2021, and San Diego in 2022…despite the Giants being his third team, Gabe Kapler is Manaea’s second MLB manager as former Oakland skipper Bob Melvin also left for San Diego in 2022.

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS SNAP SKID WITH 3-1 WIN: The Tigers ended their six-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays last night at Rogers Centre. Spencer Turnbull started for Detroit and picked up the win, allowing a run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Four
Detroit relievers combined for 4.0 scoreless frames to preserve the win. Offensively, Jake Rogers had a pair of hits, including a double, and
drove in a run, while Nick Maton went 2×5 with a double.

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF: Nick Maton put the finishing touches on a strong series against the Blue Jays, going 2×5 with a double in last night’s win. Over the three games against Toronto, Maton went 4×11 with a double, two home runs and four RBI. He has recorded an extra-base hit in three consecutive games, tying the longest streak of his career.

MESS WITH THE (TURN)BULL, YOU GET THE HORNS: Spencer Turnbull put together his best start of the young season last night in Toronto, earning the win after allowing a run on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5.0 innings. The victory was Turnbull’s first since May 29, 2021 vs. New York (AL). Turnbull missed the second half of 2021 and all of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Miguel Cabrera hit a double in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays. The two-bagger was the 610th of his career and his 1,134th career extra-base hit, tying him with Tris Speaker for 16th on the MLB all-time list.

MLB All-Time Extra-Base Hits List
Rank Player XBH

  1. Carl Yastrzemski 1,157
  2. Adrián Beltré 1,151
  3. Ty Cobb 1,138
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1,134
    Tris Speaker 1,134

BULLPEN BITS: Alex Lange pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to earn his first save of the season. It marked the second save of his big league career (other, September 20, 2021 vs Chicago (AL))…Jason Foley worked a scoreless seventh inning last night to notch his third hold. Foley has not allowed a run in five-of-six appearances this season, posting a 1.50 ERA (6.0IP/1ER) with five strikeouts.
TIGERS AND GIANTS: The Tigers and Giants begin their only series of the season tonight 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 12-10 edge in the all-time series with the two teams splitting 14 all-time meetings in Detroit.

INTERLEAGUE ACTION: The Tigers begin their interleague schedule tonight against the Giants. 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 Michael Lorenzen (left groin strain, 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)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – Joey Wentz • 0-1, 5.06 ERA (5.1IP/3ER
• Wentz will make his third start of the season tonight in the series opener vs. San Francisco.

• Took the loss in his last start on Saturday against Boston, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing five runs on one hit with four walks and no strikeouts. • Will be making his first appearance against the Giants tonight…has made six starts in his career at Comerica Park, posting a 0-3 record with a 6.55 ERA (22.0IP/16ER) and 18 strikeouts.

• Saw his first Major League action in 2022, starting seven games and posting a 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA (32.2IP/11ER) and 27 strikeouts…also appeared in 12 games, including 11 starts, with Triple A Toledo and went 2-2 with a 3.17 ERA (48.1IP/17ER) and 53 strikeouts.

• Pitched in the Arizona Fall League following the season and made three starts for Salt River, throwing 12.0 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, four walks and 14 strikeouts.

MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (7-5) at Houston Astros (6-7)

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MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (7-5) at Houston Astros (6-7)

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas saw its season high-tying 3-game win streak (also 3-0 from 3/30-4/2) come to an end with a 9-run loss on Wed. in the series finale against KC (1-10)…it is the club’s largest margin of defeat in 2023 and largest at Globe Life Field since an 11-2 loss on 8/27/22 vs. DET…the 10 R allowed matched club’s season high (also 10 R on 4/8 at CHC)…TEX was held scoreless over final 8 innings after Nathaniel Lowe’s solo HR in the bottom of the 1st…team’s 4 hits snapped span of 3 straight games with double-digit knocks…went 2-1 in brief 3-game homestand vs. KC, and will face the Royals again next week from 4/17- 19 at Kauffman Stadium (3 G)…club has won 3 of last 5 G, but still has a 4-5 record since a 3-0 start…team has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023.

• The current 7-5 record is the Rangers’ best 12-G start since 2013 (8-4), and a 4-win improvement over last year’s 3-9 start.

• Team opened the 2023 campaign with a 3-0 record for just the 9th time in Rangers history, the longest season-opening win streak since 2011 (6-0).

STANDINGS: The Rangers dropped into a tie for 1st place in the A.L. West on Wed. after having sole possession for previous 2 straight days (5th day overall in ‘23)…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 14 of the season’s first 15 days, including 9 straight to begin the year…marks latest point for the club to own even a share of 1st place in the West since the final day of team’s division-winning season in 2016 (10/2/16)…from 2017-22, the Rangers had one day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).

VS. HOUSTON: Texas meets Houston for the 1st time this season in the quest for the 2023 Lone Star Series Silver Boot…will play HOU during 3 more series due to the new scheduling format introduced this year (4 G vs. HOU, 6/30- 7/3; 3 G at HOU, 7/24-26; 3 G vs. HOU, 9/4-6)…club went 5-14 against HOU in 2022…TEX has lost 4 of 5, 8 of 10, 11 of 15 G against the Astros…club has lost season series last 2 years and owns a 1-5 season series record in last 6 years… TEX has gone 5-29 (.147) in last 34 G in Houston dating back to the beg. of 2019, the lowest win pct. by any team at any venue (min. 15 G) over that span… Rangers are just 35-70 (.333) vs. HOU since the start of 2017

• TEX is 5-29 at MMP since beginning of 2019, losing 10 consecutive series here since winning a 3-G sweep, 7/27- 29/18.

SERIES STUFF: Even though they dropped the series finale on Wed. night, TEX secured a series win vs. KC (2-1) and now sits at 2-2-0 in series play this season…TEX is looking for its first road series win of the year after losing 2 of 3 G against the Cubs at Wrigley Field from 4/7-9…club owns a 2-2 record in series openers on the young campaign.

• Rangers have not won a road series of at least 3 G since taking 3 of 4 G against the Twins from 8/19-22/22.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Rangers are 1-2 (.333) on the road this season following a series loss to the Cubs from 4/7- 9 at Wrigley Field…Texas is scheduled to play 9 of next 12 G on the road…team was 34-47 (.420) overall in away games last year, winning back-to-back road games just twice over the season’s final 3 months.

ROSTER MOVES: The Rangers today announced that the club has activated RHP Josh Sborz from the 15-day Injured List as an additional transaction for the 26-man roster…this follows yesterday’s announcement that LHP Taylor Hearn had been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.

• Sborz will be seeking his first Major League action of the year…made a relief app. on Wed. for Round Rock vs. Tacoma (1.0 IP, R-ER, HR, SO)…compiled a 4.50 ERA (1 ER/2.0 IP) over 2 relief app. with Round Rock…started the season on the 15-day IL (retro. to 3/27) with a left ankle sprain.

PUNCH OUT: Texas pitchers rank 4th in the A.L. with 123 strikeouts (135-MIN, 132-CWS,125-NYY), easily a club record for most team strikeouts through the first 12 games of a new season (prev. 112 in 2022 and 2020)…TEX pitchers have struck out 11-or-more batters in 3-consecutive games and in 6 of 12 this season…TEX starters rank 3rd in A.L. with 81 SO.

HEAD START: Texas starters have allowed 2-or-fewer ER in 6 of last 7 and 8 of 10 G during 2023…Rangers starting pitchers have 9 starts this season of 5.0+ IP with 3-or-fewer ER, T3rd-most in the A.L. (also HOU, KC, CWS) and trailing only TB and MIN (10)…club also ranks T3rd across all of MLB in the category (also tied with NYM, MIL, LAD)

• Both of Martin Perez’ starts this season have qualified for the splits mentioned above (4/2 vs. PHI and 4/8 at CHC)… also done twice by deGrom, Eovaldi and Gray.

FAMILIAR FOES: Texas manager Bruce Bochy and Houston manager Dusty Baker will face off for the 192nd time in their careers (regular season) during tonight’s series opener…Bochy’s 110 losses against Baker are his most against an opposing manager…should they both manage all of the games this series, Baker will tie Clint Hurdle for second-most games managed against Bruce Bochy…the top 5 list can be found below:

LOWE AND BEHOLD: Nathaniel Lowe notched the Rangers’ lone scoring output on Wed. vs. KC, launching a 430-foot solo home run to right field, his 2nd long ball of the campaign…it was the longest homer by a Texas batter in 2023, and the 2nd-longest blast at Globe Life Field this season behind a 433-ft. shot by BAL’s Jorge Mateo on 4/3…Lowe has hit safely in each of his last 8 G at .273/.314/.576/.890 (9-33), the longest hit streak by a Ranger this season and T2nd-longest of Lowe’s career…his last longer hitting streak was a career-best 11-game run from 7/25-8/4/22.

SPACE BALLER: Adolis García owns a .295 career BA (41-for-139) with 15 XBH and 25 RBI against HOU…his 9 HR and 25 RBI vs. Astros since the start of ‘21 are most by any player against HOU over that span.

WELCOME BACK, CHAMP(S): The Texas Rangers roster 2022 World Series champion Will Smith, who recorded a 3.27 ERA (8 ER/22.0 IP) in 24 G with HOU after being traded for RHP Jake Odorizzi from ATL on 8/2/22…Odorizzi also pitched with HOU last season, compiling a 4-3 record with a 3.75 ERA (25 ER/60.0 IP) in 12 starts before the trade.

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #54 Martín Pérez, RHP (1-1, 2.53)
TONIGHT: The 32-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his 3rd start/appearance of the season in tonight’s road trip opener in Houston…will pitch on extra 5 days’ rest after taking loss in last start on Sat. at CHC (5.0 IP, 3 R-2 ER), outing which snapped a span of 9 straight starts without allowing a HR dating to 2022…has taken a win and loss in his 1st 2 outings, but joined Jon Gray as only TEX pitchers with 5.0+ IP and 2-or-fewer ER allowed in each of 1st 2 starts to open 2023…has 5.0+ IP in 32 consecutive starts dating to 2022, T4th-longest streak in Rangers history (see below)…made 2 starts for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting no record and a 9.82 ERA (4 ER/3.2 IP)…after returning to the Rangers on a one-year free agent deal for 2022, he elected to stay with Texas in 2023 on a one-year deal after accepting the club’s qualifying offer in November…spent the first 11 seasons of his professional career with the Rangers (2008-18), and has been with the organization for 12 of his 15 years as a pro…left the club for 3 years for brief stints with Minnesota (2019) and Boston (2020-21)…has a 56-58 record with a 4.26 ERA over 175 games/162 starts in his Rangers career, ranking among club’s all-time leaders in starts (7th, 162), wins (11th, 56), and strikeouts (12th, 643)…since 2016, his first full campaign after returning from ‘Tommy John’ surgery, has the 2nd-most starts (177) and 3rd-most innings (1017.1) of any pitcher in the American League…saw two seasons cut short in 2014-15 following ‘Tommy John’ ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow on 5/19/14…also missed time in 2018 after suffering a broken right (non-throwing) elbow.

LAST START: Took loss in Rangers’ 10-3 defeat on Sat. at CHC (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R-2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 90 pitches/66 strikes)…gave up unearned run in the 1st inn. after Corey Seager error, then permitted just one run in a 32-pitch 3rd frame…solo HR to Patrick Wisdom in the 4th…exited w/ TEX trailing just 3-1, but Rangers would commit season-high 5 errors in an ugly effort at Wrigley…it was the 13th time since the start of last season that Pérez has posted 5.0+ IP while allowing 2-or-fewer ER and not recorded the win.

VS. HOUSTON: Has gone 9-8, 3.23 (44 ER/122.2 IP) in 19 G/GS over his career vs. the Astros, including 4-5, 2.74 (21 ER/69.0 IP) in 10 G/GS at Minute Maid Park…faced HOU in 5 of Rangers’ 6 series in 2022: 1-3, 3.82 (14 ER/33.0 IP)… made starts in all 3 trips to Houston: 1-2, 3.43 (8 ER/21.0 IP)…in 5 GS vs. HOU in 2022, posted 7.0+ IP with one-or-zero runs allowed an MLB-high 3 times against the eventual World Series champs…one of those was his lone win in CG SHO on 5/20/22 at HOU (9.0 IP, 8 H, 0 R), the only CG SHO against the Astros in MMP in 2022…Pérez has 9 career wins vs. HOU, tied for his most wins against any opponent (9 vs. OAK)…his 1.264 WHIP vs. Astros is lowest against any A.L. opponent in his career.

I GOT FIVE ON IT: Has logged at least 5.0 IP in each of his last 32 starts (beg. 4/23/22), the longest such streak ever by a Texas left-hander and T4th-longest in club history overall: 56-Yu Darvish (2012-14), 41-Lance Lynn (2019-20), 37-Nolan Ryan (1989-90), 32-Colby Lewis (2003-10)/Kevin Brown (1991-92)/Pérez (2022-23)…2nd-longest active streak of 5.0+ IP to a 34-start run by Max Scherzer (beg. 8/15/21)…has gone 13-7, 2.71 ERA (60 ER/199.0 IP) during the streak.

2023: Has faced just 8 LH batters in his 2 starts, with those hitters going 2-for-7 w/ no XBH, 1 BB, 2 SO…each of 1st 2 GS were vs. N.L. opponents…earned win in season debut 4/2 vs. PHI, completing Rangers’ 3-G sweep, as he allowed just 3 batted balls with exit velo. of 95.0+ mph (Statcast).

KING OF THE ROAD: Took loss in 1st road start of ‘23 (see above)…saw slightly better results in 16 road starts (7-4, 2.86 ERA) than in 16 starts in Arlington (5-4, 2.92 ERA) last season…ranked among A.L. road leaders in quality starts (T4th, 12), ERA (6th), and wins (T11th)…opened the 2022 campaign with club-record 25.0 consecutive scoreless innings on the road…Rangers went 10-0 in Pérez’s first 10 away outings last season, tied for the longest season-opening road undefeated streak by a starting pitcher in WSH/TEX franchise history (also 10, A.J. Griffin from 4/8-8/9/16)…Pérez’s career ERA splits are nearly identical on the road (4.41) vs. at home (4.43), though his home win pct. (.532, 41-36) is significantly higher than his road mark (.455, 35-42).

HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champs, will play their first divisional game of the season tonight as they host the Rangers for the first of a three-game series in Houston…tonight’s pitching matchup features a pair of Venezuelans, in RHP Luis Garcia and LHP Martín Pérez, who were teammates just last month in the World Baseball Classic.

ABOUT GARCIA: RHP Luis Garcia is making the third start of his fourth MLB season (2020-23) and is coming off a strong 2022 campaign in which he ranked tied for fourth in the AL in wins (15), ninth in opponent average (.222) and 10th in strikeouts per 9.0 (8.98)…he finished his season by winning seven consecutive decisions over his last eight starts.

IMMACULATE MEMORIES: Tonight’s start for RHP Luis Garcia is his first against the Rangers since June 15, 2022, at TEX, when Garcia tossed an immaculate inning en route to working 6.0 innings of two-run ball…Garcia turned the trick in the 2nd, striking out 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller on nine pitches…shockingly, later in that game, Garcia was joined by RHP Phil Maton, who also worked an immaculate inning in the 7th inning against those same three hitters… according to MLB.com’s records, this marked the first time in MLB history for a game to feature two immaculate innings.

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 2,099 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).

BATTLE FOR THE BOOT: The Astros and Rangers will renew their rivalry tonight for their first matchup of the 2023 season… the Astros went 14-5 vs. the Rangers in 2022, which secured them their sixth consecutive season series victory over Texas… the Astros have earned the Silver Boot trophy in each of the past six years (2017-22), five via season series victories and one via run differential (2020)…many of those season series wins can be attributed to the Astros home dominance in the series, as Houston has gone 29-5 in 34 home games against
the Rangers since the start of the 2019 season.

THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: Tonight and tomorrow night’s game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet SW with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales on the call…Sunday’s game will be televised by ESPN with a start time of 6:10 p.m…during Sunday’s telecast, C Martín Maldonado is scheduled to wear a microphone for an in-game conversation with the booth, which will make him the first catcher to wear a microphone for a live interview during a regular season game.

WINSDAY: The Astros won their 14th straight getaway day game on Wednesday in Pittsburgh, downing the Pirates, 7-0, for their first shutout victory of the season…RHP José Urquidy (6IP) started for Houston, while three relievers combined to complete the shutout…3B Alex Bregman had the big blow offensively, as he connected for a three-run homer to break the game open in the 7th…LF Corey Julks went 2×4 on the day and hit his first career homer.

STREAKING: 1B José Abreu has reached base safely in all 13 of the Astros games this season, marking the longest start of season streak by an Astro since 3B Alex Bregman matched the club record by reaching base safely in his first 25 games of the 2020 campaign…Abreu is one of six players in the Majors this season to reach base safely in their first 13 games of the year.

THE 300: LF Yordan Alvarez enters tonight’s game with 299 career RBI and will become the 36th player in club history to reach the 300-RBI plateau…among players that began their careers with the Houston franchise, Alvarez will become the fastest to reach 300 RBI, in terms of games played (he enters tonight with 379 career games), besting 1B Lance Berkman (417g)…if you account all players in franchise history, OF Moises Alou owns that record, reaching 300 RBI in his 352nd career game as an Astro after joining the club via trade.

PEÑA’S PALS:SS Jeremy Peña will host students from Energize for Excellence Middle School for the second Peña’s Pals of the 2023 season…Peña’s Pals is a new program developed by Jeremy, in partnership with the Astros Foundation, that aims to celebrate kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices…Peña’s Pals will be treated to tonight’s Astros game and will attend batting practice, where they will meet Jeremy.

FRAMBER’S WEEKEND: The Astros will celebrate All-Star LHP Framber Valdez this weekend with a pair of giveaways on Friday and Saturday prior to his start on Sunday Night Baseball… tonight’s giveaway is a Framber Valdez Consecutive Start Bobblehead, presented by Goya, which will go to 10,000 fans in attendance…on Saturday, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Framber Valdez Sunday Replica Jersey, presented by Ricos.

TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP LUIS GARCIA
LAST START – 4/8 AT MIN: he didn’t factor into the decision after he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

VS. THE RANGERS: is set to make his 6th appearance (4th start) against the Rangers in his career.
• has posted a 3-0 record along with a 2.50 ERA (5ER/18IP) with 5 walks and 17 strikeouts against Texas.

• in his last appearance against the Rangers on June 15, 2022, he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with a career-high tying 9 strikeouts in 6.0 innings…in the second inning of that same start he also tossed the 8th immaculate inning in club history, striking out 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller in the frame…later he was joined in that game by RHP Phil Maton, who also tossed an immaculate inning in the 7th inning against those same three hitters…according to MLB.com’s records, marked the first time in MLB history for a game to feature 2 immaculate innings.

ABOUT GARCIA: Venezuelan starter has pitched in parts of 4 seasons (2020-23) in Houston, going 26-18 with a 3.66 ERA (136ER/334IP) in 65 games (59 starts).

• recorded a career-high winning streak from Aug. 12, 2022-Oct. 2, 2022, which dated back 8 starts…in those 8 outings, he recorded a 3.20 ERA (16ER/45IP).

• has dominated right-handed hitters in his career, limiting them to a .196 average (127×649)…lefties have hit almost 70 points higher against Garcia, posting a .264 average (157×594)…in 2022, those numbers were close to evening out as he limited righties to a .213 (67×315) average and lefties to a .234 (64×274) mark.

GARCIA’S NEW LOOK: Prior to it being outlawed this season, had one of the most unique windups in the Majors, which was a mix of rocking a baby and a salsa dance… his windup was developed during the 2020 season as he worked at the Astros Alternate Training Site over the summer…Garcia did not have a strong origin story for his windup, instead saying he wanted a windup that he felt could be repeatable.

• according to Astros Pitching Coach Josh Miller, this offseason, Garcia simply returned to his windup style he used throughout his career prior to 2020 to get back in compliance with Major League rules.

GARCIA IN 2022: Had a strong second full season in 2022, finishing the year as a 15-game winner, while making 28 starts…ranked T-4th in the AL in wins, 9th in opponent average (.222) and 10th in strikeouts per 9.0 (8.98).

• got his outs via the strikeout and fly ball, as he ranked 5th in the AL in fly ball percentage (43.6%) among those with 150+ IP..

GARCIA IN THE 2022 POSTSEASON: went 1-1 in the postseason with a 1.59 ERA and 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings, working solely as a reliever.

• helped the Astros to the 2022 World Series title by tossing 5.0 scoreless innings in relief in the Astros 18-inning win in Game 3 of the ALDS at SEA…pitched the final 5.0 innings of the Astros win, allowing just two hits and no walks…became the second Astro to work 5.0 scoreless in relief in a postseason game, joining LHP Framber Valdez (Game 1 of the 2020 AL Wild Card Series at MIN)…Garcia was also just the second pitcher in postseason history to work 5.0-plus scoreless relief innings which all came in extras, joining RHP Yusmeiro Petit (6IP in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS vs. SF).

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