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NHL Preview: San Jose Sharks (22-43-16) at Edmonton Oilers (49-23-9)

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SAN JOSE SHARKS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Game 81 – 4/12 – SJS 1 @ CGY 3…Noah Gregor (1g, 0a) opened the scoring for San Jose with his fourth goal in April to set a new single-season career high in goals. Kaapo Kahkonen made a career-high 46 saves. Jacob MacDonald played in his 100th career NHL game.
SJ Goal: Gregor (9)
SF: 24
SA: 49
SJ PP: 0/2
SJ PK: 1/1
W: Wolf
L: Kahkonen

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/11 Reassigned F Adam Raska to the San Jose Barracuda

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – EDMONTON OILERS
The Sharks and Oilers are each playing in their final contest of the 2022-23 regular season with a meeting tonight. San Jose looks to snap a five-game winless skid (0-4-1) and earn their first win against the Oilers this season. Edmonton is on an eight-game winning streak. The two teams last met on April 8 at SAP Center at San Jose, a 6-1 decision in Edmonton’s favor

EDMONOTN OILERS NOTES:

ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. SAN JOSE GP RECORD HOME (67) AWAY (67) GF GA
OILERS ALL-TIME vs. SAN JOSE 134 61-53-12-8 33-24-7-3 28-29-5-5 409 406
OILERS vs. SAN JOSE – 2022-23 3 3-0-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 18 6

QUICK FACTS
• Thursday’s game will mark Edmonton’s fourth and final meeting against the Sharks this season and the second of two games in Edmonton.

• The last time these teams met was on April 8th in San Jose, with the Oilers winning 6-1.

• Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 38 career points against the Sharks and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has played in a team high 38 career games against San Jose.

LAST 10 GAMES vs. SAN JOSE
Record: 8-2-0
GF: 44 GA: 27
2022-23 4/8/23 @ SJS 6-1 W
2022-23 3/20/23 @ EDM 5-4 W (OT)
2022-23 1/13/23 @ SJS 7-1 W
2021-22 4/28/22 @ EDM 5-4 W (OT)
2021-22 4/5/22 @ SJS 2-1 W (OT)
2021-22 3/24/22 @ EDM 5-2 W
2021-22 2/14/22 @ SJS 3-0 W
2019-20 2/6/20 @ EDM 6-3 L
2019-20 11/19/19 @ SJS 5-2 W
2019-20 11/12/19 @ SJS 3-6 L

OILERS IN APRIL
Overall – 200 GP, 93-83-15-9 – 210 PTS
2022-23 – 5 GP, 5-0-0 – 10 PTS
2021-22 – 12 GP, 9-2-1 – 19 PTS

NHL Preview: Philadelphia Flyers (30-38-13) at Chicago Blackhawks (26-49-6)

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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME
Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks
United Center
TV: NBCSP | Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

CURRENT INJURIES
PLAYER INJURY DATES GAMES MISSED
Cam Atkinson IR-upper body 9/25-present 81
Sean Couturier IR-back 9/19-present 81
Ryan Ellis LTIR-groin/hip/back 10/11-present 81
Nick Seeler illness 4/9-present 2
2022-23 TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 415

FLYERS VS. BLACKHAWKS HEAD-TO-HEAD
FLYERS BLACKHAWKS
66-49-30 ALL-TIME RECORD 49-65-31
46-17-11 HOME 32-20-19
20-32-19 ROAD 17-45-12
3-2-0 LAST 5 MEETINGS 2-3-0
7-3-0 LAST 10 MEETINGS 3-7-0
441 GOALS SCORED 424
24.1% POWER PLAY 28.6%
71.4% PENALTY KILL 75.9%
van Riemsdyk: 9 pts (7-2=9) in 16 GP
Three players tied at 8 pts

TEAM SCORING LEADERS T. Johnson: 20 pts (8-12=20) in 24 GP
Jones: 14 pts (6-8=14) in 23 GP
Toews: 13 pts (5-8=13) in 20 GP
Hart: 2-1-0, 2.36 GAA, .930 SV% in 3 GP
Sandstrom: 0-1-0, 3.18 GAA, .909 SV% in 1 GP

TEAM GOALTENDERS Mrazek: 3-3-3, 2.86 GAA, .915 SV% in 9 GP
Stalock: 3-0-0, 2.20 GAA, .896 SV% in 5 GP

2022-23 SEASON SERIES (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
January 19 Wells Fargo Center CHI (4), PHI (1)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/12 – Loaned D Adam Ginning to Lehigh Valley (AHL)
4/11 – Recalled D Adam Ginning from Lehigh Valley (AHL)
4/7 – Loaned D Ronnie Attard to Lehigh Valley (AHL)

TEAM NOTES
QUICK STATS

  • The Flyers conclude their regular season schedule Thursday in Chicago.
  • Philadelphia recorded a season-high seven-game point streak (5-0-2) from March 17-30.
  • The Flyers notched two season-high four-game win streaks: March 21-28 & Dec. 29-Jan. 5.
  • Philadelphia has six players with 40-plus points this season, the first campaign of five-plus players with 40-plus points since 2019-20 (6).
  • The Flyers have nine players with 20-plus assists this season, the first campaign of nine-plus players with 20-plus assists since 2011-12 (10).
  • The Flyers rank second in the NHL with 1,387 blocked shots and fourth with 2,202 hits.
  • Philadelphia has reached 2,000-plus hits in a season for the sixth time in franchise history and for the first since 2016- 17. The 2,202 hits this season are the second-most in franchise history – the franchise record is 2,511 hits set in 2014-15.
  • The Flyers tallied 40 hits Feb. 11 vs. NSH for their sixth game of 40-plus hits this season. The six games of 40-plus hits are the most in a single season since recording 13 games during the 2014-15 season.
  • Philadelphia recorded a franchise-best 59 hits Nov. 12 vs. OTT. The 59 hits are tied for the ninth-most in a regular season game in NHL history.
  • The Flyers have set a franchise record in blocked shots this season, surpassing their 1,317 set during the 2010-11 campaign.
  • Philadelphia registered 30 blocked shots Feb. 12 at CGY for its fifth game of the season with 30-plus blocked shots

– the most 30-plus blocked shot games in a Flyers season since 2005-06. The Flyers tallied a season-high 32 blocked shots Oct. 27 vs. FLA.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBCSCH – Chris Vosters (PxP), Patrick Sharp (analyst)
RADIO: WGN-AM 720 – John Wiedeman (PxP) and Troy Murray (analyst)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April 11 – Signed Jarred Tinordi to a one-year contract … Signed Drew Commesso to a three-year, entrylevel contract … April 10 – Recalled Buddy Robinson from Rockford and assigned Lukas Reichel and Alex Vlasic to Rockford … Assigned Jalen Luypen to Rockford … April 3 – Signed Gavin Hayes to three-year, entry-level contract

LAST TIME OUT
Score: Chicago (5) at Pittsburgh (2) – Tue., April 11 – PPG Paints Arena
CHI Goals: Murphy (7), Robinson (1), Athanasiou (19), T. Johnson (12; EN), Entwistle (4; EN)
PIT Goals: Malkin (27; PP), Heinen (8)
Goalies: CHI – Mrazek (38/40, 60:00) PIT – Jarry (22/25, 57:32)
CHI PP: 0/2; PK: 4/5
PIT PP: 1/5; PK: 2/2
Recap: Chicago defeated the Penguins 5-2 on Tuesday in Pittsburgh … Thirteen different players recorded at least one point in the victory … Connor Murphy scored the first goal of the game, his seventh of the season which marks a new single-season career high … Buddy Robinson scored his first goal with the Blackhawks and added an assist for his first career multi-point effort … Robinson also now has points (1G, 2A) in consecutive contests … Anders Bjork notched two helpers and has points in three straight (1G, 3A) … Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle each scored a goal … Athanasiou has points in three-straight games (1G, 3A) … Petr Mrazek stopped 38 of the 40 shots he faced.

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Chicago wraps up the 2022-23 season against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at the United Center … The Blackhawks defeated the Flyers 4-1 on Jan. 19, winning their first game in Philadelphia since Nov. 9, 1996 … Jonathan Toews registered two points (1G, 1A) in the victory with Philipp Kurashev, Reese Johnson and Tyler Johnson scoring the other three tallies … Toews has points in three straight against Philly (2G, 3A), including consecutive multi-point efforts … Seth Jones has seven points (4G, 3A) over his last nine games against the Flyers.

2022-23 Schedule/Results: HOME: April 13 | AWAY: Jan. 19 (4-1)
All-Time Record: 49-65-31 | Home: 32-20-19 | Road: 17-45-12
Last Home Win: April 25, 2022 (3-1) | Last Road Win: Jan. 19, 2023 (4-1) | Last Home Loss: Oct. 24,
2019 (1-4) | Last Road Loss: March 5, 2022 (3-4)

ACTIVE BLACKHAWKS VS. PHI ALL-TIME
GOALS: Tyler Johnson, 8; Seth Jones, 6; Jonathan Toews, 5
ASSISTS: Patrick Kane, 14; Tyler Johnson, 12; Jack Johnson, 8
POINTS: Tyler Johnson, 20; Seth Jones, 13; Jonathan Toews, 13

BLACKHAWKS RECORD ON…
One-Day Rest: 13-25-1
Two-Days Rest: 6-5-0
Three+ Days Rest: 2-2-2
First Game of a B2B: 2-7-2
Second Game of a B2B: 2-11-1

BLACKHAWKS RECORD BY DAY
Monday: 1-4-0
Tuesday: 6-9-1
Wednesday: 1-7-0
Thursday: 5-8-1
Friday: 5-2-2
Saturday: 5-12-1
Sunday: 3-7-1

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (46-32-3) at Colorado Avalanche (49-24-7)

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WINNIPEG JETS NOTES:

Scene Setter
The Winnipeg Jets end their 2022-23 NHL regular season schedule on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver. The Jets are coming off a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night, which clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg will play either the Vegas Golden Knights or Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs, beginning next week.

Tale of the Tape
WPG Stat COL
81 GP 80
46 W 49
32 L 24
3 OT 7
95 PTS 105
245 GF 272
221 GA 221
19.5% PP 24.8%
82.6% PK 79.0%

Next Game
Date Opp TV Radio
Apr. 13 At COL TSN CJOB/Power 97

Recent Five Games
Date Opp SC Res Streak
Apr. 2 NJD 6-1 W 2W
Apr. 5 CGY 3-1 L 1L
Apr. 8 NSH 2-0 W 1W
Apr. 10 SJS 6-2 W 2W
Apr. 11 MIN 3-1 W 3W

Broadcast Information
TV: TSN
Play-By-Play: Dan Robertson
Analyst: Kevin Sawyer
Radio: 680 CJOB/Power 97
Play-By-Play: Paul Edmonds
Analyst: Jamie Thomas
Host: Kelly Moore

Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, April 13
Morning Skate 11:30 a.m.
Jets at Colorado Avalanche 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 14
TBD
All Times Local

Last Game
Winnipeg Jets 3
Minnesota Wild 1
Jets Scorers: Lowry (13), Scheifele (42), Appleton (5)
Wild Scorer: Kaprizov (40)
Jets Goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck (33 sv, 1 ga)
Wild Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury (17 sv, 3 ga)
Jets PP: 0-for-3
Jets PK: 4-for-5
Recap: Adam Lowry and Mark Scheifele scored in the first period to lift the Jets past the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Monday night. Mason Appleton sealed the victory with a goal in the third period. Scheifele led the Jets with three shots, while Nino Niederreiter had five hits and Dylan DeMelo paced the Jets with four blocked shots. Nine different Jets had a point in the win.

Clinched
With Monday’s win, the Jets secured the final playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference… It’s the fifth time in the past six seasons that Winnipeg will compete in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs… The Jets have played 35 playoff games during the past five seasons, which is the most among the seven Canadian teams in the NHL, and have the second most wins with 16.

Central Rivals
The Jets are 18-7-0 against their Central Division counterparts this season… Winnipeg has won 13 of their past 18 games against Central Division teams… Winnipeg went 14-6-6 against their Central Division rivals last season and have a winning record in each of the past five seasons in which the Jets have been in the Central Division… Josh Morrissey (6G, 22A) leads the Jets in scoring against their divisional foes this season with 28 points in 25 games, while Blake Wheeler (9G, 14A) has 23 points in 24 games.

Warming Up in April
The Jets are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games, including 4-1-0 in the month of April… The Jets have scored 24 goals in their past six games after scoring 15 goals in their previous nine games… Josh Morrissey leads the Jets in scoring in April with seven points (1G, 6A) in five games, while Mark Scheifele (3G, 2A), Pierre-Luc Dubois (2G, 3A) and Nikolaj Ehlers (2G, 3A) have five points.

Streaking
The Jets can enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak with a win against Colorado on Thursday… Winnipeg hasn’t won four games in a row since a five-game winning streak from Dec. 29-Jan. 8, which is the team’s longest winning streak of the season.

Home Comforts
The Jets went 26-13-2 at Canada Life Centre this season, which is tied for fifth in the NHL… The Jets won 26 games at Canada Life Centre in a season for just the second time (2018-19)… Kyle Connor (19G, 28A) led the team with 47 points in 41 home games… Mark Scheifele’s 22 goals at home led the team… Winnipeg is 255-162-38 all-time at Canada Life Centre and have posted a .500 record or better at home in seven consecutive seasons.

Jets vs. COL Records
Overall Record
GP W L OT
55 27 16 12

Home Record
GP W L OT
28 16 8 4

Away Record
GP W L OT
27 11 8 8

Jets vs. COL Notes
Season Series
The Jets and Avalanche face each other for the fourth and final time in the regular season on Thursday.. Winnipeg won the first meeting, 4-3 in overtime, in Colorado on Oct. 19, and shut out the Avalanche 5-0 at Canada Life Centre on Nov. 29… Colorado won 5-1 in Winnipeg on Feb. 25.

Recent History
Prior to the loss in February, the Jets had won three consecutive games against the Avalanche… The Jets are 13-7-5 in their last 25 games against Colorado.

In Colorado
The Jets are 4-4-4 in their past 12 trips to Denver… Six of the 12 games have been decided by one goal… All four of the overtime losses have come by a 3-2 score.

Player Notes
Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in scoring against Colorado with 58 points (23G, 35A) in 41 games, including a hat trick and four-point game in the Nov. 29 meeting… Wheeler has a team-leading six points (3G, 3A) in the three games against the Avalanche this season, while Mason Appleton has three points (1G, 2A) in two games… Mark Scheifele (36 pts in 32 GP) is also averaging more than a point per game against the Avalanche.

Jets vs. COL Past 10 Games
Date Opp Res G GA S PPO PPG PIM SA PPOA PPGA PIMA
04/04/2019 @Col OTL 2 3 36 3 0 8 38 4 0 6
11/12/2019 Col L 0 4 40 2 0 6 25 3 1 4
12/31/2019 @Col W 7 4 26 1 1 10 43 4 2 4
01/06/2022 @Col L 1 7 35 5 1 14 42 4 3 16
02/25/2022 @Col L 3 6 29 2 0 20 42 4 0 6
04/08/2022 Col OTL 4 5 43 3 1 6 37 3 1 6
04/24/2022 Col W 4 1 44 2 0 4 31 2 0 4
10/19/2022 @Col W 4 3 28 2 1 6 33 1 1 8
11/29/2022 Col W 5 0 23 2 1 8 40 3 0 6
02/24/2023 Col L 1 5 27 5 1 6 36 3 0 10

COLORADO AVALANCHE NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME
COLORADO AVALANCHE (49-24-7, 105 PTS) vs. WINNIPEG JETS (46-32-3, 95 PTS)
6:08 p.m. – Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Altitude / 92.5 FM
The Colorado Avalanche takes on the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022-23 home finale tonight at Ball Arena … This evening’s
contest was originally scheduled to be Colorado’s season finale but the club will travel to Nashville after tonight’s game for
a makeup date against the Predators tomorrow … Colorado and Nashville’s Nov. 26 game was postponed when a water
main broke at Bridgestone Arena … The Avalanche are 14-2-1 in their last 17 games, 21-5-2 in their last 28 contests and 29-
7-4 in their last 40 games … Colorado is 12-5-3 in its last 20 at Ball Arena… The Avalanche have won 10 consecutive road
games, the longest road winning streak in franchise history… Colorado is 14-1-0 in its last 15 road contests and 17-2-1 in its
last 20 away from the Mile High City.

ON THE CALL
Altitude: Marc Moser (play-by-play), Mark Rycroft (analyst), Katie Gaus (reporter)
Altitude Radio: Conor McGahey, Mark Rycroft

LAST GAME
April 11 – Edmonton 2, Colorado 1 in OT (at Ball Arena)
Evan Bouchard scored a power-play goal in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena … Ben Meyers had the lone tally for the Avalanche, and Alexandar Georgiev made 39 saves.
SF: 40 SA: 29 PP: 0-3 PK: 3-4

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Apr. 9 – Jonas Johansson reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL)

CURRENT INJURIES
Darren Helm – lower body (April 4 – present)
Gabriel Landeskog – knee (Oct. 12 – present)
Artturi Lehkonen – finger (March 15 – present)
Cale Makar – lower body (April 4 – present)
Josh Manson – lower body (March 4 – present)
Total Man-Game Lost: 453

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – WINNIPEG JETS
The Avalanche and Jets close out the season series with the fourth and final meeting of 2022-23 … The Avs are 1-1-1 so far against the Jets this year but did win the most recent meeting 5-1 on Feb. 24 in Manitoba … Colorado is 8-3-1 in its last 12 against Winnipeg.

SCHEDULE vs. JETS
Oct. 19 vs. Winnipeg (O, 3-4)
Nov. 29 @ Winnipeg (L, 0-5)
Feb. 24 @ Winnipeg (W, 5-1)
Apr. 13 vs. Winnipeg

RECORD vs. JETS
THIS SEASON 2021-22 ALL-TIME PLAYOFFS
Overall: 1-1-1 Overall: 3-1-0 Overall: 27-21-7 Series: None
Home: 0-0-1 Home: 2-0-0 Home: 16-7-4
Road: 1-1-0 Road: 1-1-0 Road: 11-14-3

BACK-TO-BACK
The Avalanche finish the 2022-23 regular season with a back-to-back set tonight and tomorrow, their 13th and final backto-back of the year … The Avalanche are 17-5-2 (.750) overall in back-to-back contests this season, second in the NHL behind only Boston (23-3-2, .857) …. Colorado is 8-3-1 in the first game and owns the league’s best record on the second night at 9-2-1 (.792) … The Avs have swept each of their last three back-to-back sets and seven of their last nine … The Avalanche had a stretch of three consecutive sets of back-to-back games from Feb. 14-25, with the club earning 11 of a possible 12 points … All three of those required travel in between (either home/road or road/home) and all three opponents on the second half of the back-to-back were waiting for the Avs, with Colorado sweeping all three games.

NHL Preview: St. Louis Blues (37-37-7) at Dallas Stars (46-21-14)

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ST. LOUIS BLUES NOTES:

CURRENT INJURIES
None
2022-23 Total Man Games Lost: 276

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April
10 – Recalled goaltender Joel Hofer, forward Hugh McGing, and defenseman Tyler Tucker from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
9 – Assigned defenseman Dmitri Samorukov and goaltender Vadim Zherenko to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
6 – Recalled defenseman Dmitri Samorukov from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) under emergency conditions
6 – Assigned defenseman Matthew Kessel to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)

BLUES vs. STARS (Reg. Season)

  • The Blues will finish off the season in Dallas tonight after hosting Dallas last night, a 5-2 Stars victory
  • The Blues are 0-2-0 against the Stars this season (Lost 4-1 on Nov. 28 in St. Louis & lost 5-2 last night at home)
  • The Blues went 3-1-0 against Dallas last season (2-0-0 at home; 1-1-0 away)
  • The Blues are 7-3-1 in their last 11 games against Dallas
  • The Blues are 3-1-0 in their last 4 trips to Dallas
  • The Blues are also 4-2-1 in their last 7 trips to Dallas
  • The Blues have scored a power play goal in 6 of their last 7 games against Dallas, going 8 for 24 (33.3%) on the power play over those 7 games (scored a power play goal in 5 straight games from Feb. 29, 2020 to Jan. 9, 2022)

BLUES GO MARCHING IN

  • Since Mar. 9, the Blues are 10-6-2 (22 points)
  • Their 10 wins since Mar. 9 share 7th in the NHL (1. Boston, 15), while their 22 points share 8th in the NHL (1. Boston, 30)
  • The Blues have scored 70 goals since Mar. 9, which ranks 1st in the NHL
  • Since Mar. 9, Jordan Kyrou shares 7th in the NHL with 11 goals, while Jakub Vrana shares 10th in the NHL with 10 goals (1 Pastrnak, 16)
  • Vrana also shares 10th in the NHL with 4 power play goals since Mar. 9 (1. Reinhart/MacKinnon, 7)

DALLAS STARS NOTES:

LAST DALLAS STARS GAME
April 12, 2023 – STARS 5 at BLUES 2
Led by a two-goal performance from rookie Wyatt Johnston (2-0—2), three-assist night from forward Jason Robertson (0-3—3), multi-point games from captain Jamie Benn (0-2—2) and defenseman Miro Heiskanen (0-2—2) and a 16-save effort from goaltender Scott Wedgewood, the Stars defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Wednesday for their fifth consecutive victory. Forwards Joe Pavelski (1-0—1), Tyler Seguin (1-0—1) and Roope Hintz (1-0—1) rounded out the scoring for Dallas, who went 3-for-5 on the power play. PP: 3-5 | PK: 1-2 | SF: 37 | SA: 18 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (22:45 – game high) | Attendance: 18,096 Three Stars: 1. DAL – W. Johnston 2. DAL – J. Robertson 3. DAL – T. Seguin

UPCOMING REGULAR SEASON GAME SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time (CT) Location TV/Radio
Thu, April 13, 2023 St. Louis Blues 7 p.m. American Airlines Center ESPN/KTCK

INJURIES
Man-games lost, 2022-23: 79
NAME INJURY GAMES

MISSED DATES
D Miro Heiskanen Upper body 3 Oct. 25-29
G Jake Oettinger Lower body 4 Nov. 1-8
F Denis Gurianov Upper body 6 Nov. 11-21
F Roope Hintz Lower body 1 Nov. 19
Upper body 7 Jan. 10-21
Lower body 1 April 6
F Joel Kiviranta Lower body 11 Feb. 8-Mar. 4
F Luke Glendening Undisclosed 11 Feb. 18-Mar. 13
G Scott Wedgewood Undisclosed 1 Feb. 22-25
Undisclosed 14 Mar. 1-28
F Tyler Seguin Lower body 6 Mar. 11-21
F Mason Marchment Lower body 14 Mar. 14-pres.
Dallas Stars: Media Notes

DALLAS STARS NOTES
X GON’ GIVE IT TO YA

  • The Stars are headed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight year, 18th time since relocating to Dallas in 1993-94 and 35th time in franchise history. Dallas became the 10th team to clinch a berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  • With a victory on April 6 vs. Philadelphia, the Stars (43-21-14, 100 points) secured a 100-point season for the 10th time in franchise history and first since 2015-16 (109 points). Each of the previous 10 times the franchise has reached the century mark have come since the team relocated to Dallas ahead of the 1993-94 season.
  • Dallas currently sits in first place in the Central with a one-point edge on Colorado. (The Avs have two games remaining while the Stars have one). The Stars clinched home ice in the First Round by virtue of a Jets victory over the Wild in regulation on April 11.

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Stars have reached the final game of their 2022-23 regular season as they host the St. Louis Blues on Fan Appreciation Night at American Airlines Center. (7 p.m. CT, TV: ESPN, Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM/1310-AM). This caps off the club’s 10th and final set of back-to-backs this season. Following tonight’s game, the Stars will begin their quest for the Stanley Cup beginning next week. (Round 1 dates TBD).

GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IF YOU STILL WANNA LISTEN

  • The Stars are 2-0-0 vs. the Blues this season, winning 4-1 on Nov. 28, 2022 and 5-2 on April 12, both at Enterprise Center.
  • Dallas is 117-130-55 all-time vs. St. Louis, including a 45-80-27 mark on the road.
  • Forward Wyatt Johnston (3-0—3) had three goals in two games vs. St. Louis this season, including a multi-goal performance on April 12.
  • Forward Jason Robertson had three assists (0-3—3) in Dallas’ 5-2 victory on April 12 and enters tonight’s game with seven points (3-4—7) in six career games vs. St. Louis.
  • Captain Jamie Benn had two helpers (0-2—2) against the Blues on April 12. Benn leads active Stars in goals (21) and points (21- 27—48) and ranks second in assists (27) in 50 career games against St. Louis. Benn also paces the club in power-play goals (7) and overtime tallies (2) and shares first in game winners (3).
  • Forward Joe Pavelski lit the lamp on April 12 at St. Louis and ranks second among active Stars in goals (12) and third in points (12-16—28) in 54 career games vs. the Blues. Of his 12 goals, seven have come on the power play.
  • Forward Tyler Seguin ranks third among active Stars in goals (9) and assists (19) and ranks shares third in points (9-19—28) in 40 career games vs. St. Louis.
  • Forward Roope Hintz has six goals (6-0—6) in 14 career games against the Blues.
  • Forward Evgenii Dadonov has eight points (1-7—8) in 11 career games vs. St. Louis.
  • Defenseman Miro Heiskanen had two assists (0-2—2) in the win on April 12 and enters tonight’s game with eight points (2-6—8) in 14 career games vs. St. Louis.
  • Defenseman Ryan Suter ranks first among active Stars in assists (33) and second in points (7-33—40) in a team-high 88 career games vs. St. Louis. Suter has played more regular season games against St. Louis than any other team.
  • Goaltender Jake Oettinger is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in two career appearances against the Blues.
  • Netminder Scott Wedgewood is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .936 SV% in three career appearances vs. St. Louis.

2022-23 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Nov. 28, 2022 at St. Louis – W, 4-1
April 12 at St. Louis – W, 5-2
April 13 vs. St. Louis

MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (7-5) at St. Louis Cardinals (5-7)

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PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:…were shut out 7-0 in the deciding game of their three-game series against the Astros Wednesday at PNC Park…Won in walkoff fashion for the first time this season Tuesday night…Have won six of their last nine 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.

HITTIN’ THE ROAD: Tonight the Pirates will open a four-game series here in St. Louis as part of a seven-game road trip… The trip will continue with three games at Coors Field beginning Monday night…This is the first of two road trips to St. Louis this year (also September 1-3).

ON THE ROAD: The Pirates bring a three-game road winning streak into their game tonight after sweeping the Red Sox to close out their last trip from April 3-5…Pittsburgh won four straight games on the road on two occasions last season, doing so from July 9-12 and again from September 12-14.

AGAINST THE CARDS: Bryan Reynolds has gone deep twice in his last four games at Busch Stadium and has hit safely in 14 of his last 18 games here…Jack Suwinski has hit safely in eight of his last nine games against the Cards, going 11-for23 (.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 four of his five games against the Cardinals last year, going 7-for-16 (.438)…Jason Delay and Canaan Smith-Njigba each made their big league debuts against the Cardinals last year.

REYNOLDS ON A ROLL: Bryan Reynolds has hit safely in 11 of his first 12 games coming into today (his only hitless game came on Monday)…Reynolds enters today ranked first in the National League in RBI (14) and total bases (36), tied for second in home runs (five), second in slugging (.735), fourth in OPS (1.093) and ninth in batting (.347).

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Vince Velasquez will get the start tonight in the opener of this four-game series against the Cardinals…The Pirates signed Velasquez to a one-year contract this past offseason on December 13…Velasquez spent the 2022 campaign with the Chicago White Sox, where he went 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA (75.1ip/40er) in 27 appearances (nine starts).

SCOUTING REPORT: Vince Velasquez spent the 2022 season with the White Sox, where he posted the best walk rate (2.99 percent) of his career while splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen…Velasquez ranked in the 78th percentile in Zone Miss percentage (19.5%), 74th percentile in Batting Average on Balls In Play (.270), 88th percentile of Four-Seam spin rate (2417) and 73rd percentile for average Slider spin rate (2501) among pitchers with at least 75.0 innings pitched last season according to TruMedia.

PROVIDING RELIEF: Pittsburgh’s bullpen enters today ranked fifth among National League teams in ERA (3.74) and sixth in batting average against (.237)…Pirates relievers have also surrendered a total of three home runs this year…The only five teams in all of MLB to surrender fewer home runs out of the bullpen are the Brewers, Red Sox, Yankees, Cardinals and Rangers with two apiece.

BACK TO THE NL: The Pirates ended their stretch of nine straight games against American League opponents with a 7-0 loss yesterday against the Astros…Pittsburgh went 6-3 during the nine games after sweeping Boston at Fenway, taking two of three against the White Sox last weekend and dropping two of three to Houston to close out the homestand.

DOWN ON THE FARM: Altoona enters today leading all teams at the Double-A level in home runs (10)…Yesterday Altoona matched its single-game team record with six home runs in a 17-6 win against Erie…Mason Martin went deep twice, while Henry Davis, Lolo Sanchez and Andres Alvarez all added their first home runs of the season in the win…Matt Fraizer also hit his second in as many games in the ninth inning.

GETTING ON: Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 10 of his first 11 games and enters today fourth in the National League with a .476 on-base percentage…Since going 2-for-11 in his first five games, McCutchen is 8-for-20 (.400) with a 1.058 OPS in his last six games.

PIRATING: The Pirates enter today tied for second in the National League along with the Mets and tied for fourth in all of MLB with 14 stolen bases..The only three teams in all of MLB with more stolen bases are the Guardians (19), Diamondbacks (17) and Orioles (17).

MAKE THAT A DOUBLE: Andrew McCutchen enters today with 294 career doubles as a member of the Pirates, which is tied with Bill Mazeroski for the eighth-most in club history…Dave Parker ranks seventh (296).

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – 27 – RHP VINCE VELASQUEZ
VINCE VELASQUEZ: The 30-year-old righthander is making his third start of the season…Lost an 11-5 decision (2.2ip/5er) in his last start on Saturday vs. the White Sox.

vs. ST. LOUIS: 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA (33.1ip/21er) in seven career appearances (six starts)…Hasn’t faced the RedBirds since 9/17/21 here at Busch when he allowed four runs in 4.0 innings while losing an 8-2 decision against Miles Mikolas…His lone win (6.1ip/0r) vs. the Cards came on 5/17/18 here at Busch while pitching for the Phillies.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending NL Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals kick off a seven-game homestand tonight by welcoming the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates for the first of four games at Busch Stadium … The Arizona Diamondbacks make their annual visit to St. Louis on Monday for three games … The Redbirds split their first road trip through Milwaukee (1-2) and Colorado (2-1), with yesterday’s win securing their first series win since taking 2-of-3 in their season-opening series against Toronto and their first road series win since Sept. 9-11, 2022 at Pittsburgh.

WALKER MAKING HISTORY: Rookie Jordan Walker’s historic 12-game hitting streak to begin his career (chart left):

• Is a Cardinals rookie record and ties for the 10th-longest all-time by any player to begin a Major League career … David Dahl (2016 Rockies) and Chuck Aleno (1941 Reds) share the MLB rookie record at 17 games.

• Is the 2nd player age 20 years or younger all-time, matching Philadelphia Athletics outfielder Eddie Murphy’s 111-year-old record, of hitting safely ineach of his first 12 games in 1912 at age 20.

• Current Cardinals Bench Coach Joe McEwing holds the franchise rookie record for longest hitting streak, doing so in 25 games (June 8-July 4, 1999), the 8th-longest overall hit streak in franchise history … Walker needs hits in his next 2 games to tie Jerry Mumphrey (1976) and Terry Pendleton (1984) for the 4th-longest rookie hitting streak in franchise history at 14 games.

• Is the 8th-longest by any Cardinal to begin a season and the longest since Matt Holliday’s 12 game streak in 2015 … Joe Torre owns the franchise record with 22 games to begin his 1971 MVP season.

• Ties Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott (12) with MLB’s longest active hitting streak.

AHOY, MATEY: St. Louis has won the season series over Pittsburgh for nine consecutive seasons (2014-22) and 20 times in the last 23 years since 2000 (excluding 2008, 2012, 2013). BURIED TREASURE: St. Louis owns MLB’s best overall win percentage against the Pirates (.591, 107-74) dating back to 2013 when the two teams squared off in the Division Series.

NOOT NEWS: The Cardinals announced that OF Lars Nootbaar will begin an injury rehab assignment with Springfield (AA) tonight at Arkansas (AA-Mariners) … Nootbaar has missed the previous 11 games since jamming his left thumb while sliding into third base on opening day.

STORMIN GORMAN: Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Cardinals were one of five MLB teams with zero homers in “close & late” situations … Since, Nolan Gorman has provided go-ahead blasts in the eighth inning or later in back-to-back games, becoming the 4th Cardinal to do so with Stan Musial (1948), José Cruz (1973) and Albert Pujols (2011) … Prior to the Colorado series, Gorman had never homered in his career past the 7th inning.

CENTRAL PERKS: St. Louis went 48-28 (.632) against the NL Central last season (26-12 at home) for MLB’s 4th-best intra-divisional record behind the Astros (.671 vs. AL West), Dodgers (.711 vs. NL West), and Mets (.658 vs. NL East) … With the introduction of MLB’s new balanced schedule this season, the Cardinals now face each divisional opponent 13 times each (two series both at home and on the road) for a total of 52 games, a reduction of 24 games from last season’s format.

KIDS CLUB: The Cardinals own the majors top combined rookie totals for batting avg. (.312) and are 2nd in hits (24) & 4th in OPS (.880).

ROOKIE RANKINGS: Rookie outfielder Jordan Walker, the Cardinals 1st round draft selection in 2020 and MLB’s youngest player this season, is the MLB rookie leader in hits (15) and batting average (.319), and ranks among rookie leaders in OBP (.360, 6th), slugging (.489, 5th), OPS (.849, 5th), RBI (8, 3rd) and total bases (23, 3rd) … Walker’s first 15 hits have come off of 15 different pitchers.

POWERBALL: St. Louis is 4-1 when homering multiple times in a game this season … The last time the Cardinals had 3+ homers in three consecutive games was Sept. 24(G1)-Sept. 25, 2021 at Chicago Cubs (3 HR, 5 HR, 3 HR).

OFF THE BAT: According to Baseball Savant, St. Louis ranks 2nd in MLB in hard hit balls of 95+mph (151) behind the Dodgers (154) and 3rd in average exit velocity (90.7 mph) … Paul Goldschmidt (20), Jordan Walker (19), & Nolan Arenado (18) pace the team in hard hit balls.

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (2-0, 2.25 ERA)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: Wins (2, T-3rd), Run Support Avg (11.25, 1st), WHIP (1.00, T-6th), Baserunners/9 IP (9.00, T-6th), Walks/9 IP (2.25, 9th), HR/9 IP (0.00, T-1st).

• Is set to make his 3rd start of the young season and his 111th career (14th as a member of the Cardinals).

• Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 73 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22).

• Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (38 total batters faced). Joins Bailey Falter, Joey Kuhnel, Brooks Raley, Will Smith and Josh Winder as pitchers who have faced 38+ batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.

• Made his fourth Opening Day Roster and first with the Cardinals, adding to 2018, 2021 and 2022 with the Yankees. Was on the Injured List in 2019 and Taxi Squad in 2020.

• Is 8-3 as a member of the Cardinals and St. Louis has won 10 of his 13 starts.

• Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (87-of-110) of his career starts. Ranks 18th among left-handed pitchers since 2017 with 87.

• Leads MLB pitchers in run support average (11.25).

LAST TIME OUT
• Improved to 2-0 for the second time in his career (2018) with seven scoreless innings at MIL (4/8) for a 6-0 win. Struck out a season-high nine, matching his single-game high as a member of the Cardinals. Snapped a four-game losing streak by the Cardinals.

DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/8 @MIL W 6-0 W-2 7.0 3 0 0 2 9 0 100-61
2023

• Won his opening start of the season behind a 9-4 offensive effort vs. TOR (4/2) in a series clinching win.

• Threw 7.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball at MIL (4/8). Was the longest outing by a Cardinals pitcher this season and his 2nd consecutive scoreless outing against an N.L. Central opponent on the road (16.0 IP streak).

MLB Preview: Philadelphia Phillies (4-8) at Cincinnati Reds (4-7)

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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:

GAME #12 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Miami Marlins, 3-2, in extra innings at CBP in South Philly … Starter Zack Wheeler (ND) went 6.0 innings and allowed only 1 run on 3 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts … Jose Alvarado followed Wheeler and after striking out his 11th consecutive batter, he allowed a game-tying solo home run to Jorge Soler … Bryson Stott had another multi-hit game as did Trea Turner.
 RE-START: Over their last eight starts (since 4/4), the Phillies’ starting rotation has posted a 2.81 ERA (13 ER, 41.2 IP) … The starting staff has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of those eight starts, two runs or fewer in six of eight, and one run or none in four of eight … Over their first four games of the season (3/30- 4/3), the rotation posted a 7.64 ERA (15 ER, 17.2 IP) … Overall, the rotation has combined for a 4.25 ERA (28 ER, 59.1 IP) which ranks 6th among all NL starting staffs.

RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Through 12 games, the Phillies are a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts and they are one of three major league clubs with 10 or more steals without a caught stealing (others: CWS, 13-for-13 and OAK, 10-for-10) … Trea Turner and Bryson Stott lead the club with three steals each … Dating back to last season, Stott has swiped seven straight bases without being caught (last CS was 9/16/22 at ATL) and Turner has been successful in his last eight tries (last CS was on 9/5/22 vs SF) … As a club, the Phillies are 20 for their last 21 in stolen base attempts (since 9/30/22) – that single caught stealing was on Oct. 3, 2022 at HOU when J.T. Realmuto was nabbed for the first time all year after starting 21-for-21 in steals.

LAW OF AVERAGES: Through 12 games, the Phillies have a .282 AVG and 118 hits (9.8 per game) which are the most through the first 12 games of a season for a Phillies club since 2011 (129 hits through 12 G) … Among all Phillies clubs in the modern era (since 1900), 118 hits through 12 games ranks 21st … For context, last year’s club had 98 hits through their first 12 games (8.2 per game) and a .251 average … Philadelphia’s .282 AVG through their first 12 games ranks 16th in the modern era among Phillies clubs (best: .315 AVG in 1953).

GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott has hit safely in all 12 games this season and has multiple hits in nine of those 12 games, including each of the last five (since 4/8) … Stott is 8-for-19 off left-handers (.421 AVG) and 13-for-31 off right-handers (.419 AVG) … Stott is the first Phillies player to hit safely in 12 straight to begin a season since Puddin’ Head Jones (16 G) in 1950 … Additionally, Stott is the first MLB player with nine multi-hit games in his first 12 games of a season since Matt Carpenter did so in 2015 (also 9 of first 12) … Stott is the first Phillies player with nine multi-hit games in his first 12 games since Jeff Stone in 1984 (also 9 of 12).

SAINT NICK: Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos picked up his fifth outfield assist yesterday in his ninth game in right field this season … Per Elias, Castellanos is the first Phillies outfielder to reach five assists in so few games in the expansion era (since 1961) and he is the first MLB outfielder to reach five assists in so few games since MIL’s Matt Mieske in 1997 (also 5 OF assists in 9 games) … Castellanos leads MLB in outfield assists (next: Acuna, Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman T-2nd with 3) and he ranks T-6th among ML outfielders in defensive runs saved (DRS) with three, tied with TOR’s Kevin Kiermaier and MIL’s Christian Yelich … At the plate, Castellanos had seven doubles through his first 10 games played and became only the fourth Phillies player with seven or more doubles through 10 games in the modern era (since 1900), joining John Kruk in 1993 (7 2B), Bake McBride in 1981 (8 2B) and Puddin’ Head Jones in 1949 (7 2B).

CASTY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND: In 109 career games at Great American Ball Park, Nick Castellanos is slashing .315/.371/.644 with a 1.015 OPS in 456 plate appearances … He has 64 extra-base hits (27 2B, 2 3B, 35 HR) in those 109 games … There have been 49 major league players with at least 400 plate appearances in the history of Great American Ball Park (since 2003), and of those 49, Castellanos’ .644 SLG ranks 1st (next: Rich Aurilla, .559 SLG) and his 1.015 OPS ranks 1st (next: Shin-soo Choo, .960 OPS) … Among all active players in MLB (min. 400 PA) in any single ballpark, Castellanos’ OPS in this building ranks 6th behind Mike Trout at T-Mobile Park (1.143), Corey Dickerson at Coors Field (1.081), Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium (1.029), Joey Votto at Wrigley Field (1.025) and Trout at Angel Stadium (1.023) … Castellanos’ .644 SLG at GABP ranks 3rd among all active players in any ballpark (min. 400 PA) behind only Trout at T-Mobile (.708 SLG) and Dickerson at Coors (.669 SLG) … Castellanos has hit safely in seven straight games at GABP (since 9/24/21) and over his last 60 games (since 5/2/21), he is slashing .363/.410/.686 in 251 plate appearances at GABP.

STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, GOOD LUCK: Yesterday, LHP Jose Alvarado became the first major league relief pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to strike out 11 consecutive batters in a single season … Eric Gagne (2003) and Chad Green (2019) were the only two to reach 10 straight, prior to Alvarado … Alvarado extended his career-best scoreless streak to 18.2 innings yesterday before Jorge Soler hit a solo home run to end the scoreless streak (began on 8/26/22) … Alvarado has multiple strikeouts in each of his last 12 appearances (since 9/13/22), and in that span, has 29 strikeouts to just one walk in 13.0 total innings pitched with a 64.4% strikeout rate (45 batters faced) … Alvarado has faced 19 batters this season – he has struck out 13 of them without allowing a walk.

NEW TONIGHT, AT (THE) 6: On 12/8/22, the Phillies signed SS Trea Turner to an 11-year contract, taking him through the 2033 season … Last year with LAD, Turner was selected as an All-Star for the second time in his career, was named All-MLB First Team and won his first career Louisville Silver Slugger Award after slashing .298/.343/.466 with a 121 OPS+ and 27 steals in 30 attempts … Per Statcast, his average sprint speed of 30.3 feet per second ranked 5th out of 582 qualified players … In 2021, Turner led the majors in AVG (.328) and hits (195), led the NL in stolen bases (32) and total bases (319) and posted a career-best 6.8 fWAR (FanGraphs) which ranked 3rd among all ML position players.

TONIGHT’S STARTER – BAILEY FALTER • LHP #70
LAST START: 4/8 vs CIN: 5.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 SO, HR … Falter vs Lodolo … The Phillies defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in walk-off fashion at Citizens Bank Park … The Phillies entered the 9th inning down 2-0 with 15 strikeouts on the day … They proceeded to rally for 3 runs, capped by a Bryson Stott walk-off single that scored Brandon Marsh.

TONIGHT’S START:
• Walk It Out: Falter has not walked a batter in 2 starts this season, with his last start marking the 8th time in his last 10 starts he has not issued a walk (since 8/26/22) … In that span, he has walked only 4 of the 196 batters he has faced (2.0% walk rate), the lowest in MLB (min. 175 BF), and his 9.75 SO/BB ratio (39 SO) trails only Jacob deGrom (10.38) and Drew Rasmussen (10.25)… There have been only 5 other unique Phillies pitchers since at least 1901 to walk 4 or fewer in a span of 10 starts: Cliff Lee (8x, last: 9/6/13-4/21/14), Jon Lieber (4x, 2006-07), Rick Wise (3x, 1967-68), Snipe Hansen (1932-33) and Bill Duggleby (2x, 1921) … Michael Pineda (7/26/21-4/27/22) was the last ML starter to do so … Dating back to 6/17/22, Falter has issued 2 or fewer walks in 16 straight starts, including 1 or 0 in 11 of those

• Mark of Consistency: Since 7/29/22, Falter has gone 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA (20 ER, 61.1 IP), 1.06 WHIP (7 BB, 84 H) and an OPP slash line of .249/.277/.403 … He ranks 13th among all NL pitchers in ERA (min. 60.0 IP) in that span, percentage points behind today’s counterpart Nick Lodolo (2.93) … Removing his 6 ER in 3.2 IP on 9/24 vs ATL, he has a 2.18 ERA (14 ER, 57.2 IP) and 0.95 WHIP in that span • The Stopper: Made 8 starts for the Phillies after a loss in 2022 and in those starts had a 2.39 ERA (10 ER, 37.2 IP), allowing one or no runs in six of them, including each of his last five

• CIN City: Falter is facing CIN and Nick Lodolo for the second consecutive start … He has allowed just 2 ER in 10.2 IP against CIN in his career (1.69 ERA)

• Left Lost: Falter has allowed 7 hits to the last 51 LHH he has faced (dating to the middle of 7/7/22 vs WSH), a .137 OPP AVG

• vs NL Central: 1-1, 4.75 ERA (19 ER, 36.1 IP) in 11 games (5 starts)

ROAD:
• 2023: 0-1, 3.38 ERA (2 ER, 5.1 IP) in 1 start

• Career: 5-2, 3.77 ERA (31 ER, 74.0 IP) in 23 games (11 starts)

2023 SEASON:
• Made his second career and consecutive Opening Day roster

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

RED HOTS
• The Reds today returned from a rehabilitation assignment & reinstated from the 10-day injured list IF/OF Nick Senzel (#15) and optioned to Louisville OF Will Benson.

• Senzel is coming off a rehabilitation assignment with Louisville that began on 4/4 (7g, 2gs in CF, 2gs in LF, 2gs at 3B, 1gs at DH, 6-25, .240, 2 2b, 1hr, 3rbi, 1sb, 6bb, 7k, 1hbp, .846ops).

• On 11/14/22, Senzel had surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe.

TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day.

• Is Game 1 of a 4-game series vs Elyssa Kaplan’s Phillies and Game 1 of a 7-game homestand that includes an upcoming 3-game series vs the
American League East Division’s Tampa Bay Rays, who will play here for the second straight season.

• The Reds are coming off their first road trip of the season (1-5; 1-2 at Phi, 0-3 at Atl)…included Thu’s rainout of the Phillies’ home opener.

SERIES NOTES
• The Reds and Phillies are meeting for the second consecutive weekend.

• The Reds are 34-40 all-time vs Phi at Great American Ball Park, including 1-2 last season.

• Last weekend at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies earned a 2-1 series win in their first home games of the season.

• With a minimum of 50 games played, the Reds’ .328 winning percentage at Phi’s Citizens Bank Park (21-43) is their lowest at any road ballpark.

• The Reds went 3-14-2 in their 19 previous series vs the Phillies at CBP, their only series wins there in August 2006, May 2017 & August 2021.

• Since May 2014, the Reds have lost 19 of their last 27 games at CBP.

RAYS UP NEXT
• The Reds are 13-5 all-time vs the Rays, including 3-0 here last season and 7-2 overall in Cincinnati.

• The Reds’ 18 games vs the Rays are tied for their fourth-fewest vs any opponent in the American League (Orioles 15, Angels 16, Red Sox 17, Mariners 18, Rangers 19).

• Overall the Reds won 4 of the previous 6 series vs the Rays, including 3-game series sweeps in June 2003 at Tropicana Field, June 2005 at Great American Ball Park and July 2022 at GABP.

• Dating back to the 2014 season, the Reds have won the last 4 games vs TB at GABP, including last season’s 3-0 series sweep here in July.

REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (9g, 8gs at 1B, 1gs at DH, 5-33, .152, 1 2b, solo HR, 4rbi, 6bb, 20k)…began his rehab on 4/1 at Nashville and hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown… on 8/19/22 had surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

• RHP Tony Santillan is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (3g, 0-1, 10.13, 2.2ip, 2h, 3er, 2bb, 4k, 1hr, .200baa)…Tue at Toledo suffered a blown save and the 7-3 Bats loss (0.2ip, 2h, 3er, 1bb, 1k, Jonathan Davis solo HR, 5bf, 22 pitches)…is recovering from a low back Pars stress fracture.

• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 5.0 innings tomorrow at Toledo.

• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (2g, 0-0, 0.00, 2ip, 1h, 0r, 1bb, 3k, .143baa)…threw a scoreless fifth inning in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (1h, 0bb, 1k, 4bf, 12 pitches)…threw a hitless fifth inning in last night’s 7-1 loss at Toledo (1bb, 2k, 4bf, 21 pitches).

Tonight’s Pitcher – #40 Nick Lodolo, LHP
• Tonight is making his third start of the season…will be his second straight start and fourth career apppearence vs the Phillies…also made last season’s 2 apps vs Phi in consecutive starts.

• Left Sat’s 3-2 loss at Citizens Bank Park with a 1-0 lead but became the victim of a blown save when the Phillies scored 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth off Alexis Díaz and Ian Gibaut…Lodolo’s career-high 12 strikeouts were the most by a Reds lefthander since Amir Garrett had 12 strikeouts on 4/19/17 vs Bal…was Lodolo’s third career game with at least 10 strikeouts…Lodolo became only the fourth Reds lefthander to record at least 7.0 scoreless innings with at least 12 strikeouts (Tom Hall on 5/14/72/g2 vs StL, Johnny Vander Meer 5 times, Rube Benton on 6/11/1915 vs Dodgers).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (7th overall) of the June 2019 first-year player draft…was signed by Paul Scott…was Texas Christian University’s highest-ever baseball draft pick.

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

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MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

THE TWINS: Completed their six-game homestand with a record of 4-2, going 2-1 vs. both Houston and Chicago-AL…tonight, they will begin a seven-game, eight-day roadtrip with four games against the Yankees through Sunday…they will travel to Boston on the off-day Monday, then play the Red Sox for three games at Fenway Park from Tuesday-Thursday.

WEDNESDAY WINNER AT TARGET FIELD: The Twins beat the White Sox yesterday afternoon at Target Field by a score of 3-1, winning the three-game series…Sonny Gray (2-0) was the starter and winner, pitching 5.0 shutout innings, with three hits allowed, two walks and five strikeouts…Jorge Alcala (1.0 IP), Jorge López (1.0 IP) and Griffin Jax (1.0 IP) each earned a hold, while Jhoan Duran earned his third save in four chances…the offense recorded 10 hits, highlighted by Michael A. Taylor, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI…Willi Castro came off the bench and went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and run scored.

TWINS ADD GARLICK: The Twins announced today that they have placed infielder Kyle Farmer on the 10-day Injured List with a facial laceration…Farmer sustained the injury in the fourth inning of yesterday’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field, after being struck by a pitch…to replace Farmer on the 26-man roster, the Twins have selected the contract of outfielder Kyle Garlick from Triple-A St. Paul…Garlick, 31, has hit .235 (8-for-34) with one double, two home runs, seven RBI, two walks, one stolen base, six runs scored and a .738 OPS in eight games for the Saints this season…to make room for Garlick on the 40-man roster, the Twins have transferred outfielder Gilberto Celestino to the 60-day Injured List.

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND: The Twins and Yankees are playing the first of seven scheduled games in 2023…after this four-game series, the Twins will host the Yankees for three games from April 24-26 at Target Field…the Twins went 2-5 against New York last season, going 1-2 at Target Field from June 7-9 and 1-3 at Yankee Stadium from September 5-8…since 2002, the Twins have gone 38-98 against the Yankees in regular season play…since the start of 2017, they are 2-16 in regular season games at Yankee Stadium…their only two wins came on May 4, 2019 by a final score of 7-3 and their final game of 2022 on September 8, winning by a score of 4-3, behind a Carlos Correa two-run, eighth-inning homer.

Carlos Correa is hitting .310 (44-for-142) with eight doubles, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 16 walks, a .377 on-base percentage, a .599 slugging percentage and a .976 OPS in 37 career regular season games against the Yankees…he has hit safely in six straight against New York, homering three times in that span…additionally, he has homered in two-straight games at Yankee Stadium.

Byron Buxton is hitting .224 (11-for-49) in 15 career regular season games against the Yankees, but has hit .455 (10-for-22) with three doubles, four home runs, six RBI, four walks, a .556 on-base percentage, a 1.136 slugging percentage and a 1.692 OPS in his last six.

Jose Miranda hit .320 (8-for-25) with one double, one home run, five RBI, two walks and an .850 OPS in seven games vs. New York-AL during his rookie season last year.

STRONG STARTS: Through 12 games, Twins starting pitchers have combined to post a 2.41 ERA (71.0 IP, 19 ER), with 17 walks, 86 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP…below are their ranks among all starting staffs in Major League Baseball:

ERA BAA FIP WHIP HITS ALLOWED K’s OPS
TB – 2.11 MIN – .189 TB – 1.93 MIN – 0.92 TB – 45 MIN – 86 TB – .507
MIN – 2.41 TB – .197 MIN – 2.89 TB – 0.95 MIN – 48 TEX – 81 MIN – .546
HOU – 3.38 MIL – .229 TEX – 3.34 LAD – 1.09 NYY – 49 CWS – 80 NYY – .652
NYY – 3.41 NYY – .231 LAD – 3.48 SF – 1.17 CHC – 52 TB – 79 LAD – ..655
CHC – 3.46 LAD – .232 CLE – 3.57 MIL – 1.22 DET – 53 CIN – 69 MIL – .671

Twins pitchers have overall posted a 31 percent strikeout rate this season, far above the MLB league average of 23 percent.

RISPY BUSINESS: The Twins are hitting .167 (4-for-24) with runners in scoring position in their last four games after beginning the season hitting .340 (17-for-50) with RISP in their first eight…on the season, they are hitting .294 (25-for-85) with RISP, the fifth best in baseball, trailing Chicago-NL (.365), Tampa Bay (.347), Texas (.317) and Arizona (.300)…additionally, they are hitting .302 (13-for-43) with RISP and two outs, tied for seventh best in baseball.

THE BUCK SHOW: Byron Buxton hit his 100th career home run Tuesday night, becoming the 20th player in club history (since 1961) to reach that mark…he has 13 hits in 43 at-bats to start the season (.302)…since 2021, Buck is hitting .346 (55-for-159) with 13 doubles, 16 home runs, 30 RBI and 34 runs scored in 42 March/April games…in that span, he ranks among qualifiers in slugging percentage (1st, .742), home runs (2nd), batting average (2nd) and OPS (2nd)…in 2021, he was named American League Player of the Month for April.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Michael A. Taylor has started all 12 games for the Twins in centerfield… he ranks third among all centerfielders in baseball in Ultimate Zone Rating at 1.3, trailing Luis Robert Jr. (2.1) and Kyle Isbel (1.4)…Taylor has played 108.0 innings in center, the fifth most in baseball…also has consecutive two-hit games at the plate, going 4-for-8 with one home run and 3 RBI.

Byron Buxton has started at designated hitter in 10 of 12 games and has yet to play in the field…Buck is hitting .310 (13-for-42) with an .865 OPS, leading all designated hitters in baseball in batting average and ranking fourth in OPS.

CHRISTIAN ROCKS: Christian Vázquez has eight hits in 25 at-bats this season, including five walks and is slashing .320/.433/.360 with a .793 OPS in eight games…he has reached base in seven of his eight games played (0-for-3 on April 4 at Miami)…among all catchers in baseball, he ranks third in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average, and tied for fifth in walks.

He also has three defensive runs saved, tied for first all MLB catchers.

He has a catcher ERA of 1.97, which ranks second best in baseball, trailing Tampa Bay’s Francisco Mejía (131).

OH D!!: Donovan Solano has hit safely in seven-straight games, the longest for a Twin this season…the streak is tied for fifth-longest active streak in the AL…his career-high is 17, done with San Francisco from July 25-August 15, 2020…during his current stretch, he is hitting .370 (10-for-27) with two walks, a .433 on-base percentage and an .841 OPS in that span…he was signed by the Twins to a one-year contract on February 23.

STARTING PITCHER – JOE RYAN 41
Making his third start and appearance of 2023 and his second road start this year…also his 35th career start and appearance.

Has won a career-best five consecutive decisions, since September 13, 2022; is 5-0, 1.96 ERA (36.2 IP, 8 ER) with 11 walks, 43 strikeouts and a .143 opponent batting average in that six-start span.

Facing New York-AL for the second time in his career…lost only previous start vs. the Yankees in second game of doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on September 7, 2022 (4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R/ER, 4 BB, 3 K).

LAST TIME OUT: Ryan won his second-straight start to open the season on April 8 vs. the Houston Astros at Target Field, pitching 6.0 innings with four runs and three hits allowed, one walk and 10 strikeouts…his 10 strikeouts were the second-most in his career, one shy of his 11 strikeouts on September 22, 2021 at Chicago-NL…all four runs came in on designated hitter Yordan Alvarez’s grand slam in the top of the third inning…opposed right-handed pitcher Luis Garcia, who did not factor into the decision…Ryan retired the last 11 batters he faced and exited after 6.0 complete innings, then the Twins broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to win 9-6, securing the series victory.

TWO STARTS AGO: Earned the win against the Kansas City Royals in his first start of the 2023 season April 2 at Kauffman Stadium, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing one run and three hits with two walks and six strikeouts opposite Brad Keller…was supported with six runs, including two home runs from Joey Gallo…Twins won 7-4 to sweep the series…his lone blemish was a two-out solo home run by Royals outfielder Edward Olivares in the bottom of the second inning…improved to 5-0, 1.20 ERA (30.0 IP, 4 ER) with nine walks and 32 strikeouts in five career starts vs. Kansas City.

JOE IN THE BIG APPLE: In his one previous start against New York-AL, Ryan pitched 4.0 innings, allowed four runs and three hits, issued four walks and struck out three batters in a 7-1 loss at Yankee Stadium during the second game of a doubleheader on September 7, 2022…the start tied with four others for the shortest of his career and tied with six other games for his second-lowest strikeout total in a start…struck out outfielder Aaron Judge, the eventual American League MVP, to end the bottom of the third inning…allowed all four of his runs in the fourth inning on a grand slam by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa…owns a 1-2 record with a 4.39 ERA (26.2 IP, 13 ER), seven walks and 28 strikeouts in five career starts vs. American League East opponents.

ROADTRIPPING WITH RYAN: Tonight is Ryan’s second road start of 2023…won his first road start of the season April 2 at Kansas City and is 3-1, 1.90 ERA (23.2 IP, 5 ER) with nine walks, 22 strikeouts and a .185 opponent batting average in his last four road starts dating back to September 7, 2022… in his career, Ryan has gone 9-4, 3.62 ERA (82.0 IP, 33 ER) with 21 walks and 82 strikeouts in 15 road starts…he has similar numbers at Target Field, going 8-5, 3.65 ERA (103.2 IP, 42 ER) with 34 walks and 115 strikeouts in 19 career starts at home.

LEFT IS RIGHT: Left-handed hitters are batting .056 (1-for-18) against Ryan this year, with Houston designated hitter Yordan Alvarez’s grand slam on April 8 being the only hit…right-handed hitters haven’t fared much better, hitting .200 (5-for-25) with 12 strikeouts against Ryan in 2023…over his career, Ryan has slightly better splits against left-handed hitters than righties, with lefties batting just .187 with a .615 OPS since his debut in 2021…right-handed hitters are hitting .213 with a .663 OPS off Ryan…his .202 opponent batting average vs. lefties ranked ninth in the American League last season (min. 50.0 IP).

THE ARSENAL: Ryan has utilized a three-pitch mix in his first two starts of the 2023 season…has used his four-seam fastball the most of his three pitches, throwing it 55.9 percent of the time…threw 25 sweepers (30.9% of pitches) in his last start April 8 vs. Houston after throwing 16 sweepers (20.0% of pitches) in his first start April 2 at Kansas City…opposing hitters are 0-for-14 against his two offspeed offerings this year…here’s a look at the Ryan’s repertoire, per Baseball Savant:

PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (92.1)…………….55.9% (90 pitches, 57/33)…….. .214 (6-for-28), 1 2B, 2 HR, 11 K
Sweeper (82.0)…………………………25.5% (41 pitches, 37/4)………………………….. .000 (0-for-3), 1 K
Split Finger (83.0)……………………18.6% (30 pitches, 10/20)……………………….. .000 (0-for-11), 3 K

Ryan has needed only 161 pitches to complete his 12.0 innings of work this year for an average of 13.4 pitches per inning…among American League starting pitchers in 2023, Ryan ranks third in pitches per inning, trailing on Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (11.5) and Jeffrey Springs (13.1).

SPECIAL K: Ryan has 197 career strikeouts through his first 34 games, the most in Twins/Senators history through a pitcher’s first 34 career games…also holds the record through a pitcher’s first 35 career games, five ahead of Bert Blyleven (192 from 1970-71)…his 9.5 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings ratio in his career is tied for sixth best in Twins franchise history and his 3.58 strikeouts-per-walks ranks 10th (min. 150.0 IP).

Is three strikeouts away from 200 in his career; if he reaches 200 tonight, will become the first pitcher in Twins/Senators history with at least 200 strikeouts within his first 35 career games.

CAREER NOTES
• 2023 marks his sixth professional season, including 2020.

• In 2022, his first full major-league season, was Twins Opening Day starter and led both the club and all AL rookies in wins (13), innings pitched (147.0) and strikeouts (151).

• Made his major league debut for the Twins on September 1, 2021 vs. Chicago-NL (L, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R/3 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 K).

• Helped Team USA win the silver medal in baseball at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics… went 1-0, 1.74 ERA (10.1 IP, 2 ER), one walk and eight strikeouts in two starts.

• Acquired by the Twins on July 22, 2021 from the Tampa Bay Rays, alongside righthanded pitcher Drew Strotman, in exchange for designated hitter Nelson Cruz…learned about the trade while in Japan with Team USA.

• In 2020, was part of the Rays 60-man player pool and spent the summer at the alternate training site in Port Charlotte, Florida…ranked by Baseball America as the No. 12 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

• In 2019, was named Rays minor league Pitcher of the Year after going 9-4, 1.96 ERA (123.2 IP, 27 ER) in his first full professional season…divided the year between Low-A Bowling Green (6 starts), High-A Charlotte (15 games, 13 starts) and Double-A Montgomery (3 starts).

• Garnered several other awards in 2019, including: MiLB.com organization All-Star honors, Baseball America High Class A All-Star, two-time Florida State League Pitcher of the Week (June 17-23 and August 5-11) and Rays minor league Pitcher of the Month for July and August.

• Made professional debut in 2018 for Short-A Hudson Valley…went 2-1, 3.72 ERA (36.1 IP, 15 ER) in 12 games (7 starts) for the Renegades, with 14 walks and 51 strikeouts.

• Selected by the Rays in the seventh round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Division II California State University, Stanislaus.

• Went 8-1, 1.65 ERA (98.1 IP, 18 ER) in 14 starts as a senior at Stanislaus and led all divisions of college baseball with 127 strikeouts…earned three selections to All-America teams, including first team All-America honors by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association…pitched three seasons at California State University, Northridge before transferring to Stanislaus.

NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees begin a season-long 10-game homestand tonight with the first game of a four-game series vs. Minnesota (through Sunday)…will also play three-game sets vs. Los Angeles-AL (4/18-20) and Toronto (4/21-23)…went 4-2 on their recent road trip, winning two-of three in Baltimore and Cleveland.  Have won eight of their first 12 games for just the fourth time in the last 20 years since 2004 (9-3 in 2010 and 2020; 8-4 in 2017)…with a win today, would mark just the fourth time in the last 20 years (since 2004) that the Yankees have won at least nine of their first 13 games (10-3 in 2010; 9-4 in 2017 and 2020).

Rank second in the Majors with a +28 run differential.

Their 8-4 (.667) record is tied for the second-best in the AL and tied for the third-best in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (12-0, 1.000) and Atlanta (9-4, .692).

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees clinched a series win over the Guardians with a 4-3 win at Cleveland on Wednesday…RHP Clarke Schmidt (4.0IP, 6H, 3ER, 1BB, 3K, 1HR) started and did not record a decision…C Kyle Higashioka (1-for-3, 1RBI) hit a two -run single in the fifth inning…LF Franchy Cordero (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) hit a game-tying solo HR in the seventh inning…2B/ RF Oswaldo Cabrera (2-for-4, 1R, 1RBI) hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning…3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa (1-for-4, 1R) picked up his 500th career hit with a fifth-inning single…RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 2BB, 2K, 1WP), RHP Michael King (2.0IP, 1K), LHP Wandy Peralta (W, 1.0IP) and RHP Clay Holmes (SV, 1.0IP, 2BB, 1HP, 1K) combined to toss 5.0 hitless and scoreless innings.

SERIES BUSINESS: According to Elias, the Yankees have won their first four series of a season for just the fifth time in franchise history…won their first five series in 2010 and 1926 and also won their first four series in 1922 and 2020.

TWINNING: The Yankees are 98-38 (.721) vs. Minnesota since 2002, the Majors’ best record by any team vs. an opponent in its own league in that span…including the postseason, have gone 114-40 (.740) vs. the Twins since 2002.

Are 13-3 in their last 16 games vs. the Twins (since 7/23/19) and 23-7 in their last 30 games vs. Minnesota (since 9/18/17).

Have won 14 of their last 16 series vs. the Twins since 7/3/14.

Have won or split each of their last 20 season series with the Twins (18-0-2 since 2002)…have won each of their last 15 season series vs. the Twins…according to Elias, their streak of 15 straight winning seasons is tied for the fourth-longest streak vs. a single opponent in franchise history…trails only their 37-season streak vs. the Athletics (1932-68), 21-season streak vs. the Senators/Twins (1944-64) and 18-season streak vs. the Browns (1926-43)…also recorded a 15-season streak vs. the Red Sox (1923-37).

Including the postseason, are 19-2 in their last 21 games vs. the Twins in the Bronx since 2017 and 24-3 vs. Minnesota at Yankee Stadium since 2015.

TOUR DE FRANCH: OF Franchy Cordero hit his fourth HR of the season on Wednesday with a game-tying solo HR in the seventh inning…according to Elias, Cordero is the first Yankee (since RBI became an official stat in 1920) to record 11RBI in his first seven games with the club…Elias also notes he is just the sixth Yankee in franchise history to hit at least 4HR through his first seven games with the club…joins Eric Hinske (5HR in first 7G in 2009), Barry Foote (5HR in first 7G in 1981), Matt Carpenter (4HR in first 7G in 2022), Shelley Duncan (4HR in first 7G in 2007) and Dave Kingman (4HR in first 7G in 1977).

Has 4HR in his last five games.

Has 4HR in seven games this season after hitting 8HR in 84 games last season.

Has reached base in each of his first seven games.

BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have scored at least 4R in 10-of-12 games this season…have scored at least 5R in seven of their 12 games.

Have homered in 11-of-12 games this season…their 18HR are tied with Baltimore (18HR in 12G) for the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (30HR in 12G), Los AngelesNL (24HR in 13G) and San Francisco (21HR in 12G).

OF Franchy Cordero and OF Aaron Judge have each hit 4HR this season, tied for the fourth-most in the AL.

WHERE’S OSWALDO: INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning on Wednesday…marked his third career hit that gave the Yankees the lead in the ninth inning-or-later (also “walk-off single in Game 1 on 9/7/22 vs. Minnesota)…is hitting .323 (10-for-31) with 4R, 2 doubles, 5RBI, 1BB and 1SB in his last nine games.

PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have allowed just 33R over their first 12 games (2.75 R/G), their fewest runs allowed through their first 12 games of a season in the last 59 years (since 1965)…matches their fourth-fewest runs allowed through their first 12 games of a season in franchise history…allowed 24R in 1958, 30R in 1953, 32R in 1954 and 33R in 1955 and 1964.

Have allowed 3R-or-fewer in nine of their 12 games this year…have held opponents to 2R-or-fewer in six of 12 games and allowed one-or-zero runs in four of their games.

Rank second in the Majors in HR/9.0IP (0.59) and opponents’ SLG (.319), third in ERA (2.72), WHIP (1.16), opponents’ BA (.212), opponents’ OBP (.294) and opponents’ OPS (.613) and fifth in strikeouts (116) and K/9.0IP (9.85).

PEN PALS: Yankees relievers did not allow a hit over 5.0 scoreless innings on Wednesday at Cleveland…their 1.88 ERA this season is the best in the AL and second-best in the Majors, trailing only Milwaukee (1.37).

Rank second in the Majors in strikeouts (59, second in AL), opponents’ BA (.190, second in AL) and HR/9.0IP (0.38, second in AL), third in opponents’ SLG (.276, second in AL) and fourth in opponents’ OPS (.564, third in AL).

Own an 8.0 scoreless inning streak.

Have posted a 1.37 ERA (39.1IP, 6ER) in their last 10 games.

STANTON ISLAND: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has reached base in each of his 10 games this season and has hit safely in nine of those games…matches the second-longest season-opening on-base streak of his career (12G in 2016 and 10G in 2013).  Has hit safely in each of his last six games, batting .333 (8- for-24) with 3R, 2 doubles, 1HR and 4RBI.

CENTRAL PERK: Since 2022, the Yankees are 27-9 (.750) vs. the AL Central…are 38-13 in their last 51 games vs. the division (since 6/23/21) and 51-19 in their last 70G (since 9/12/19).  Have won 20 of their last 23 series vs. the AL Central (since 9/10/19)…have won or split 23 of their last 26 series (going 21-3-2 since 6/13/19) and 26 of their last 30 series (going 24-4-2 in series since 4/18/19).

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JHONY BRITO (2-0, 0.90 ERA)
RHP Jhony Brito will make his third career Major League start tonight vs. Minnesota…the 25-year-old will pitch on regular four days’ rest…last pitched on Saturday at Baltimore and earned his second career win, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…is the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts…also became just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…was just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever)…made his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 6K) to earn his first career win…became just the 12th Yankees pitcher in franchise history (and fifth since 1935) to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut…is the ninth Yankees starting pitcher to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut and just the fourth since 1935…is the first Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allow 2H-or-fewer and allow 1BB-or-fewer in his Major League debut…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 3/30 and made his first career Opening Day roster…over parts of five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-17, ’19, ’21-22), has gone 26-21 with two saves and a 3.71 ERA (392.2IP, 375H, 196R/162ER, 81BB, 344K, 28HR) in 86 career appearances (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 11/9/15.

LAST TIME OUT: Earned his second career win in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory at Baltimore last Saturday, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts (also 5.0IP, 2H, 0R in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco).

Became just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…was just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever)

Retired 14 of his final 17BF after surrendering two singles and a sacrifice fly to his first 3BF.

Became the 15th starting pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first two career games and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.

2023: Is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (10.0IP, 1ER) and 8K in two starts this season.

Is the 15th Yankees starting pitcher to go 2-0 in his first two career games and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.

Has received 4R of support in each of his first two starts.

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: Made his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 6K) to earn his first career win… was the first Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allow 2H-or-fewer and allow 1BB-or-fewer in his Major League debut…struck out his first batter faced (LaMonte Wade Jr. swinging) for his first Major League strikeout.

Was just the 12th Yankees pitcher in franchise history (and fifth since 1935) to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut, joining Luis Gil (6.0IP on 8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), Jonathan Loáisiga (5.0IP on 6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), Sam Militello (7.0IP on 8/9/92 vs. Boston), Hank Borowy (5.0IP on 4/18/42 vs. Boston), Vito Tamulis (9.0IP on 9/25/34 at Philadelphia-AL), Russ Van Atta (9.0IP on 4/25/33 at Washington-AL), Neal Brady (5.2IP on 9/25/1915-G1 vs. Cleveland), Pete Wilson (9.0IP on 9/15/1908 at Boston), Tacks Neuer (9.0IP on 8/28/1907-G2 vs. Boston), Slow Joe Doyle (9.0IP on 8/25/1906-G1 vs. Cleveland) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP on 4/24/1903 at Washington-AL)…among the group, joins Luis Gil (6.0IP, 1BB), Hank Borowy (5.0IP, 1BB) Vito Tamulis (9.0IP, 1BB) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP, 0BB) as the only five to issue 1BB-or-fewer.

Was the ninth Yankees starting pitcher to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut and just the fourth since 1935.

Became the seventh Yankees pitcher to start against a National League opponent in his Major League debut, joining RHP Deivi García (8/30/20- G2 vs. New York-NL: ND, 6.0IP, 1R/0ER), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona: L, 4.0IP, 6R/4ER), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL: ND, 4.2IP, 0ER), RHP Tyler Clippard (5/20/07 at New York-NL: W, 6.0IP, 1ER), LHP Brad Halsey (6/19/04 at Los Angeles-NL: W, 5.2IP, 2ER) and LHP Brandon Claussen (6/28/03-G2 at New York-NL: W, 6.1IP, 1ER).

Became the seventh Yankee to draw a start at the current Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut, joining RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12)…was the third starter to also record the win, joining Gil and Loáisiga.

At 25 years, 44 days old, became the seventh starter age 25-or-over to make his Major League debut for the Yankees since 1999, joining RHP Chien-Ming Wang (25y, 30d), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (25y, 154d), Christian Parker (25y, 277d), Alex Graman (26y, 155d), Matt DeSalvo (26y, 238d) and Kei Igawa (27y, 268d).

HOME SWEET HOME: Will make his second career Major League start at home…earned the win in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco at
home (5.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 6K)…became just the third starting pitcher in franchise history to record a win in his Major League debut at the current Yankee Stadium (Luis Gil on 8/3/21 and Jonathan Loáisiga on 6/15/18).

In 13 home games (12 starts) with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, went 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA (60.0IP, 13ER) and 43K.

MLB Preview: Detroit Tigers (2-9) at Toronto Blue Jays (8-4)

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DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS LOSE IN EXTRAS TO BLUE JAYS: The Tigers lost to the Blue Jays, 4-3, in 10 innings last night. Kerry Carpenter hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, while Nick Maton added a solo shot. Eduardo Rodriguez was excellent in a starting role, allowing one run on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Jason Foley and Alex Lange each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Miguel Cabrera hit a double in the eighth inning of last night’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. Adrian Beltre 1,151
  3. Ty Cobb 1,138
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1,134
    Tris Speaker 1,134

CARPENTER NAILS ONE: After just missing a couple of homers on Tuesday, Kerry Carpenter hit his first round-tripper of the season last night, a go-ahead, two-run shot in the seventh inning. Of his six hits this season, four have gone for extra bases (3 2Bs, 1 HR). Carpenter was a
prolific power hitter in 2022, ranking fourth among all players in professional baseball (min. 120 games) in slugging percentage (.610), ISO
(.310) and HR% (7.0%).

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF: Nick Maton homered for the second straight game last night, hitting a solo shot in the fourth inning. It marked the second time in his career that he has homered in consecutive games (other, September 8-10, 2022). Maton has had some of the best performances of his young career against Toronto as four of his nine career homers have come against the Blue Jays, including his only career multi-homer game on May 16, 2021.

TIGERS AND BLUE JAYS: The Tigers and Blue Jays conclude their first series of the season tonight. Following tonight’s game, the two teams will
also face off in a three-game series at Comerica Park from July 7-9. Detroit went 2-5 against the Blue Jays last season, including dropping threeof-four games in Toronto.

ON THE ROAD: The Tigers are 0-2 on their current three-game road trip. Detroit has a 2-6 record on the road so far this season. The Tigers went 30-50 on the road last season, their fifth straight 162-game season with a losing record away from Detroit.

ON DECK: The Tigers return home tomorrow night to begin a six-game homestand, which starts with three games against the Giants. Detroit and San Francisco split their four-game season series in 2022, including a 1-1 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 – Spencer Turnbull • 0-2, 13.50 ERA (8.0IP/12ER)
• Turnbull will make his third start of the season tonight in the series finale at Toronto.

• Last pitched on Thursday in the Tigers home opener against Boston and took the loss after giving up five runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout in 5.2 innings.

• Has faced the Blue Jays just once in his career, on March 30, 2019 at Rogers Centre, and took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits
with two walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

• Made nine starts in 2021 and went 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA (50.0IP/16ER) and 44 strikeouts…limited opponents to a 0.98 WHIP and a .203 batting average.

• Threw the eighth no-hitter in Tigers history on May 18, 2021 at Seattle, striking out nine and walking two…was the first no-hitter by a Tigers pitcher since Justin Verlander on May 7, 2011 at Toronto.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays used two 9th-inning sac flies to tie last night’s contest with the Tigers and then went on to win, 4-3, in the 10th…Marked their 1st walk-off victory of the season (had six in 2022)…Improved to 2-0 in extra-inning games and 4-0 in one-run contests,
which is the best record in one-run games in the Majors. Toronto has won three straight and seven of its last eight contests…Has now come from behind in six of its eight wins this season…Has a chance to claim its 1st series sweep of 2023.

SPRINGING INTO ACTION: George Springer plated the game-winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning, his 6th career walk-off hit and 1st as a Blue Jay (last: single on July 7, 2019 vs. LAA)…Also singled in the 1st to finish the night 2-for-5, his 3rd multi-hit game of the year…Extended his hitting streak to six games, going 8-for-27 (.296) with two home runs and four RBI.

A CHAPPY FEELING: Matt Chapman doubled in the 1st, singled in the 6th, and then walked and scored the tying run in the 9th as he put together a 2-for-3 night…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 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)…The 23 hits are the most ever by a Blue Jay through 12 team games…Ranks 2nd in MLB in both AVG (.489) and OBP (.538) while tied for 3rd in RBI… Also has an average exit velocity of 98.8 MPH, the highest in MLB (2nd: J.D. Martinez – 97.9)

DOING VLAD THINGS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled twice and walked to finish 2-for-3 with two runs scored…Has reached base safely in all but one game this season, now 20-for-48 with a double, two homers, six RBI, and a 6BB/3K ratio for a .417 AVG (2nd in the AL), a .491 OBP (3rd) and a 1.054 OPS (6th)…The 20 hits are currently tied for 2nd most among AL batters and his 28 times on base are tied with Matt Chapman for the most in the junior circuit. The 24-year-old has now recorded 26 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, one more than teammate Matt Chapman for the most in MLB…Recorded 265 hard-hit balls over the course of last season, the most in the Majors (2nd: José Abreu – 256).

RECORD-BREAKING ROOF ROLLBACK: The Rogers Centre roof was open for the 1st time of 2023 last 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.

HOME SWEET DOME: The Blue Jays are playing their 1st home action 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 this three-game set with the Tigers, will face the Rays (12-0) for three more over the 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).

KEVIN’S ELEVEN: Kevin Gausman gave up three runs on five hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts…Punched out at least 11 batters for the 4th time in his career and his 1st time as a Blue Jay…Also tossed a season-high 103 pitches (77 strikes) and induced 20 swing-and-misses… Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history.

HITTING IT: The Blue Jays are leading the Majors with a team batting average of .289 (2nd: TB – .286)… Have notched an MLB-high 125 hits (2nd: CWS)… Currently rank 2nd in the AL in OBP (.349) and OPS (.790) while sitting 4th in SLG (.441)…Are now on a streak of 29 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 14 Defensive Runs Saved to lead all AL teams (2nd in MLB: MIL – 19)…The group is led by three runs saved in center field, three at second base (tied for 1st in MLB), and three more from the pitching staff.

VS. THE TIGERS: All-Time: 243-205
2023: 2-0 Home: 132-96
Home: 2-0 Rogers Centre: 95-56
The Blue Jays went 5-2 vs. the Tigers last season while outscoring them, 33-15…Took three of the four games here at Rogers Centre last July…Are undefeated in season series vs. Detroit since 2019 (now 14-8). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded hits in all seven games vs. the Tigers last season, going 9-for-26 (.346) with three doubles, a home run, and four RBI…In 18 career meetings, is now batting .329 (23-for-70) with four doubles, three home runs, and 11 RBI (.919 OPS). Matt Chapman played in five games against Detroit in 2022 and managed to connect for four home runs and six RBI (1.063 SLG)…Is now a lifetime 25-for-101 (.248) with a three doubles, two triples, 12 homers, and 20 RBI (1.029 OPS) over 27 contests. Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 102 games played vs. the Tigers…Has batted .333 (139-
for-417) against his former division rival, including 35 doubles, seven triples, 11 home runs, and 52 RBI (.900 OPS).

STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 3rd start of the season and his 1st at home…Earned his 1st win as a Blue Jay his last time out on 4/7 at LAA, allowing 3R/2ER on 2 hits and 5 walks over 6.0 frames with 5 strikeouts. Signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Blue Jays on 12/16/22. Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Took the loss in his Toronto debut on 4/2 at STL, giving up career highs in runs (9) and homers (4) over 3.1 innings (10H, 0BB, 0K).

2022 HIGHLIGHTS: In his lone season with the Mets, established career highs in wins (15), starts (30), quality starts (19), innings pitched (181.2), and strikeouts (167). Had 23 starts of at least 6.0 innings, his most in a single season in his career. His three starts of 8.0 innings were the most he had thrown in his career… Prior to 2022, had thrown at least 8.0 innings only three times (9.0 IP on 5/27/21 vs. LAA; 8.0 IP on 5/16/19 at DET; 8.0 IP on 8/15/15 at BAL). Made his Mets debut on 4/9 at WAS, tossing 6.0 scoreless frames with three hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts…Became the 2nd Mets pitcher to debut with a line of at least 6.0 scoreless innings with eight or more punchouts, joining Colin McHugh (Aug. 23, 2012 vs. COL). Recorded 19 quality starts, the most in his career and a team-high among Mets starters…From June 14-July 23, recorded six straight quality starts, one shy of a career high seven straight accomplished in 2015. Did not walk a batter from 6/25-7/8 (13.1 innings) which is tied for the longest streak in his career. Tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts on 7/23 vs. SD (also: 9/7/19 vs. DET). Won four straight games for the 1st time in his career from Aug. 3-19, surrendering just two runs over that span. Went 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA (26 ER/79.2 IP) after the All-Star Break…His eight wins were tied for the 3rd-most in the Majors and the most in his career in the back half of a season.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Tossed the 1st complete game and shutout of his career on 5/27/21 vs. LAA (9.0 IP, 2H, BB, 9K). Received two 5th-place votes in AL Cy Young balloting in 2021, finishing 10th in the vote…Earned his 1st All-Star honours. Earned AL Pitcher of the Month for September 2020, his 1st monthly award…Pitched to a 0.34 ERA that month, allowing one run over 26.2 innings in four starts…Was the lowest September ERA in the Majors since Greg Maddux had a 0.29 ERA for Atlanta in 1995. Started and won Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. CWS on 9/30/20. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

VS. THE TIGERS: Facing the Tigers for the 8th time in his career…Last met Detroit on 4/18/21 in Oakland, pitching 6.0 frames of two-run ball (5H, 2BB, 8K)…Has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 6 of his 7 career meetings with the Tigers, eclipsing the 100-pitch mark on 5 occasions…Has faced 190 Detroit batters in his career and surrendered just a single home run (Anthony Gose: 2R-HR on 4/28/16 at DET).

NHL Preview: Minnesota Wild (46-25-10) at Nashville Predators (41-31-8)

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MINNESOTA WILD NOTES:

SERIES NOTES
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
All-Time Wild Record: 36-37-11 (21-15-5 at Xcel Energy Center, 14-22-6 at Nashville)

2022-23: Minnesota is 1-1-0 in the season series against Nashville…The Wild lost, 2-1, at Bridgestone Arena in the series-opening game (11/15) and earned a 4-3 victory at Xcel Energy Center in the second meeting (2/19)… LW Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild with three points (2-1=3)…C Freddy Gaudreau (1-1=2), C Ryan Hartman (1-1=2) and RW Mats Zuccarello (0- 2=2) all have two points…G Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23 of 25 shots
faced for Minnesota in the first meeting…G Filip Gustavsson saved 23 of 26 shots faced for the Wild in the second game…C Matt Duchene (1-1=2) and C Ryan Johansen (0-2=2) led the Predators with two points each…C Tommy Novak (1-2=3) and D Roman Josi (1-2=3) lead Nashville with three
points each…G Juuse Saros started both games for the Predators, going 1-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA and a .926 SV%.

WILD LEADERS: D Alex Goligoski leads Minnesota with 26 points (5-21=26) in 41 games against Nashville…D John Klingberg has 25 points (1-24=25)
in 37 games…LW Marcus Johansson owns 14 points (2-12=14) in 19 games…D Jared Spurgeon owns 14 points (3-11=14) in 39 contests.

WILD GOALIES: Fleury is 11-9-2 with a 2.30 GAA, a .916 SV% and three shutouts in 22 career games (21 starts) against the Predators…Gustavsson is 1-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and a .885 SV% in his lone start.

PREDATORS LEADERS: C Matt Duchene leads the Predators with 35 points (10-25=35) in 52 contests against Minnesota…Josi owns 33 points (14-
19=33) in 40 games…LW Filip Forsberg has 29 points (16-13=29) in 30 games…C Ryan Johansen owns 28 points (11-17=26) in 34 matches.

PREDATORS GOALIES: Saros is 5-2-0 with a 1.71 GAA, a .949 SV% and two shutouts in seven career starts against the Wild…G Kevin Lankinen is 0-1- 1 with a 2.80 GAA and a .926 SV% in three games (two starts) against Minnesota.

FAST FACTS: The Wild is 8-7-2 against Nashville in the last 10 seasons (2013-23)…Minnesota is 5-3-1 in its last nine games at Xcel Energy Center.

INJURIES
Joel Eriksson Ek: lower body
Mason Shaw: torn ACL, out for season
Oskar Sundqvist: lower body

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/12/23 Recalled F Nick Swaney and F Sammy Walker from Iowa
4/9/23 Signed D Brock Faber to a three-year, entry-level contract
4/9/23 Recalled F Nic Petan and F Marco Rossi from Iowa

FINDING THEIR GROOVE
• Since March 1, the Wild holds a 12-4-4 record and ranks seventh in the NHL in point percentage (.700) and is tied for seventh with 28 points.

• Since Feb. 11, Minnesota is tied for third in the NHL with 44 points (19- 5-6), tied for fourth in wins and ranks fifth in point percentage (.733).

• The Wild recorded a franchise-record 14-game point streak (11-0-3) from Feb. 17 to March 15. The streak is tied for the third-longest in the
NHL this season

• Since Feb. 11, the Wild owns a .931 team save percentage and has allowed 2.23 goals per game, each the second-lowest mark in the league

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
• Since March 1, the Wild holds a 12-4-4 record and ranks seventh in the NHL in point percentage (.700) and is tied for seventh with 28 points.

• Since Feb. 11, Minnesota is tied for third in the NHL with 44 points (19- 5-6), tied for fourth in wins and ranks fifth in point percentage (.733).

• The Wild recorded a franchise-record 14-game point streak (11-0-3) from Feb. 17 to March 15. The streak is tied for the third-longest in the
NHL this season

• Since Feb. 11, the Wild owns a .931 team save percentage and has allowed 2.23 goals per game, each the second-lowest mark in the league.

• Minnesota has 19 one-goal victories this season, tied for eighth-most in the NHL.

• Minnesota is 42-7-8 (.807) this season when obtaining a lead at any point in the game, tied for the fifth-best point percentage in the NHL
in such situations.

• The Wild is 31-0-3 (.956) this season when leading through two periods, the third-best point percentage in the NHL.

• Minnesota is 15-1-10 (.769) this season in games that become tied with less than five minutes left in regulation, tied for the fourth-most
victories and is the seventh-best point percentage in the NHL.

• Minnesota has conceded less than two goals in 27 games this season, second-most the NHL. The Wild holds a 24-1-2 record when allowing less than two goals.

• In 54 games since Dec. 10, the Wild has posted a 2.40 GA/Gm average, the second-best mark in the NHL during that span.

• Dating back to Nov. 19th, Minnesota is 23-7-3 at home for a .742 point percentage, the second-most wins and tied for the second-best home point percentage in the NHL during that span.

• The team recorded a seven-game home win streak from Nov. 27 – Dec. 18, the fourth-longest home win streak in the NHL this season.

• In home games since Nov. 19, the Wild has allowed 2.18 goals per game and recorded a .925 save percentage, ranking second in the NHL in each category.

• Minnesota ranks tied for sixth in the NHL with a .659 home point percentage and tied for seventh with 25 home victories this season.

• Minnesota recorded an 11-game road point streak (8-0-3) from 2/23 to 3/29, third-longest in franchise history and third-longest in the NHL this season.

• Since Feb. 23, the Wild is first in the NHL with a .931 road SV% and a 2.43 road GAA.

ON THE POWER PLAY
• The Wild has converted 26.2 percent (33 of 126) of power-play opportunities at home this season, sixth-best in the NHL.

PENALTY KILLERS
• Recorded a streak of 27 consecutive successful penalty kills across 14 total games from 2/6 to 3/2. Did not allow a power-play goal in 12 consecutive games from 2/8 – 2/28, the longest streak in the NHL this season, tied for the longest streak in franchise history and tied for the 13th-longest streak in the NHL’s Expansion Era (since 1967-68 season).

NASHVILLE PREDATORS NOTES:

ALL-TIME vs. MINNESOTA
OVERALL (84 GP) 43-27-(5)-9
HOME (42 GP) 26-9-(2)-5
ROAD (42 GP) 17-18-(3)-4
LAST MEETING Feb. 19, 2023 at MIN (L, 4-3)
PLAYOFFS Never Met

− The Predators are 43-27-(5)-9 all-time against the Wild, including a 26-9-(2)-5 record at Bridgestone Arena.

− This is the third and final matchup between Nashville and Minnesota in 2022-23; it is the second of two at home.

− Nashville is 1-1-0 against Minnesota this season, earning a 2-1 win at home on Nov. 15 and dropping a 4-3 decision on the road in the last meeting on Feb. 19.

− The Predators are 3-1-1 in their last five games against the Wild; they are 7-2-1 in their last 10; and 4-0-1 in their last five at home.

− The Predators have won 11 of their last 14 games vs. the Wild, a stretch that included a seven-game win streak from March 27, 2018-Oct. 24, 2019. Nashville allowed two-or-fewer goals in six of those seven wins.

NOTABLES vs. MINNESOTA
− Roman Josi tallied 12 points (4g-8a) in four games against the Wild last season. Two of his four four-point efforts in 2021- 22 came against Minnesota.

− Filip Forsberg scored his first career NHL goal on Oct. 8, 2013 vs. Minnesota. Forsberg’s 16 goals against the Wild are tied for the most he’s scored against a single opponent in his NHL career; he had 11 points (4g-7a) in four games against the Wild in 2021-22.

− Ryan Johansen has 28 points (11g-17a) in 34 career games vs. the Wild, including 18 points (9g-9a) in his last 17 meetings. He had six goals against Minnesota last season, including his first career hat trick on April 5, 2022.

− Matt Duchene has recorded 35 points (10g-25a) in 52 career games against the Wild.

− Ryan McDonagh was named Minnesota’s “Mr. Hockey” as the state’s best high school player in 2006-07.

− Tommy Novak played four years for the University of Minnesota from 2015-19, winning back-to-back regular-season Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2017.

− Assistant Coach Todd Richards served as head coach of the Wild for two seasons from 2009-11.

− Wild Head Coach Dean Evason served as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals – Nashville’s AHL affiliate – from 2012-18.

− Minnesota forwards Frederick Gaudreau (2016-19) and Ryan Hartman (2018-19) were previous members of the Predators.

LAST TIME OUT
− Nashville Predators 3, Calgary Flames 2 (SO) – April 10 (Scotiabank Saddledome)

− NSH goals: Afanasyev (1), Sanford (2)

− CGY goals: Stetcher (3), Backlund (19)

− Goaltenders: NSH – Saros (W, 42/44); CGY – Markstrom (SOL, 27/29)

− Power plays: NSH 0-6; CGY 0-4

− Notes: Nashville ended the regular season with a 20-17-4 road record… The Predators closed out their three-game, regular-season series against the Flames with a 3-0-0 record… Nashville moved to 12-8 in overtime/shootouts this season (6-6 in OT; 6-2 in shootout)… Tommy Novak scored his first career game-deciding goal in the shootout… Juuse Saros posted his fifth 40-save performance of the season… Egor Afanasyev opened the scoring with his first career NHL goal… Jake Livingstone assisted on Zach Sanford’s goal for his first career NHL point… Juuso Parssinen returned to the lineup after missing the previous 23 games with an upper-body injury.

INJURY REPORT
Player Designation Dates Missed Games Missed
Mark Borowiecki Upper body – IR Oct. 27-April 10 73
Filip Forsberg Upper body – IR Feb. 13-April 10 30
Ryan Johansen Lower body Feb. 23-April 10 25
Alexandre Carrier Upper body March 4-April 10 21
Roman Josi Upper body March 19-April 10 13
Matt Duchene Upper body March 28-April 10 8
Jeremy Lauzon Upper body April 1-10 6
Cole Smith Upper body April 3-10 5
Total man-games lost: 275
Individual man-games lost: Borowiecki – 74; Carrier – 35; Forsberg – 30; Johansen – 25; Parssinen – 23; McCarron – 20; Josi – 13; McDonagh – 11; Smith – 11; Duchene – 9; Lauzon – 9; Trenin – 5; Glass – 3; Jankowski – 3; Asplund – 1; Evangelista – 1; Lankinen – 1; Tomasino – 1

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
− April 12: Reassigned forward Egor Afanasyev to Milwaukee (AHL).
− April 10: Reassigned defenseman Kevin Gravel to Milwaukee (AHL).
− April 8: Recalled defenseman Kevin Gravel from Milwaukee (AHL).

QUICK HITS
− The Predators are 15-9-2 in their last 26 games dating back to Feb. 21. Their 32 points in that span are tied for the eighth-most in the NHL.

− The Predators have scored the first goal of the game on 45 occasions this season, tied for the sixth-most times in the NHL.

− Per Moneypuck.com, Nashville is second the NHL in percentage of goals scored from rebounds at 20.4 percent (44 goals in all situations). Nashville is also third in the NHL in hits given (2,212).

− Nashville has 23 wins in one-goal games this season; only Carolina (25) and Vegas (25) have more such victories.

NHL Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs (49-21-11) at New York Rangers (47-21-13)

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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Score: Toronto 4 at Tampa Bay 3
Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
TOR Goals: Nylander (PP), Schenn, Järnkrok (PP), O’Reilly
TBL Goals: Killorn, Perbix, Sergachev
TOR Goaltender: Woll, 45/48, .938 SV%
TBL Goaltender: Vasilevskiy, 20/24, .833 SV%
TOR Power Play: 2-for-6
TOR Penalty Kill: 8-for-8
Player Notes: – William Nylander recorded three points in Toronto’s win (1G, 2A). With two assists, Nylander improved to 47 assists this season setting a new career-high in assists. Nylander posted his 23rd multi-point game of the season and his seventh game of the season with three or more points.

  • Luke Schenn scored for Toronto at 16:01 of the first period. Schenn scored his first goal with the Maple Leafs since being reacquired by the team via trade from Vancouver on Feb. 28, 2023. Per NHL Stats, “Schenn scored his first goal with the Maple Leafs since Feb. 4, 2012 (11 years, 66 days ago). It marked the second-longest span by a player between goals with Toronto (regular season or playoffs), behind Steve Thomas (11 years, 176 days between Game 2 of 1987 DF & Oct. 16, 1998).”
  • Calle Järnkrok reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career. Järnkrok also recorded the secondary assist on Nylander’s power play goal. With his 19th assist of the season, Järnkrok tied a career-high in assists which he has marked on two occasions during his NHL career (2017-18, 2019-20). Järnkrok posted his fifth multi-point game of the season.
  • Ryan O’Reilly scored the game-winning goal for Toronto at 12:33 of the third period and posted the primary assist on Nylander’s power play goal. With his assist, O’Reilly posted the 700th point of his NHL career. O’Reilly recorded his sixth multi-point game of the season.
  • Noel Acciari posted the primary assist on Schenn’s goal. Acciari posted his first assist as a Maple Leaf and his ninth assist of the season, setting a new career-high in assists.
  • John Tavares posted the primary assist on Järnkrok’s goal. With the assist, Tavares posted his 80th point of the season (36G, 44A). Tavares reached the 80-point mark for the fifth occasion of his NHL career.
  • Matthew Knies posted the primary assist on O’Reilly’s goal, recording the first point of his NHL career.
  • Morgan Rielly skated in his 718th career NHL game on Tuesday, claiming sole possession of fifth on Toronto’s all-time leader board in games played by a defenceman and 14th among all-time franchise leaders.
  • Joseph Woll stopped 45 of 48 shots he faced in Tuesday’s win. Woll set a single-game NHL career-high in both saves and shots faced. Woll has won five-consecutive starts. Per NHL Stats, “Woll became the third Maple Leafs rookie goaltender in the last 30 years with a run of that length. The others are Jonas Gustavsson (7 GP in 2009-10) and Damian Rhodes (5 GP in 1993-94).”

Team Notes – With the Maple Leafs’ 49th win of the season on Tuesday, the team tied for the second-most wins in franchise history. Toronto also tied for fourth all-time with their 22nd road win of the season. The current franchise record for most road wins in a single-season is 23 which has been set on three occasions in franchise history (2003-04, 2018-19, 2021-22).

TONIGHT’S GAME
2022-23 Matchups vs. New York: Third of Three
2021-22 Record vs. New York: 1-1-1
Toronto Season Record: 49-21-11
Toronto Road Record: 22-13-5

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The Maple Leafs will conclude their 2022-23 regular season schedule with the team’s third and final matchup against the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden. Toronto has posted a 1-1-0 record against the Rangers this season. The Maple Leafs are concluding a three-game road trip where the team has posted a 2-0-0 record. The club has earned at least one point through their last five games played (4-0-1) while earning a 5-1-1 record through the month of April. With the Ottawa Senators 5-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Monday, March 27th, the Maple Leafs clinched a playoff spot for the seventh-straight season. Earning a playoff spot in seven-consecutive seasons is the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Toronto earned their spot in the playoffs for the 72nd time in franchise history. The Maple Leafs were the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs following Boston, Carolina and New Jersey. With the Maple Leafs earning one point in their matchup against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, April 6th and the Tampa Bay Lightning losing in regulation to the New York Islanders, Toronto secured home-ice advantage in their first round meeting with Tampa Bay in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: TSN4 RADIO: TSN 1050

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April 11, 2023 The Maple Leafs recalled goaltender Joseph Woll from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis. Goaltender Matt Onuska has signed an amateur tryout agreement.
April 10, 2023 The Maple Leafs signed goaltender Nick Chenard to an amateur tryout agreement.
April 9, 2023 The Maple Leafs signed forward Matthew Knies to a three-year, entry-level contract.
April 8, 2023 The Maple Leafs signed goaltender Jett Alexander to an amateur tryout agreement.

INJURY REPORT
Bobby McMann Knee (IR)
Victor Mete Lower Body (LTIR)
Matt Murray Head Injury (Day-to-Day)
Jake Muzzin Neck (LTIR)
Nick Robertson Shoulder (LTIR)

ALL-TIME VS. NEW YORK RANGERS:
First Matchup between Clubs: November 20, 1926 (Toronto 1 vs. New York 5)
All-Time Record: 290-225-95-12 (622 Games)
All-Time Record at Home: 170-94-39-7 (310 Games)
All-Time Record on the Road: 120-131-56-5 (312 Games)
Last Road Win vs. Opponent: December 20, 2019 (Toronto 6 at New York 3)

ACTIVE LEADERS VS. NEW YORK RANGERS:
Games Played: John Tavares (54), Luke Schenn (39), Ryan O’Reilly (22), Morgan Rielly (22)
Goals: John Tavares (15), Mitch Marner (6), Ryan O’Reilly (6)
Assists: John Tavares (33), Ryan O’Reilly (11), Mitch Marner (10)
Points: John Tavares (48), Ryan O’Reilly (17), Mitch Marner (16)
Penalty Minutes: Luke Schenn (55), John Tavares (46), Mark Giordano (12)

2022-23 AVERAGES
Points% GF/Game GA/Game PP% PK% SF/G SA/G FO%
Toronto .673 3.40 2.69 26.1 82.1 32.2 29.6 53.0
New York .660 3.35 2.63 23.9 81.1 31.6 29.4 49.2

THE MAN ADVANTAGE IN 2022-23
Power Play: 26.1%
Power Play Goal Leader: 18 – Tavares
Power Play Point Leader: 39 – Tavares (18G, 21A)
2021-22 Power Play: 63/231 (27.3%)

ON THE PK IN 2022-23
Penalty Kill: 82.1%
Shorthanded Goal Leader: 4 – Marner
Shorthanded Point Leader: 5 – Marner (4G, 1A)
2021-22 Penalty Kill: 192/234 (82.1%)

FAST FACTS
Thursday games 15th of 15 (7 home, 8 road)
Back-to-Backs played 14 of 14
Record in first game of back-to-back 9-5-0
Record in second game of back-to-back 9-4-1
April games 8th of 8 (3 home, 5 road)

NEW YORK RANGERS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Buffalo Sabres 3, New York Rangers 2 – SHOOTOUT – April 10, 2023 – Madison Square Garden
NYR Goals: A. Panarin (27, 28)
BUF Goals: J. Peterka (12), C. Mittelstadt (13, SOW)
NYR Goalie: I. Shesterkin (OTL – 36/38)
BUF Goalie: D. Levi (W – 26/28)
NYR Shots: 28
BUF Shots: 38
NYR PP: 1/2
NYR PK: 2/2
RECAP/NOTES: The Rangers rallied from down 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead into the third but ultimately fell to the Sabres in a shootout. In a pregame ceremony, Ryan Lindgren was named the winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.

RANGERS RUNDOWN

  • The New York Rangers end their regular season with a Thursday night affair with the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:00 PM ET – TV: MSG Network – Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).
  • The Blueshirts have clinched a spot in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 62nd time in team history they have made the postseason. New York’s 14 playoff appearances since the 2005-06 season are tied for the second most in the NHL.
  • The Rangers have reached the 100-point plateau for a second consecutive year and 12th time in team history. The Blueshirts’ 107 points are the seventh most in franchise history while their 47 wins are tied for the ninth most. With a win, their 109 points would tie the fourth most in team history.
  • New York has points six-straight contests (3-0-3), 16 of its last 18 games (12-2-4). Since March 9, the Rangers’ two regulation losses are tied for the second fewest in the NHL behind Edmonton (1).
  • With a point tonight, the Rangers would finish a season with point streak of six-plus games for the first time in franchise history. Only three times before has the team closed out a regular season with points in four or more consecutive games (2007-08, 1967-68, 1935-36).
  • At home, the Rangers have won seven of their last nine and 12 of their last 16. The Blueshirts are 15-5-1 in their last 21 home games.
  • Since December 5, New York is 36-11-8 for 80 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank second in points, points
    percentage (.727), tied for third in wins, third in goals per game (3.55), and third in power play percentage (25.8).
  • Seven Rangers (Adam Fox, Barclay Goodrow, Kaapo Kakko, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Jacob Trouba, Mika Zibanejad) head into tonight’s game having played every game this season. If all seven play tonight, it would mark the third time since 1958-59 and second since 2011-12 that the Blueshirts have had seven or more players play in every regular season game.
  • On Wednesday, the Blueshirts announced that Mika Zibanejad was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player, as voted on by members of the Rangers media, and Ryan Lindgren was named the winner of the Players’ Player Award, as voted on by his teammates.
  • Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have both notched 90 points this season, marking the first time since 1991-92 the Blueshirts have had multiple players with 90-plus points (Messier, Leetch). Other years: 1974-75, 1971-72
  • New York’s plus-58 goal differential ranks fifth in the NHL and plus-29 differential in the third period ranks fourth in the NHL.
  • With a 2.63 mark, the Rangers have allowed the third fewest goals against per game in the NHL.
  • The Blueshirts have 21 comeback victories this season, tied for the fourth most in the NHL. New York is 15-2-5 when tied after two periods – their 15 wins are the most in the NHL.
  • When scoring four or more goals, New York is 33-0-0 and the only team in the NHL to have a perfect such record.
  • Against Toronto, the Rangers have points in six of their last seven contests (5-0-1) and eight of their last 10 (7-2-1) against them. At home against Toronto, the Blueshirts have won three in a row and four of their last five.
  • The Rangers defensemen group has compiled 192 points, the fifth most in the NHL.
  • Mika Zibanejad has 20 power play goals on the year. The Rangers are the first team since the 1992-93 & 1993-94 Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins to have a different player score 20+ power play goals in back-to-back seasons as Chris Kreider had 26 last year.
  • Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin are the third pair of teammates in Rangers history to simultaneously post consecutive 80-point campaigns following Rod Gilbert and Steve Vickers (1974-75 – 1975-76) as well as Gilbert and Jean Ratelle (1971-72 – 1972-73).
  • For the fourth time (2022-23, 2015-16, 2010-11 and 2006-07) in the past 20 years, the Rangers have five different 20-plus goal scorers (Panarin, Zibanejad, Chytil, Trocheck, Kreider).

LAST FIVE GAMES
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Apr. 10 Buffalo SOL, 3-2
Apr. 8 at Columbus W, 4-0
Apr. 6 at St. Louis OTL, 3-2
Apr. 5 Tampa Bay W, 6-3
Apr. 2 at Washington W, 5-2

ALL-TIME RECORD 237-282-95-8 (577 PTS)
2022-23 1-0-1
2021-22 2-1-0
NYR HOME 136-116-56-4 (332 PTS)
NYR AWAY 101-166-39-4 (245 PTS)
LAST FIVE MEETINGS 3-1-1
LEADING SCORER(S) – CURRENT RANGERS IN CAREER G: Kane (17) – A: Kane (17) – Pts: Kane (34)
LEADING SCORER(S) – ALL-TIME IN GAMES W/NYR G: Bathgate (51) – A: Bathgate (82) – Pts: Bathgate (133)

2022-23 SEASON SERIES
December 15 at MSG W, 5-3
January 25 at Toronto OTL, 3-2
April 13 at MSG 7:00 PM ET

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • On the penalty kill, New York has been perfect in 12 of its last 15 games.
  • The Rangers have scored five power play goals over their last four games and have tallied a PPG in six of their last eight contests.
  • In the NHL, the Blueshirts have the seventh best power play percentage (23.9).
  • Since the trade deadline on March 3, the Blueshirts’ 89.1 PK percentage ranks second in the NHL.