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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (3-4) at Pittsburgh Pirates (4-2)

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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (3-4) at Pittsburgh Pirates (4-2)

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

No release available.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:…Have won three straight games since dropping each of the last two contests of their season-opening series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park…Opened their 137th season as a member of the National League with a 5-4 win against the Reds.

WELCOME HOME CUTCH: Today will be Andrew McCutchen’s first game as a Pirate at PNC Park since September 27, 2017…McCutchen is the all-time leader in home runs (93) in the ballpark’s history…His next home run at PNC Park will be his first since September 26, 2017, against the Orioles when he went deep twice while recording a career-high eight RBI.

BACK IN THE 412: Today the Pirates return to Pittsburgh after going 4-2 on their season-opening six-game road trip to Cincinnati (1-2) and Boston (3-0)…It’s Pittsburgh’s best start to the season after six games since going 5-1 to begin the 2018 season.

BATMAN RETURNS: A.J. Burnett will throw out the ceremonial first pitch during today’s pre-game festivities to former batterymate Russell Martin…Burnett was a member of Pittsburgh’s playoff teams in both 2013 and 2015 while going 35-28 with a 3.34 ERA in 87 starts as a Pirate from 2012-13 and 2015…Martin hit one of the most memorable home runs in Pirates history, taking Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto deep in the 2013 Wild Card Game that helped lift the Pirates to a win and advance to the Division Series.

CRUZ IN CONTROL: Oneil Cruz enters today with a career-best 16-game on-base streak dating back to September 23 of last year…Since his season debut last year on June 20, Cruz is tied for the second-most home runs (18) in all of MLB among shortstops, trailing only Texas’ Marcus Semien (21).

SOCKING IT TO CHICAGO: Andrew McCutchen has hit safely in seven career games against the White Sox, going 13-for27 (.481)…Carlos Santana’s 22 home runs against the White Sox are tied for the fifth-most among actve players (Miguel Cabrera leads with 40)…The Bucs are 6-2 against the White Sox here at PNC Park since the beginning of 2015.

THE OPENING ACT AT PNC: Today is the third time that the Pirates will face an American League team in a home opener after also doing so in 2015 against Detroit and in 2018 against the Twins…Pittsburgh is 9-12 all-time in its home openers at PNC Park…The Bucs have lost each of their last four home openers since winning five straight from 2014-18.

A CALL TO ARMS: Pittsburgh’s pitching staff enters today with the fourth-lowest ERA (3.46) among all National League teams (ninth-lowest in all of MLB)…The only three National League staffs with a lower ERA coming into today are the Dodgers (2.14), Brewers (2.72) and Braves (2.90).

RICH ON THE HILL: Lefthander Rich Hill will make his second start as a Pirate in today’s game…Hill has made five career starts here at PNC Park…Today will be his first outing along the banks of the Allegheny River since winning an 8-3 decision against Roansy Contreras last year on August 17…Prior to last year, Hill’s previous start came at PNC came on August 23, 2017, while pitching for the Dodgers when he lost a no-hitter in the 10th inning on a Josh Harrison walkoff home run.

BULLISH PEN: Pittsburgh’s bullpen has recorded a 1.77 ERA (20.1ip/4er) and .203 batting average against in the first six games of the season…Pirates relievers have also allowed just one of eight inherited runners to score…The bullpen’s 1.77 ERA is the fourth-lowest in all of Major League Baseball coming into today, trailing only the Rangers (0.73), Brewers (1.33) and Rays (1.64).

THE RENEGADE: David Bednar recorded his third save in the team’s fifth game of the season Tuesday night…Prior to Bednar, the last Pirate to record three saves within the team’s first five games of a season was Joel Hanrahan in 2011.

RED-HOT REYNOLDS: Bryan Reynolds enters today ranked first in all of Major League Baseball in home runs (four), third in slugging (1.000), fourth in OPS (1.444) and second in total bases (24)..Today will also be Reynolds’ 500th big league game…Since making his Major League debut on April 20, 2019, Reynolds ranks third among all switch hitters in MLB in slugging (.488), OPS (.850) and total bases (879), and seventh in RBI (246) and home runs (78).

PIRATING: The Pirates are 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts this season…The only other team with at least seven stolen bases and no caught stealings are the White Sox (7-for-7).

CASHING IN AT PNC: Last season Jack Suwinski hit 16 of his 19 home runs here at PNC Park…Suwinski finished tied for the third-most home runs in a single season in PNC Park history (Brian Giles holds the record with 18 in 2001)…His 16 home runs at home were also the most in a single season in Pirates history for a rookie; the previous record was 15 held by Jason Bay in 2004 and Al Martin in 1993.

44 – LHP RICH HILL
RICH HILL: The 43-year-old lefthander is making his second start of the season this afternoon…Lost a 6-2 decision (5.0ip/3er) in his Pirates debut on 4/1 at Cincinnati.

vs. CHICAGO (AL): 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA (28.0ip/18er) in 19 career appearances (five starts)…Lost his only outing last year against the White Sox on 5/25…The White Sox are one of four teams in his career that he has yet to beat along with Minnesota, the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Preview: Houston Astros (3-4) at Minnesota Twins (4-2)

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MLB Preview: Houston Astros (3-4) at Minnesota Twins (4-2)

HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros, the reigning World Series champions, will open their road schedule today with an afternoon tilt opposite the Minnesota Twins, who are hosting their Home Opener a day later than originally scheduled…RHP José Urquidy will get the start for Houston today in what is expected to be near 45˚ temperatures…he’ll be opposed by RHP Sonny Gray and the Twins.

BRAVING THE ELEMENTS: RHP José Urquidy, a native of Mazat- lan, Mexico, owns the distinction of starting the Astros coldest game in franchise history, which had a first pitch temperature of 34˚, on April 21, 2021 at COL…Urquidy pitched through snow flurries that game, pitching 5.0 innings (4ER) in the loss… interestingly enough, Urquidy also started one of the hottest games in franchise history, which came on Sept. 4, 2022 at LAA (0ER/7IP)…that game started at 102˚ temperature, which checks in as the fifth-hottest game in club history.

ABOUT URQUIDY:RHP José Urquidy is entering his second start in what is his fifth Major League season (2019-23) and is looking to build upon a solid 2022 campaign in which he set many career highs, including wins (13), starts (28), innings pitched (164.1) and strikeouts (134)…he also had a solid showing this Spring Training at the World Baseball Classic, pitching twice for Team Mexico, including a 2.1-inning appearance (1ER) in Mexico’s semifinal game vs. Japan.

AT THE HELM: Astros skipper Dusty Baker celebrated his 26th career Opening Day as a manager last week and his fourth at the helm in Houston…Baker, who ranks ninth all-time in managerial wins with 2,096 wins, has an outside shot of moving up to sixth all time by seasons end…en route, he’d have to surpass Joe McCarthy (8th, 2,125), Bucky Harris (7th, 2,158) and Sparky Anderson (6th 2,194).

IN THE BOX: This season is the first for the Astros under GM Dana Brown, who was named the 14th GM in club history in January…it was also the 12th Opening Day for Astros Owner & Chairman Jim Crane, who purchased the club in Nov., 2011.

LASTING LEGACY: This series is another reunion with Twins SS Carlos Correa, who spent his first seven Major League seasons (2015-21) with the Astros, prior to joining the Twins prior to the 2022 season…Correa’s name will likely always be tied to the Houston franchise for many reasons, including thru his younger brother IF J.C. Correa, who’s currently a utility player for the Astros Double A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks.

SEASON SWEEP: The Astros swept the Twins in 2022, winning all six of their games, including three games in Minnesota…the Twins were one of three teams the Astros swept the season series from in 2022, also the Tigers (7-0) and Mets (4-0).

WINSDAY: On Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, the Astros downed the Tigers by a score of 8-2…the offense broke out on the day, hammering 11 hits, including a season-high three homers, one each by CF Chas McCormick (2×4, 2RBI), RF Kyle Tucker (2×4, 2RBI) and SS Jeremy Pena (2×5, 2RBI)… RHP Cristian Javier (1ER/6IP) was great in his start, limiting the Tigers to just five hits and no walks en route to the win.

TODAY’S TELECAST: Today’s game will be televised on the AT&T SportsNet SW Alternate channel due to a scheduling overlap with the Houston Rockets…the alternate channel can be found on XFINITY (710HD), DirecTV (674-1), U-Verse (697/1697HD), Consolidated (114), btel (331), Astound (82/882 HD), MidSouth Fiber (114), Phonoscope (625) and I-Net (99)…the Alternate channel is also available on fuboTV.

BOMBS AWAY: RF Kyle Tucker has connected for a team-lead- ing three home runs on the young season, which gives him a tie for the American League lead…Tucker is looking to improve upon his career high of 30 homers, which he exactly reached in each of the last two seasons.

EARLY LEAGUE LEADERS:LF Yordan Alvarez checks in with 10 RBI, which ranks tied for second in the Majors…RF Kyle Tucker is tied for first in the AL in homers (3) and tied for second in walks (6)…1B José Abreu has 10 hits on the season, which ties for sixth in the AL.

RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez is off to a characteristically strong start into the young season, as he’s hitting .348 (8×23) with a double, two homers, 10 RBI and a 1.060 OPS…this marks just the eighth time in club history for a player to record 10-plus RBI within the Astros first seven games of a season…the last player to do so was 1B Lance Berkman, who also had 10 RBI within the Astros first seven games of 2006.

SEÑOR CIEN:LF Yordan Alvarez connected for his 100th career homer on Monday, becoming the 19th player in franchise history to reach the 100-homer mark…Alvarez reached that mark in 372 games, the fastest by an Astros player, topping 1B Lance Berkman, who hit his 100th career homer in his 452nd game.

EARLY RETURNS: 1B José Abreu has opened his career with the Astros with a seven-game hitting streak, which ties as the longest active streak in the Majors…Abreu’s streak ties the third-longest hitting streak by a player to open his Astros career and the longest since IF Scott Moore hit safely in his first nine games with Houston in 2012…Abreu’s seven-game hitting streak is the longest to open a season in his 10-year career, surpassing his previous high of four games.

COOGS’ HOUSE!: OF Corey Julks, a native of Houston suburb Friendswood, TX, is off to a solid start to his Major League career, as he’s hitting .316 (6×19) through his first five Major League games…Julks is a Houstonian in every aspect, attending Friendswood’s Clear Brook HS and the University of Houston before being drafted by the Astros in eight round of the 2017 draft.

FULL SLATE: For the first time this season, the Astros and all four of their full-season minor league affiliates will play games today…the last team to join the party is Class A Fayetteville, which is celebrating their Opening Day tonight…the others in action tonight are Triple A Sugar Land (3-2), Double A Corpus Christi (0-1) and Class A Asheville (0-1).

TAYLOR ON ASSIGNMENT: LHP Blake Taylor, on the IL with a left elbow strain, has made three scoreless appearances so far while on an injury rehab assignment with Triple A Sugar Land… because Taylor began the season the the Major League injured list, he’s not eligible to be activated until April 11.

TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP JOSÉ URQUIDY

LAST START – 4/1 vs. CWS: allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 4.0 innings…Houston went on to defeat the White Sox, 6-4.

AGAINST THE TWINS: will make his 3rd career start against the Twins…he’s recorded a 3.60 ERA (4ER/10IP) with 11 strikeouts, 1 walk, a 0.80 WHIP and a .184 opponent batting average…is looking to earn his 1st career win against the Twins.

THE 2022 CAMPAIGN: reached career-highs in appearances (29), starts (28) wins (13) and strikeouts (134), while posting a 3.94 ERA (72ER/164.1IP)

• posted a 2.08 walks per 9.0 ratio (38 BB in 164.1IP) this year…ranked 9th in AL.

• was moved to the bullpen prior to his final start of the season and made his lone relief appearance in his final outing on 10/3 vs. PHI…prior to 10/3’s relief outing, made only 2 regular season relief appearances, which both came in Sep. 2019 (2ER/7IP)

• pitched in 1 game in the ‘22 postseason, appearing in relief in Gm 3 at Philadelphia…delivered 3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out 4 batters to 1 walk…helped the Astros bullpen cover important innings in the 7-0 loss as the team went on to win the next 2 games and seal the World Series title…the Astros bullpen allowed just 2 runs through 13 innings beginning with Urquidy’s appearance

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

• through 12 career postseason games, has gone 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA (15 ER/36.1IP). WBC: was a member of Team Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic…picked up the win in a 10-3 victory over Team Canada to advance Team Mexico past pool play, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out 5 batters to 1 walk in the start

• made a relief appearance in the semifinal loss to Samurai Japan, allowing 1 run on 2 hits through 2.1 IP…it was Team Mexico’s 1st trip to the WBC semifinals in its 4th appearance in the tournament.

WITH THE ‘STROS: was originally signed by the Astros as an international free agent from Mexico on March 2, 2015…made his MLB debut on 7/2/19 with a start at Colorado…since his debut, he ranks 3rd amongst AL pitchers (min. 325 IP) by averaging 1.90 walks per 9 IP.

• last name is pronounced “urr-KEE-dee”

• is on 11 Mexican-born players to appear in a game with the Astros…his 346.0 IP in his career is the most of any Mexican-born pitcher in Astros history, directly ahead of RHP Aurelio Lopez, who pitched 116.0 innings for the Astros in the 1986-87 seasons…his 24 career wins are 2ndmost of any active Mexican-born player in MLB, trailing only Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (51)

MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

No release available.

MLB Preview: Oakland Athletics (2-4) at Tampa Bay Rays (6-0)

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MLB Preview: Oakland Athletics (2-4) at Tampa Bay Rays (6-0)

OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:

ABOUT THE A’S: Lost two of three to both the Angels and Guardians to start the season…it marks just the second time over the last 12 years the A’s have lost the first two series of the season (2021)…this is the A’s 56th season in Oakland where they have won 17 American League West titles, four AL Wild Cards, six AL pennants and four World Championships…only the Atlanta Braves (22), New York Yankees (20) and Los Angeles Dodgers (20) have more division titles than the A’s…since the A’s moved to Oakland in 1968, only the Yankees (11), Cardinals (8) and Dodgers (8) have more league championships and only the Yankees have more world championships (7)…have a 4495-4182 (.518) record over the previous 55 seasons in Oakland…only four teams have won more games over that span (New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston, St. Louis)…this is the Athletics franchise 123rd season in the American League…since 1901, the A’s have 17 AL West titles plus 15 AL pennants and nine World Championships…only the Yankees (27) and Cardinals (11) have won more World Championships…the A’s are 9210-9654 (.488) in their previous 122 seasons…that includes a 3886-4248 record from 1901-54 in Philadelphia and 829-1224 from 1955-67 in Kansas City.

OFFENSE: The A’s have been held to six hits or fewer in five of the first six games and are batting .201, which is third lowest in the majors…have the fifth lowest on-base percentage (.283) and OPS (.624) and sixth lowest slugging percentage (.342)…scored 19 runs in the three-game series against Cleveland after scoring just three runs in three games against Los Angeles (AL)…the 22 runs scored are seventh fewest in the majors…are a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts and are one of 10 teams without a caught stealing.

PITCHING: The A’s pitching staff has the fourth highest ERA in the majors (5.79)…has the fifth fewest strikeouts (47) and is tied for the fifth most walks (27)…has issued six wild pitches, which is second most to the Guardians (7)… led the majors with 36 wild pitches this spring…the A’s ERA breaks down to 7.94 by the starting pitchers and 3.58 by the bullpen…the starters ERA is second highest in the majors to the Red Sox (8.01)…the A’s are one of three teams without a win by their starting pitchers (Phillies, Diamondbacks).

DEFENSIVE DOINGS: The A’s have committed an error in each of the first six games, which matches the second longest season-opening streak in Oakland history (1970)…the longest is a 10-game streak in 1976…have eight errors for the season, which is the most in the majors…have two outfield assists, which is tied for fourth most.

HOME AND AWAY: The A’s begin their first road trip of the season tonight, a seven-game trip to Tampa Bay (three games) and Baltimore (four games)… went 31-51 (.378) on the road in 2022, which was the third worst road record in the American League…went 2-4 on the season-opening six-game homestand against Los Angeles-AL (1-2) and Cleveland (1-2)…were 29-51 (.362) at home last year, which set an Oakland record for lowest home winning percentage…had the second worst home record in the majors to Washington (26-55, .321).

THIS AND THAT: Two of the A’s three games against Cleveland went extra innings and the A’s lost both of those games…the A’s have been involved in two of the four extra inning games in the majors (Guardians, 3)…are 2-1 in one-run games and the three games are tied with five other teams for the most in the majors…are 2-2 in games decided in the last at bat…the A’s average time of game is 2 hours and 44 minutes…the last time the A’s averaged under 2:50 per game was in 2010 (2:43).

DURING THE SPRING: The A’s went 11-17-3 (.355) this spring, which was the worst record in the Cactus League and third worst in the majors ahead of Pittsburgh (9-18-4) and Miami (7-16-4)…it was the fifth lowest spring winning percentage in Oakland history…went 5-10-3 last spring and have back-to-back losing springs for the first time since 2016-18 when they had three straight…the A’s led majors in on-base percentage (.367), walks (153), hit by pitches (26) and lowest strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.83)…the walks were second most by an A’s team during the spring since 1990, the earliest year spring stats are available (had 154 in 1997)…the hit by pitches were the most since 2009 (28) and the on-base percentage was the best since 2013 (.367)… tied for second in the CL in triples (9), ranked fourth in OPS (.783) and plate appearances per strikeout (4.45) and tied for fourth in runs (171) and doubles (64)…had the most grounded into double plays in the majors (32)…had the second fewest home runs in the CL (27) and the fifth lowest slugging percentage (.416)…the pitching staff had the highest ERA (6.35), opponents OPS (.849) and on-base percentage (.385) in the majors, the third highest batting average (.283) and fifth highest slugging percentage (.465)…the ERA was the highest by an A’s team during the spring since at least 1990 (previous: 6.22 in 1999)…also led the majors in runs (209), walks (171) and wild pitches (36)…the walks are the most by an A’s team during the spring since at least 1990…tied for the second most home runs allowed in the CL (40)…were one of two teams in the majors without a balk (Cardinals)…the A’s defense had the fourth fewest errors in the CL (23) and tied for fifth in outfield assists (4)…had the most passed balls (7).

THE RULE CHANGES: The A’s stole 40 bases this spring, which was third most in the Cactus League…it was the most by an A’s team during the spring since at least 1990 (previous: 39 with the 1995 replacement players)…tied for the fourth fewest caught stealings (6) and had the fifth best stolen base percentage (87.0)…the A’s average time of game was 2:46, compared to 3:07 from last spring…however, had the highest average time of game in the majors (Phillies, 2:43)…league-wide, the average time of game was 2:35 compared to 3:01 last spring.

THE INJURED LIST: The A’s begin the season with five players (Blackburn, Piña, Rucinski, Snead, Tarnok) on the injured list after starting the season with three last year…used the IL 31 times last year, which broke the Oakland record of 27 set in 2016 and matched in 2021…however, used the IL nine times for Covid in 2022 and three times in 2021.

A’S VS. RAYS
• The A’s lost the season series last year for the first time since 2018.

• Were swept in a three-game series in Oakland last year, marking the first time the A’s went winless in the season series in the Coliseum…are 62-36 (.633) against the Rays at home, which is the A’s best record against any AL team in the Coliseum.

Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-0 0-0 0-0
2022 0-3 3-1 3-4
Oakland History: 116-83
at the Coliseum: 62-36
at Tropicana Field: 54-47

TODAY’S TIDBITS
Jesús Aguilar has reached base safely in each of his five games…Trevor May picked up his second win of the season Tuesday night and is one of seven two-game winners in the majors…Esteury Ruiz is the only player to reach base safely in each of the A’s first six games.

FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his second start of the season…begins his second season in the majors and is on his first Opening Day roster…made his Major League debut with Oakland last September.

LAST START: He was the losing pitcher in the A’s 6-0 loss to Los Angeles (AL) last Sunday in Oakland…allowed a career-high six runs on a career-high nine hits in 5.2 innings and all of the runs which scored on a career-high three home runs…O’Hoppe hit a three-run home run in the fourth and Trout and Ohtani hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth, with Trout’s being a two-run shot…the O’Hoppe home run snapped a career-high 14.0-inning scoreless streak dating back to last year.

SPRING TRAINING RECAP: Was 0-4 with a 10.54 ERA and 1.057 OPS in five games, including four starts…opponents hit .328 and he walked 12 in 13.2
innings…allowed at least two runs in all five appearances…his four losses tied for the most in the majors and match the most by an A’s pitcher since 1991, the first year spring stats are available (Eveland, 2009)…tied for the second most walks in the Cactus League…also pitched in a minor league game on March 21.

2022 RECAP: Made both his Triple-A and Major League debuts in 2022…began the season in the New York Yankees organization, was dealt to the A’s
at the trading deadline and joined Oakland in September for his big league debut…went 2-2 with a 4.93 ERA and .781 opponents OPS in seven games, all starts…struck out 33 batters in 34.2 innings and walked 10 for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.30.

OPPONENTS BATTING: Allowed a .244 opponents batting average, which broke down to .138 (4-for-29) with a .366 OPS against left-handed hitters compared to .275 (28-for-102) with an .897 OPS against right-handers…surrendered 17 of his 18 extra base hits and issued nine of his 10 walks to righthanded hitters…yielded a .288 batting average and .843 OPS the first time through the order, .196 with a .650 OPS the second time and .238 with a .923 OPS after that…the first two hitters in the batting order combined for a .371 batting average against him but he held the three through nine hitters to a .198 average…opponents were 0-for-12 on an 0-2 count.

THIS AND THAT: Was 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA and .653 opponents OPS in three starts in the Coliseum, 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA and .884 OPS in four starts on the road…however, surrendered four of his five home runs in Oakland…had a 7.52 ERA and .962 opponents OPS in odd numbered innings, a 1.26 ERA and .523 OPS in even numbered innings…did not allow a run in the fourth inning (6.0 ip)…tossed five innings or fewer in five of his seven starts

TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:

BLOOMING IN D.C.—Four Rays collected multiple hits as Tampa Bay cruised to a 7-2 win on Wednesday afternoon to polish off a three-game sweep of Washington in the nation’s capital…Wander Franco (2-for-4, R, BB, HR, 2RBI) hit his second homer of the season in the third inning before Harold Ramírez (2-for-4, R, HR, RBI) launched his first home run in the sixth…Jose Siri (1-for-3, 2RBI), Taylor Walls (2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI) and Randy Arozarena (2-for-4, R, RBI) also drove in runs for the Rays.

Rays starter Shane McClanahan (6.0IP, 5H, 2ER, 4BB, 6SO) spun 6.0 innings of two-run ball to pick up his second win…has earned the win in back-to-back starts for the first time since 6/26-7/2, 2022.

Tampa Bay totaled nine homers in the series, tied for third most in a three-game set in franchise history…marked the Rays’ most home runs in a three-game series since 5/18-20, 2021 at Baltimore (11HR).

SIXTH SENSE —The Rays are the first team to open a season with six consecutive wins since the 2016 Baltimore Orioles started 7-0, a streak Tampa Bay will look to match this evening…since 2004, the Rays are one of five clubs to open a season with six straight victories (2016 BAL, 7-0; 2015 KC, 7-0; 2015 DET, 6-0; 2011 TEX, 6-0)…the 6-0 mark is Tampa Bay’s best start to a season in club history, ahead of a 5-1 run to begin 2019.

Tampa Bay’s overall six-game winning streak matches its longest run from 2022 (2x, last: 8/20-25, 2022)…the Rays have not strung together a winning streak of seven games since an 11-game streak from 5/13-24, 2021.

The Rays’ three-game winning streak at Tropicana Field matches their longest to open a home slate in club history (also: 2002, 2012, 2022).

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

NEVER IN DOUBT — Per STATS LLC, the Rays are the first major league team to win each of their first six games of a season by 4+ runs since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons…no other clubs in MLB history have begun a season with a streak of more than four such wins.

Tampa Bay’s +31 run differential (44-13) is tied for seventh-best in the majors since 1901 through a club’s first six games of a season…marks the best run differential through six games since the 2021 Cincinnati Reds (also +31).

The Rays have yielded only 13 runs, second-fewest through six games in club history, behind the 2019 team (10 runs)…the franchise record for fewest runs allowed through seven games is 11, also done in 2019.

Offensively, Tampa Bay’s 44 runs are its most through six games of a season, ahead of the 1998 Rays (41)…the 2009 squad currently holds the record for most runs through seven games (44).

BATTLE OF THE BAYS — The Rays host the Athletics this evening for the first of seven matchups between the two clubs in 2023…Tampa Bay won four of seven meetings with Oakland in 2022, including all three games at Oakland Coliseum to close the season series…since the beginning of 2021, the head-to-head series is tied, 7-7, with the Athletics narrowly outscoring the Rays, 58-52 (-7), in that span.

A win tonight would give the Rays their first four-game winning streak over Oakland since a five-game streak from 8/24/07-5/20/08.

IT’S A WANDER-FUL LIFE — Wander Franco (5XBH, 7RBI) is just the second player in Rays history with 5+ extra-base hits and 7+ RBI in the team’s first six games of a season, joining Evan Longoria in 2009 (9XBH, 10RBI)…Franco has tallied four multi-hit games, tied with 13 other players for most in MLB…since the beginning of 2022, Tampa Bay is 17-8 (.680) when he collects multiple hits, including 4-0 this season…this, compared to the Rays’ 31-33 (.484) mark when he appears in a game and records one or zero hits in that span.

BRINGING THE LUMBER — The Rays have hit 13 home runs, most in the AL and third most in the majors behind the San Francisco (15HR) and Los Angeles-NL (14)…the 13 homers are tied with the 2009 Rays for most through six games in club history…Tampa Bay would need 2 HR today to match the 2009 squad for the most homers through seven games in franchise history (15 HR).

Eight different Rays have homered this season, tied for third most in MLB behind San Francisco (10) and Los Angeles-NL (9)…Tampa Bay has four hitters with multiple homers: Luke Raley (3HR), Yandy Díaz (2HR), Wander Franco (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR) — only San Francisco (5) has more such players.

NO FLY ZONE — Rays pitchers have allowed just two home runs across 54.0 innings, tied with Los Angeles-NL for fewest in the majors…marks the fewest homers allowed through six games in club history, surpassing the 1998, 2011 and 2012 Rays (3 HR each)…the fewest home runs allowed through the first seven games of a season in Tampa Bay history is three, accomplished by the 1998 and 2012 Rays.

YOUTH MOVEMENT — The average age of Tampa Bay’s Opening Day roster was 28 years, 112 days old, fifth-youngest in the majors behind Cleveland (27.350), Detroit (28.021), Washington (28.112) and Kansas City (28.117), per STATS LLC.

According to Baseball Reference, the Rays currently have the youngest average batting age (26.9 yrs.) and third-youngest average pitching age (28.1 yrs.) in MLB.

Tampa Bay’s current 26-man roster features only four players over the age of 30: RHP Jason Adam (31), C Christian Bethancourt (31), INF Yandy Díaz (31) and RHP Ryan Thompson (31).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (1-0, 1.80)
WELCOME TO TAMPA BAY — An Orlando, Fla. native, Eflin joined the Rays during the 2022-23 offseason after signing the largest free-agent contract in club history, a three-year, $40 million deal, surpassing Wilson Álavrez’s five-year, $35 million pact…had spent the entirety of his seven-year career with Philadelphia, spanning 127 games (115 starts)…in 20 appearances (13 starts) last season with the Phillies, Eflin went 3-5 with 4.04 ERA (75.2IP, 34ER), collecting 65 strikeouts against 15 walks.

LAST TIME OUT — Made his Rays debut on 4/1 at Tropicana Field vs. Detroit (5.0IP, 3H, ER, BB, 5SO)…his lone blemish was a fourth-inning RBI single by Miguel Cabrera as Tampa Bay cruised to a 12-2 win…became the first pitcher to toss 5.0+ innings and earn the win in his Rays debut since Shane Baz on 9/20/21 vs. TOR.

UNFAMILIAR FOE — Made his lone career appearance against the Athletics as a member of the Phillies on 4/10/22…Eflin did not factor into the decision after tossing 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

WEST COAST VIBES — Eflin is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA and one save in five career outings (4 starts) vs. AL West foes.

Recorded his first and only career save on against Houston on 10/3/22, throwing a scoreless ninth frame in a 3-0 win.

In two starts against AL West opponents last season, tossed 12.0 scoreless innings, including an 8.0 inning outing with six strikeouts on 6/3 vs. Los Angeles.

HOME COOKING — In 61 career appearances (55 starts) at home, Eflin is 22-17 with a 3.59 ERA (335.2IP, 134ER)…in 67 career road outings (61 starts) he is 15-28 with a 5.37 ERA (328.2IP, 196ER).

2022 RUNDOWN — Began the season in the Phillies rotation, going 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA (68.0IP, 33ER) over 13 starts before a right knee bruise sidelined him from 6/26-9/12…made seven relief appearances after being reinstated, pitching to a 1.17 ERA (7.2IP, 1ER)…tossed a perfect ninth inning in Philadelphia’s playoff-clinching win on 10/3 at Houston, becoming the third pitcher since saves became an official stat (1969) to record his first career save on the same day his club clinched a playoff berth (also: LAD Orel Hershiser on 9/30/83 vs. SF; BAL Dave Leonhard on 9/13/69 vs. CLE).

Fanned a career-high 12 batters on 5/22 at Los Angeles-NL, the second double-digit strikeout game of his career (also: 10SO on 8/12/20 vs. BAL).

Issued two or fewer walks in 33 straight starts from 8/29/20-6/3/22, the third-longest streak by a Phillie since Baseball Reference data is available (1901), behind Robin Roberts (36GS, 1960-61) and Roy Halladay (35GS, 2010-111)

ON THE BIG STAGE — Pitched in the postseason for the first time in his career during Philadelphia’s run to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series… turned in a 3.38 ERA (10.2IP, 4ER) and did not record a decision over 10 appearances out of the bullpen, including seven straight scoreless outings (7.2IP) to conclude the postseason.

Earned his first career postseason save in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at STL, working a scoreless 9th inning.

Made 4 scoreless appearances in the World Series against HOU, yielding only 4 hits in 4.1 IP.

NO FREE RIDES — Last season, among NL pitchers with at least 75.0 IP, Eflin‘s 4.8% walk rate ranked sixth…since 2020, his 4.6% walk rate ranks third in the majors (min. 1,000BF):

MLB Preview: Kansas City Royals (1-6) at San Francisco Giants (3-3)

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MLB Preview: Kansas City Royals (1-6) at San Francisco Giants (3-3)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:

RALLY FALLS SHORT: The Royals suffered a 3rd straight loss yesterday in a 6-3 decision vs. the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium…Jordan Lyles recorded 9 strikeouts and did not walk a batter in 5.2 innings, but yielded 5 runs on 8 hits, including a 2-run double by Matt Chapman in the 1st and solo homers later in the game by Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr…Biggio’s HR was the 1st allowed by a Royals starting pitcher this season, snapping a run of 34.1 homerless innings over 6-plus starts…the Royals offense was held in check until the 8th, when the first five batters reached to begin the frame, including a solo home run by Bobby Witt Jr., which snapped the Royals scoreless streak at 23.0 innings and was the team’s 1st extra-base hit since the 2nd inning on Tuesday (Franmil Reyes HR), snapping a drought of 87 plate appearances in between… Vinnie Pasquantino and Edward Olivares had back-to-back RBI hits to cut the deficit in half, which brought the tying run to the plate with no outs, but the Royals went groundout, strikeout, strikeout to end the threat.

ROSTER MOVES: The Royals announced today that OF Kyle Isbel has been reinstated from the Paternity List after he and his wife, Priscilla, welcomed their first child, a son, together on Wednesday…in a corresponding move, IF Nick Pratto was optioned to Triple-A Omaha following yesterday’s game…he went 1-for-7 in 2 games.

SLOW START: The Royals went 1-6 vs. Minnesota (0-3) and Toronto (1-3) on the homestand, which as their longest season-opening stay since 1990, when they began with 8 home games vs. Baltimore (1-1), Toronto (1- 2) and Cleveland (2-1)…this is the first time they’ve had back-to-back losing series to begin the season since 2010, when they lost two of three to both Detroit and Boston…the Royals are 1-6 for the second time in their 55- year history, following the 1993 team that started 1-6 but bounced back and finished the season 84-78 (.519).

PITCHING IN: Despite the 5 runs allowed by Jordan Lyles over 5.2 innings in yesterday’s loss, the Royals starting rotation ranks 8th in the Majors with a 3.41 ERA (14 ER in 37.0 IP), which marks a significant improvement on their 4.76 ERA (440 ER in 832.2 IP) from last season, when Royals starters ranked 27th out of 30 teams.

Four Royals pitchers yesterday combined for 12 strikeouts and no walks, marking just the sixth such game in club history and the first since 2019 (see chart to right)…Kansas City’s 2.81 K/BB ratio ranks 11th in the Majors this season, which also marks a big improvement over 2022, when they ranked 29th at 2.12.

Royals pitchers have combined to throw first-pitch strikes at a 62.7% rate, which ranks 10th in the Majors through 7 games and is a significant improvement over last season, when they ranked 30th at 58.0%.

JUST KEEP SWINGING: Through the first 7 games, the Royals offense has been shut out three times, and ranks 30th in the Majors in batting average (.167), slugging percentage (.278) and OPS (.537)…they scored 9 runs in Saturday’s win vs. Minnesota but have combined for just 8 runs in their remaining 6 games, and their 17 total runs are their 5th fewest in franchise history through 7 games…despite the lack of results, the advanced metrics show promise in the Royals approach, as they rank 2nd in the Majors, according to Baseball Savant, with a 91.3 mph average exit velocity, which trails only the Dodgers (91.8 mph)…the Royals also rank 4th in the Majors with a 48.1% Hard Hit Rate (defined as balls with an exit velocity of 95.0 mph or greater), trailing the Dodgers (53.8%), Cardinals (49.4%) and Rays (48.4%)…but despite consistently making hard contact, the Royals rank last among all 30 teams with a .208 Batting Average on Balls in Play and their expected batting average is 65 points higher than their actual batting average, another stroke of bad luck that is the largest gap in the Majors.

ROAD WORK: The Royals begin their road schedule today with the 1st of 3 games at Oracle Park, where they are 5-3 in regular season action since this ballpark opened in 2000…this marks Kansas City’s fourth regular season trip to San Francisco and second in as many seasons, as they lost two of three here last June…following this 3-game set by the bay, the Royals will continue this 6-game trip with 3 night games in Arlington starting next Monday…an off day next Thursday will snap a run of 12 consecutive days with a game, before Kansas City returns to Kauffman Stadium to begin a 6-game homestand one week from today.

The Royals went a Major League-worst 26-55 (.321) on the road last season and lost 11 of their last 12 road series, with their only road series win during that time coming last Sept. 2-4 in Detroit…their only winning road trip last season came on a nine-game, 10-day West Coast swing from June 13-22, during which they went 5-4 at San Francisco (1-2), Oakland (2-1) and Anaheim (2-1).

AFTERNOON DELIGHT: Today’s 3:35 p.m. CT start marks the second of 4 straight day games for the Royals, including a pair of 3:05 p.m. CT starts tomorrow and Sunday…that means 7 of the Royals first 10 games will be played during the day, and they’re scheduled for 64 day games this season, which would match 2021 for their 2nd most in team history, trailing only last season, when they played a club-record 69 day games.

INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: As part of Major League Baseball’s balanced schedule for the 2023 season, the Royals will play all other 29 teams…today marks their 1st Interleague game of the season, after going 7-13 vs. National League opponents in 2022…the Royals are 13-6 (.684) all-time vs. the Giants, which is their best win percentage against any opponent and matches the White Sox (.13-6) for the best all-time win percentage vs. San Francisco…Kansas City has pitched to a 3.34 ERA in 19 regular season games vs. the Giants, which is its lowest mark against any single opponent, ahead of its 3.47 ERA in 16 games vs. the Mets…the Royals have gone 5-1-0 in season series play with the Giants, as 2022 marked the first year in club history in which the Royals lost the season series (1-2)…these totals do not include postseason play, as Kansas City fell to San Francisco in 7 games in the 2014 World Series, which marked the Royals first appearance in the Fall Classic in 29 years.

Salvador Perez is on the verge of several franchise Interleague records, as his next hit vs. a National League opponent will break a tie with Alcides Escobar (170) for the 2nd most in Royals history, trailing only Alex Gordon (210)…Salvy’s next RBI in Interleague play will break a tie with Gordon (94) for the franchise record, and he’s 3 runs shy of matching Carlos Beltrán (69) for 3rd most in Royals history.

CAPTAIN SALVY: The Royals announced last week on Opening Day that Salvador Perez has been named team Captain…Perez, 32, joins Royals Hall of Famers George Brett (1989-93), Frank White (1989-90) and Mike Sweeney (2003-07) as the only team Captains in club history…Salvy is a seven-time American League All-Star, a five-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner and a two-time Royals Les Milgram Player of the Year…he was unanimously named the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 World Series, and ranks among the Royals all-time leaders in home runs (223, 2nd), RBI (732, 7th), extra-base hits (472, 7th), total bases (2,209, 8th), doubles (238, 9th) and hits (1,280, 8th).

PACE OF PLAY: The new pitch timer rules implemented for 2023 have already produced dramatic results through the first eight days of the season…through 93 games that have ended in 9 innings, the average game time has been 2 hours, 36 minutes, and only 12 of the 93 games (12.9%) lasted at least 3 hours…the Royals 7 games have averaged 2 hours, 28 minutes, which is 8 minutes below the league average…compared to 9-inning games across the Majors last season, average time of game is down 27 minutes, while batting averages are up from .243 to .248, runs per game are up from 8.6 to 9.1 and stolen base success rates have jumped from 75.4% to 80.5%…the current success rate of steals would shatter the Major League record set in 2021 at 75.7%.

TODAY’S STARTERS: RHP BRAD KELLER (0-1, 3.86)

BRAD KELLER will make his 2nd start of the season—and 107th start of his career— today vs. the Giants at Oracle Park…this marks his 1st career start against the San Francisco Giants, who will become the 25th different opponent Brad has faced in his career…he’s in his sixth Major League season after being acquired by Kansas City in a trade with Cincinnati, who selected him from Arizona in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft.

SEASON DEBUT: Brad suffered the loss in the 1st start of his sixth Major League season last Sunday vs. Minnesota, allowing 2 runs despite yielding 10 baserunners on 5 hits, 4 walks and a hit batter in 4.2 innings of a 7-4 Royals defeat…both runs scored on RBI singles from Ryan Jeffers in the 2nd and 4th innings…he walked the first batter of the game, but escaped the frame with a double play, then stranded the bases loaded in the 2nd and stranded one in the 4th…walked three consecutive batters with 2 outs in the 5th and exited in favor of Amir Garrett, who stranded all 3 inherited runners.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: With a loss in his start last Sunday vs. the Twins, Keller extended his streak of starts with a decision to 16—in which he’s 5-11—which is the longest run of starts with a decision by a Royal since Tim Belcher earned a decision in 21 consecutive starts from Sept. 2, 1996-June 20, 1997…it’s the longest streak in the Majors since Max Fried went 16 starts with a decision in 2021 and it’s the longest run by a pitcher in the American League since Sean Manaea (17 starts) from 2017-18.

Royals Hall of Famer Dennis Leonard holds the club record with 26 straight starts with a decision (Aug. 26, 1997-June 23, 1978), in which he went 14-12.

HIGHS AND LOWS: In his fifth Major League season in 2022, Brad made 35 outings (22 starts), after a mid-season shift to the bullpen resulted in his first relief appearances since his 2018 debut season…despite the change, he eclipsed 100 strikeouts for the third year—second consecutive—but also posted an ERA north of 5.00 for the second straight season, just .30 points below his career-high 5.39 ERA in 2021.

Keller tied his career high with 14 losses (also 2019) while his 139.2 innings pitched were the most he’s thrown in a season since 2019 (165.1 IP)…despite spending the majority of the final two months of the season in the bullpen, he finished with 11 quality starts, 3 shy of Brady Singer, who led the Royals with 14.

He was one of two pitchers in 2022 with at least 11 quality starts and 14-plus losses, joining Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (18 QS/15 L)…that marked the second season of Keller’s career in which he posted that combination following 2019 (14 QS/14 L), and he joined Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (2019, 2021) as the only pitchers in the Majors to record those numbers twice in the last four seasons.

RISPY BUSINESS: Opponents batted just .245 (78-for-318) off Keller with nobody on base last season, however that mark rose to .319 (75-for-235) with runners on and rose even higher to .357 (45-for-126) with runners in scoring position…only two pitchers in the Majors surrendered as high of an opponents’ average with runners in scoring position (min. 125 batters faced with RISP), as Philadelphia right hander Kyle Gibson pitched to a .364 opponents’ average (47-for-129, 149 PA) and Washington left hander Patrick Corbin posted a .357 opponents’ average (60-for-168, 194 PA).

Twins batters went 3-for-9 (.333) off him with runners on base last Sunday, including 2-for-5 (.400) with runners in scoring position and 2-for-3 (.667)with RISP and 2 outs.

HELP WANTED: Brad went 6-13 as a starting pitcher in 2022 despite recording 11 quality starts, 2nd by a Royal to only Brady Singer’s 14…the Royals supported him with a total of 35 runs in his 22 starts, including 2 runs or fewer in 17 of his 22 starts, 1 run or fewer 12 times and no runs seven times… he finished with a 2.57 run support average as a starter, the lowest total in the Majors among pitchers who made at least 20 starts in 2022, and it set a new franchise low for a starting pitcher with the same qualifier…he only received 1 run of support in his season debut last Sunday vs. Minnesota.

FROM THE GROUND UP: Keller has a career 52.4% groundball rate, which ranks 4th in the Majors since the start of 2018 (min. 600.0 IP), trailing
only Dallas Keuchel (55.2%), Marcus Stroman (54.8%) and Luis Castillo (52.6%)…likewise, his lifetime HR/9 rate of 0.83 (59 HR in 638.1 IP) ranks tied for 4th in the Majors since 2018 (min. 600.0 IP), trailing Jacob deGrom (0.71), Zack Wheeler (0.76) and Max Fried (0.78)…his groundball percentage improved last season as he posted a 53.6% clip, but he allowed 17 home runs, 1 short of his career high set in 2021, for a 1.10 HR/9 rate.

He induced 1 double play last Sunday and has an American League-most 77 since the start of 2018, one more than Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (76). BRAD TO THE RESCUE: Keller earned his 1st career save in the sweep-clinching victory over the Twins last Sept. 22, in what was his 136th Major League appearance…he did not have a save in his minor league career either, as 100 of his 106 appearances were starts…he became the 16th Royal to make at least 20 starts in a season while also recording a save, and the first to do so since Danny Duffy made 24 starts and had 1 save in 2015.

UNFAMILIAR FACES: Brad is set to face San Francisco for the first time in his career, as the Giants will become the 25th different opponent he has faced, leaving only the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mets and Rockies as teams he has still yet to oppose…the NL West is the division he’s faced the least, and all 3 of his career appearances (1 start) came last season, on Aug. 13 vs. the Dodgers as a starter and on Aug. 26 and 28 vs. San Diego out of the bullpen. Ê Despite only having 3 previous outings vs. the NL West, he’s no stranger to Interleague play, as he’s posted a 3.87 ERA (52 ER in 121.0 IP) over 25 appearances (20 starts) vs. National League teams, which is notably lower than his 4.33 ERA (249 ER in 517.1 IP) in his career vs. AL opponents.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:

TODAY’S GAME: Fresh off their first road trip of the season, the Giants return home today to open up a six-game homestand with the first of three against the Kansas City Royals… SF is 40-25 (.615) in home openers since 1958, including a 16-7 mark (.696) at Oracle Park (since 2000)…SF has won 16 of their last 22 home openers and each of their last two dating to 2021…last season, the Giants opened the season with a 6-5 extra inning, walk-off victory over the Marlins.

TALES FROM THE TRYP: SF went 3-3 on its season-opening six-game road trip but had stark differences in their offensive performances in the games they won versus the games they lost.

ARRIVEDERCI!: With five more homers yesterday, the Giants enter play today leading the Majors in home runs (15), just ahead of the Dodgers (14) and Rays (13)…SF’s 15 home runs through its first six games are the most they’ve hit through the first six games of a season in team history.

BANGARANG: The Giants slugged 13 homers in their three game series with the White Sox, tied for the most by a Giants team in the SF-era (1958-pres.) for a three-game series… the only other time it happened was April 28-30, 1961 at Milwaukee…a fun fact about that series is that SF was actually no-hit in the first game of the series by Warren Spahn so they hit the 13 homers over their final two games.

BUNCHA CRUNCH: SF has hit 15 home runs in its last five games…according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs this is the 10th season where the Giants have had at least one such five-game span with at least 15 homers along with 2004, 2001, 2000, 1987, 1961, 1954, 1948, 1947 and 1924.

SLICE OF PIE: Through six games, the Giants have scored 68.4% of their runs (26-of-38) via the homer…that percentage is second-highest in MLB behind only Miami (73.3%)…SF’s 26 runs scored via the homer are most in MLB (Stats, LLC).

RIGHT-O!: All 15 of the Giants home runs this season have come off right-handed pitching…in fact each of the Giants last 18 homers have come off righties dating to last year…in 2022, SF tied for 18th in home runs vs. RHP (114) (Stats, LLC).

HOMELAND: SF went 44-37 at home in 2022 and in the Gabe Kapler-era (2020-pres.), the Giants have played good baseball here on the shores of McCovey Cove…since 2020, SF is 117-78 (.600) at Oracle Park, sixth-best in MLB and third-best in the NL in that stretch…only the Dodgers (140-58, .707) and Braves (117-75, .609) have been better at home since 2020.

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND: After day games during each of the six games on the road trip, SF kicks off its first homestand of the year with — yup — three more day games…according to Stats, LLC, the nine straight day games to open the year is the longest stretch by a Giants team since moving west in 1958… the previous longest streak to open a season was a seven-game stretch to open the 1995 campaign.

HOME OPENER WITH THE FAM…: SF has six players on its roster (including Mitch Haniger who is currently on the IL) that grew up in the greater Bay Area / Northern California area: Scott Alexander (Santa Rosa), Brandon Crawford (Mountain View), J.D. Davis (Elk Grove), Haniger (Mountain View), Joc Pederson (Palo Alto) and Logan Webb (Rocklin).

CRYSTAL BALL…: Since 2000, the Giants have hit at least 10 homers in their first six games six different times (2000, 2002, 2003, 2016, 2021 and this year)…in each of the previous five instances they went on to make the playoffs (SIS).

TODAY’S STARTER – ALEX COBB RHP #38
WITH THE GIANTS: Is in his 12th Major League season and his second with the Giants…he’s in his second year of a two-year contract (with a third-year team option) with the Giants that he signed on November 30, 2021.

LAST OUTING: Started the second game of the season for the Giants on April 1 at New York-AL…did not factor into the decision in the Giants 7-5 victory over the Yankees…threw 3.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts…his pitch count was limited since he missed two weeks of spring training due to a left knee contusion…Cobb threw 38 pitches in the first inning and committed a throwing error, which led to a run, but he settled in after that allowing just one hard-hit ball after the 1st inning (Giancarlo Stanton home run).

VS. KANSAS CITY: Is slated to make his eighth career start against Kansas City…over seven starts, he’s posted a 2-3 record with a 4.57 ERA (22er, 43.1ip)…he last faced the Royals on April 12, 2021 as a member of the Angels and earned the win as he threw 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts…in his last three games against Kansas City, he’s struck out 23 batters over 18.1innings.

2023 SPRING TRAINING: Over four spring starts, Cobb went 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA (6er, 13.0ip), 18 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP…on March 11 against the Dodgers, he took a 102 mph line drive off his left knee…his tests came back negative and he was diagnosed with a left knee contusion…he was able to make his next start on March 16 at Seattle where he tossed 5.0-scoreless innings, but his knee continued to bother him and he did not make another spring start as he experienced some residual swelling down his leg…on Monday, March 27, he threw 4.0 innings (52 pitches) in Scottsdale in a backfield game and came out feeling good.

LAST SEASON: Finished the 2022 season and his first with the Giants going 7-8 with a 3.73 ERA over 28 starts…it was Cobb’s first season in the National League after 10 seasons in the American League with Tampa Bay (2011-2017), Baltimore (2018-2020) and Los Angeles-AL (2021)…his 149.2 innings were more than each of the last three seasons…he posted a career high in strikeouts (151) and his 3.73 ERA was his best over a full season since 2017 (3.66)…his 28 starts matched the second-most of his career (also 2018) and one shy of his career-best 29 from 2017.

PUNCHOUTS: With 151 strikeouts last year, Cobb set a new career high that he previously set in 2014 with Tampa Bay (149)…his 9.08 K/9 was the best of his career over a full season and his 3.51 SO/BB ratio is the best of his career excluding 2019 when he made only three starts due to injury…he had two double digit strikeouts games last season (4/12 vs. SD and 7/29 vs. CHC).

LICKETY SPLIT: Cobb used his splitter 42.5% of the time in 2022 which was second in all of MLB behind ATL’s Kirby Yates…Cobb had the highest splitter usage among starters… opponents were 66-for-270 (.244) with 62 strikeouts and a .226 xBA in at-bats ending with the splitter.

FASTER WITH AGE: Saw an uptick in velocity last year on all his pitches…his splitter averaged 89.6 mph which was 2.1 mph faster than at any point in his career…his sinker averaged 94.8 mph, 2.1 mph faster his second fastest velocity.

AGE IS BUT A NUMBER: Only five Giants over the last 10 years have started a game at an older age than Cobb, who in his last start was 35 years, 176 days (Stats, LLC).

MLB Preview: Seattle Mariners (2-5) at Cleveland Guardians (5-2)

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MLB Preview: Seattle Mariners (2-5) at Cleveland Guardians (5-2)

SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:

TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners embark on their first road trip of the season, traveling to Cleveland (3 G, 4/7-9) and Chicago-NL (3 G, 4/10-12)…today’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Mike Blowers on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith.

ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners dropped Wednesday’s rubber match to the Angels 4-3, finishing the homestand with a 2-5 record.
• Road Opener – The Mariners are 9-5 in their first road game of the season, dating back to 2009.

• E I E I O – Mariners minor league affiliates Double-A Arkansas and Single-A Modesto opened their seasons yesterday…High-A Everett will begin their 2023 season tonight.

• Cleveland Rocks – The Mariners make their only trip to Cleveland this season…the Mariners swept the Guardians in their only trip to Cleveland last season (Sept. 2-4)…dating back to June 13, 2021, the Mariners have won 4-consecutive games at Cleveland.

• Rock and Raleigh – Cal Raleigh went 4-for-9 with 4 runs, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI in 3 games at Progressive Field in 2022.

• Central to Success – The Mariners went 21-12 against AL Central opponents in 2022, going 2-4 against the White Sox, 6-1 against the Guardians, 6-1 against the Tigers, 4-2 against the Royals and 3-4 against the Twins.

• On the Road Again – The Mariners are scheduled to travel approximately 49,000 miles this season, 2nd most in the Majors, trailing only the Oakland Athletics…the Mariners will travel approximately 3,000 miles on this road trip.

GENO PLAYS THE HITS…Eugenio Suárez went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in Wednesday’s game…Geno has now recorded multiple hits in 4-consecutive games (4/2-c.), which is tied for a career-best streak (done 3x, last: May 24-27, 2019 w/CIN)…in 7 games this season he is batting .357 (10×28) with 4 runs, 3 doubles and 5 RBI with a .821 OPS and 134 OPS+…Geno has started all 7 games this season at third base for the Mariners, ammassing 2 outs above average according to Baseball Savant.

FRANCE-Y PANTS…Ty France has reached base safely at least twice in 5-of-7 games this season, after going 1-for-3 with 1 run, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch, and 1 RBI in Wednesday’s game…overall this season, France is batting .357 (10×28) with 6 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 1 SB and 2 walks…he is getting on base at a .419 clip and slugging .607 (1.026 OPS) with a 193 wRC+.

LOGAN LUCKY…Logan Gilbert is making his 2nd start of the season in today’s game…in 5 career starts in March/April, Gilbert owns an 0.64 ERA (2 ER, 28.1 IP), which is the lowest ERA in any calendar month among active pitchers (min. 5 GS), ranking ahead of Tylor Megill-NYM who has a 1.04 ERA (3 ER, 26.0 IP) in 5 July starts and Tony Gonsolin-LAA, who has a 1.10 ERA (7 ER, 57.1 IP) in 11 August starts…Gilbert owns a 0.847 WHIP holding opponents to a .186 (19×102) average with 2 home runs, while striking out 29 in March/April.

CRUSHING THE CENTRAL…Ty France (.894) Tom Murphy (.849), Cal Raleigh (.824), Tommy La Stella (.823) and Julio Rodríguez (.816) all have an OPS above .800 against the AL Central for their careers…France has recorded 24 extra-base hits and 39 RBI in 62 career games, while Raleigh is slugging .533 with 9 homers in 34 games against the AL Central…3 Mariners pitchers have a career ERA under 3.00 against the AL Central…Paul Sewald has a 0.73 ERA (2 ER, 24.2 IP)…Logan Gilbert has a career 2.89 ERA (23 ER, 71.2 IP) in 14 games… Andrés Muñoz has a 2.93 ERA (5 ER, 15.1 IP).

BEFORE IT WAS PROGRESSIVE…The Mariners will play in Cleveland’s home opener for the first time since they played in the very first game at Progressive Field (then Jacobs Field) on April 4, 1994, losing 4-3 in extra innings…Randy Johnson threw 8 innings of 2-run ball for the Mariners before Cleveland’s Wayne Kirby had the walk-off single to win it in the 11th.

HIGH FIVE…Ty France, AJ Pollock, Cal Raleigh, and Eugenio Suárez are all tied for the team lead with 5 RBI this season…Seattle is one of 3 teams in the American League this season with at least 4 players with 5+ RBI (also: Tampa Bay and Texas).

HOT START FOR JULIO…Julio Rodríguez has reached base in 6-consecutive games dating back to March 31, including reaching base at least twice from 3/31-4/4…overall this season, he is batting .267 (8×30) with 3 walks, 7 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases in 7 games this season…Julio is getting on base at a .333 clip and slugging .500 (.833 OPS) with a OPS+ of 135 and a wRC+ of 136…in 11 career games against the Guardians, Julio is batting .265 (13×49) with 8 runs, 2 doubles and 3 home runs.

BULLPEN STANDOUTS…Mariners relievers have combined to put up a 3.14 ERA (10 ER, 28.2 IP) so far this season with 18 walks and 26 strikeouts…Gabe Speier has yet to allow a hit, striking out 3 in 2.2 innings…Trevor Gott has not allowed an earned run in 4.1 innings, while Penn Murfee has not allowed an earned run in 3.1 innings…Matt Brash has struck out 5 over 3.1 innings, allowing just 1 run…Gott, Murfee and Brash have each made 4 appearances, which is tied for the most in the Majors.

HIGHLY RATED…according to Major League Baseball research, the Mariners 3-0 shutout of the Guardians on Opening Night at T-Mobile Park scored a 7.3 rating on ROOT SPORTS, the highest rating for a Mariners game on ROOT since June 14, 2019 (a 7.9 vs. Boston)…the game was the most-watched telecast that week in the city of Seattle.

AS YOU KNOW…Julio Rodríguez is 4-for-5 with 2 walks in the 1st inning this season, including going 4-for4 with 2 walks in his last 6 plate appearances in the opening frame, and…AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW… Rodríguez is a .446 (41×92) career hitter in the 1st inning, with 32 runs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 14 RBI, 6 stolen bases and 11 walks, getting on base at a .510 clip, slugging .848 with a 1.358 OPS and 78 total bases, but…DID YOU KNOW?…Rodríguez’s 1.358 OPS in the 1st inning is the highest OPS in MLB history?… he ranks ahead of Babe Ruth (1.150), Chris Shelton (1.107), Barry Bonds (1.097) and Ted Williams (1.072) among players with at least 100 plate appearances in the first inning.

TODAY’S MARINERS STARTER – RHP LOGAN GILBERT
ABOUT LOGAN GILBERT…
• The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher is scheduled to make his second start of the season…he will also make the 58th start of his MLB career and 5th career start against the Guardians.

• Selected by Seattle in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Rob Mummau.

• Spent 3 seasons at Stetson (FL) University, 2016-18…in 2017, was ASUN Pitcher of the Year and ASUN 1st-Team All-Conference.

• Was named the 2022 Mariners Most Valuable Pitcher by the Seattle Chapter of the BBWAA.

LAST TIME OUT…L#1 in first start of the regular season against CLE on 4/1, tossing 6.0 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits (1 HR) and 1 walk with 7 strikeouts.

EARLY SEASON SUCCESS…holds a career 0.64 ERA in March/April, the lowest ERA among Mariners starting pitchers…in 5 games started in March/April Gilbert has thrown 28.1 innings and allowed 19 hits, 3 runs (2 ER), 5 walks and 2 home runs while striking out 29…opponents are batting .189 (19×102) against him.

UNDEFEATED IN CLEVELAND…today marks Gilbert’s 2nd start at Progressive Field…is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (6.2 IP, 1 ER) and 6 strikeouts in one previous start in Cleveland…he last pitched at Progressive Field on 6/13/21.

WINNING AWAY FROM HOME…has a 13-3 career record when pitching on the road, the best away winning percentage (.813) among Mariners starting pitchers… Gilbert has a 3.71 ERA (157.2 IP, 65 ER) in 29 games started away from home.

PLAYOFF PERFORMER…made 1 start in the playoffs, on 10/11/22 at HOU in Game 1 of the ALDS…ND after allowing 3 runs on 5 hits (1 HR) and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

PITCHER OF THE MONTH…was named AL Pitcher of the Month for April 2022, the first time he has won the award…marks the first Mariners winner since James Paxton in July, 2017 and the 14th different player to win the award (19th instance).

MONTH OF MARVEL…his 0.40 ERA (1 ER, 22.1 IP) in April 2022 was the lowest ERA in a month in Mariners history, surpassing Mark Langston’s 0.50 ERA (3 ER, 53.2 IP) in September 1988 (min. 20.0 IP).

INNINGS EATER…ranked 9th in the AL in innings pitched last season with 185.2… he ranked second among Mariners starting pitchers trailing only Robbie Ray (189.0)…Gilbert threw 6.0+ innings in 18 starts last year.

QUALITY AND QUANTITY…recorded a quality start in his first start of the season… had 16 quality starts in 2022 the 3rd most among Mariners starting pitchers and tied 16th in the AL with Dylan Cease-CHW and Shoehei Ohtani-LAA …he trailed only Marco Gonzales and Robbie Ray who each had 18.

TURN IT UP TO 11…recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts on 9/19/23 at Los Angeles-AL…earned his 13th win of the season and pitched 6.0 innings while giving up 4 hits, 1 run, and 1 walk.

FIRST 50…made his 50th career start on 8/26/22, going 16-10 with a 4.01 ERA (120 ER, 269.0 IP) with 261 strikeouts…his 261 strikeouts are the 5th-most over a pitchers first 50 career starts in Mariners history, trailing Félix Hernández (295), Erik Hanson (279), Hisashi Iwakuma (266) and Taijuan Walker (263).

THE KING AND I…became the 3rd fastest Mariners starter to 300 career strikeouts when he struck out Vimael Machín on 9/30/22 vs. OAK…it took Gilbert just 56 starts to reach the milestone…only Félix Hernández (51 GS) and Erik Hanson (53 GS) reached the milestone in fewer games.

TRIPLE SEVENS…tossed 7.0 innings in 3-consecutive starts dating from 5/17-5/28/22…3 consecutive starts of 7.0+ innings marked the longest streak in his career, having never done it in consecutive starts prior to the streak…became the first Mariners pitcher with 3-consecutive starts of 7.0+ innings since Marco Gonzales had 4 consecutive from 9/11-9/29/19.

CAREER-HIGHS…set several new best marks in 2022 including ERA (3.20), games started (32), innings pitched (185.2), and strikeouts (174) in his first full season in the major leagues.

HE’S LIKE THE ROCKET, MAN…became just the 2nd pitcher in AL history to strike out 15-or-more batters while allowing no more than 1 walk and no more than 1 earned run over his first 3 starts of the season, joining Roger Clemens (1991) via Stats Perform.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER…Logan Gilbert (#28) and Jarred Kelenic (#4) made their MLB debuts on May 13, 2021 vs. Cleveland, becoming the highest ranking duo to debut in the same game since MLB.com began prospect rankings in 2011…there have only been 2 other instances where multiple Top-100 prospects debuted for the same team in the same game…on July 23, 2013, outfielders Jake Marisnick (#70) and Christian Yelich (#13) both debuted for Miami…on Sept. 21, 2016, outfielders Manuel Margot (#45) and Hunter Renfroe (#92) both debuted for San Diego.

AMONG STETSON ROYALTY…Gilbert is 1 of 3 active Stetson University players in the Major Leagues, joining Jacob deGrom-TEX, and Corey Kluber-BOS, which places Gilbert alongside 2 Cy Young Award winners…was the first pitcher from Stetson to be taken in the 1st round, and 1st batters 1st-rounder since 2003 (Brian Snyder)…drafted as highest pick in Stetson history at #14…during his 3 seasons with Stetson, Gilbert was 23-3 with a 2.48 ERA… started in 33 of his 52 appearances, and pitched a total of 250.2 innings for the Hatters…ranks 1st in Stetson history for lowest opponent batting average (.201), 2nd in most strikeouts per 9 innings (11.24), 4th in most strikeouts (313), and 1st in most strikeouts looking (84)…in final season with the Hatters, he ranked 1st in the nation in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings (5.4), 2nd in total strikeouts (163), 4th in ERA (2.72), and 4th in WHIP (0.80).

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:

GUARDIANS SNAG THIRD EXTRA-INNING WIN
The Guardians moved into first place and capped a 5-2 road trip with a 10-inning, 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon at The Coliseum…marked the club’s third extra-inning affair in four games…Cleveland has won 5 of last 6 and holds a one-half game lead over 2nd-place Minnesota in the AL Central standings…Guardians enjoyed the club’s first scheduled off day of ’23 on Thursday.

The contest’s later chapters cost Guardians starter HUNTER

GADDIS a shot at his first MLB win despite firing 6.0 scoreless frames of one-hit ball (6.0IP, 1H, 0R-ER, 2BB, 4SO, 77 pitches)… following a lead-off walk in the 1st, Gaddis set down 9 of the next 10 batters before surrendering his only hit on a lead-off double to start the 4th; re-grouped to retire each of the next 9 straight to finish his outing…appearing in his second game of the trip, backstop CAM GALLAGHER supplied a 2-0 lead with his first hit as a member of the Guardians, a 2-run double in the 6th…ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ made it 4-0 with a 2-run single in the 7th, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Ryan Noda (solo shot) and Jesus Aguilar (3-run) smacked a pair of homers to post a 4-spot against Cleveland’s ‘pen in the 8th…after a scoreless 9th, a lead-off walk and wild pitch in the 10th set the stage for WILL BRENNAN’s go-ahead RBI-groundout and STEVEN KWAN’s RBI-single.

IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK
After 7 consecutive road games to start the season, the Guardians return home to begin their 30th campaign at Progressive Field, beginning with a 3-game series against the Seattle Mariners… Seattle hosted Cleveland for a 4-game set starting on Opening Day, with the Guards taking 3 of 4…this is the third straight season the Guards have opened the season on the road, starting at Kansas City in 2022 and at Detroit in 2021.

The Guardians have been victorious in 4 of their last 6 Progressive Field Openers but have dropped back-to-back Home Openers…Cleveland picked up W’s each year from 2017-2020, then fell 3-0 to Kansas City in 2021 and dropped a 4-1 decision against San Francisco in 2022…all-time, the Guardians are 15-14 (.517) in Home Openers played at Progressive Field.

Cleveland played its first ever Home Opener and game at Progressive Field against Seattle, at then, Jacob’s Field, on April 4, 1994…the Guardians won 4-3, on a walk-off single by Wayne Kirby in the 11th inning, scoring Eddie Murray…Sandy Alomar Jr. got the first of the game and in Progressive Field history, breaking up Randy Johnson’s no-hitter with no outs in the 8th inning…the only other time Cleveland hosted Seattle for the Home Opener was April 6,2007…the game made it to the top of the 5th until being called for rain…the series was postponed and later made up.

2-OUT RALLY
The Guardians scored all 6 of their runs on Wednesday with 2 outs…the club’s .249 batting average and 207 RBI with RISP and 2 outs in 2022 ranked 2nd in the AL and 6th in MLB…Cleveland is currently 12th in MLB with a .267 average with RISP and 2 outs, but rank T3rd in the AL and T4th in MLB with Texas in RBI (13) with RISP/2 outs.

ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ hit .387 in these situations in 2022, ranking 4th in the AL and 6th in MLB…his 24 hits led MLB…he is 2-for-3 with one double and 3 RBI with RISP and 2 outs in 2023.

A.L. BATTING AVERAGE LEADERS W/ RISP & 2 OUTS, 2022
Name Team .AVG H RBI .OBP
Brad Miller TEX .429 9 15 .571
Aaron Judge NYY .405 17 32 .881
Nathaniel Lowe TEX .388 19 18 .612
Andres Giménez CLE .387 24 33 .726
Luis Robert Jr. CWS .385 15 24 .692

EXTRAS EXTRAS READ ALL ABOUT IT!
After winning 6-4 in extra innings on Wednesday, the Guards got their MLB-leading, third extra-inning win of the season…there have only been 4 extra-inning games this season…with the win, Cleveland is the sixth team in MLB history to have 3 extra-inning victories within the first 7 games of the season…the last team to accomplish the feat was the 1994 Cincinnati Reds.

In 2022, the Guardians (13-6, .684) were 2nd in the AL in extrainning win percentage, trailing the Mariners (11-5, .688)…Cleveland tallied the most extra-inning wins in MLB and ranked 4th in MLB in extra-inning win percentage last year…the Guards beat Seattle on Sunday in MLB’s first extra-inning contest of 2023.

LATE-INNING WORK, EARLY IN THE SEASON
The Guardians bullpen has been featured heavily through the club’s first 7 games, working 30.1 total innings of relief, the second most in MLB behind Boston (32.2IP) and only 4.0 innings fewer than Cleveland’s starting rotation…five relievers have already made 4 relief appearances and pitched 4.0-or-more innings…the pen’s 4 wins are currently leading MLB…Seattle’s bullpen enters today ranked 3rd in MLB in innings pitched (28.2).

MLB BULLPEN INNINGS PITCHED LEADERS, 2023
TEAM IP SO ERA AVG
BOS 32.3 26 3.31 .258
CLE 30.1 36 3.56 .167
SEA 28.2 26 3.14 .234
HOU 28.1 32 4.13 .236

TODAY’S STARTER – 43 AARON CIVALE RHP
TODAY’S START
The 27-year-old right hander is slated to start today’s home opener, marking his second start of 2023 in the beginning of this 3-game series vs. Seattle and his 5th career start and appearance against the Mariners…will be pitching on 5 days’ rest after hurling 7.0 scoreless frames in Cleveland’s 2-0 victory on April 1 at Seattle…possesses an active 4-game win streak, featuring a 2.48 ERA (8ER/29.0IP), just 3 walks, and 26 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .168 average in his last 5 starts dating back to last season (last loss on 8/28/22 at SEA).

LAST TIME OUT
Civale held the Mariners bats scoreless for 7.0 innings (7.0IP, 2H, 0R/ER, 1BB, 3SO, 80 pitches) in a pitcher’s duel with Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (6.0IP, 1R/ER, 1BB, 7SO, 85 pitches) and earned the win in the Guardians 2-0 victory…allowed a leadoff single to Julio Rodriguez (2-for-4), then retired 7 of his next 8 batters faced (a Teoscar Hernández walk)…Rodriguez added a second single to his name in the 3rd inning, then the right hander retired the next 7 Mariners in a row…after Seattle’s J.P. Crawford (0-for-2, BB) reached via throwing error to start the 6th, Civale retired his final 5 batters faced…the 27-year-old induced 12 ground balls in the start, his most since April 27, 2021 vs. Minnesota (16)…Civale became the first pitcher to work 7.0-or-more scoreless innings with 80 pitches or fewer since Carlos Carrasco on August 16, 2014 (79 pitches).

CAREER VS. SEATTLE
This will be his 5th career start against Seattle…holds a 2-2 record with a 2.89 ERA (9ER/28.0IP), 5 walks and 25 strikeouts in his earlier 4 starts while holding Mariners bats to a .147 batting average…before his April 1 start this season, he faced the Mariners once in 2022, suffering the loss after giving up 4 R/ER in 6.1 innings in a 4-0 defeat on August 28 in Seattle.

Toed the rubber once at Progressive Field against Seattle on June 11, 2021, putting together one of the best performances of his career…he recorded a personal-best 11 strikeouts while walking just one in 8.0 innings of one-hit baseball, the only performance of one-or-fewer hits in his MLB career.

Civale’s only two career starts of 7.0-or-more-IP and 0R/ER have both come against Seattle (4/1/23 and 6/11/21).

Is 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA (20ER/56.0IP), 9 walks, 54 strikeouts and .177 opposing batting average across 9 career G/GS against the AL West.

2022 RECAP
It was a tale of two halves for the 27-year old in 2022…thru his first ten starts, Civale had a 2-5 record with a 7.04 ERA (36ER/46.0IP) as batters put together a .301/.364/.522 slash line… Civale was allowing 10.96 H/9 and 2.93 BB/9 during that span… the right-hander turned it around in his final 10 starts, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.00 ERA (17ER/51.0IP) and a 0.86 WHIP, limiting opponents to a .198/.232/.326 (37-for-187) slash line while striking out 53 and walking 7 (7.57 SO/BB) in those starts…over that stretch, he ranked highly among A.L. pitchers (min. 50.0) in WHIP (2nd), opp. OPS (6th, .559) and opp. batting average (6th, 1.98)… Cleveland went 7-3 in his final 10 starts

Civale struck out hitters at a higher rate than at any point in his career in 2022…posted career highs in SO% (24.1%), SO/9 (9.09) and SO/BB (4.45).

Earned the win in Cleveland’s AL Central-clinching 10-4 victory on Sept. 25 at TEX (5.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 7SO)…started ALDS Game 5 at NYY on Oct. 18, lasting just 5 hitters and equaling the shortest postseason start in Cleveland history (Doc Gooden, 1998 ALDS vs. BOS and Ray Caldwell, 1920 WS vs. Brooklyn).

MLB Preview: New York Yankees (4-2) at Baltimore Orioles (3-3)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: New York Yankees (4-2) at Baltimore Orioles (3-3)

NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees will begin their first road trip of the season with the first game of a three-game set at Baltimore (through Sun.)…will also play a three-game set at Cleveland (4/10- 12)…went 4-2 on their season-opening six-game homestand, winning two-of-three against San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Have won their first two series for just the second time in the last 12 seasons (won their first four in 2020).

Have won four of their first six games for the second time in four years, third time in six years and for the fourth time in eight years (5-1 in 2020, 4-2 in 2016 and 2018)…marks just the sixth time in the last 20 seasons they have won at least four of their first six games (also 4-2 in 2010 and 2011).

Have scored first in five of their six games…have scored in the first inning in four of their six games.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Yankees clinched a series win over the Phillies with a 4-2 win on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium… RHP Gerrit Cole (6.1IP, 3H, 1R/ER, 3BB, 8K) made his second start of the season and earned the win after allowing just 1R in 6.1IP…DH Gleyber Torres (3-for-4, 1 double, 2RBI, 2SB) recorded a team-leading 3H and drove in the Yankees’ first two runs with RBI singles in the first and sixth inning…C Jose Trevino (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit his first home run of the season with a two-run HR in the seventh inning, marking his 100th and 101st career RBI…CF Aaron Judge (1-for-3, 1R, 1BB, 1SB) extended his career-high on-base streak to 39 games (since 8/29/22)…2B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-3, 1R, 1 double, 1BB) reached base twice and recorded his 250th career double in the sixth inning…LF Oswaldo Cabrera (1-for-3, 1R, 1 double, 1BB) reached base twice…3B Josh Donaldson (0-for-1) exited the game with right hamstring tightness…RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (1.2IP, 2H, 1ER, 1K, 1HR) allowed a solo HR in the eighth inning to Kyle Schwarber, snapping the Yankees bullpen’s 13.0 scoreless inning streak…RHP Clay Holmes (1.0IP, 3K) struck out the side in the ninth to record his first save of the season.

GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres recorded a team-leading 3H and drove in two of the Yankees’ 4R on Wednesday vs. Philadelphia…has reached base in 14-of-25 plate appearances this season, batting .421/.560/.789 (8-for-19) with 5R, 1 double, 2HR, 6RBI, 6BB and 5SB.

Has reached base multiple times in five of his six games.

Recorded a career-high-tying 2SB on Wednesday (also 7/24/21 at Boston)…has 5SB in six games this season… did not record his fifth stolen base in 2022 until his 74th game played on 7/7/22 at Boston.

Is just the fourth Yankee (fifth time) to record at least 5SB in the Yankees’ first six games of a season, joining Rickey Henderson (7SB in 1988 and 6SB in 1989), Fritz Maisel (5SB in 1915) and Jake Stahl (5SB in 1908).

Has walked six times while striking out just twice in 25PA this season…did not record his sixth walk in 2022 until his 32nd game of the year on 5/16/22 at Baltimore.

Has hit .317/.391/.614 (78-for-246) with 46R, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 18HR, 49RBI and 28BB in 69 career games vs. Baltimore.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners have recorded 9SB this season…marks their most stolen bases through their first six games of a season in the last 34 years (since 1990)… the last time they recorded more stolen bases through their first six games was 1989 (10SB).

Their 9SB are tied with Arizona for the third-most in the Majors, trailing only Baltimore (11SB) and Cleveland (10SB).

PEN PALS: Yankees relievers had their 13.0 scoreless innings streak snapped on Wednesday…have still allowed just 5ER in 23.2IP this season, posting a 1.90 ERA through their first six games…have also posted a Major League-best 6.20 K/BB ratio (31K/5BB)…also rank second in the Majors with an 11.79 K/9.0IP ratio (31K/23.2IP).

NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo has hit safely in each of his five games this season and has reached base in 10-of22 plate appearances…is batting .313/.455/.563 (5-for-16) with 2R, 1 double, 1HR, 4RBI, 4BB, 1HP and 1SF in five games.

LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in each of his first five games, batting .300/.364/.650 (6-for-20) with 5R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1HR, 2RBI and 2BB.  As a Yankee (since 2019), has hit .328 (75-for-229) with 51R, 11 doubles, 6HR, 25RBI and 25BB vs. the Orioles…over that same span, has hit .336/.408/.458 (44-for-131) with 27R, 4 doubles, 4HR, 13RBI and 15BB in 33 games at Camden Yards.

PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have allowed just 14R over their first six games (2.33 runs per game)…marks their fewest runs allowed in their first six games of a season in the last 21 years (since 2003)…marks just the fourth time in the last 52 years (since 1972) that the Yankees have allowed 14R-or-fewer over their first six games of a season (13R in 2002, 14R in 1999 and 12R in 1992).

Lead the Majors with a 12.00 K/9.0IP ratio (72K/54.0IP), rank second with a 6.00 K/BB ratio (72K/12BB) and a 2.00 BB/9.0IP ratio (12BB/54.0IP) and fourth in ERA (2.33).

GOT YOUR NUMBER: INF DJ LeMahieu has hit .412/.412/.529 (7-for-17) with 2 doubles off Baltimore’s RHP Dean Kremer… INF Gleyber Torres is 4-for-9 (.444) with 1 double and 1BB off Kremer…OF Aaron Judge has gone 4-for-7 (.571) with 3HR off Kremer.

ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge owns a career-high 39-game on-base streak (since 8/29/22), batting .379/.523/.780 (50-for-132) with 37R, 8 doubles, 15HR, 26RBI, 40BB, 1HP and 3SB in that span…is the third-longest on-base streak by a Yankee in the last 19 seasons (since 2005), trailing only Luke Voit’s 42-game streak (9/19/18-5/3/19) and Mark Teixeira’s 42-game streak (6/6-7/26/10)…has reached base multiple times in 29 of those 39 games.

Has reached base safely in each of his first six games this season, batting .348/.423/.609 (8-for-23) with 5R, 2HR, 4RBI, 3BB and 1SB.

Has hit 9HR in his last 15 games against Baltimore (since 4/26/22) and 20HR in his last 37 games vs. the Orioles since 2020.

Has hit 35HR vs. the Orioles since 2017…marks his most home runs against any opponent and are the most by any Major League player vs. a single opponent in that span.

Since 2020, has hit .380/.476/.986 (27-for-71) with 22R, 4 doubles, 13HR, 25RBI, 11BB and 1SB in 20 games at Camden Yards.

BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have hit 11HR in six games this season, tied for their fifth-most HR through their first six games of a season in franchise history (16HR in 1932, 15HR in 2003, 13HR in 2011, 12HR in 2020 and 11HR in 1956, ‘57 and 2018).

Their 11HR are tied for the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only San Francisco (15HR in 6G), Los Angeles-NL (14HR in 7G) and Tampa Bay (13HR in 6G).

Have had eight different players homer this season.

Have homered in each of their first six games of a season for just the seventh time in franchise history (first 12G in 2020, first 10G in 1999, first 9G in 2001, first 8G in 1932, first 7G in 2000 and first 6G in 1946).

STANTON ISLAND: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit .394/.467/.591 (26-for-66) with 9R, 4 doubles, 3HR, 11RBI and 9BB in 17 games at Camden Yards since 2020…overall, has hit .352/.408/.586 (45-for-128) with 16R, 6 doubles, 8HR, 31RBI and 13BB in 33 games vs. the Orioles since 2020.

FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have tossed at least 5.0IP and allowed one-or-zero runs in four of their six starts this season.

HIP HIP JOSE: C Jose Trevino hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday with a two-run HR in the seventh inning, marking his 100th and 101st career RBI…is 4-for-13 (.308) with 2R, 1HR and 3RBI in four games this season.

The Yankees are one of two Major League teams this season to have two catchers hit home runs already this season (also Chicago White Sox).

COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole made his second start of the season on Wednesday and earned the win after allowing just 1R in 6.1IP (3H, 3BB, 8K)…has allowed just 1R and recorded 19K in 12.1IP over his first two starts.

Is just the seventh pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 3H-or-fewer in his first two appearances of a season…joined George Mogridge (first three in 1916), Ray Caldwell (first three in 1914), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1999), Whitey Ford (first two in 1955), Bob Shawkey (first two in 1918) and Tom Hughes (first two in 1910).

Is the first Yankees pitcher to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two appearances of a season since Michael Pineda did so in his first three games in 2014.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP CLARKE SCHMIDT (0-0, 8.10 ERA)
RHP Clarke Schmidt will make his second start of the season in today’s series opener at Baltimore…the 27-year-old will make the start on extended five days’ rest…made his first start of the season on Saturday vs. San Francisco, allowing 3ER over 3.1IP without recording a decision (5H, 1BB, 5K, 2HR)…went 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA (19.2IP, 16H, 11ER, 4BB, 25K, 2HR, 1HP) in six spring games (five starts)…in 2022, went 5-5 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA (57.2IP, 46H, 23R/20ER, 23BB, 56K, 5HR) in 29 appearances (three starts) over four stints with the Yankees…
in three starts, went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 13H, 6ER, 2BB, 14K, 0HR)…as a reliever, went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA (46.0IP, 33H, 17R/14ER, 21BB, 42K, 5HR) in 26 games…tossed at least 2.0 innings in 13 of his relief appearances and at least 3.0 innings in five of those relief appearances…made his second career Opening Day roster in 2023 (also 2022)…was selected by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina.

LAST TIME OUT: Made his season debut on Saturday vs. San Francisco, allowing 3ER over 3.1IP without recording a decision (5H, 1BB, 5K, 2HR)…marked his sixth career start…allowed all three runs on home runs in the fourth inning, surrendering a leadoff solo HR to Joc Pederson and a go-ahead,two-run HR to Brandon Crawford…marked the second game in his career he has allowed 2HR (also 2HR on 9/22/22 vs. Boston).

VS. BALTIMORE: Will be making his first careerstart vs. the Orioles…in five career relief appearances, is 1-1 with one save and a 2.08 ERA (8.2IP, 5H, 4R/2ER, 7BB, 5K, 0HR)…did not allow an earned run over 7.1 innings in four relief outings vs. Baltimore in 2022.

Is 0-1 with one save and a 3.18 ERA (5.2IP, 2ER) and 4K in three career relief appearances at Camden Yards.

Made his Major League debut at Camden Yards in Game 2 on 9/4/20 in relief(1.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 1K, 1HP)…had never pitched professionally above Double-A in his career prior to his debut.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Has made 19 appearances (three starts) in his career on the road (16 in 2022, one in 2021, two in 2020)…has gone 3-4 with one save and a 3.92 ERA (39.0IP, 40H, 22R/17ER, 17BB, 39K, 3HR).

In 16 games (two starts) on the road in 2022, went 3-4 with one save and a 3.62 ERA (32.1IP, 30H, 15R/13ER, 11BB, 34K, 2HR)…allowed 2R-or-fewer in 14 of those games, 1R-or-fewer in 12 of those appearances and nine were scoreless.

FOR STARTERS: Will be making his seventh career start…over his first six career Major League starts (one in 2023, three in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020), is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA (23.1IP, 29H, 17R/14ER, 8BB, 25K, 3HR)…went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 6ER) and 14K in his three starts in 2022 (6/16 vs. Tampa Bay, 8/28 at Oakland, 9/3 at Tampa Bay).

2022: In 29 games (three starts) with the Yankees, went 5-5 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA (57.2IP, 46H, 23R/20ER, 23BB, 56K, 5HR) over four stints with the club (4/8-5/1, 5/13-6/22, 7/23-8/1, 8/22-10/5)…made his first career Opening Day roster.

In three starts, went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 13H, 6ER, 2BB, 14K, 0HR).

As a reliever, went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA (46.0IP, 33H, 17R/14ER, 21BB, 42K, 5HR) in 26 games…tossed at least 2.0 innings in 13
of his relief appearances and at least 3.0 innings in five of those relief appearances.

Recorded five relief appearances of at least 3.0 scoreless innings, tied for the most in the Majors (also Los Angeles-AL’s Jaime Barria, Texas’ Taylor Hearn and Chicago-NL’s Keegan Thompson)…was just the second Yankees pitcher since 2003 to record as many such relief appearances in a season (also Alfredo Aceves’ seven relief appearances in 2009).

Tossed at least 3.0 scoreless innings in four consecutive relief appearances from 7/24-9/8, tied with Mariano Rivera (4G from 4/19-28/96) and Joe Page (4G from 5/28-6/3/49) for the second-longest such streak in franchise history, trailing only Wilcy Moore (5G from 8/7-24/27).

Tossed 3.0 innings in both of his saves…joined Luis Cessa (two in 2018) as the only Yankees relievers to record multiple saves of at least 3.0IP in a season since 2003.

His 10 relief appearances of at least 2.0 scoreless innings were tied for 10th in the Majors.

Tossed at least 2.0 scoreless innings in six straight relief appearances from 7/24-9/14, tied for the second-longest streak by a Yankees reliever in franchise history, trailing only Mariano Rivera (8G from 4/19-5/12/96)…Bud Daley (6G from 7/25-8/11/62) and Wilcy Moore (6G from 8/6-24/27) also recorded six-game streaks.

Combined to make three postseason appearances, going 0-2 with a 11.57 ERA (2.1IP, 3ER)… made his first career postseason appearance in ALDS Game 2 vs. Cleveland…entered the game in the 10th inning and stranded his inherited runner after retiring all 3BF…took the loss in ALDS Game 3 at Cleveland after allowing a “walk-off” single to Oscar González in the ninth (0.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 1K)…also took the loss in ALCS Game 1 at Houston (1.0IP, 2H, 2ER, 2BB, 2HR).

Made eight starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, going 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA (33.0IP, 26H, 13R/12ER, 9BB, 46K, 1HR).

SPRING BREAK: In six games (five starts) this spring, went 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA (19.2IP, 16H, 11ER, 4BB, 25K, 2HR, 1HP)…made his last spring start on Monday vs. Tampa Bay (ND, 4.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 7K)…in his fourth spring appearance (third start) on 3/16 vs. Pittsburgh, tossed 5.0 perfect innings with 7K…made his lone appearance in relief on 3/3 vs. Detroit (1.2IP, 3H, 4ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR, 1HP).

CAREER NOTES: In parts of four seasons with the Yankees (2020-23), has gone 5-6 with two saves and a 3.91 ERA (73.2IP, 69H, 39R/32ER, 34BB, 74K, 8HR) in 35 career games (six starts).

Made his Major League debut in Game 2 on 9/4/20 at Baltimore after never having pitched professionally above Double-A in his career.

Did not pitch in 2017 while recovering from “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow.

Was drafted by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina…in three seasons at South Carolina (2015-17), produced a 15-9 record and 3.21 ERA (229.2IP, 82ER) in 45 games (36 starts).

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

TAKE TWO: Yesterday’s originally scheduled Orioles Home Opener against the Yankees was postponed due to the forecast of severe inclement weather…It is the first time the Orioles have had their Home Opener postponed since 1997 vs. Kansas City (the 1996 opener was also postponed)…The Orioles and Red Sox had their originally scheduled Opening Day at Fenway Park postponed in 2021.

HOMECOMING: The Orioles will celebrate their Home Opener this afternoon against the New York Yankees…The O’s have gone 45-24 in Home Openers in club history (since 1954), including 21-10 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards…The Birds defeated the Brewers last year, 2-0, to snap a three-season losing streak in Home Openers since 2019…Baltimore has gone 4-4 in eight Home Openers against New York-AL (see chart at right); the last time the O’s took on the Yankees in a Home Opener was 2020 (L, 9-3).

The game marks the beginning of a seven-game homestand for Baltimore, with three games against the Yankees and four against the Oakland Athletics.

ALL-TIME AT OPACY: The Orioles own a 1,199-1,222-2 (.495) all-time record in 2,423 game at Oriole Park since 1992…The Birds have mashed 3,012 home runs at Oriole Park since the ballpark opened, including 55 long balls that have landed on the iconic Eutaw Street promenade that separates the ballpark and the historic B&O Warehouse.

WRAPPING UP THE ROAD TRIP: The Orioles went 3-3 in their season-opening road trip against the Red Sox (1-2) and Rangers (2-1)…They defeated the Red Sox on Opening Day, 10-9, improving their record in season openers to 45-25 overall and 13- 12 on the road…The O’s dropped the next two games against Boston before winning the first two against Texas…The two wins against the Rangers increased Baltimore’s winning streak against Texas to eight games dating back to July 4, 2022, their longest winning streak against a single opponent since also winning eight in a row against the Mariners from July 3 to September 19, 2012…The O’s fell to the Rangers in Wednesday’s series finale, 5-2, snapping their streak.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!: Grayson Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and made his Major League debut in Wednesday’s series finale against the Rangers in Arlington…A native of Nacogdoches, Texas, Rodriguez grew up roughly 180 miles southeast of Arlington…Did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings; struck out Ezequiel Durán swinging to end the second inning for his first career strikeout…Became the first Oriole to make his Major League debut this season; 13 players (7 pitchers) made their debut for the O’s in 2022…Also became the first O’s pitcher to start his Major League debut since DL Hall on August 13, 2022, and the youngest O’s pitcher (24-140) to start his debut since Kevin Gausman (22-137) on May 23, 2013…Rodriguez is currently ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, as well as the No. 2 pitching prospect…He is ranked as the No. 1 Orioles prospect following Gunnar Henderson’s graduation from prospect status.

GRADUATION: Gunnar Henderson officially graduated from prospect status on April 5, according to MLB Pipeline…In his first 39 career games, he’s slashed .242/.351/.424 (32-for-132) with seven doubles, one triple, five home runs, 14 runs scored, 19 RBI, 22 walks, and a .775 OPS…Entered the season as the No. 1 overall prospect by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, FanGraphs, and MLB Pipeline.

STARTING WITH A BANG: The O’s opened the 2023 season by hitting multiple home runs in each of their first five games, tied for the third-longest streak to start a season by a team since at least 1901 and tied with the 1994 Orioles for the longest streak in club history; the O’s were the only MLB team to start the 2023 campaign with five consecutive multi-homer games…Marked the fifth time in club history that the Orioles homered in each of their first five games to start a season, and first since 2012 (also 5).

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: In the bottom of the eighth inning on April 2 at Boston, Masataka Yoshida advanced to third base on what was originally scored a throwing error by third baseman Ramón Urías…After review, this is being changed to a missed catch error (with no assumed out) by second baseman Adam Frazier. THE SKIPPER: Manager Brandon Hyde returns for his fifth season…In 2022, he led the O’s to an 83-79 record, his first winning season as manager and the club’s first winning campaign since 2016…He was named the Baseball America MLB Manager of the Year and was voted the Sporting News American League Manager of the Year by fellow AL managers…He finished second in voting for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) American League Manager of the Year award…Hyde was named the 20th manager in Orioles history on December 14, 2018.

COACHING STAFF: The Orioles announced their 2023 Major League Coaching Staff on November 8, 2022…The club named Cody Asche (ASH-ee) Offensive Strategy Coach…Ryan Klimek (KLIM-ick) enters his first full season on the Major League Staff as Pitching Strategy Coach…All other coaches remain in their same positions: Matt Borgschulte (BORG-shult-ee) and Ryan Fuller as Co-Hitting Coaches, Tim Cossins (cousins) as Major League Field Coordinator/Catching Instructor, Fredi González as Bench Coach, José Hernández as Major League Coach, Darren Holmes as Assistant Pitching Coach, Chris Holt as Pitching Coach/Director of Pitching, Tony Mansolino as Third Base Coach, and Anthony Sanders as First Base Coach.

RISING TIDE: The Orioles are ranked as the No. 1 farm system by MLB Pipeline…Marks the fourth consecutive time between the preseason and midseason lists that the O’s are in the top spot…Since Pipeline began ranking systems in 2015, only one other organization has claimed the top spot four times in a row, and that was the Padres (2018 pre/mid, 2019 pre/mid)…Baltimore is also ranked as the No. 1 farm system by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, as well as in Baseball America’s preseason rankings for the first time since the publication began their Organizational Talent Rankings in 1984.

STARTING PITCHER – #64 DEAN KREMER RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his second start of the 2023 season in today’s Home Opener against the New York Yankees…Made a career-high 22 appearances (21 GS) in 2022, 11 appearances at home (10 GS), and 11 on the road…Made six starts of 5.0-or-more scoreless innings, tied for seventh-most in the AL…Acquired by the Orioles along with 2B Breyvic Valera, RF Yusniel Díaz, RHP Zach Pop and 3B Rylan Bannon in exchange for SS Manny Machado on July 18, 2018…Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of UNLV.

LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision on April 1 at Boston…Allowed five runs on six hits (2 HR) with one walk and three strikeouts in 3.0 innings; threw 56 pitches, 36 strikes…Marked his shortest start since June 24, 2021, at Toronto (0.1 IP).

AGAINST NEW YORK-AL: Making his seventh career start against the Yankees… Dealt the loss in his last outing vs. New York-AL on July 24, 2022, at Oriole Park, allowing four runs on five hits (1 HR) with six punchouts to one walk and a hit batter in 5.1 innings…Is winless in his last five outings against the Yankees; earned his lone win vs. New York-AL in his MLB debut on September 6, 2020 at Oriole Park…Is 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA (17 ER/28.2 IP) against the division rival in his career.

AGAINST THE AL EAST: Making his 23rd career start (24th appearance) against the AL East…Did not earn a decision in his last start against the division on April 1 vs. Boston…Owns a 2-11 record with a 5.85 ERA (70 ER/107.2 IP) and five quality starts through his first 23 appearances against division foes…Went 1-5 with a 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP) in 10 appearances (9 GS) against the division in 2022.

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

‘KREM’ OF THE CROP: Had his career-high scoreless streak snapped at 22.2 innings on July 4 vs. Texas; according to Elias Sports Bureau and STATS, he does not get credit for the two outs he recorded in the fifth inning…Marks the longest scoreless streak by an Orioles starter since Mike Mussina pitched 27.0 scoreless innings from September 21, 1995 to April 2, 1996…The last Orioles pitcher with a scoreless streak of at least 22.2 innings was Steve Johnson, who tossed 25.1 scoreless frames across eight games (three starts) from August 25 to September 29, 2012.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Kremer made 22 appearances (21 GS) last season, finishing the year with an 8-7 record…Pitched to a 3.23 ERA (45 ER/125.1 IP) with 87 strikeouts… Tossed his first career shutout and complete game on September 23 vs. Houston, allowing four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over a career-high 9.0 innings; marked the first shutout by an O’s pitcher since LHP John Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021 at Seattle; was one of 16 players in MLB to throw a shutout in 2022 and joined RHP Jordan Lyles (9/21 vs. DET) as the only O’s pitchers with a complete game during the season….Made the start for the O’s in their 5-3 win at the Little League Classic on August 21 vs. Boston; did not factor in the decision after allowing one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 5.1 innings…Allowed 11 home runs in 125.1 innings for a 0.79 HR/9, the ninth-lowest in the AL (min. 125.0 IP), compared to 17 home runs in 53.2 innings in 2021 for a 2.85 HR/9, the highest in the majors (min. 50.0 IP).

MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (3-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (1-5)

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MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (3-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (1-5)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

REDS HOTS
• Bench coach Freddie Benavides this afternoon will serve as the Reds’ acting manager…manager David Bell had a minor medical procedure and is expected to return tomorrow…over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Benavides went 5-3 while serving as the Reds’ interim manager during Bell’s 3 suspensions (5-2 in 2019, 0-1 in 2020).

• With a 3-1 record through Monday, the Reds were 2 games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2021 season 4 games over at 83-79.

• In 2022, the Reds didn’t earn their third win until the 16th game (4/24) and didn’t win their fourth until the 26th game (5/7).

TODAY’S GAME
• Is the first game of the 2023 championship season at Citizens Bank Park.

• Is Game 1 of 3-game series vs Dillon Siddiqi’s Phillies and Game 1 of the Reds’ first road trip of the season, a 7-day, 6-game jaunt that concludes with a 3-game set at Atl.

• The Reds are coming off a 3-2 homestand vs Pit (2-1) and Chc (1-1, 1ppd).

SERIES NOTES
• With a minimum of 50 games played, the Reds’ .328 winning percentage at Phi’s Citizens Bank Park (20-41) is their lowest at any road ballpark.

• The Reds went 3-13-2 in their 18 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 17 of their last 24 games at CBP.

CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER
• Wednesday afternoon’s game vs the Cubs was postponed by threatening weather after a 1-hour, 43-minute delay and will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader on Fri, 9/1 (1:10, 6:40)…was the 20th weather postponement in the 21 seasons of Great American Ball Park.

• Yesterday’s scheduled Phillies home opener was postponed at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday due to an uncertain weather forecast.

• For only the third time since 1997, when @EliasSports began recording such data, Reds games were postponed on consecutive days…games on 8/15 & 8/16, 2020 were rescheduled after a Reds player tested positive for COVID-19…6 games were postponed following 9/11 and rescheduled
for the end of that 2001 season (10/2-10/7).

REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto (8/19/22 surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (4g, 3-16, .188, solo HR, 2bb, 10k)…Sat at Nashville, he hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown.

• IF/OF Nick Senzel (11/14/22 surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (2g, 1gs in CF, 1gs at 3B, 1-6, .167, 1 2b, 2bb, 2k, 1hbp).

• RHP Tony Santillan (low back Pars stress fracture)…is rehabbing with Louisville…he pitched the sixth inning of Tue’s 7-2 win vs Indianapolis (1ip, 1bb, 2k, 4bf, 22 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 1.0 inning tonight vs Indianapolis.

• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) today is scheduled to throw a side in Louisville.

• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is rehabbing at the Reds’ player development complex in Goodyear.

2022: A SEASON OF RECORDS
• 66 players appeared in at least 1 game for Reds, a new club record for number of players in a season…the previous franchise record was held by the 2003 Reds (57 players).

• 38 players pitched in at least 1 game for the Reds, a new club record for number of pitchers in a season and including position players Matt Reynolds (2g), Max Schrock (1g) and Alejo Lopez (3g).

• 17 pitchers started at least 1 game for the Reds, tying the 2003 club record for number of starters in a season.

• Reds pitchers hit 110 batters, a new Major League single-season record (2021 Cubs pitchers, 98hbp)…the previous club record for batters hit by Reds pitchers in a season was 80 in 2005.

• 10 Reds pitchers recorded at least 1 save (Ross Detwiler, Alexis Díaz, Buck Farmer, Ian Gibaut, Joel Kuhnel, Dauri Moreta, Tony Santillan, Lucas Sims, Hunter Strickland, Art Warren), tying the 2021 single-season franchise record.

2022 YOUNG GUNS
• In 62 combined starts, Reds rookie starting pitchers RHP Hunter Greene, LHP Nick Lodolo and RHP Graham Ashcraft went 14-26, 4.34 (334ip, 161er)…all 3 made their Major League debuts in 2022.

• 6 times in 2022 the Reds started rookie pitchers in 3 straight games (last, 7/31-8/2, Lodolo, Greene, Ashcraft).

• In LHP Reiver Sanmartin (Game 2), Greene (Game 4) and Lodolo (Game 6), in 2022 the Reds used as many as 3 rookie starting pitchers in the first 6 games of a season for only the second time in their history…the 1902 Reds staff used 3 rookie starting pitchers in their first 5 games, and 4 of their first 6 games that season were started by rookie pitchers (Bob Ewing 2 starts, Len Swormstedt, Martin Glendon).

2022 MISCELLANEOUS
• SS Kyle Farmer last year was the Reds’ Most Valuable Player and Good Guy Award winner…RHP Alexis Díaz was the club’s 2022 Most Outstanding Pitcher.

• SS Kyle Farmer and RHP Hunter Strickland were the only players to spend the entire season on the roster without a stint on an injured list.

THE SKIPPER…: David Bell is in his fifth season as a Major League manager (254-297, .461, 2020 Wild Card)…was hired on 10/22/18…on 9/22/21, the club announced a 2-year contract extension through 2023.

• Returning to Bell’s staff are bench coach Freddie Benavides (10th season on Major League staff), 3B coach J.R. House (5th), pitching coach Derek Johnson (5th), game planning/IF coach Jeff Pickler (5th), bullpen catcher José Duarte (5th), coach/ coordinator of advance scouting Kyle Arnsberg (2nd) and hitting coach Joel McKeithan (2nd).

• New to the staff in 2023 are assistant hitting coach Terry Bradshaw, 1B Coach Collin Cowgill, assistant hitting/integrated performance coach Tim LaMonte, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman (alone LISHE-man), bullpen coach Matt Tracy and bullpen catcher Joe Singley

This Afternoon’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
• In just his second season, is making his 26th Major League appearance and start…is his first vs the Phillies.
• At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0… courtesy @EliasSports.
• Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, in his age 22 season ranked among National League rookie pitching leaders in starts (1st, 24), innings pitched (2nd, 125.2), strikeouts (2nd, 164), opponents’ BA (2nd, .222), WHIP (2nd, 1.21) and ERA (6th, 4.44).
• Led the Reds’ staff in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
• Was 1 of only 7 pitchers in the National League and 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues to throw a shutout.
• Was the National League Player of the Week for 6/6-6/12, the only Reds player so honored in 2022 (2gs, 1-0, 0.75, 12ip, 3h, 1er, 2bb, 15k, .079baa).
• Was 1 of only 6 Major League rookies in 2022 to win his league’s Player of the Week award (Chc’s Seiya Suzuki, LAA’s Reid Detmers, Sea’s Julio Rodríguez, KC’s Vinnie Pasquantino, Cle’s Steven Kwan).
• In 2022 became the only Major League rookie since 1900 to produce in a season at least 3 apps in which he threw at least 6.0 innings with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 1 hit (5/15 at Pit, 6/6 vs Ari, 8/1 at Mia)…no pitcher in modern history, regardless of rookie status, has produced more than 3 such games…in his final start of the season, in Game 160 vs Cubs, recorded 6.0 innings and 8 strikeouts but allowed 2 hits.
• Allowed 2 runs or fewer in all 9 of his starts in which he pitched at least 6.0 innings, 8 times allowed no more than 1 run and 4 times in those 9 apps allowed 0 runs.
• In his last 8 starts of the season posted a 1.75 ERA (46.1ip, 30h, 66k).
• In his last 6 starts of the season posted a 1.02 ERA, the third-lowest ERA ever by a Reds rookie over any single-season, 6-start span behind Gary Nolan (0.75, June-July 1967) and Elmer Riddle (0.88, August 1941).
• From 8/5-9/16 missed 43 days and 40 games while on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain…went 4-12, 5.26 in 20 starts prior to the injury and 1-1, 0.78 in 4 starts after he came off the 15-day IL.
• Following his 2022 rookie season was the Reds’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exemplary contributions to his community.
• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the June 2017 first-year player draft…was rated by MLB.com the best overall prospect and by Baseball America the best high school player in that draft…the Twins selected high school SS Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
• leading into the 2017 draft, became the 13th high school athlete ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
• Missed the 2019 season while recovering from 4/9/19 “Tommy John” surgery.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:

GAME #6 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the New York Yankees, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx … Aaron Nola, facing Gerrit Cole for the first time in his career, went 6.0 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts … Kyle Schwarber homered for the second game in a row and Bryson Stott had another multi-hit game, raising his season average to .435 … The Phillies started 1-5 for the first time since the 2007 club did so, on their way to an 89-73 record and the National League East title.

BEDLAM AT THE BANK: Today marks the 20th home opener in the history of Citizens Bank Park (since 2004) … During the 2022 postseason, the Phillies went 6-2 in eight games (.750 win %) at CBP, outscoring the opposition 44-23 (+21 run differential) … The Phillies posted an .839 OPS in 284 combined plate appearances at home during the postseason and slugged 18 home runs (2.25 per game, .508 SLG) … Philadelphia’s 18 home runs at their home park rank T-1st in MLB history during the postseason with the 2017 Astros (2020 Rays hit 23 HR but games were held at neutral sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic) … Overall, there have been 138 teams in MLB history to play at least five postseason games in a single postseason at home – the 2022 Phillies rank 2nd out of those 138 clubs with an average of 2.25 home runs per game (HOU in 2020, neutral site, 2.40 HR/G) … Last year, the Phillies became only the eighth team in MLB history to win each of their first six postseason games at home … All-time in the postseason at CBP, the Phillies are 22-11 (.667 win %) with a +63 run differential (178-115) … Since Oct. 3, 2007, the day CBP hosted its first postseason game, Philadelphia’s .667 winning percentage during the postseason at home is best in MLB (min. 25 G) – the Astros at Minute Maid Park rank 2nd (.625), Red Sox at Fenway 3rd (.649), Giants at Oracle 4th (.643) and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium 5th (.623).

FLAGS FLY FOREVER: The Phillies were National League champions in 2022 for the eighth time in franchise history (1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2022) … The road to the pennant began with a twogame sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card Series at Busch Stadium, followed by a three-gamesto-one Division Series win over the Atlanta Braves and a victory over the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, four games to one, clinching the series with three straight wins at Citizens Bank Park … In the Fall Classic, the Phillies fell to the Houston Astros in six games; it was only the second postseason meeting between the two clubs, the first being the 1980 NLCS …On May 31, the Phillies were eight games under .500 at 21-29 with a .420 winning percentage that ranked 11th in the National League and 22nd in MLB … Starting June 1, the Phillies went 66-46, 20 games over .500 with a .589 winning percentage that ranked 4th in the NL and 7th in baseball … The Phillies clinched their first postseason berth since 2011 with a 3-0 win against the Astros on Oct. 3 … The Phillies became only the fifth team in MLB history to start 21-29 or worse through their first 50 games and then make the World Series, joining the 2019 Washington Nationals (19-31 start), 2005 Houston Astros (18-32 start), 2003 Florida Marlins (21-29) and 1914 Boston Braves (20-30).

200 SCHWARBOMBS: On Tuesday, Phillies OF Kyle Schwarber became the fifth-fastest left-handed hitter in major league history to reach 200 home runs and the 16th-fastest overall … Schwarber, who reached 200 career home runs in 824 games, was eclipsed by only Ryan Howard (658 G), Eddie Mathews (779 G), Babe Ruth (817 G) and Adam Dunn (822 G).

WHEELS UP: Today, RHP Zack Wheeler will take the mound at Citizens Bank Park, a place where he owns a career 2.37 ERA (77 ER, 292.0 IP) in 45 career starts (since 5/29/14) … Since joining the Phillies prior to the 2020 season, Wheeler has made 38 starts at CBP (since 7/25/20) and is 17-8 with a 2.21 ERA (61 ER, 248.0 IP) and has 256 strikeouts to 46 walks (5.57 SO/BB ratio) … Since 2020, among all pitchers to make at least 30 starts in their home park, Wheeler’s 2.21 ERA ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Sandy Alcantara who has a 2.16 ERA in 38 starts at loanDepot park … The Phillies are 23-15 in Wheeler’s 38 starts at CBP (.605 win %)

APPOINTMENT VIEWING: Today, the Phillies will debut a massive new video display on the scoreboard in left field … The new PhanaVision videoboard is 77% larger in size than the previous scoreboard … Measuring at approximately 152 feet wide by 86 feet tall, the new display will deliver nearly 13,000 square feet of digital space to entertain and engage fans at every game … With a 16:9 aspect ratio, the new scoreboard can display 516 life-size Phillie Phanatics simultaneously … The new videoboard features 11.6 million pixels at 10-millimeter spacing, bringing excellent image clarity and contrast to fans … It weighs 116,298 pounds and is supported by 190 tons of structural steel … Additionally, a modernized production control room has been built to support the enhanced system.

IN MEMORIAM: Prior to today’s game, the Phillies will observe a moment of silence for long-time owners, Bill and Elia Buck … Mr. Buck, the longest-tenured ownership partner in Phillies history, and part of the group that purchased the club in 1981, passed away on March 29 … Mrs. Buck, part of the same ownership group, passed away this past November.

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 … In 2019 with WSH, he reached base safely in 15 of 17 postseason games and won his first World Series championship.

TOLLS OF BRILLIANCE: Catcher J.T. Realmuto was named All-MLB First Team last season, took home his third Silver Slugger Award and second Gold Glove Award and finished 7th in NL MVP voting … Additionally, he finished with 6.5 fWAR, 3rd in MLB history for a catcher aged 31 or older, led MLB with 1281.2 innings at catcher (regular and postseason combined) which was 240.0 innings more than HOU’s Martin Maldonado who ranked 2nd at 1041.2, and finally, became only the second catcher in MLB history with 20 HR and 20 SB, joining Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez (1999).

TODAY’S STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
LAST START: 4/1 at TEX: L, 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, BB, 7 SO, HR … Walker vs Eovaldi … The Phillies fell to the Texas Rangers, 16-3, at Globe Life Field in Arlington … Offensively, Trea Turner, Darick Hall, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott had multi-hit games.

TODAY’S START:
• Citizens Bank Spark: Wheeler is making his CBP debut this season … In 2022, his 1.85 ERA (16 ER, 78.0 IP) in 13 home starts was the lowest by a Phillie with at least 13 home starts since 1917 (Grover Cleveland Alexander, 1.59) … He had a 1.45 ERA (11 ER, 68.1 IP) with only 4 HR allowed in his final 11 home starts of 2022, with more than half of them (6 of 11) being scoreless outings … His 2.21 home ERA (61 ER, 248.0 IP) since joining the Phillies is also 2nd to only Alexander (2.04) among all Phillies pitchers with at least 25 starts at home since ER became an official NL stat in 1912 … Since Wheeler joined the Phillies, only Sandy Alcantara (2.16) has a lower home ERA among pitchers with at least 30 starts at home

• It’s How You Finish: Wheeler allowed 4 ER in 4.1 IP in his debut … Last year, he allowed 12 ER in his first 12.2 IP before posting a 2.31 ERA from 4/28 on … That ERA was 2nd-lowest ERA among all NL pitchers (min. 125.0 IP) behind Julio Urias (2.12) and ranked 6th in MLB

• Firepower: Since the start of 2021, Zack Wheeler’s AVG 4-seam velocity of 96.6 mph is T-8th hardest among all starters (min. 2000 total pitches thrown) … His counterpart Hunter Greene is tied with Jacob deGrom atop that list at 99.0 mph

• Ace True Value: Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Zack Wheeler’s 13.4 fWAR is the 2nd-highest in MLB, trailing only Corbin Burnes’ 14.3 and is more than half a win over the 3rd place pitcher (Aaron Nola, 12.8) … Since 2020, he ranks 4th in MLB in BB% (5.5%) 7th in ERA (2.87, min. 400.0 IP), SO/BB (4.85), & IP (441.2) 8th in WHIP (1.05) and T-9th in quality starts (43)

• Couldn’t Have Done it Without Ya: In the 2022 postseason, Wheeler set a Phillies record and tied the ML record for most starts in a postseason with 6 … Seven pitchers in ML history have had 6 starts in a single postseason: Tyler Glasnow (2020), Blake Snell (2020), Justin Verlander (2019), Corey Kluber (2016), Madison Bumgarner (2014), Chris Carpenter (2011) and Curt Schilling (2001) … Wheeler had a quality start in each of his first 4 postseason starts, becoming the first pitcher in MLB to start his postseason career with 4 straight quality starts since Michael Wacha in 2013

• vs NL Central: 12-7, 2.87 ERA (63 ER, 197.1 IP) in 32 starts

HOME:
• 2022: 6-3, 1.85 ERA (16 ER, 78.0 IP) in 13 starts
• Career: 36-31, 3.36 ERA (227 ER, 607.2 IP) in 98 starts
• CBP: 20-9, 2.37 ERA (77 ER, 292.0 IP) in 45 starts

2022 SEASON:
• NL Rankings: 5th in SO/BB (4.79), 8th in BB % (5.6%) & BB/9.0 IP (2.00), 9th in SO/9.0 IP (9.59), 10th in SO % (26.9%) & OPP OPS (.626)

• His 2.82 ERA (48 ER, 153.0 IP) was 6th-best among NL pitchers with at least 150.0 IP; fell 9.0 IP short of qualifying for ERA leaders

• In his final 23 starts (since 4/28), went 12-4 with a 2.31 ERA (36 ER, 140.1 IP), 0.98 WHIP (30 BB, 108 H) and 152 SO (9.75 SO/9.0 IP), holding opponents to a .212/.261/.341 slash line

• Named NL Pitcher of the Month for May, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA (6 ER, 32.2 IP), 1.01 WHIP, 40 SO, 5 BB and an NL-leading 1.4 fWAR

• Was his first ever Pitcher of the Month Award and first by a Phillie since Cliff Lee in August 2011

• His 19.1-inning scoreless streak, 6/28-7/13, was the longest by a Phillie in 2022

• On the IL, 8/22-9/20, with right forearm tendinitis

• In his final three starts allowed one run on nine hits in 15.0 IP (0.60 ERA), BB, 15 SO while facing seven batters over the minimum

2022 POSTSEASON:
• Made six starts in his first career postseason, posting a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) and 0.73 WHIP (7 BB, 19 H) … His six starts were a Phillies single-postseason record and tied the ML record

• In Game 1 of the NLWCS at STL, became the second Phillie ever to toss at least 6.0 IP with two or fewer hits in his first-ever postseason start, joining Roy Halladay, who threw a no-hitter on 10/6/10 vs CIN

• Began his postseason career with 11.1 scoreless IP

• In Game 1 of the NLCS at SD, made just the 17th start in postseason history of 7.0+ scoreless IP, 1 or 0 hits, and only the second by a Phillie (Roy Halladay in no-hitter, Game 1 of 2010 NLDS)

• Was the first pitcher since 2013 (STL’s Michael Wacha) to begin a postseason with four straight quality starts

CAREER
• In 2021, finished 2nd to MIL’s Corbin Burnes in NL Cy Young Award voting, was named Second-Team All-MLB and was a NL Gold Glove Award finalist … Made his first career All-Star team in 2021 and set career highs in starts, IP, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, complete games and shutouts … His 247 strikeouts were 10th-most ever by a Phillies

MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (4-2) at Chicago Cubs (2-3)

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MLB Preview: Texas Rangers (4-2) at Chicago Cubs (2-3)

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas beat the Orioles in last game on Wed. in Arlington, 5-2, snapping a 2-G losing skid…Rangers’ current 4-2 record matches the best 6-G start for the club in the past 10 seasons beg. 2014, as only other 4-2 start in that span came in 2019…also matches best 6-G start since opening 2011 with a 6-0 record…only time Rangers have been above .500 after 7 G since 2014?: a 5-2 start in 2019…team opened the 2023 campaign with a 3-0 record for just the 9th time in Rangers history, longest season-opening win streak since 2011 (6-0).

• Texas could match the season high point with a win today… reached a season-best 3-over .500 (3-0) with win Sun. vs. PHI, 1st time to be 3-over since a 58-55 mark after losing the 1st game of a doubleheader on 8/7/19 at CLE.

STANDINGS: The Rangers enter today’s slate tied with the Los Angeles Angels (also 4-2, .667) for the A.L. West lead, sitting +1.5 GA of 3rd-place Houston (3-4, .429)…Texas has been alone or tied atop the division for each of the last 8 days, as this marks the latest date for the club to own even a share of 1st place in the West since the final day of team’s division-winning season in 2016 (10/2/16)…from 2017-22, the Rangers had one day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).

SERIES STUFF: Rangers are 1-1-0 in series this season after a series loss against the O’s this week…the 3-0 finish vs. PHI to open the season marked the 1st time for Texas to win the 1st series of a season since 2019 (won final 2 G of 3-G series 3/28-31 vs. CHC), and the 7th time in club history to open a campaign with a sweep in a series of 3+ G (last 3-0 in 2011 vs. BOS).

• The Rangers were winless (0-4-0) over their first 4 series in 2022, failing to record their first series win until 4/22-24/22 at OAK (2-1).

VS. CUBS: The Rangers open this brief 3-G road trip against the Cubs at Wrigley, team’s 1st road game of the season (see separate note)…this will be the 1st of 2 trips to Chicago this season for Texas, also playing White Sox on the South Side from 6/19-21…TEX is 9-9 all-tme vs. Cubs, last matching up in a season-opening series 3/28-31/19 at the former Globe Life Park in Arlington (TEX won 2 of 3 G)…Rangers have not visited Wrigley since dropping 2 of 3 out of AS break, 7/15-17/16…team is 4-5 all-time at Wrigley Field.

INTERLEAGUE: The Rangers have won 3 straight, 5 of 6, and 13 of last 18 Interleague games beg. 4/30/22…club was 11-9 (.550) vs. N.L. in 2022 after 4 straight losing seasons from 2018-21…TEX has gone 9-5 in road Interleague games since 6/12/21, this after a club-record 11-G road Interleague losing skid from 8/16/20-6/11/21…as a result of this year’s balanced schedule for all 30 clubs – a first since Interleague play was introduced in 1997 – the Rangers are slated to play a record 46 Interleague contests in 2023.

ROAD OPENER: The Rangers are 20-31 all-time in their first road game of a season entering today’s game in Chicago, losing 3 straight and 9 of last 10 beg. 2013…lone win in that span was 4/4/19 at LAA (11-4 win), which snapped a 6-G skid in road openers…have also lost 10 of 12, 16 of 19, and 19 of last 23 in the first away contest of a campaign.

• Today marks the 2nd time the Rangers will ever play an Interleague game for the 1st road tilt of a season, the other on 7/31/20 at SF…club lost that game 9-2 in 1st road trip of the abbreviated season that featured a week in the Bay Area… this will be the 3rd time for Texas to play its 1st road game in Chicago, the others against the White Sox in 1996 (3-2 win on 4/9/96) and 1975 (6-5 win on 4/15/75).

ON THE ROAD: Texas lost its last 5 away games in 2022, going 4-14 on the road beg. 9/1/22…team was 34-47 (.420) overall in away games last year, winning back-to-back road games just twice over the season’s final 3 months.

SIMPLY BRILLIANT: Jacob deGrom earned the win on Wed. vs. BAL (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R-1 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO), his 1st victory in a Texs uniform…his 11 strikeouts were the 2nd-most by a Texas pitcher since the start of the 2020 season behind only a 12-SO performance by Jon Gray on 6/1/22 vs. TB…deGrom has posted 18 SO through 2 starts w/ TEX, T2nd-most ever by a pitcher in his first 2 outings as a Ranger: 23-Nolan Ryan in 1989, 18-deGrom in 2023/Jamie Moyer in 1989 (Stathead)…additional notes on deGrom’s outing:

• Became just the 3rd pitcher in club history to tally 11+ SO in an outing while throwing 92-or-fewer pitches, joining Yu Darvish on 7/22/16 at KC (11 SO/91 pitches) and Matt Perisho on 10/3/99 at LAA (12 SO/78 pitches)…deGrom is the first Texas pitcher ever to pull the trick in Arlington.

• Was perfect through 4.0 innings, retiring all 12 batters faced before Ryan Mountcastle led off the 5th with a double…according to Elias Sports Bureau, his 9 career starts opened with 4.0+ perfect innings are T2nd-most in baseball since the beg. of his debut season in 2014: 10-Max Scherzer, 9-deGrom/Clayton Kershaw, 8-Madison Bumgarner/Justin Verlander.

BULLPEN STILL GOING: With 3.0 SHO IP on Wed. vs. BAL, Texas relievers now have a streak of 21.1 consecutive scoreless innings since a run against Jonathan Hernández in the 7th inning on Opening Day, 3/30 vs. PHI…the Texas bullpen leads MLB in relief ERA (0.73), opp. BA (.134), and WHIP (0.73), remaining one of 4 teams whose relievers have yet to allow a HR (also BOS/CIN/STL).

THESE DAYS: With 3 day games this weekend at Wrigley, the Rangers are in a span of playing 4 consecutive day contests…club also had 4 straight day games in 2022 (6/3-7/22), as a doubleheader on 6/7/22 at CLE had a pair of games categorized as day tilts…last instance of 4 day games over 4 separate days for Texas came to open the 2021 season: 4/1-4 at KC and 4/5 vs. TOR

• TEX is 3-0 in day games in ‘23, batting .343/.410/.562/.972 and leading MLB in all 4 slash categories as well as runs scored (32)…Adolis García is 7-for-12 w/ a 2B, BB, and 4 RBI in the 3 day games, while Robbie Grossman is 4-for-10 w/ a HR, BB, and 5 RBI.

FOREVER JUNG: Josh Jung hit a 2-R HR on Wed. vs. BAL and is now tied with Mitch Garver for the team lead in HR (2)…has started at third base and batted 5th in each of the Rangers’ 6 G this season, slashing .318/.375/.636/1.011 (7- 22)…has hits in team season-high 5 straight games at .368 (7-19), tied for longest hitting streak of his career (also 5 G from 9/12-16/22).

WHY YOU GOT TO BE SO COLD?: The forecast temperature for first pitch today is 43 degrees…the Rangers have not played a game with such a temperature at 1st pitch in nearly 2 years, with the last instance also coming in a visit to Chicago…club had a 43-degree start for series finale on 4/25/21 at CWS, an 8-4 TEX loss in a Kohei Arihara start, a game recalled fondly by many who were present.

BRUUUUUUUUUCE: Rangers manager Bruce Bochy enters today’s game with a lifetime managerial record of 2,007-2,031 (.497) over 4,038 games with San Diego (951-975, .494), San Francisco (1,052-1,054, .4995), and Texas (4-2, .667)…he currently ranks 12th on MLB’s all-time managerial
wins list, needing just 2 more victories to move into 11th place over Hall of Famer Leo Durocher (2,008 wins)…this weekend marks Bochy’s 1st games at Wrigley since 8/22/19 with SF.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (1-0, 5.40)
TODAY: The 33-year-old right-hander is set to make his 2nd start of the season in today’s road opener at Wrigley…earned win in his TEX debut on Sat. vs. PHI (5.0 IP, 3 R-ER), exiting with a 7-3 lead before the Rangers piled on for a 16-3 victory…Eovaldi (ee-VAHL-dee) signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…produced a 1-0 record, 2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP), and 19 strikeouts/2 walks over 4 ‘A’ game starts this spring…experienced tightness in his left side following spring debut on 2/25 vs. KC, but resumed throwing on 3/8 with no reported issues since…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS…ranked among A.L. leaders (min. 100.0 IP) in SO/BB (8th, 5.15) and BB/9 (9th, 1.65)…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…the Texas native is seeking a return to his 2021 form, when he was an All-Star with the Red Sox and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting… his Red Sox stint included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run, as he appeared in 3 of club’s 5 games during that year’s Fall Classic…from 2019-22, induced misses on 26.1% of swings by opposing batters, the 9th-best rate in the A.L. over that span (min. 400.0 IP)…has averaged 96.1 mph on his fastball over the course of his career, the 4th-highest figure in MLB
since 2011…from 2020-22, led all A.L. pitchers (min. 300.0 IP) in both walks per 9 innings (1.64) and strikeouts per walk (5.65)…has 241 games/222 starts with LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)…joins Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues.

TEXAS DEBUT: Made his Rangers debut in club’s 2nd game of the season on Sat. vs. PHI, a 16-3 TEX victory (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 82 pitches/49 strikes)…became 1st Texas starting pitcher to be awarded a win in his first start with the club since A.J. Alexy on 8/3/21 vs. COL…the Alvin, TX native became the 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his Rangers debut (last Kip Wells on 8/2/06 at MIN)…induced 11 swing-and-miss strikes (5-Splitter, 3-Cutter, 2-FourSeam Fastball, 1-Curveball) according to Statcast…averaged 95.9 mph on his fastball, well in line with his career average (96.1)…did not allow a run over his 1st 3 innings, but permitted 2 R in a 29-pitch 4th inning…also endured some unlucky plays behind him…as produced a 5-2 record and 4.05 ERA (27 ER/61.2 IP) in 12 season debut starts, logging 5.0+ IP in each of those 12 outings…served as the Red Sox Opening Day starter ifor 3 seasons (2020-22)…moved to 5-0 in last 8 starts vs. PHI dating to 2013.

VS. CHICAGO-NL: Is 0-1, 3.95 (6 ER/13.2 IP) in 2 G/GS over his career against the Cubs, both in June 2014 with the Marlins…his only career outing at Wrigley: 6/6/14 (ND, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R-1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO)…Marlins ended up with a walk-off loss in 13 innings on a 2-R HR by Anthony Rizzo off Kevin Slowey.

GOING NATIONAL: Since taking a loss on 6/5/18 at WAS while with Tampa Bay, Eovaldi has gone 6-0 with a 2.61 ERA (21 ER/72.1 IP) over his last 14 G/GS in Interleague play, all against N.L. opponents…his teams are 9-5 in those contests… has made 9 road starts over that span in N.L. parks: 3-0, 2.35 (12 ER/46.0 IP).

SPRING TRAINING: Registered a 1-0 record, 2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP), and 2 walks/19 strikeouts over 4 Cactus League ‘A’ game starts this spring…was inactive for several days after experiencing tightness in his left side following 1st outing of the spring 2/25 vs. KC…resumed throwing in light bullpen session on 3/8, and threw another bullpen 3/10…pitched in Double-A Frisco’s game vs. Northwest Arkansas (KC AA) on Field 2 in Surprise on 3/13 (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 29 pitches/22 strikes)

ON THE ROAD: Fared far better on the road (4-0, 2.64 ERA) that at Fenway Park (2-3, 5.26 ERA) last season, but has traditionally performed better at home (31- 31, 3.96 ERA) than on the road (37-37, 4.37 ERA) in his career.

• His 2.64 road ERA (17 ER/58.0 IP) in 2022 finished as 9th-best in the American League (minimum 10 starts)…was 4-0 with a .229/.258/.395/.652 opp. slash line and 8 BB/62 SO in 10 G/GS and 58.0 IP in away tilts…of his 19 runs allowed on the road, 14 came via his 10 HR allowed in away games.

2022: In his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 games/starts, including a 4-0 record and 2.64 ERA in 10 road starts… made at least 20 starts for 7th time in his career…ranked among A.L. leaders (minimum 100.0 IP) in SO/BB (8th, 5.15) and BB/9 (9th, 1.65)…posted a sub-4.00 ERA for the 3rd consecutive season (also 3.72 in 2020, 3.75 in 2021)…outside of outings on 5/17 vs. HOU (6 ER) and 7/22 vs. TOR (9 ER), produced a 2.74 ERA (32 ER/105.0 IP) in his other 18 starts…was slowed by a pair of Injured List stints 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation), which led to mechanical issues with his delivery…was 1-1, 3.15 (14 ER/40.0 IP) over first 7 starts thru 5/11 before game on 5/17 vs. HOU (1.2 IP, 9 R-6 ER) spiked season figure to 4.32…had 7.0 SHO IP in back-to-back starts, 4/25 at TOR and 4/30 at BAL, including 5.2 hitless frames to open start vs. the O’s…was 3-0, 2.03 (7 ER/31.0 IP) in next 5 starts spanning first IL stint 5/22-7/15 to drop to 3.34, then took loss in Sox’ 28-5 defeat on 7/22 vs. TOR (2.2 IP, 9 R-ER) to rise to 4.30…his 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings from 5/28-7/15 marked 2nd-longest streak of his career (19.0 IP in 2018)…posted a career-high 11 SO on 5/22 vs. SEA…would go 2-0, 2.91 (11 ER/34.0 IP) in final 6 GS beg. 7/27 to finish at 3.87.

CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:

HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE: The Chicago Cubs today play the first of three games against the Texas Rangers to begin a six-game A.L. West division homestand that features three games against Texas followed by three contests against the Seattle Mariners, starting Monday … the Cubs on Wednesday were rained out in Cincinnati after splitting the first two games – the Reds took Monday’s series opener 7-6 before Chicago won Tuesday’s tilt 12-5 … the team had yesterday off.

The Cubs have scored five or more runs in each of their last three games … in 2022, Chicago plated five or more runs in at least three-straight games just four times, including a season-high five-consecutive contests from May 20-24 at Cincinnati (2 G) and vs. Arizona (3 G).

The Cubs open the season with 15 of their first 24 games through April 27 at Wrigley Field … of those first 24 tilts, just five are against their own division, the N.L. Central: the season-opening Brewers series and the abbreviated twogame set against the Reds … in fact, the Cubs now play 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.

INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: With MLB’s new schedule format for the 2023 season, the Cubs will play every A.L. club this regular season, totaling 46 games … Chicago is 216-219 (.497) all-time against the A.L. since interleague play began in 1997 … the team was 6-14 (.300) in interleague play last season.

Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom are tied for 10th among Cubs hitters all-time with 11 home runs apiece in interleague play … Derrek Lee is ninth with 12.

AGAINST THE RANGERS: Cody Bellinger has hit .357 (10-for-28) with three homers and seven RBI in eight career regular season games against the Rangers, posting a .500 OBP and .821 slugging mark … Eric Hosmer has the most extensive experience among Cubs position players against Texas, having played 56 games against the Rangers (has hit .256, 54-for-211 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI).

FIRST THING FIRST: The Cubs have scored in the first inning in each of their last three games and have not been retired in order in any of their five opening frames thus far, hitting .458 (11-for-24) with five runs scored.

Conversely, Cubs pitching has allowed nine hits in 20 first-inning at-bats (.450) with three walks, leading to four runs surrendered.

START NO. 200: Marcus Stroman today makes his 200th career start (it’ll be his 206th career game) … Stroman in his first 199 career starts has posted a 67-67 record and a 3.56 ERA (460 ER/1,162.2 IP) with 326 walks and 972 strikeouts.

Stroman enters today 20 strikeouts away from 1,000 for his career.

In his last eight starts dating to Aug. 30 of last season, Stroman has pitched to

1.88 ERA (10 ER/48.0 IP) with a 0.98 WHIP … he’s walked 12 and struck out 43 batters in this span.

RUCK ON THE BUMP: Cubs reliever Michael Rucker has stranded all five runners he’s inherited thus far … he’s one of just two major league relievers to not allow an inherited runner to score while also stranding at least five on base … he joins Pittsburgh’s Dauri
Moreta (5 IR/0 IRS).

TOUCHING HOME: Ian Happ has scored at least one run in each of his first five games to start the season, the first Cub to turn the trick since Anthony Rizzo in 2020 … the last Cubs to score in each of their first six games to open a campaign were Alex Gonzalez (7 games) and Mark Grudzielanek (6) in 2003.

WE’LL NEED THIS IN TRIPLICATE: The Cubs had four players record three-hit games Tuesday night: Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger and Patrick Wisdom … it’s just the fifth time since 2015 Chicago had four or more players each record three or more hits in a game – previously done June 30 of last season against the Reds (Higgins, Hoerner, Morel and Wisdom).

DISHING ON DANSBY: Dansby Swanson has reached safely in each of his first five games as a Cub, including hits in four games, featuring three three-hit contests … he’s sporting a .500 average (10-for-20) and a .583 OBP thanks in part to four walks compared to two strikeouts in 24 plate appearances.

Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) pointed out that Swanson is the first Cub since at least 1901 with at least three three-hit games within the team’s first four games of the season.

In this season’s early going Swanson is 5-for-8 when dealing with a two-strike count … since the start of last season, his 77 hits with two strikes in the count rank tied for third most in the N.L. and seventh in baseball.

WAY TO GET ON THE BOARD: Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger snapped a season-opening 0-for-11 with a three-run first-inning home run Monday night in Cincinnati … he’s the first player to homer to end a drought of at least 11 at-bats to open his Cubs career since, well, just two years ago – Joc Pederson collected his first hit, a home run, on April 7, 2021, vs. Milwaukee after going hitless in his first 15 at-bats as a Cub.

WORD TO THE WISE: Patrick Wisdom on Sunday recorded his sixth career multi-homer effort, going 2-for-4 with two solo shots against the Brewers at Wrigley Field … since the start of the 2021 season, Wisdom has averaged one home run every 14.96 at-bats, the third-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber, 11.89, and Pete Alonso, 14.80).

Wisdom’s 55 homers since the start of the 2021 season are tied for 12th-most among N.L. hitters.

Starting Pitcher – #0 RHP Marcus Stroman (1-0, 0.00)
Last Time Out
Marcus made his third career Opening Day start (also 2016 and 2019) on March 30 vs. Milwaukee … improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) in his three career Opening Day outings … tossed 6.0 scoreless innings in his 2023 Wrigley Field debut after pitching to a 5.18 ERA (37 ER/64.1 IP) in 12 starts at home in 2022 … tallied eight strikeouts, his most in an outing since May 24, 2022 at Cincinnati (also eight).

2023 Splits and Season Notes
Marcus is scheduled to make his second start of the 2023 season today vs. Texas … dating to Aug. 30, 2022, has allowed one run or fewer in six of his last eight starts, pitching to a 1.88 ERA (10 ER/48.0 IP) during the run.

Made his third career Opening Day start March 30 vs. Milwaukee (0 ER/6.0 IP), earning the win … improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) in his three career Opening Day starts.

In three Cacuts League starts with the Cubs, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts.

Made two starts for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP).

2022 Splits and Season Notes
Sept. 16 vs. Colorado, tossed 5.2 hitless innings to begin the game, his second-longest no-hit bid of his career (6.0 IP, July 24, 2014 vs. Boston; source: Elias).

Faced Toronto for the first time in his career August 30 (1 ER/5.0 IP).

Went 1-0 with a 2.23 ERA (11 ER/44.1 IP) in eight starts from July 9-August 20 … the 2.23 ERA was the fifth-lowest in the MLB during that span (min. 8 GS).

Was on the 15-day injured list, June 10-July 9 with right shoulder inflammation.

Pitched to a 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP) in five starts from April 26-May 29, the third-lowest ERA in the N.L. (min. 30 IP) during that span.

Made his Cubs debut on April 10 vs. Milwaukee (1 ER/5.0 IP).

Career Notes
Marcus is in his ninth major league season since debuting in 2014 with Toronto … signed a three-year contract with the Cubs on December 1, 2021.

Has made 30-or-more starts in four of the five full seasons since 2016, tied for the second-most such campaigns in the majors.

Since making his big league debut with Toronto in 2014, his 0.85 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings are second-lowest among all pitchers with at least 190 starts in that span.

His 57.7-percent ground ball rate ranks second-highest since the start of 2014, surpassed by Dallas Keuchel (59.3).

Started two series-clinching wins for the Blue Jays in the postseason … started Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS vs. Texas and the 2016 A.L. Wild Card game … delivered a quality start in both games to help Toronto advance.

Earned 2017 World Baseball Classic MVP honors, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP) for Team USA … took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the championship game, an 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico.

His work in the final game earned him the USABA International Performance of the Year Award.

Selected by Toronto in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2012 Draft out of Duke University. Became Duke’s first ever first-round selection in the MLB Draft. 3:05 PM ET

MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (3-4) at New York Mets (3-4)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (3-4) at New York Mets (3-4)

MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE: The Marlins today begin a six-game road trip with the first of three games at the Mets. Marks the start of the team’s first road trip of the season. Are coming off their season-opening homestand in which they went 1-3 vs. the Mets and took two of three from the Twins. Are coming off their first-back-to-back wins of the year.

WEDNESDAY RECAP: Miami won their second straight game with a 5-1 victory over Minnesota. DH Jorge Soler went 2×4 with two home runs – his 11th multi-homer game – and drove in four of the Marlins’ runs. 3B Jean Segura (2×3) recorded his first multi-hit game of the year. LHP Jesus Luzardo held the Twins to just 1 run in 7.0 innings of work and struck out 10 batters for his 5th career double-digit strikeout game. CF Bryan De La Cruz (1×3) had a go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning.

SOLER POWER: DH/OF Jorge Soler has homered three times in his first seven games this season, just one off the Major League lead. He has driven in 6 of the Marlins 15 runs this season.

NOBODY MESSES WITH THE JESUS: LHP Jesus Luzardo held the Twins to 1 run over 7.0 innings of work in Wednesday’s win. Dating back to last season, has limited opponents to 1 run or no runs in each of his last 4 starts at loanDepot park. Over the stretch, owns a 0.73 ERA (24.2/2) in his home starts, striking out 38 batters.

JUNIOR RBI’ers: Last night, the Marlins Jr. RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) season started up with the Marlins and loanDepot hosting special Opening Day festivities for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade – Northwest Club at Coral City Park. A special first pitch was thrown by Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III. As part of its continued commitment to the Miami community and in collaboration with the Miami Marlins Foundation, loanDepot supports the growth of youth baseball and softball teams for kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade – Northwest Club.

• This year, nearly 50 teams across South Florida are taking the field in their Marlins uniform as part of the Marlins RBI program. Participants enjoy a free, fun, and instructional spring league in addition to clinics hosted by Marlins players and alumni. The Marlins provide uniforms, equipment, and umpires for the leagues.

RING THE BELL: Marlins General Manager Kim Ng and President of Business Operations Caroline O’Connor were joined by ADT Executive Vice President and CMO DeLu Jackson at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning to ring the Opening Bell. The opportunity was extended in recognition of the Marlins’ patch partnership with ADT and to highlight the Marlins organization as the first to be entirely women-led. Marked the first time the Marlins franchise received the honor.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: The Marlins are averaging 2 hour and 26 minute games this season. Included is Tuesday’s 1:57 contest, the Marlins’ quickest game since Sept. 20, 2010 vs. St. Louis (1:52), followed by Wednesday’s 2:10 game.

THE SANDY SHOW: The 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner RHP Sandy Alcantara tossed his fourth career shutout and 10th career complete game on Tuesday vs. Minnesota in his second start of 2023.

• Marked the fourth time in club history that a Marlins pitcher has thrown a complete game shutout in the first six team games of the season and the first since Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett in 2005 in games four and six, respectively. Brad Penny threw a complete game shutout in game three of the 2002 season.

• Is the least amount of games by the club before a complete game since Josh Johnson’s CG on April 12, 2009 vs. NYM (Game 6) and marked the first time in MLB a pitcher has thrown a complete game within the first six games of the season since 2020, when the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks pitched a complete game shutout on Opening Day (credit: Elias).

• His 6 complete games last year led all of MLB and were the most in a single season since Chris Sale’s 6 CG in 2016.

• Dating back to the start of the 2022 season, Alcantara owns a 2.01 ERA (161.0 IP/36 ER) in games following a loss.

BACK ON THE HORSE: Miami has stolen a base in each of their last two games after opening the season without a steal over their first five contests.

• In 2022, the Marlins stole 122 bases, behind only Texas (128) for most in the Majors. Marked the sixth-most SB in a single-season in franchise history. INF/OF Jon Berti led the Majors with 41 SB.

STEALING THE APPLE: The Marlins were successful in 14 of 15 stolen base attempts at Citi Field last year. In fact, the Marlins have been successful in 32 of their 40 stolen base attempts at Citi Field since the start of the 2020 season. Over that same span, since the start of 2020, the Marlins have stolen 150 bases on the road, the most for any team over the stretch (St. Louis, 2nd, 144).

TURNING THE TRENDING TIDE: The Marlins are 2-0 in one-run games this season, including Tuesday’s 1-0 victory vs. the Twins.

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

HOMER TIME: The Marlins have scored 12 of their 15 runs this season via home runs – hitting seven homers total over the first seven games.

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS: INF Luis Arraez became just the second player in Marlins history to reach base safely as the starting leadoff hitter in each of the first four games to start a season, joining Hanley Ramirez in 2006 (credit: Elias Sports Bureau).

• His 11 hits are tied for second-most in MLB and tied with Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. and Travis d’Arnaud for tops in the National League. His .478 avg. (11×23) ranks 4th in the NL and 5th in MLB.

HOME OF EVERYTHING: loanDepot park will once again be in the National spotlight this weekend when the Drone Racing League 2023 Championship airs on Saturday, April 8 on NBC at 3 p.m. ET. The event was filmed at loanDepot park back in February and features drones flying more than 150 mph through an obstacle course around the ballpark.

TODAY’S STARTER – #27 EDWARD CABRERA
• Edward Cabrera, 24, made 14 starts at the Major League level last year after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on May 31, 2022.

• Walked 6 batters and allowed 2 runs in 4.0 innings on his first start of the season vs. New York Mets.

• Ranked in the top three among rookie starters in several categories, including his .177 opponents batting average, 1.074 WHIP, and 3.01 ERA.

• His .177 avg. against was the lowest by a rookie starter with at least 10 GS. Among all MLB pitchers, ranked fourth behind Christian Javier (.170), Tony Gonsolin (.172), and Jacob deGrom (.175).

• In 7 starts at home in 2022, went 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1 IP/18 ER). Posted a 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP/6 ER) in 7 starts away, allowing 10 less hits than at home.

• Was named to MLB.com’s All-Rookie Second Team.

• Made four consecutive scoreless outings (22.2 IP) after returning from injury from Aug. 1 until Aug. 22, becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to make four consecutive scoreless starts, joining Chris Hammond in 1994.

• Set a new career-high with 8.0 innings pitched at Oakland on Aug. 22, 2022.

• In his first start back in almost 2 months on Aug. 5, 2022 tossed 5.0 no-hit innings against Chicago Cubs.

• Was the first pitcher in club history to pitch 6.0 innings or more and allow two hits or less in each of his first two starts of a season.

NEW YORK METS NOTES:

METSCELLANEOUS: Today, the Mets are set to play their first game at Citi Field when they take on Marlins…The Mets are coming off their first road trip of the season, a seven-game trip to Miami (3-1) and Milwaukee (0-2)…Following this series, New York heads to New York…In this homestand, the Mets will host the Marlins (three games) and Padres (three games).

LET’S NOT GO STREAKING: The Mets are on a season-long three-game losing streak…The streak matches their longest of the 2022 season (6-26-29, 7/17-23, 9/3-6, 9/12-14 and 9/30-10/2)….The last time the team lost four or more games was when they lost five straight from 9/21-26, 2022).

TAKE ME HOME, CITI ROADS: The Mets are 40-21 (.656) in Home Openers, including 10-4 at Citi Field…The Mets won their home opener, 10-3, against Arizona last season…The have won it in each of the last three seasons and in seven of their last eight years (2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).

CITI SLICKERS: The Mets won 54 games at home last year…That their highest total at Citi Field in franchise history..,The last time the team won more than 50 games in New York was in 2000 when they went 55-26…Overall, the Mets went 54-27 at Citi Field…The team’s .667 winning
percentage was the fourth-highest in team history…Only the 1988 (56-24, .700), 2000 and 1986 teams (both 55-26, .679) had a better home winning percentage.

IT’S BEEN ONE WEEK: The Mets have yet to commit an error this season… This ties a franchise recorded for the longest the team has gone without committing an error…The 1985 Mets also did not commit an error in their first seven games…Last year, the San Diego Padres did not commit an error in their first 17 games to start the season, which was the longest time since 1900.

INJURY UPDATE: Yesterday, Omar Narváez underwent imaging this morning that revealed a medium to high-grade strain of his left calf…He will be placed on the Injured List…A typical return to play for this type of injury is 8-9 weeks.

WAIVER CLAIM: Yesterday, the Mets claimed RHP Edwin Uceta from Pittsburgh and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse…Uceta, 25, has appeared in 24 major league games with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks and has 38 strikeouts in 37.1 innings…In addition, the Mets transferred RHP Sam Coonrod to the 60-Day IL.

HOME, SWEET HOME: Today, the Mets will play their first game at Citi Field this year when they take on the Miami Marlins at 1:10 p.m… Citi Field parking lots will open at 9:40 a.m. and gates open at 10:40 a.m… Ahead of the game, the Empire State Building will be lit blue and orange beginning at sunset on April 5 and continue through April 6 for the home opener…The Mets encourage fans to take Mass Transit for the Mets home opener…Mass Transit is the fastest and greenest way to Citi Field…Fans can purchase tickets to all 2023 Mets home gates at the Citi Field box office or by visiting mets.com/tickets or calling 718-507-TIXX.

DOCTOR ROBERT-SON: David Robertson tossed 1.0 perfect inning on Wednesday in Milwaukee…In three games this season, Robertson has allowed only one hit, struck out three and notched a save…Robertson has recorded 158 career saves, which is the seventh-most by an active player.

LET’S GO FISHING: The Mets are 3-1 against the Marlins this season…Tommy Pham is a .305/.378/.500 hitter with 29 runs, eight doubles, a triple, 21 RBI and 13 walks in 26 career games against the Marlins… Starling Marte has hit .289/.339/.413 with 32 runs, 12 doubles, two triple, three homers and 14 RBI in 51 career games against the Fish…Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo have both socked nine home runs against the club.

MIAMI VICE: Megill will make his second consecutive start against the Marlins to begin the 2023 season…In three career games (two starts) against Miami, Megill is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA (6 ER/11.0 IP) and 13 strikeouts…In his lone outing against Miami at Citi Field, Megill threw a
scoreless inning in relief on September 27, 2023.

OPENOR: Tylor Megill will start the home opener this season…Last year, Megill was named the Mets Opening Day Starter…With 89.2 career innings pitched entering the 2022 season, Megill had the fewest major league innings of any Mets Opening Day starting pitcher in franchise history…Became the 28th different Opening Day starting pitcher in Mets history.

MULTIPLICITY: Pete Alonso logged his 15th career multi-homer game on Wednedsay at Milwaukee, slugging a pair of two-run shots…He ranks sixth in Mets history in multi-homer games…Lucas Duda and Dave Kingman are tied for fifth with 16 each…Mike Piazza and Carlos Beltrán each had 17…His 15 multi-homer games are the third-most since he entered the league in 2019…Only Aaron Judge (20) and Kyle Schwarber (26) have hit more.

PETE ALON150: Alonso ranks tied for sixth on the Mets all-time home run list with 149 homers…Carlos Beltrán also hit 149 with the Mets… Alonso has 149 home runs in 537 career games…With one more long ball in his next 14 games, he will become the second-fastest player in major
league history to reach 150 career home runs…Ryan Howard got there in 495 games and Aaron Judge is currently second-fastest (552 games).

Rank Player HR GAMES
5th Dave Kingman 154 664
6th Carlos Beltrán 149 839
T6th Pete Alonso 149 537
Rank Player RBI GAMES
15thMichael Conforto 396 757
16th Dave Kingman 389 664
17th Pete Alonso 386 537
METS ALL-TIME LEADERS

STRIKE THAT: Alonso has a 14.4 percent strikeout rate over his last 50 games, the lowest in any 50-game stretch in his career…He’s struck out just four times in 30 PA this season (13.3 percent)…Each year he’s spent in the majors, his strikeout rate has decreased…He punched out at a 26.4 percent clip as a rookie in 2019…Last year, he posted a career-best 18.7 percent strikeout rate.

DAY MAN!: The Mets are 3-2 in day games this year…In 2022, the Mets went 39-19 in day games…The team’s .672 winning percentage in the sunlight was the second-best in the National League and third-best in the majors…The Mets posted a 3.16 ERA with 150 walks and 564 strikeouts in the daytime last year…Their 3.16 ERA in the daytime was third in the majors and second in the NL.

MR. .305: Tommy Pham has a .305 (39-128) average against Miami in his career…He went 4-9 (.444) with a double, a home run, three RBI and
a run scored at loanDepot Park in the Mets season-opening series win over the Marlins.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – TYLOR MEGILL RHP #38
MEGILL’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Slider 42% 13% 29% 82.6 mph
Four-Seam Fastball 41% 57% 57% 94.4 mph
Curveball 11% 5% 1% 76.9 mph
Changeup 7% 25% 11% 86.9 mph

MEGILL NEWS & NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in his first start of the season on April 1 at Miami…Allowed two runs over 5.0 innings on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts…Was his first career victory against the Marlins.

AMAZIN APRIL: In six April starts since 2022, Megill is 5-0 with a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) and 34 strikeouts…Megill’s five wins in April since last season are tied for the most in the majors and his 33.0 innings in the month since 2022 are tied for eighth…Among qualifiers in April dating back to 2022, Megill is ninth in ERA and 11th in WHIP (0.97).

RIGHT/LEFT SPLITS: For his career, Megill has held right-handed batters to a .196 (54-276) batting average, the 10th-best mark in the NL since his major league debut on June 23, 2021 (Min. 200 RHB faced)…During the same time frame, Megill’s .316 (86-272) opponent’s average against left-handed batters is the fourth-worst in the NL (Min. 200 RHB faced).

MIAMI VICE: Will make his second consecutive start against the Marlins to begin the 2023 season…In three career games (two starts) against Miami, Megill is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA (6 ER/11.0 IP) and 13 strikeouts…In his lone outing against Miami at Citi Field, Megill threw a scoreless inning in relief on September 27, 2023.

RELIEVOR: After starting the first 27 games of his major league career, Megill transitioned to the bullpen after returning from the 60-Day IL on September 19, 2022…Megill pitched to a 6.00 ERA (4 ER/6.0 IP) out of the bullpen…In his final appearance of the 2022 season, Megill threw 2.0 scoreless innings on October 4 vs. Washington.

COMBINED NO-NO: Megill threw the first 5.0 innings of MLB’s first no-hitter of the season on April 29 at Citi Field…It was the second no-hitter in team history (also, Johan Santana, June 1, 2012 vs. St. Louis)…The Mets combine no-hitter against the Phillies marked the 17th time a team has thrown a combined no-hitter and the 10th time in the Wild Card Era…Drew Smith (1.1 IP, BB, 4 K), Joely Rodríguez (1.0 IP, 2 BB), Seth Lugo (0.2 IP) and Edwin Díaz (1.0 IP, 3 K) finished the job with 4.0 hitless innings out of the bullpen. 17.1.

2022 RECAP: Was the Mets Opening Day starter and earned the victory after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings against the Nationals…Did not allow a run over 5.1 innings and earned the victory in his following start against the Phillies on April 12…Started the Mets combined no-hitter against the Phillies on April 29 and threw 5.0 innings with three walks and five strikeouts…Struck out a season-high nine batters in his following start against the Braves on May 4…Was on the 15- Day Injured List with right biceps inflammation from May 12 – June 10…Made two starts in his return from the IL before beginning another stint on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain on June 17…Was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 27 and returned to action on September 19…Made his final six appearances of the season in relief and allowed four earned runs over 6.0 innings in those
appearances.

OPENOR: Last year, Tylor Megill was named the Mets Opening Day Starter…With 89.2 career innings pitched entering the 2022 season, Megill had the fewest major league innings of any Mets Opening Day starting pitcher in franchise history…Became the 28th different Opening Day starting pitcher in Mets history.

RUNS IN THE FAMILY: His brother, Trevor, is a pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization…They both made their MLB debut in 2021..According to Elias, they are the fourth pair of brothers to make their major league debut in the same season since 2000 (2019, Scott & Tyler Heineman, 2017, Joe & A.J. Jimenez and 2012, Donovan & Jhonatan Solano).

NBA Preview: Phoenix Suns (45-35) at Los Angeles Lakers (41-39)

NBA Editor
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NBA Preview: Phoenix Suns (45-35) at Los Angeles Lakers (41-39)

LeBron James is not concerned about the outcome of the Western Conference play-in tournament, despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ desire to avoid it.

Los Angeles, which has two games remaining and is tied for seventh in the West, cannot afford another loss when it plays host to the hot Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The Lakers have won seven of their beyond nine games, however they took a harming 125-118 misfortune to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. The Lakers (41-39) and the New Orleans Pelicans (41-39) are every one game behind the Clippers (42-38) and the Golden State Warriors (42-38) in the fight for the last two programmed season finisher billets in the West.

The Lakers suffered a painful 11th consecutive loss to the Clippers. Now, they face a Phoenix team that has won a season-high seven games in a row.

The Suns (45-35) are gotten into the No. 4th place in the West, and they might decide to rest some important players for Friday’s second game of a back-to-back set. On Thursday, Phoenix prevailed 119-115 over the Denver Nuggets, who were in town.

Kevin Durant (29 points against the Nuggets), Chris Paul (25 points), and Devin Booker (15 points) are all candidates for rest. Durant hit six three-pointers, and Paul hit a career-high seven threes.

Paul has scored 22 and 25 focuses in his beyond two games subsequent to neglecting to arrive at 20 in his past 27 excursions.

Because he believes teams will make it a priority to stop Paul and Booker, Durant believes that Paul will have more high-scoring games in the postseason.

Paul only had two assists against Denver, and the first came in the game’s final eight minutes.

In the mean time, James has arrived at the midpoint of 35 focuses over the beyond two games yet is recorded as sketchy for Friday because of right foot touchiness. James has recently recovered from a foot injury.

During the Clippers’ defeat, James scored 30 of his 33 points in the second half.

D’Angelo Russell (left foot) is likely to face the Suns, while Anthony Davis (right foot) is also questionable.

After missing the Lakers’ 135-133 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in Salt Lake City, Russell scored 15 points and had seven assists in 40 minutes against the Clippers.

This season, Phoenix has gone 2-1 against the Lakers, but on March 22, Los Angeles beat Phoenix at home 122-111 to end a six-game losing streak.

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