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MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (3-1) at St. Louis Cardinals (2-2)

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MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (3-1) at St. Louis Cardinals (2-2)

ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Cardinals tonight continue a three-game set with the second of six scheduled meetings between the two teams this season…The teams will next meet from September 5-7 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

• Atlanta beat St. Louis, 8-4, last night to take the series opener…The Braves went 4-3 against St. Louis last season, winning three-of-four games at Truist Park and dropping two-of-three here at Busch Stadium.

• Atlanta has won four consecutive season series against the Cardinals dating to 2018…The Braves went 4-3 last season, 6-1 against the Cardinals in 2021, 4-2 in 2019 and 4-2 in 2018.

• After last night’s win, Atlanta has won six of eight and 11 of their last 14 regular-season games in St. Louis…Prior to last year, they had not lost a series here since 2017, dropping two-of-three.

• Overall, Atlanta has won 12 of their last 16 games and 15 of 20 vs. St. Louis…Over that 20-game stretch that dates to May 15, 2019, Atlanta has compiled a 2.45 ERA (48 ER/176.1 IP) against the Cardinals.

• LH Dylan Dodd is set to make his major league with tonight’s start after Atlanta purchased his contract yesterday…Ranked by MLB.com as
Atlanta’s No. 10 overall prospect, he has compiled a 12-11 record and a 3.87 ERA (67 ER/156.0 IP) over 30 career starts in the minors…Originally selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, Dodd attended Southeast Missouri State University which is located just 115 miles from Busch Stadium.

• LH Steven Matz has made 15 career starts versus Atlanta, all of them while with the Mets, and is 6-3 with a 3.42 ERA (30 ER/79.0 IP) and 72
strikeouts against the Braves…The 6-foot-2, 200- pound left-hander appeared in 15 games and made 10 starts for St. Louis in his debut season with the club last year, pitching to a 5-3 record and a 5.25 ERA (28 ER/48.0 IP).

VS. THE CENTRAL: Atlanta moved to 1-0 against the NL Central this season with last night’s win…The Braves finished 21-12 (.636) against the Central last season after they went 22-12 (.647) against the division in 2021.

• That 22-12 record last season was the best by any National League team against the Central.

• Since 2018, when the Braves started a string of five consecutive division titles, Atlanta is 82-51 (.617) against the NL Central, the best record of any NL team…In all of the majors, only Oakland at 10-6 (.625) has been better over this span.

• The Braves have knocked out a Central opponent in two of the last three postseasons…They beat Milwaukee in four games during the NLDS in
2021 after sweeping Cincinnati in the Wild Card Round in 2020.

DEBUT VS. ST. LOUIS: Dodd is set to be the 10th Braves pitcher since 1900 to debut with a start against the Cardinals, but the first to do so in nearly 30 years… Brad Woodall was the last to start against St. Louis in his debut, doing so on July 22, 1994 in the second game of a doubleheader.

• Braves starters have combined to pitch to a 1-4 record with a 3.81 ERA (24 ER/56.2 IP) in these outings, while the franchise is just 2-6-1 in the nine games.

• Tom Tuckey is the only Braves pitcher in the modern era to beat the Cardinals in his debut, pitching a seven-hit shutout for the Boston Doves on August 11, 1908.

• Red Long was the first Braves pitcher in the modern era to debut against St. Louis, pitching 8.0 innings and allowing just four hits and two runs, one earned, in a 2-2 tie for the Boston Beaneaters…It was the only appearance of his major league career.

RUNS: Atlanta scored eight times last night, and has plated 23 total runs in four games this season…The Braves are averaging 5.75 runs per game.

• Boston and Los Angeles-NL have each scored 33 runs this season to pace the majors.

• Atlanta scored seven runs in each of its first two games this season before plating eight last night… This season marks just the fourth time in major league baseball’s live-ball era (since 1920), and the first time since the club moved to Atlanta in 1966, that the franchise has scored seven-or-more runs in three of its first four games.

• The 1930 Boston Braves were the first club to score at least seven runs in three of its four four games, and the 1955 Milwaukee Braves are the most recent team to do so prior to this year.

• The 1931 Boston Braves are the only club in franchise history to score at least seven runs in each of their first four games, scoring eight, seven, nine and eight runs to open the season 4-0.

• Atlanta and Boston are the only two teams this season with at least seven runs in three of their first four games.

EXTRA-BASE HITS: Six of Atlanta’s 10 hits last night went for extra bases, with Orlando Arcia, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Travis d’Arnaud collecting doubles, and Acuña Jr, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley all homering.

• Since the start of the 2020 season, the Braves’ 1,329 extra-base hits are easily most in the majors, and just three times have more than 1,300 in that span…The Dodgers rank second with 1,316, while Boston is one behind with 1,315.

• Conversely, 11 of St. Louis’ 12 hits last night were singles, with only Paul Goldschmidt’s seventh-inning homer going for extra bases.

• Braves pitchers have surrendered just five extra-base hits through four games, tied for fewest in baseball.

Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #46 Dylan Dodd
Today’s Game
• Set to make his major league debut after Atlanta purchased his contract yesterday.

• Ranked by MLB.com as Atlanta’s No. 10 overall prospect, he has compiled a 12-11 record and a 3.87 ERA (67 ER/156.0 IP) over 30 career starts in the minors.

• Originally selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, Dodd attended Southeast Missouri State University which is located just 115 miles from Busch Stadium.

• Played his first full professional season last year, and split the year between High-A Rome, Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett.

• Pitched to a 12-9 record and a 3.36 ERA over 26 starts, fanning 153 in 142.0 innings.

• Dodd is set to be the 10th Braves pitcher since 1900 to debut with a start against the Cardinals, but the first to do so in nearly 30 years…Brad Woodall was the last to start against St. Louis in his debut, doing so on July 22, 1994 in the second game of a doubleheader.

• Braves starters have combined to pitch to a 1-4 record with a 3.81 ERA (24 ER/56.2 IP) in these outings, while the franchise is just 2-6-1 in the nine games.

• Tom Tuckey is the only pitcher in franchise history to beat the Cardinals in his debut, pitching a seven-hit shutout for the Boston Doves on August 11, 1908.

• Makes his major league debut tonight, while LH Jared Shuster made the first appearance of his own major league career in the start on Sunday afternoon.

• The Braves franchise dates to 1876, and the club has never had two starting pitchers debut within the first five games of a season.

2023 Spring
• Pitched in five games and made three starts this spring, going 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP)…Walked just four and fanned 20.

2022 Recap
• In his second professional season went 12-9 with a combined 3.36 ERA in 26 starts between three levels of the Braves farm system.

• Went 9-5 with a 3.44 ERA (34 ER/89.0) in 16 starts with High-A Rome… Was named the South Atlantic Pitcher of the Week (5/20) after tossing a combined 13.0 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts between two starts.

• Pitched to a 3.11 ERA (16 ER/ 46.1 IP) with 55 strikeouts in nine starts with Double-A Mississippi.

• Made one start with Triple-A Gwinnett on 9/25…Allowed three runs in 6.2 innings pitched in his Stripers debut.

Career Recap
• Was named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2021 after leading the conference with eight wins, 102 strikeouts, 84.0 innings pitched and a 2.36 ERA during his senior season with Southeast Missouri State University

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending NL Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals and visiting Atlanta Braves play the second game of a three-game series tonight at Busch Stadium as the Redbirds continue their homestand versus both teams of the 1992 World Series … St. Louis opened its season by taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER: Oliver Marmol is closing in on his 100th career win as Cardinals manager, going 95-71 over his first 166 games … Marmol needs five wins before July 2 to become the 11th MLB manager in the Expansion Era (1961-present) and 93rd overall in MLB history to win his 100th game before his 37th birthday … Marmol is poised to become the 52nd manager all-time to reach 100 wins with a winning record before age 37 and the first since Sparky Anderson (age 36.216, 100-59 record) in 1970 … Prior to Marmol, only player managers Rogers Hornsby (age 30.057, 100-79 record) in 1926 and Frankie Frisch (age 36.341, 100-72 record) in 1934 piloted their Cardinals teams to 100 victories before age 37 (chart left) – Elias

BIRD BATS: Through the first five days of the season, St. Louis leads MLB in hits (53), batting average (.356), OBP (.409), and OPS (945), and rank among league leaders in slugging (.537, 3rd), total bases (80, 4th), runs scored (26, 7th), and home runs (7, T-6th) … According to Baseball Savant, St. Louis ranks 2nd in hard hit balls of 95+mph (57) and 4th in MLB average exit velocity (90.3 mph).

DOUBLE-DIGIT HITS: The Cardinals, Red Sox, and White Sox are the only three MLB teams this season to record double-digit hits in each of their first four games … In franchise history, only seven Cardinals teams have opened a season with double-digit hits in four games or longer, most recently in 2003 (4g) … The 1901 & 1956 Redbirds share the record with 10+ hits in their first seven games.

GOLD STANDARD: Paul Goldschmidt has four multi-hit games to begin the season (2nd time of career; 2014) and joins Luis Arráez as one of two MLB players with four multi-hit games overall … Goldy is the first Cardinal to begin a campaign with a multi-hit streak of four games or longer since Ozzie Smith (4, 1989) … Curt Flood (1962) and Emmet Heidrick (1901) share the franchise record with multiple hits in the first six games of a season.

SOUTHPAWS BEWARE: St. Louis faces its first left-handed starting pitcher this season when former SEMO Redhawk Dylan Dodd makes his MLB debut tonight … Last season, the Cardinals led Major League Baseball in on-base percentage (.343), slugging (.465), and OPS (.809) off overall left-handed pitching, and sported a 24-11 record (.686) in games opposing starting southpaws … Last season Paul Goldschmidt set the Cardinals single-season franchise records in slugging (.813) and OPS (1.327) against lefties, while tying Albert Pujols (.411 in 2008) as the only two Cardinals since 1974 to hit .400+ vs. southpaws.

STILL TO COME: Three Cardinals yet to see action after the first four games are Giovanny Gallegos and tonight’s starting pitcher Steven Matz, second baseman Taylor Motter, and designated hitter Juan Yepez.

300 NADO DINGERS: Nolan Arenado is one homer away from becoming the 7th player to hit home run #300 in a Cardinals uniform, joining Stan Musial (June 3, 1955 at Brooklyn), Gary Gaetti (June 23, 1996 at Montreal), Jim Edmonds (Sept. 4, 2004 vs. LA Dodgers), Albert Pujols (July 4, 2008 vs. Chicago Cubs), Troy Glaus (Sept. 3, 2008 at Arizona), and Paul Goldschmidt (July 16, 2022 vs. Cincinnati) … Ranking 8th among all active Major Leaguers in homers, Arenado trails only Evan Longoria (332) among active third sackers and is 15th all-time in MLB history among primary third basemen

CARDINALS vs. BRAVES
All-Time (1892-2023):……………………. 1,086-986
All-Time vs. Atlanta (1966-2023):…………..290-266
in St. Louis (1892-2023):……………………577-464
at Sportsman’s/Robison Field (1892-1920):. 141-126
at Sportsman’s Park/Busch I (1920-65):…… 285-213
at Busch Stadium II (1966-2005): ……………… 126-99
at Busch Stadium III (2006-23):……………..25-26
in Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta (1892-2021) …….. 508-519
in Boston (1892-1952): …………………………….. 315-302
at S. End Grnds II/III/Congress (1892-1914):. 81-124
at Fenway Park (1914-15):…………………………….. 5-6
at Braves Field (1915-52):………………………. 229-172
in Milwaukee (1953-1965):……………………………. 55-79
at Milwaukee County Stadium (1953-65):…….. 55-79
in Atlanta (1966-2022): …………………………….. 139-141
at Fulton County Stadium (1966-96):…………. 104-89
at Turner Field (1997-2016):……………………….. 27-43
at Truist Park (2017-22):……………………………….. 8-9

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP STEVEN MATZ (5-3, 5.25 ERA IN 2022)

TONIGHT’S GAME
• Makes his 2023 season debut tonight, as he draws his first regular season starting assignment since 7/23/22 at CIN when he suffered a strained left knee while covering first base. The injury put him on the Injury List from 7/24-9/16.

• When he returned from the IL in Sept., he made five appearances out of the bullpen to conclude the 2022 season.

• Prior to the 7/23 start at CIN, he’d been out since 5/22 with a left shoulder impingement.

• His lifetime .684 winning percentage (13-6) in the month of April ranks 5th among active pitchers with 15 or more career April decisions. San Diego’s Michael Wacha leads the list at .800 (20-5).

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

• Facing the Braves for the first time since 2020 season. It will be his 16th career start against Atlanta, his most against any team.

• Ranks 14th among active MLB left-handed pitchers with 8.67 K’s/9 IP (min. 700 IP).

• St. Louis is his third MLB organization, entering his second Cardinals season with a 50-51 record and 4.30 ERA in career 156 games (146 starts) while pitching for the New York Mets (2015-20), Toronto Blue Jays (2021) and St. Louis (2022).

LAST TIME OUT
• Threw a spring high 6.0 IP in March 23 outing vs. the Yankees and allowed just one run on a 4th inning solo HR by Oswaldo Cabrera as the two teams played to a 1-1 tie.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
3/23 NYY T 1-1 — 6.0 3 1 1 0 5 0 87-58

2022 SEASON
• Missed 102 games on the Injured List with a left shoulder impingement (5/23-7/16) and strained left knee (7/24-9/16). Was activated from his second stint in id-September and was added to the bullpen.

• Ranked 8th in MLB in Pitch Tempo (14.4 sec/pitch) with bases empty; 21.6 sec/pitch with runners on, leading all Cardinals relievers.

• Recorded the best strikeout (26.1%) and lowest walk rates (4.8%) of his career.

• Led Cardinals starting pitchers in strikeouts/9 IP (10.72 K).

• Began the season as a starting pitcher and was 4-3 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts.

• Was 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in five relief appearances to end the year. Limited the opposition to a .150/.190/.250 slashline with a .440 OPS out of the bullpen.

• Made his first relief appearance of the season on 9/17 [2] vs. Cincinnati and first since 9/27/20 at Washington, earning the win with a scoreless 11th inning while stranding a runner.

• Earned a win in his start at Cincinnati (7/23) before going on the I.L. Three of his 5 wins in 2022 came vs. CIN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLB Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (1-3) at Kansas City Royals (1-3)

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MLB Preview: Toronto Blue Jays (1-3) at Kansas City Royals (1-3)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays plated runs in four of the final five innings last night but were unable to overcome the Royals’ early lead, falling by a final score of 9-5. Toronto has lost three straight since an Opening Day win in St. Louis…Need a win tonight to avoid falling to 1-4 for the 4th time in team history (also: 1978, 2004, 2017).

BATT CHAPMAN: Matt Chapman doubled twice in his first two at-bats last night and followed that up with a walk and a run scored as part of a 2-for-3 performance…Is now batting .533 (8-for-15) with four doubles, two walks, and two RBI for a 1.388 OPS through four games to start the season. The third baseman’s hot start has him tied for 1st in the AL in doubles while sitting T-3rd in extra base hits…His three multi-hit games are also tied for the most among AL batters.

BO BOMBS: Bo Bichette picked up a single in the 7th and then connected for his 1st home run of the season as he led off the 9th inning…The homer was the 1st by a Toronto batter this year, ending a franchise-long homerless drought to begin a season at 35 innings. The shortstop is the only Blue Jay with hits in all four games to begin this season…Is now 8-for-19 (.421) with two extra-base hits, two RBI, and three runs scored to start the season…Led the AL in hits in each of the last two seasons, becoming the only player in team history to lead the league in hits more than once, and was the first player to do so since Whit Merrifield in 2018 and 2019 for the Royals.

HARD-HITTING STUFF: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up a single on a 113.2 MPH liner to left last night…Also grounded out at 112.3 and 106.6 while finishing 1-for-4 with a walk…Already has 10 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, tied for the most in MLB…Recorded 265 hard-hit balls over the course of last season, the most in the Majors (2nd: José Abreu – 256).

HITS WITHOUT HOMERS: The Blue Jays have notched 42 hits so far (T-4th in the AL)…Their team batting average of .294 sits 3rd in the AL as the season begins…Also rank 3rd in OBP (.381), 9th in OPS (.752), and 10th in SLG (.371).

GETTING ON: Toronto has had 64 runners reach base through four contests, 5th most in the AL while three of the four teams in front ahead in that ranking have played an extra contest…Are now on a streak of 22 games with 8+ runners on base, the longest of all MLB clubs (courtesy Stats Perform). The Blue Jays led the AL in times on base in 2022 (2,395) as Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied for 3rd most among AL hitters at 306.

WHAT’S LEFT: Including last night, the Blue Jays have already twice this season run out a starting lineup with four lefty bats in it…Did so two times in all of 2021 and three times in 2022.

LENGTHY ROAD WORK: The Blue Jays start the season with 10 straight road contests as renovations wrap up at Rogers Centre… Ties the longest road trip to kick off a campaign in team history (10G in 1984)…Marks the 3rd trip of 10+ games to begin a season by any team in the last 20
years, joining the 2019 Red Sox (11G) and the 2022 Athletics (10G)…Played three games in St. Louis (1-2), are now in Kansas City (0-1) for four contests and will then wrap up the trip with three games in Anaheim. Toronto’s .556 road win% in 2022 (45-36) ranked 3rd in the AL and tied for 2nd best in team history (1st: .580 in 1993)…Blue Jays hitters led the AL in road runs (416), AVG (.266), OBP (.331), SLG (.428), and OPS (.759)…The pitching staff ranked 5th in the AL in road ERA (3.70), 5th in road WHIP (1.24), and 6th in road opponents’ batting average (.245).

YUSEI STARTS: Yusei Kikuchi will make his 1st start of the season tonight…In his 20 starts last season, went 4-7 with a 5.25 ERA (48 ER/82.1 IP). The lefty made six starts and one relief appearance during 2023 Spring Training…Kept a 0.87 ERA as he allowed two runs on nine hits over 20.2 innings of work, including 10 walks and 31 strikeouts.

VS. THE ROYALS: All-Time: 220-200
2023: 0-1 Road: 99-110
Road: 0-1 Kauffman Stadium: 99-110
The Blue Jays went 5-2 against the Royals last season, taking two of three contests at Kauffman Stadium…Have taken each season series since 2018, going 20-9 vs. KC over that span. Whit Merrifield returns to face his former team for the 1st time…The 9th-round pick of the 2010 draft debuted with the Royals in 2016 and played in 863 games across seven seasons…Batted .286, was named to two All-Star teams, and led the AL in hits in both 2018 (192) and 2019 (206). Matt Chapman went 10-for-27 (.370) with three doubles, two home runs, and six RBI in the seven
games against the Royals last season…Is now a career .340 (36-for-106) hitter with 12 doubles, seven home runs, and 18 RBI across 29 contests (1.042 OPS)…His .651 SLG vs. KC ranks 3rd best among active hitters (min. 100 AB). George Springer leads all current Blue Jays with 43 career games played vs. KC…Has hit .243 (42-for173) with eight doubles, two triples, 10 homers, and 31 RBI for an .845 OPS.

STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 1st start of the season…Beginning his 2nd season in a Blue Jays uniform. Over 7 Grapefruit League appearances this year (6 starts), went 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA (2 ER/20.2 IP), 10 walks, and 31 strikeouts…Led all qualified hurlers in Spring Training ERA and punchouts, while ranking 2nd in OPP AVG (.130) and 4th in WHIP (0.92).

2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Became the the 7th Japanese-born player to play for the Blue Jays, and the 5th pitcher to do so, joining Mike Nakamura (2004), Tomo Ohka (2007), Ryota Igarashi (2012), and Shun Yamaguchi (2020). Over 20 starts, went 4-7 with a 5.25 ERA (48 ER/82.1 IP). Won his 2nd game of the season on 5/16 vs. SEA, his 1st meeting with his former mates…Began the evening with 4.0 no-hit frames before finishing with 6.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball (3BB, 6K)…Allowed no more than 1 hit in a start for the 3rd time in his career (also: 4/29/21 at HOU and 4/26/19 vs. TEX).

In the month of May, went 2-0 over 5 starts with a 2.36 ERA (7 ER/26.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts while holding batters to a .177 average. Tossed 6.0 innings of one-run ball on 6/30 vs. TB, scattering 4 hits and a walk with a season-high 8 strikeouts on 80 pitches (50 strikes)…The 6.0 frames matched a season-high (done 3 times)…Punched out Taylor Walls in the 5th for his 400th career strikeout, becoming the 15th Japanese-born player to reach the milestone.

Moved to the bullpen in mid August and kept a 4.91 ERA (10 ER/18.1 IP) while going 2-0 in 12 relief appearances. Earned his 1st career MLB save on 9/30 vs. BOS, throwing 3.0 innings of shutout ball with a hit, a walk, and 5 strikeouts.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Made his MLB debut on 3/21/19 for Seattle against Oakland at the Tokyo Dome in Japan…Became the 1st Japanese-born player to make his Major League debut in Japan, picking up a no-decision (4.2 IP, 4H, ER, BB, 3K).

Recorded his 1st career complete game shutout on 8/18/19 at TOR, pitching 9.0 scoreless innings and allowing only two hits and a walk with
eight strikeouts…Became just the 13th pitcher (17th time) in club history to throw a complete game shutout within his first 30 career appearances (previous: Mike Montgomery on 6/30/15 at SD).

In 2021, set personal bests with 7 wins and 163 strikeouts (16th in the AL)…Averaged a career-high 9.30 SO/9.

Named to the American League All-Star Team for the 1st time on 7/4/21… Was on the AL club but did not pitch…Became the 14th Japanese-born player to be selected to participate in the Midsummer Classic.

Had a career-high 12 strikeouts in 6.0 IP on 7/23/21 vs. OAK…Was his 3rd double-digit strikeout game of the year and the 4th of his career.

Spent 8 seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Saitama Seibu Lions, earning himself three NPB All-Star nods while fashioning a 73-46 record and a 2.77 ERA.

VS. THE ROYALS:
Facing the Royals for the 6th time in his career and the 2nd time as a member of the Blue Jays…Pitched just 0.2 frames in his last visit to Kauffman Stadium on 6/8/22 (2H, 3ER, 4BB, 2K)…Has surrendered at least 3 runs in all 5 career meetings with the Royals.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:

1ST WIN: After being held to 4 runs on 12 hits through their first 3 games, the Royals exploded for 9 runs on 10 hits in their 9-5 victory over the Blue Jays to mark their 1st win of the season and the 1st win of Matt Quatraro’s managerial career…against Blue Jays starter José Berríos the Royals scored 3 runs on 4 hits in the 1st inning and 4 runs on 5 hits in the 4th, including a 2-run triple by Nicky Lopez…an 8th run was added to Berríos’ line after he exited, as MJ Melendez hit a 2-run homer that traveled 443 ft. and drove in an inherited runner to give the Royals a 9-1 lead…Brady Singer allowed just 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks in 5.0 innings, but four Royals relievers yielded 4 runs on 8 hits over the final 4.0 innings as Toronto’s comeback bid fell short.

The top three spots in the lineup went 5-for-12 with 5 RBI last night after going 3-for-31 in the first 3 games.

STARTING SOMETHING: Through the first 4 games of the season, Royals starters Zack Greinke, Jordan Lyles, Brad Keller and Brady Singer have combined for a 2.66 ERA (6 ER in 20.1 IP), which ranks 6th in the Majors and is more than 2 runs lower than their 4.76 ERA (440 ER in 832.2 IP) from last season, when they ranked 27th out of 30…the starting rotation has held opponents to a .234 average (18-for-77) through 4 games—5th in the American League—which is also a significant improvement on last year’s mark of .280 (last in the AL).

Kris Bubic will make his season debut tonight, after recording a 1.74 ERA (2 ER in 10.1 IP) and 15 strikeouts in 5 outings this spring…in his last start vs. Toronto last July 17, he allowed 2 unearned runs over 7.0 innings.

NEW START TIME: Tonight marks the second of 16 Royals weeknight home games that will begin at 6:40 p.m. CT this season, including 5 in April, 8 in May and 3 in September…of the remaining 65 home games, all but 2 will begin at 10 minutes past the hour, the only exceptions being FOX national broadcasts on Saturday, July 1 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers and Saturday, Aug. 12 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals both of which will start at 6:15 p.m. CT.

Tonight marks the 2nd of 3 straight 6:40 p.m. CT starts, followed by a 1:10 p.m. CT start on Thursday.

ON DECK: After hosting the Twins for 3 games over the weekend to begin the season, the Royals are hosting the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium for 4 games to conclude the first homestand…the Royals first road trip will take them to San Francisco this weekend for a trio of day games vs. the Giants, including a 3:35 p.m. CT start for their home opener on Friday, then to Texas—where they played 2 exhibition games last week—for 3 night games…tonight marks the fourth of 12 consecutive days with a game before the next off day on Thursday, April 13.

VS. TORONTO: The Royals are attempting to win a season series vs. the Blue Jays for the first time since 2017, when they went 4-2, but have gone 8-20 in the four completed seasons since…although the Royals haven’t had much luck in recent years in Toronto, they have won 5 of their last 8 games vs. the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium dating back to 2021, including last night’s win…after this week’s 4-game set, the Royals in September will travel north of the border for 3 games, where they haven’t won a series since taking two of three in 2017.

Since the Royals defeated Toronto in the 2015 ALCS, they’re 15-26 (.366) in 41 games vs. the Blue Jays.

Although he didn’t play, last night marked a return to Kansas City for Whit Merrifield, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his big league career with the Royals, before being traded to Toronto at last year’s Trade Deadline…before the trade, Merrifield played in a franchise-record 553 consecutive games from June 25, 2018-July 10, 2022, a stretch in which he led the Majors with 654 hits…during his Royals tenure, Merrifield led the Majors in hits in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19, led the Majors in steals in 2018 and led The American League in steals in 2017 and 2019…he also tied for the Major League lead in doubles in 2021.

CAPTAIN SALVY: The Royals announced prior to last Thursday’s season-opening game 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 (2,207, 8th), doubles (238, 9th) and hits (1,278, 8th).

BALANCED SCHEDULE: For the first time since Interleague play was introduced in 1997, Major League Baseball has adopted a balanced schedule starting in 2023, in which the Royals will play all other 29 teams…they’ll play a total of 52 games vs. American League Central opponents, 64 games vs. teams from the American League East and West and 46 Interleague games, including 4 vs. St. Louis and 3 vs. all others…following their 2-game set at Busch Stadium from May 29-30, the Royals are scheduled for back-to-back off days on May 31-June 1, before beginning a 3-game homestand vs. Colorado…this will mark the first time that the Royals will have scheduled back-to-back off days since April 6-7, 2016…another scheduling quirk later in the season will come after the Royals host the Cardinals for 2 games from Aug. 11-12…on the following day, Sunday, Aug. 13, the Royals have a scheduled off day, which will be the first known originally scheduled off day on a Sunday in Royals history.

PACE OF PLAY: In addition to the balanced schedule, another big change for the 2023 season is the new pitch timer rules, which provided stunning results during Spring Training…in 453 games that lasted 9 innings across both leagues this spring, the average time of game was 2 hours, 34 minutes, and only 40 of those 453 games (8.8%) lasted at least 3 hours…Kansas City played 33 Cactus League games and 31 of them lasted 9 innings with an average of 2 hours, 31 minutes, slightly below league average…the other 2 games were shortened by rain…the Royals longest game of the spring was a 3-hour affair on March 11 vs. Milwaukee and their shortest 9-inning game was the March 26 contest in Mesa vs. the Cubs, in which they finished in 1 hour, 57 minutes…in the 2022 regular season, the Royals average time of game was 3 hours, 3 minutes, which tied for the 4th-fastest in the Majors.

Through 62 games that have ended in 9 innings across the Majors over the first five days of the regular season, the average game time has been 2 hours, 38 minutes, and only 11 of the 62 games (17.7%) lasted at least 3 hours…the Royals have finished their 4 games at 2:32, 2:18, 2:35 and 2:37.

TONIGHT’S STARTERS: LHP KRIS BUBIC (3-13, 5.58 ERA IN 2022)

KRIS BUBIC (boo-bich) made 27 starts (28 appearances) in his third season in 2022, a 7-start improvement from 2021…he tied Daniel Lynch for the most starts made by a Royal last year while his 129.0 innings ranked 5th…for the second consecutive season, he induced a team-leading 19 double plays, which ranked 4th in the AL, while his 1.33 GIDP-per-9.0 innings led the AL and only trailed St. Louis starter Dakota Hudson (1.61) for the highest rate in the Majors (min. 25 starts).

2022, A BREAKDOWN: Bubic’s season can be summarized in three stretches, with the first beginning on Opening Day and ending on May 11 at Texas, in which he went 0-3 with a 12.83 ERA (19 ER in 13.1 IP) through his first 6 outings (5 starts), capped by his lone relief appearance of the year on May 11 when he allowed a solo home run in his only inning of work, resulting in his option to Triple-A Omaha…Kris appeared to be rejuvenated by his time in the minors as he spun 5.0 scoreless innings of work in his return to the Majors on June 4 vs. the Astros, sparking a 13-game stretch through Aug. 10 in which he went 2-3 despite a 3.49 ERA (29 ER in 72.2 IP), and recorded a career-best four straight quality starts from July 17-Aug. 10…however, the tide turned beginning on Aug. 15 at Minnesota, as over his next 8 starts, he set a career-long losing streak by going 0-7 with a 7.58 ERA (32 ER in 38.0 IP) and .385 opponents’ average (60-for-156), before bookending his campaign with 5.0 scoreless frames vs. the Guardians in his Progressive Field debut on Oct. 1.

While in Omaha from May 12-June 3, he made 3 starts and was tagged for a 6.59 ERA (10 ER in 13.2 IP), but struck out 17 batters while walking just 4.

After being recalled from Triple-A Omaha on June 4, he exited all but 2 of his 22 starts with the Royals either leading (8 times), tied (3) or within 3 runs (9).

OUT WITH A BANG: Bubic ended 2022 on a high note as he claimed his 3rd win by spinning 5.0 scoreless frames against the Guardians on Oct. 1, while making his Progressive Field debut, en route to a 7-1 Royals victory…in doing so, he snapped a career-long 7-game losing streak (over 8 starts) that dated back to Aug. 15 at Minnesota…he also struck out 8 Guardians in the win, a season high and just 1 shy of his career-best 9, done on Aug. 21, 2021 in the infamous “no-rain rain delay” game in which he took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before a rain delay took 34 minutes, without a drop of rain falling, and Bubic allowed a 2-run home run after play resumed.

The win marked the 10th of his Major League career, making him the 32nd left-handed pitcher in Royals history to eclipse the 10-win threshold.

TWO FOR THE SHOW: Kris induced a team-best 19 groundball double plays last season, which finished ranked 4th in the American League, and he has 39 groundball double plays in 259.0 innings since the start of 2021, which are the most in the American League during that stretch, only trailing San Francisco’s Logan Webb (40 GIDP in 346.2 IP) for the Major League lead…he has induced groundball double plays at a rate of 1.36
per 9 innings in that span, which is the highest rate in the Majors (min. 250.0 IP), ahead of Pittsburgh right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller (1.23).

REVERSE SPLITS: Bubic only faced 134 left-handed batters in 2022 but they finished 42-for-113 (.372) vs. him with 17 walks and 6 home runs for a .459 on-base percentage and .611 slugging percentage…right-handed batters, on the other hand, hit .287 (114-for-397) with 12 home runs and a .436 slugging percentage…these numbers were in stark contrast to his 2021 totals, when he held lefties to a .238 average (19-for-80), although 12 of the 19 hits went for extra bases, for a .513 slugging percentage…right handers hit .251 (102-for-407) off him in 2021 with 18 home runs (.430 SLG).

Bubic’s opponents’ batting average vs. left-handed hitters of .372 was the highest in all of Major League Baseball (min. 100 lefties faced), more than 30 points higher than the next-worse pitcher (Cubs Rowan Wick, .341, 142 batters faced)…it tied Sidney Ponson’s 2009 season as the 4th-highest batting average surrendered to left-handed hitters in club history, but was the highest mark by a left-handed pitcher in Royals history.

WHEN IT MATTERS MOST: Kris struggled mightily in high-leverage situations last year, particularly with 2 outs and when runners were in scoring position…after getting 2 outs in an inning, he was tagged for a .306/.404/.478 slashline (48-for-157, .882 OPS) with 23 walks, which resulted in 23 2-out runs driven in…when he had runners in scoring position, batters slashed .339/.379/.466 (40-for-118, .845 OPS) with 54 runs surrendered.

Over 28 games (27 starts) last season, batters put together a .292/.358/.333 slashline against Bubic with runners in scoring position and 2 outs.

His opponents’ OPS with 2 outs ranked 3rd-worst in the AL in 2022, trailing only teammate Daniel Lynch (.936) and Cleveland’s Zach Plesac (.921).

Kris faced 296 batters that saw a 2-strike count, and collectively they amassed a .205/.284/.292 (54-for-264, .575 OPS) slashline, resulting in the 10th-highest opponents’ OPS in the American League with 2 strikes (min. 250 batters faced).

MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (2-2) at Boston Red Sox (2-2)

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MLB Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (2-2) at Boston Red Sox (2-2)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:

THE PIRATES:…Opened their three-game series against the Red Sox with a 7-6 comeback win last night at Fenway Park…Dropped each of the final two games 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 Thursday afternoon.

ROSTER MOVE: The Pittsburgh Pirates today placed catcher Austin Hedges on the seven-day concussion injured list… Catcher Tyler Heineman had his contract selected from Triple-A Indianapolis…To make room for Heineman on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Edwin Uceta has been designated for assignment…Heineman will wear uniform No. 54…In addition, outfielder Ryan Vilade has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Indianapolis.

THE BATTLIN’ BUCCOS: The Pirates scored three times in the first inning last night before surrendering five runs to the Red Sox in the bottom of the first inning…It marked the third time since 2018 that the Pirates allowed at least five runs in an inning on the road but went on to win the game…Prior to last night, the Bucs lost 19 straight road games when allowing at least five runs in an inning since winning for the last time on July 11, 2021, at Citi Field against the Mets…New York scored five times in the first before the Pirates emerged as 6-5 winners.

ALSO FROM LAST NIGHT: The Pirates won in interleague action for the second time in the last 25 games after allowing at least six runs in a game…Prior to last night, Pittsburgh’s only other win against an American League team in the last 25 games after allowing at least six runs in a game came on June 18, 2021, against Cleveland at PNC Park.

ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Roansy Contreras will make his season debut tonight in the middle game of this series against the Red Sox…Contreras ranked fifth among all National League rookies in ERA (3.79) and strikeouts (86) and third in batting average against (.225) during the 2022 season…The 23-year-old righthander also posted the seventh-lowest ERA (3.53) among all rookies in MLB with at least 50.0 innings pitched beginning with his start on July 7 through the end of the season while his .202 batting average against in that time ranked third among MLB rookies with at least 50.0 innings of work.

BACK-TO-BACK B. REY: Bryan Reynolds went deep for the second straight game last night with his two-out solo shot in the second inning before also connecting for his second homer of the night in the fourth…Reynolds has now homered in back-to-back games 12 times in his career…He did it four times during the 2022 season (last from September 12-13).

TWICE AS NICE: Last night Bryan Reynolds recorded the fourth multi-homer game of his career and his first since August 18, 2022, which came against the Red Sox at PNC Park…Last night Reynolds became the eighth player all-time (and only National League player) with back-to-back multiple-homer games vs. the Red Sox and the first to do it since Baltimore’s Anthony Santander from September 26-27, 2022.

HEY 1900: Andrew McCutchen’s next game played will be the 1900th of his career… McCutchen ranks sixth among all active players in games played…McCutchen has played in 1350 career games as a Pirate, which ranks 14th all-time in club history (Honus Wagner is first with 2437).

THE RENEGADE: David Bednar earned his second save of the season Monday night that was highlighted by striking out each of the last two batters he faced…Bednar has recorded a 1.27 ERA (21.1ip/3er) in 22 career appearances during the month of March/April.

DAURI DEALING: Dauri Moreta worked 0.1 scoreless inning Monday night while also stranding his third inherited runner of the season…Dating back to his outing on July 10 of last year while pitching for the Reds, Moreta has posted a 1.08 ERA (16.2ip/2er), 18 strikeouts, .130 batting average against and 0.84 WHIP.

CRUZ’N RIGHT ALONG: Oneil Cruz enters today with a career-best 14-game on-base streak dating back to September 23 of last year…During his current 14-game streak, Cruz is hitting .351 (20-for-57) with four doubles, a homer and six RBI.

TODAY’S STARTER – #59 RHP ROANSY CONTRERAS
ROANSY CONTRERAS: The 23-year-old righthander is making his season debut tonight.

vs. BOSTON: 0-1 in one career start…Lost an 8-3 decision (6.0ip/4r) to Rich Hill on 8/17/22 at PNC Park

BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:

STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox lost last night’s series opener to the Pirates, 7-6. The Red Sox scored 5 runs in the 1st inning, including 3 HR, before scoring 1 run over the final 8 innings. Beginning with the 7th inning of Saturday’s game through the 1st inning last night, the Red Sox scored in 9 of their 12 offensive innings, totaling 18 runs over that span.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: The Red Sox lead the AL and are tied for the MLB lead in runs scored (33)…They lead MLB in SLG (.554). The Sox also rank in MLB’s top 5 in various offensive categories (see below).

RED SOX OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
Stat MLB Rank
33 runs …………………..T-1st
46 hits…………………………. 4th
18 extra-base hits………. T-3rd
8 home runs…………………. 5th
Stat MLB Rank
.311 AVG……………………… 2nd
.391 OBP……………………… 2nd
.554 SLG…………………….1st
.945 OPS ……………………… 2nd

HOT START: Over the last 20 seasons (beginning 2004), the only teams in MLB to score at least 6 runs and record at least 10 hits in each of their first 4 games were the 2016 Red Sox and 2023 Red Sox. This marks the 5th time in club history that the Red Sox have scored at least 6 runs in each of their first 4 games in a season (also 2016, 1995, 1985, 1950). The Sox have recorded at least 10 hits in each of their first 4 games in a season for the 7th time in club history (also 2016, 1999, 1985, 1977, 1950, 1902). The Red Sox have scored 33 runs, 5th most in club history through a season’s first 4 games and their most since 2003 (34 runs).

WHAT A RELIEF: The Red Sox bullpen combined for 5.0 scoreless innings last night (H, BB, 4 SO)…They did not allow a hit or walk to their final 9 batters (see below). Dating back to the 7th inning on Opening Day vs. BAL, 15.0 of the bullpen’s 17.0 innings have been scoreless.

RED SOX BULLPEN LAST NIGHT VS. PIT
Pitcher Pitching Line
Zack Kelly 2.0 IP, H, BB, 2 SO
Richard Bleier 1.0 IP, SO
Kaleb Ort 1.0 IP
Ryan Brasier 1.0 IP, SO

CLOSE SHAVES: 3 of the Red Sox’ first 4 games have been decided by just 1 run, including each of their 2 losses (1-2 record). Prior to this year, the last time the Red Sox lost by 1 run in each of their first 2 losses in a season was 2001. Since 1993, the only other season in which 3 of the Sox’ first 4 games were decided by 1 run was 2018. The Sox are the only AL team and 1 of 2 teams in MLB to play 3 games decided by 1 run this season (ARI).

TEAM OF THE CENTURY: The 2023 season is the 22nd for the Red Sox’ current ownership group (Henry-Werner, 2002-2023)…In the last 22 seasons, the Sox have won more World Series titles (4) than any other team. Among MLB and the NFL, NBA, and NHL, the only other franchises to win as many as 4 championships since the start of 2002 are the New England Patriots (6), Los Angeles Lakers (4), San Antonio Spurs (4), and Golden State Warriors (4).

MOST WORLD SERIES TITLES, 2002-2022
Rk. Team World Series

  1. Boston Red Sox 4 (2004, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18)
  2. San Francisco Giants 3 (2010, ‘12, ‘14)
  3. St. Louis Cardinals 2 (2006, ‘11)
    Houston Astros 2 (2017, ‘22)

DUV-ALL ABOUT IT: Adam Duvall yesterday was named AL Player of the Week for 3/31-4/2, after recording 6 extra-base hits and 8 RBI in his first 3 games with BOS. He recorded another RBI last night, becoming the 4th player in Red Sox history to record 9 RBI over the Sox’ first 4 games of the season…He joined Vern Stephens (1950), Ted Williams (1942), and Bobby Doerr (1941). Over the last 3 games, Duvall is 9-for-13 with 6 runs scored, 3 doubles, a triple, 2 HR, 8 RBI, and 2 BB…He has recorded an RBI in each of the Sox’ first 4 games.

MACHO MAN: Masataka Yoshida hit his 1st MLB home run last night, a 2-run HR in the 1st inning to tie the score, 3-3. Yoshida has hit from the 4th spot in the lineup in each of his 4 career games…He is first player since Jack Hoey in 1906 to bat 4th for the Red Sox in each of his first 4 MLB games. Since 1993, the only other players to hit from the 4th spot in the lineup in each of their first 4 MLB games were Kris Bryant (2015) and Justin Morneau (2003).

SOX & BUCS: The Pirates are visiting Fenway Park for the 1st time since April 2017 (3-game Red Sox sweep). Last night’s loss snapped the Sox’ 4-game winning streak vs. PIT at Fenway Park, which began on 6/19/2005…It was the Pirates 2nd win all-time against the Red Sox at the venue (also 6/18/2005).

ON THE MEND: James Paxton today will pitch at the Fenway South Player Development Complex in an intrasquad game. Brayan Bello is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game at Fenway South tomorrow. Garrett Whitlock made a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on 3/31 (4.0 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 6 SO)…He is scheduled to pitch for Double-A Portland on Thursday.

AT THE HELM: Alex Cora returns for his 5th season as manager of the Red Sox (2018-19, ‘21-23)…He has led the Sox to a 364-288 (.558) record, the 3rd-highest win percentage in franchise history (min. 500 games managed).

THE NEW GUYS: Eleven members of the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster or injured list were not in the organization during the 2022 season (see below). 6 players made their first career Opening Day roster: 1B Triston Casas, RHP Zack Kelly, RHP Kaleb Ort, RHP Josh Winckowski, C Connor Wong, and OF Masataka Yoshida.

TONIGHT’S STARTER: 37 NICK PIVETTA – RHP
Is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP) in 4 career games (3 starts) vs. PIT…Allowed 1 hit over 7.0 scoreless innings in his last start vs. PIT on 8/16/22 (H, 3 BB, 6 SO). Owns a career 3.34 ERA (42 ER/113.1 IP) in 23 Interleague games (18 starts). In 2022, set career highs in wins (10), starts (33), and innings pitched (179.2)… Led the Red Sox in each category, as well as in strikeouts (175). Tied for the MLB lead in starts (33)…Ranked among AL leaders in innings (13th), strikeouts (14th), complete games (T-3rd, 1), and fWAR (17th, 1.5). Made 30+ starts for the 3rd time in his career and 2nd consecutive season (also 32 in 2018, 30 in ‘21). In 2022, was 1 of 19 pitchers in AL to toss 5.0+ IP in at least 25 starts.

MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (2-2) at Texas Rangers (3-1)

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MLB Preview: Baltimore Orioles (2-2) at Texas Rangers (3-1)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

ONE-HIT WONDER: The Orioles shut out the Rangers last night, 2-0, in the series opener in Arlington…Kyle Bradish (1.2 IP, H, BB, 2 K), Danny Coulombe (W, 1.1 IP, HBP, K), Tyler Wells (HLD, 5.0 IP, 2 K), and Félix Bautista (SV, 1.0 IP, 2 K) combined to throw Baltimore’s first one-hitter since June 24, 2022 at Chicago-AL (Voth, Krehbiel, Baker, Pérez, López)… Texas’ lone hit was an infield single by Josh Jung in the second inning…Coulombe, Wells, and Bautista combined for 7.1 hitless innings in relief after Bradish exited the game with a right foot contusion in the second inning…Marked the first time in Orioles history (since 1954) that the bullpen worked at least 7.0 no-hit innings in a game; the previous record was 6.0 hitless innings, done twice: September 8, 2011 vs. New York-AL and June 24, 2022 at Chicago-AL.

WELLS, WELLS, WELLS, LOOK WHO IT IS: Originally scheduled to start tonight’s game, Tyler Wells tossed 5.0 no-hit innings of relief in last night’s win, facing one batter over the minimum with a pair of strikeouts…His only baserunner reached on an error…Marked the 12th time in team history that an O’s pitcher worked at least 5.0 hitless innings out of the bullpen, and the first since Travis Driskill on May 8, 2002 vs. Cleveland.

SHUT OUT THE NOISE: Last night’s win marked Baltimore’s first shutout of the season… The Orioles tallied 15 shutouts in 2022, the fifth-most in the AL and tied for seventh-most in MLB…The 15 shutouts marked Baltimore’s most since the 1992 team had 16; the single-season franchise record is 21 shutouts in 1961…The Orioles had 11 total shutouts in 384 games from 2019-21.

TAKING ON TEXAS: The Orioles have now won seven straight games against the Rangers dating back to July 4, 2022; marks Baltimore’s longest winning streak against a single opponent since also winning seven in a row against the Braves from June 16, 2012 to June 23, 2018, and their longest streak against an AL opponent since winning seven straight against the Rays from April 27 to July 16, 2016…The last time the O’s won eight straight games against a single opponent was against the Mariners from July 3 to September 19, 2012…The O’s went 6-0 against the Rangers last season, their first sweep of a season series against a single opponent since 2020 against the Phillies (3-0) and their first season sweep of at least six games against a single opponent since 2010 against Los Angeles-AL (6-0)…Marked Baltimore’s first season sweep of any length against Texas, and the first time the Rangers had ever been swept in a season series by an American League opponent.

STARTING WITH A BANG: The O’s have homered in each of the first four games of the season for the seventh time in club history and first since 2013 (also 4); the club record for the most consecutive games with a home run to start a season is seven by the 1966 and 1984 teams…Baltimore’s four straight games with multiple home runs to start the season is the second-most in team history, behind five consecutive multi-homer games by the 1994 team; the only other team in MLB to start the 2023 season with four consecutive multi-homer games is the New York Yankees…O’s batters have slugged nine home runs through the first four games, tied for the most in team history with the 1966 club and the 2000 team…The most home runs through Baltimore’s first five games of a season is 10 by the 1966 squad and the 1994 team.

RUNNIN’ WILD: The Orioles stole 10 bases through their first two games, the most by a team in its first two games of a season since at least 1901, surpassing the previous record of nine stolen bases held by the 1976 Cincinnati Reds and the 1983 Los Angeles Dodgers…The 10 stolen bases are also the most in any two-game span in team history, surpassing the nine stolen bases from August 28 (G2) to August 29 (G1), 1986.

Jorge Mateo is the first player in O’s history and the eighth MLB player since at least 1901 with multiple stolen bases in each of a team’s first two games to begin a season, and the first since San Diego’s Tommy Pham in 2020.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Orioles are the fourth team since 1900 to have multiple players (Mateo & Mullins) with at least four stolen bases through the team’s first four games of a season, along with the 1986 St. Louis Cardinals (Herr & Coleman), 1984 Cleveland Indians (Butler & Bernazard), and 1913 Washington Senators (Milan & Moeller).

Baltimore’s 11 stolen bases currently lead MLB and are three more than the next team (Cleveland, 8 SB).

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.

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…The Orioles have nine prospects in ESPN’s Top 100 (see chart at right), eight in the Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline rankings, and six according to FanGraphs…Gunnar Henderson enters the season as the No. 1 overall prospect by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, FanGraphs, and MLB Pipeline.

STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON RHP

QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his second start of the 2023 campaign tonight against Texas; was originally scheduled to start tomorrow’s series finale…In 262 career starts, Gibson has pitched to a 90-90 record with a 4.51 ERA (751 ER/1499.1 IP)…The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has also spent time with the Twins, Rangers, and Phillies across 10 Major League seasons.

LAST TIME OUT: Made the start on Opening Day against the Red Sox on March 30 at Fenway Park…Earned the win after allowing four runs on six hits with one walk, one hit batter, and three strikeouts in 5.0+ innings…Did not record an out in the sixth inning and exited in favor of LHP Keegan Akin after allowing two singles; both runners later scored…Threw 79 pitches, 53 strikes…Became the 42nd Opening Day starter in Orioles history (since 1954) and the second O’s pitcher in the last four seasons to make his Baltimore debut with a start on Opening Day, joining LHP Tommy Milone (2020)…Marked the second career Opening Day start for the 2021 AL All-Star, who toed the rubber for Texas in the 2021 opener.

AGAINST TEXAS: Scheduled to make his ninth career start against the Rangers; he’s gone 2-2 with a 3.25 ERA (16 ER/44.1 IP) in his first eight career starts against Texas…Today will be his 17th career start at Globe Life Field, where he’s gone 5-7 with a 3.33 ERA (35 ER/94.2 IP) and 83 strikeouts…Made 31 starts for the Rangers across parts of two seasons with the organization from 2020-21.

AGAINST THE AL WEST: In 58 career starts against the AL West, Gibson has gone 18-17 with a 3.93 ERA (147 ER/336.1 IP) and 248 strikeouts…Went 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA (8 ER/16.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts to just two walks in three starts against the division in 2022.

DAY ‘N’ NITE: Pitched to a 3-3 record with a 4.79 ERA (41 ER/77.0 IP) and 68 strikeouts in 14 day games in 2022, compared to a 7-5 record with a 5.26 ERA (53 ER/90.2 IP) in 17 night games.

HOME AND ON THE ROAD: In 18 home starts in 2022, Gibson went 7-4 with a 4.57 ERA (52 ER/102.1 IP) and 80 strikeouts, versus 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA (42 ER/65.1 IP) and 64 strikeouts in 13 road starts.

GIBBY, THE GIVER: Gibson is a two-time nominee for the distinguished Roberto Clemente Award (2022 & 2019)…While with the Phillies, he donated to Philabundance, a nonprofit food bank in Philadelphia, and Cradles for Crayons… He also created a Philly Fantasy Football League in support of Help One Now, an organization that supports families in developing countries strike out extreme poverty…Gibson is the Vice President of the Big League Impact, a nonprofit founded in 2013 by Roberto Clemente Award winner Adam Wainwright (2020) to help people meet basic human needs, including food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education…He was the recipient of the 2017 Carl R. Pohlad Community Service Award selected by the Twins Community Fund Board of Directors.

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

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

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas was shut out, 2-0, by the Orioles last night, falling to 3-1 after opening 2023 with 3 straight wins…the Rangers have not posted 3+ wins in their first 4 G of a season since 2013 (also 3-1), a campaign Texas finished with a 91-72 record and 2nd-place finish in the A.L. West…tonight, the Rangers will be seeking to go 4-1 or better over the first 5 G of a new season for the first time since 2012 (4-1).

• Texas currently sits 2 games over the .500 mark, the latest in a season to be 2-over since 8/8/19 (58-56)…club was last 3 games over following win on Sun. vs. PHI (3-0).

SMITH UPDATE: Josh Smith exited last night’s game in the 3rd inn. after he was struck on the right side of his face by a pitch from Danny Coulombe…was taken to an area hospital for further scans on his face and jaw…he rejoined the team at the ballpark today and is considered day-to-day.

STANDINGS: The Rangers enter today’s slate tied with the Los Angeles Angels (also 3-1, .750) for the A.L. West lead, sitting +1.5 GA of 3rd-place Houston (2-3, .400)…Texas has been alone or tied atop the division for each of the last 5 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).

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?: Texas has outscored its opponents 29-13 (+16) over its first 4 G of the 2023 season, the T4th-highest run differential in the A.L. (22-TB, 21-LAA, 17- MIN, 16-NYY/TEX)…it marks the Rangers’ highest combined margin of victory through a campaign’s first 4 G since 2011, when it outscored opponents 32-15 (+17) in the first 4 contests of a season-opening 6-game winning streak.

SERIES STUFF: Rangers need to win tonight to avoid securing their first series defeat of 2023, as the club swept its season-opening series from Thurs.-Sun. vs. PHI (3-0)… it 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)…club has not been victorious in each of its first 2 series of a new campaign since 2019, when it went 4-2 over a season-opening 6-game span from 3/28-31/19 vs. CHC (2-1) and 4/1-3/19 vs. HOU (2-1).

GLOBETROTTERS: Last night’s shutout loss snapped Texas’ 5-game winning streak at Globe Life Field, which dated back to 10/4/22…team has gone 9-8 in last 17 home games (beg. 9/11/22), incl. 3-1 on this season-opening homestand, but is still 16-26 (.381) over last 42 G in Arlington (beg. 7/14/22)…the Rangers have gone 89-107 (.454) all-time over 196 G at Globe Life Field since the facility opened in 2020, the 4th-lowest home win. pct. in MLB over that span (77-122, .387-WAS; 84-110, .433-PIT; 85-110, .436-BAL).

VS. BALTIMORE: The Rangers are 0-1 against the Orioles this season, with the two clubs scheduled to meet 5 additional times in 2023: tonight-Wed. in Arlington (0-1, +2 G) and 5/26- 28 in Baltimore (3 G)…Texas has lost 7 straight against the O’s dating back to the start of 2022, including an 0-6 showing last season which was the first winless campaign against an A.L. opponent in Washington/Texas franchise history…current 0-7 span is TEX’s longest active losing streak against any A.L. foe (TEX is 0-for-last-8 vs. SD), and the club’s longest drought vs. BAL since 7/10/13-6/4/14 (also 0-7)…Texas is 3-11 vs. BAL since start of 2021, but retains a 14-11 edge in Arlington beg. 6/5/14…BAL leads all-time series (272-218-1).

BRUUUUUUUUUCE: Rangers manager Bruce Bochy enters tonight’s game with a lifetime managerial record of 2,006- 2,030 (.497) over 4,036 games with San Diego (951-975, .494), San Francisco (1,052-1,054, .4995), and Texas (3-1, .750)…he currently ranks 12th on MLB’s all-time managerial wins list, needing just 3 more victories to move into 11th place over Hall of Famer Leo Durocher (2,008 wins).

• The only active Major League skipper with more wins than Bochy is HOU’s Dusty Baker, whose 2,095 career victories as a manager rank 9th all-time.

HEANDOG BUMPDAY: Andrew Heaney is expected to make his Texas debut in a start tonight against the Orioles… will be the 3rd rotation member to make his team debut in a start this season, joining fellow offseason additions Jacob deGrom (Thurs. vs. PHI) and Nathan Eovaldi (Sat. vs. PHI).

• Since the start of 2019, Heaney ranks among Major League pitchers (min. 350.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9 innings (9th, 11.07), swing-and-miss strike pct. (14th, 13.8%), strikeout pct. (15th, 28.8%), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (21st, 4.11).

• Posted a career-best 13.62 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure in 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2nd-highest mark among pitchers with at least 70.0 IP last season (see chart).

HIGHEST STRIKEOUTS PER 9.0 INNINGS FIGURE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, 2022
Min. 70.0 IP
SO/9 Team/Name IP
13.81 ATL’s Spencer Strider 131.2
13.62 LAD’s Andrew Heaney 72.2
12.09 ATL’s A.J. Minter 70.0
12.02 SD’s Blake Snell 128.0
11.98 SF’s Carlos Rodon 178.0

THE OL’ ARM BARN: Rangers relievers have been dominant in the early going of the 2023 campaign, registering an MLB-low 1.17 relief ERA (2 R-ER/15.1 IP)…opposing batters have slashed .189/.259/.264/.523 (10-53) with zero HR against Texas’ relief staff thus far, one of 7 remaining MLB reliever cores that has yet to allow a HR in 2023 (also BOS/ CHC/CIN/LAA/NYY/STL)…bullpen enters tonight’s game riding a 12.0-inning scoreless streak which dates back to the 8th frame of an 11-7 win on Opening Day, Thurs. vs. PHI.

ROTATION REPORT: Texas starting pitchers have combined for a 2-1 record, 4.79 ERA (11 ER/20.2 IP), and 27 strikeouts/7 walks over the team’s first 4 G of the season… Jon Gray took a tough-luck loss last night after he produced the first quality start (6.1 IP, 2 R-ER) by a Rangers rotation member this season…Texas starters have struck out 27 of 89 (30.3%) batters faced in 2023, the 4th-highest strikeout rate in MLB behind only TB (37.0%), NYY (32.9%), and CIN (31.5%).

BLANKED: Last night, the Rangers were held to one hit, a 2nd-inning single by Josh Jung, in a 2-0 defeat…it was the earliest point in a season (4th G) to be limited to one or zero hits since notching one hit (RBI 1B by Prince Fielder) in a 3-2 win on 4/4/16 vs. SEA (1st G)…it was also just 3rd time ever for Texas to be shutout and held to one-or-fewer hits in a game at Globe Life Field, with the only other occurrences being no-hitters thrown by Corey Kluber (5/19/21 vs. NYY) and Joe Musgrove (4/9/21 vs. SD) during the 2021 campaign.

HIT IT HARD: Despite the lack of run production, the Rangers’ registered 7 of the 12 highest exit velocities on batted balls in last night’s contest, incl. game-high 107.0 mph groundout by Ezequiel Duran in the 5th inning (Statcast).

• According to Baseball Savant, Adolis García (96.7 mph) and Corey Seager (95.6 mph) rank 6th and 10th, respectively, among A.L. batters (min. 10 PA) in average exit velocity… the only other junior circuit clubs with multiple players ranked in the top-10? LAA (1st, 102.4-Ohtani/2nd, 100.5-Trout) and TOR (5th, 98.7-Guerrero Jr./7th, 96.5-Chapman)

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #44 Andrew Heaney, LHP
TONIGHT: The 31-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his Texas debut tonight in the 2nd of 3 games against the Orioles at Globe Life Field…will be the 3rd rotation member to make his Rangers debut in a start this season (also deGrom, Eovaldi), as well as the 26th and final member of TEX’s Opening Day roster to appear in 2023…Heaney is in his first season with Texas after signing a two-year free agent contract with the club on 12/9/22…posted an 0-2 record and 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP) over 4 Cactus League ‘A’ game starts this spring, recording 14 strikeouts/6 walks and 3 home runs allowed…permitted spring-high 5 R-ER in last exhibition start on 3/24 at CHC (L, 4.2 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR)…has thrown in 2 bullpen sessions since that outing…owns a 1-2 record, 7.71 ERA (18 ER/21.0 IP), and 13 SO/2 BB over 5 appearances/4 starts vs. BAL in his career…is seeking to build on a 2022 campaign in which he produced career bests in ERA (3.10), WHIP (1.087), and strikeout rate (13.6 SO/9) with the Los Angeles Dodgers despite being limited by a pair of Injured List stints…since the start of 2019, ranks among Major League pitchers (min. 350.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9 innings (9th, 11.07), swing-and-miss strike pct. (14th, 13.8%), strikeout pct. (15th, 28.8%), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (21st, 4.11)…the 9-year MLB veteran has gone 36-42 with a 4.56 ERA over 137 games/126 starts with Miami (2014), Los Angeles-AL (2015- 21), New York-AL (2021), and Los Angeles-NL (2022)…an Oklahoma City native, Heaney pitched collegiately at Oklahoma State University before being selected by the Miami Marlins in the first round (9th overall) of the 2012 MLB Draft.

SEASON DEBUT: Heaney has started in each of his 9 season debuts dating back to 2014, with his teams going 4-5 in those outings: 0-3, 4.80 ERA (24 ER/45.0 IP), 50 strikeouts/6 walks…logged exactly 6.0 IP in each of his first 3 season debut starts (2014-16), but has not pitched more than 5.0 IP in any of his last 6 season openers (2017-22)…started the Dodgers’ 4th game of the 2022 season on 4/12/22 at MIN (ND, 3 H, 1 R-0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 67 pitches/44 strikes) as part of a 7-2 Los Angeles win…allowed career high-tying 4 HR in 2017 season debut on 8/18/17 at BAL w/ LAA (ND, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R-ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 4 HR), his 1st appearance in return from ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgery on 7/1/16…surrendered 2 of 4 HR to Manny Machado, who hit 3 HR in that game.

VS. BALTIMORE: Is 1-2, 7.71 ERA (18 ER/21.0 IP) with 13 SO/2 BB and 10 HR allowed over 5 appearances/4 starts vs. Baltimore in his career…has suffered losses in each of his last 2 outings opposite the O’s, both in 2021 with the Yankees: start on 8/2/21 vs. BAL (L, 4.0 IP, 4 R-ER, 4 HR) and relief app. on 9/5/21 vs. BAL (L-BS, 0.1 IP, 4 R-ER)…2 of 3 career instances in which he has allowed 4 HR have come when facing the O’s: 8/8/17 at BAL w/ LAA (4 HR) & 8/2/21 vs. BAL w/ NYY (4 HR)…in the latter outing, all 4 HR surrendered were solo blasts, including back-to-back shots by Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays in the 3rd inning.

SPRING TRAINING: Posted an 0-2 record and 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP) over 4 Cactus League ‘A’ game starts this spring, recording 14 strikeouts/6 walks while allowing 3 HR…permitted spring-high 5 R-ER in last exhibition start on 3/24 at CHC (L, 4.2 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR)…surrendered runs in each of first 4 innings of that outing, incl. a 2-run HR by Luis Vazquez in the 4th…was dominant in start for Triple-A Round Rock on 3/17 vs. Omaha (KC AAA) on Field 1 in Surprise: 5.0 P, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 81 pitches/59 strikes.

Date Opp. Dec. ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR P/S
3/1 vs. LAD L 10.80 1.2 3 2 2 2 2 2 —
3/6 at COL — 3.86 3.0 2 0 0 1 4 0 —
3/12 at SEA — 4.91 2.2 4 2 2 1 5 0 —
3/17 vs. KC (AAA) — — 5.0 6 1 1 1 8 0 81/59
3/24 at CHC L 6.75 4.2 8 5 5 2 3 1 —
‘A’ Totals 0-2 6.75 12.0 17 9 9 6 14 3 —

AT HOME / IN ARLINGTON: Fared far better in 8 G/7 GS on the road (2-1, 2.38 ERA) than in 8 G/7 GS at Dodger Stadium (2-3, 3.72 ERA) last season…for his career, has seen more success at home (22-20, 4.22 ERA, 71 G/64 GS) than in his away outings (14-22, 4.95 ERA, 66 G/62 GS)…the former Angels hurler (2015-21) owns a lifetime 1-5 record and 7.07 ERA (28 ER/35.2 IP) in 7 career games/starts in Arlington…is winless (0-2) in 2 career starts at Globe Life Field, both of which came with the Halos in 2020: 8/9/20 (L, 3.2 IP, 5 R-ER) and 9/8/20 (L, 5.0 IP, 5 R-3 ER)…in the latter start, surrendered a solo HR to Elvis Andrus in the 2nd inning…TEX starter in that game was Lance Lynn (W, 7.0 IP, 1 R-ER).

INJURIES IN 2022: Was limited to 16 games/14 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, enduring a pair of lengthy stints on Injured List: 4/20-6/18 (left shoulder discomfort) and 6/24-7/26 (left shoulder inflammation).

2022: Worked around a pair of IL stints due to shoulder issues and was 4-4, 3.10 over 16 G/14 GS in his only season with the Dodgers…limited opponents to a .214/.285/.429/.713 (60-280) slash line, posting reverse splits vs. RH (.210 BA) and LH (.230 BA) batters…career bests in ERA (3.10), WHIP (1.087), and SO rate (13.6 SO/9)…his 5.79 SO/BB rate was easily best of his career…went 2-1, 2.12 (11 ER/46.2 IP) with 12 BB/70 SO in his 1st 10 starts thru 8/30…had 10 K’s in just 4.2 IP on 8/18 at MIL…beginning 9/5, Heaney was 2-3, 4.85 (14 ER/26.0 IP) in his final 6 G/4 GS…gave up season highs in R (6) and HR (4) on 9/5 vs. SF…pitched in relief for final 2 G in regular season: 9/29 at SD and 10/4 vs. COL…went 3-3, 3.06 in 14 GS and 1-1, 3.38 in his 2 relief outings…had a pair of season-long 6.0-IP starts: 4/17 vs. CIN and 8/24 vs. MIL…10 of his 14 HR allowed on the season came over a 4-G span from 8/18-9/5…gave up just one HR over 69 left-handed batters faced…made his 1st and only career postseason app. in relief on 10/14/22 in NLDS G3 at SD (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R-ER), allowing the 2nd run in Padres’ 2-1 victory that gave them a 2-games-to-1 series lead over the Dodgers.

MLB Preview: New York Mets (3-2) at Milwaukee Brewers (3-1)

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MLB Preview: New York Mets (3-2) at Milwaukee Brewers (3-1)

NEW YORK METS NOTES:

METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets were blanked by the Brewers, 10-0 yesterday…It was the team’s first shut out loss of the season…The Mets continue their first road trip of the year, a seven-game trip to Miami (3-1) and Milwaukee (0-1)…Following this series, the Mets head to New York…The team will host the Marlins (three games) and Padres (three games).

BORN ON THIS DAY: GIl Hodges was born on this day in 1924…He managed the Miracle Mets to their first World Series Championship in 1969…Hodges was an eight-time All-Star with the Brooklyn Dodgers… An original Met, he hit the first home run in team history…His 14 was the second Mets number to be retired (1973).

MAX EFFORT: Max Scherzer last started in Milwaukee on September 19, 2022, making his return from the Injured List…On that day, he pitched New York into the playoffs, helping the Mets clinch their first Postseason berth since 2016…He threw 6.0 perfect innings, racking up nine strikeouts…The Mets won that contest, 7-2…It was Scherzer’s 200th career win…The right-handed pitcher has appeared in seven games (six starts) at the home of the Crew and is 1-2 with a 2.31 ERA (10 ER/39.0 IP) with eight walks and 55 strikeouts…Over his career, Scherzer is 3-3 with a 2.14 ERA (15 ER/63.0 IP) with 17 walks and 86 strikeouts in 11 games (10 starts) against Milwaukee.

Rank Player Strikeouts

  1. Greg Maddux 3,371
  2. Phil Niekro 3,342
  3. Max Scherzer 3,199
  4. Justin Verlander 3,198
  5. Fergie Jenkins 3192

Rank Player Strikeouts

  1. Pedro Martinez 3,154
  2. Bob Gibson 3,117
  3. Curt Schilling 3,116
  4. CC Sabathia 3,093
  5. John Smoltz 3,084
    MOST STRIKEOUTS, ALL-TIME (NO. 10-19)

DOUBLE THE FUN: Scherzer ranks tied for third all-time with 110 double-digit strikeout games in his career, two more than Pedro Martinez…His next 10+ K game will break a tie with Roger Clemens, who also had 110 in his career…He’ll then need over 100 more to catch the top two: Nolan Ryan (215) and Randy Johnson (212).

THE LEFT OF US: Brandon Nimmo hit .264/.358/.428 with 24 walks and and a .786 OPS in 234 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers last season…Since 2022, his 21 extra-base hits as a lefty against lefthanded pitchers is tied for the third most in the majors.

SINCE 2022 – MOST XBH BY LEFTY AGAINST LHP PLAYER TEAM EXTRA-BASE HITS
Yordan Alvarez Astros 24
Corey Seager Rangers 22
Brandon Nimmo Mets 21
Shohei Ohtani Angels 21
Kyle Tucker Astros 21

OMAR’S COMING YO!: In three games with the Mets, Omar Narváez is 3-10 with a run, two RBI and a walk…In December, the Mets signed catcher Narváez to a one-year contract with a player option for 2024… The backstop played 247 games for the Brewers from 2020-22.

WALKING THE WALK: The Mets rank third in the majors in walk rate, drawing a base on balls in 13 percent of their plate appearances so far this season…Milwaukee leads the majors in that category, drawing walks at a 14.6 percent clip…Three Mets rank in the top 10 in the NL in walks: Brandon Nimmo (six, second), Francisco Lindor (five, tied for third) and Pete Alonso (four, tied for seventh).

CANHA GET AN AMEN?: Mark Canha went 0-6 with a walk and was hit by pitch in his first two games…Over the last two contests, Canha is 4-11 with three runs, a double, a home run, two RBI and two walks… He is in his second year with the Mets and has hit .265/.368/.405 with 74 runs, 25 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 RBI and 51 walks in 145 games with the club.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Mets play their lone series at American Family Field this year…In 28 career games at the yard, Tommy Pham is a .317/.375/.663 hitter with 20 runs, seven doubles, two triple, eight home runs, 19 RBI and nine walks…Starling Marte has hit .298/.339/.500 with 27 runs, 12 doubles, two triple, eight home runs, 25 RBI and 6 walks in 52 career games in MKE…Francisco Lindor has hit .286/.348/.738 with nine runs, two doubles, one triple, five home runs and 10 RBI in 11 career games at the yard…Daniel Vogelbach, who played for Milwaukee, has hit 11 home runs in 162 games at the ballpark, and has posted a .500 SLG at the yard.

ONLY A FEW CAN COM-PETE: Pete Alonso set a franchise single-season RBI record with 131 last year…His 131 RBI were tied for the major league lead and led the National League…Only once before in franchise history has a Met finished the season with the most or tied for the most RBI…Howard Johnson recorded a career-best 117 RBI in 1991 to lead the National League…He had 27 game-winning RBI season, the most since the stat was first tracked in 1974…His 35 go-ahead RBI were tied for the second-most in a single season in Mets history…Keith Hernandez had 36 go-ahead RBI in 1985.

Rank Player HR GAMES
5th Dave Kingman 154 664
6th Carlos Beltrán 149 839
7th Pete Alonso 147 535
Rank Player RBI GAMES
15thMichael Conforto 396 757
16th Dave Kingman 389 664
17th Pete Alonso 381 535

METS ALL-TIME LEADERS

HITTING THE ROAD: New York is 3-2 on the road his year…The team finished the 2022 season going 47-34 on the road…Their .580 road winning percentage placed them third in the majors and second in the NL…It was tied for the fourth-best road record in team history and the highest road-winning percentage since 2007…Overall, they hit .265/.334/.424 away from Citi Field…Their .265 road average was second in the majors and the best in the NL, while their .334 OBP led The Show… They ranked fourth in MLB and second in the Senior Circuit with a .424 SLG…Brandon Nimmo (.406), Jeff McNeil (.399) and Mark Canha (.378) Ranked three through five in road OBP in the National League.

LUIS, LUIS: Luis Guillorme made his third career pitching appearance yesterday…He tossed a scoreless inning, allowing only one hit…He lowered his career ERA to 6.00 (2 ER/3.0 IP)…At the plate, Guillorme went 2-4.

TO THE SOUND OF DENNIS SANTANA: Yesterday, Dennis Santana tossed a scoreless inning, allowing two walks and striking out one… He has yet to allow a hit in three appearances this season, walking two and striking out five in 2.2 innings….Santana was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on March 17…He has struck out 133 in 141.2 career innings.

TODAY’S STARTER – MAX SCHERZER RHP #21
SCHERZER’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Four-Seam Fastball 47% 50% 46% 93.1 mph
Slider 31% 9% 38% 84.1 mph
Changeup 11% 18% 9% 83.0 mph
Curveball 9% 18% 6% 74.3 mph
Cutter 2% 5% 1% 87.5 mph

SCHERZER NEWS & NOTES
OPENING UP: In his last start, March 30 at Miami, Scherzer made his seventh career Opening Day start…Earned the victory as the Mets downed the Marlins, 5-3…Tossed 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and six punchouts…All three runs scored in the sixth inning after Scherzer tossed 5.0 scoreless frames to begin his day…Scherzer exited with the score tied, 3-3, then the Mets rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to leave him in line for career victory No. 202…He improved to 2-3 in season openers and has a 2.96 ERA (15 ER/45.2 IP) in those games…He became the first pitcher ever to start both for and against the Mets on Opening Day…Madison Bumgarner (Arizona) is the only other active pitcher who has started for and against the same team on Opening Day in his career.

COLD BREW: Scherzer has made seven appearances (six starts) in Milwaukee…He owns a 2.31 career ERA (10 ER/39.0 IP) at American Family Field…As a starter, he is 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA (8 ER/38.0 IP) at this ballpark with 54 strikeouts and just eight walks…Overall in his career against the Brewers, he is 3-3 with a 2.14 ERA (15 ER/63.0 IP), 86 strikeouts and 17 walks…He has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last six starts against the club, posting a 1.54 EAR (6 ER/35.0 IP) in that stretch.

HAPPY MEMORIES HERE: Scherzer made his return from the Injured List here in Milwaukee on September 19 last season…On that day, he pitched New York into the postseason, helping the Mets clinch their first playoff berth since 2016…He threw 6.0 perfect innings, racking up nine strikeouts…The Mets won that contest, 7-2…It was Scherzer’s 200th career win.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Scherzer ranks tied for third all-time with 110 double-digit strikeout games in his career, two more than Pedro Martinez…His next 10+ K game will break a tie with Roger Clemens, who also had 110 in his career…He’ll then need over 100 more to catch the top two: Nolan Ryan (215) and Randy Johnson (212).

LEGENDARY: Scherzer and Justin Verlander swapped places on the all-time strikeouts leaderboard all season long in 2022…Now teammates in 2023, the pair are neck and neck, with just one punchout separating the two…Scherzer passed Verlander in his last start…With 172 more strikeouts this season, Scherzer can enter the top-10…Scherzer now ranks 12th all-time, having passed all-time greats Fergie Jenkins, Pedro Martinez, Bob Gibson, Curt Schilling, CC Sabathia and John Smoltz last season…See below for a chart of the No. 10-19 strikeout pitchers of all-time:

QUITE THE DEBUT: After signing a three-year deal with New York last offseason, Scherzer posted a 2.29 ERA (37 ER/145.1 IP) in his first season with the Mets…That is the lowest mark in a season in his career and the best all-time in a pitcher’s first season with the Mets (min. 140.0 innings)…His 0.91 WHIP was not just the best mark by a Met in his first season with the club, it was the best by any Met in club history (min. 140.0 innings)…Scherzer did not allow more than four runs in any of his 23 regular-season starts last season.

2022 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won his Mets debut on April 8 in Washington against his former team…Tossed 7.0 one-hit innings, allowing just one run while racking up 10 strikeouts in his Mets home debut vs. San Francisco on April 19…Threw 7.0 shutout frames, punched out 10 and allowed only two hits in his hometown at the Cardinals on April 25, setting the stage for New York’s five-run, ninth-inning comeback rally…Threw 6.0 scoreless innings and struck out a season-high 11 batters in his return from the IL on July 5 at Cincinnati…Blanked the Yankees over 7.0 innings on his 38th birthday, July 27, in a 3-2 Subway Series victory at Citi Field… Defeated Atlanta three times over an eight-start stretch (July 11, August 6 and August 17)… Earned his 200th career victory in the Mets’ playoff-clinching win at Milwaukee on September 19, throwing 6.0 perfect innings in his first start after a two-week stay on the IL.

ALWAYS IMPROVING: Scherzer set a career-best mark with a 2.29 ERA last season after posting what was then a career-best 2.46 ERA in 2021…No other pitcher since 1913 has thrown 130.0 or more innings and posted an ERA below 2.50 in both his age 36 and age 37 seasons…Only five pitchers have done that twice at any point after turning 36: Hoyt Wilhelm (three times – 1959, 1964-65), Eddie Plank (three times – 1915-17), Randy Johnson (2001-02), Dennis Martinez (1991-92) and Babe Adams (1919-20).

MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: Is game 2 (1-0) of a 6-game, 7-day homestand against New York-NL (1-0) and St. Louis (3g)…..following this homestand, the team takes a 10-game road trip to Arizona (3g), San Diego (4g) and Seattle (3g).

CURRENT ROSTER (bold indicates not on Opening Day roster):
PITCHERS (13) – RH Corbin Burnes, RH Matt Bush, RH Javy Guerra, LH Eric Lauer, LH Wade Miley, LH Hoby Milner, RH Joel Payamps, RH Freddy Peralta, RH Peter Strzelecki, RH Gus Varland, RH Devin Williams, RH Bryse Wilson, RH Brandon Woodruff
CATCHERS (2) – Victor Caratini, William Contreras
INFIELDERS (7) – Willy Adames, Brian Anderson, Mike Brosseau, Owen Miller, Rowdy Tellez, Brice Turang, Luke Voit
OUTFIELDERS (4) – Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Jesse Winker, Christian Yelich

OPENING DAY ROSTER (bold indicates not on current roster):
PITCHERS (13) – RH Corbin Burnes, RH Matt Bush, RH Javy Guerra, LH Eric Lauer, LH Wade Miley, LH Hoby Milner, RH Joel Payamps, RH Freddy Peralta, RH Peter Strzelecki, RH Gus Varland, RH Devin Williams, RH Bryse Wilson, RH Brandon Woodruff
CATCHERS (2) – Victor Caratini, William Contreras
INFIELDERS (8) – Willy Adames, Brian Anderson, Mike Brosseau, Owen Miller, Rowdy Tellez, Brice Turang, Luis Urías, Luke Voit
OUTFIELDERS (3) – Garrett Mitchell, Jesse Winker, Christian Yelich

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

THE NEW BREW: INF/OF Brian Anderson (free agent), C William Contreras (trade with ATL), RHP Javy Guerra (trade with TB), LHP Wade Miley (free agent), INF/OF Owen Miller (trade with CLE), RHP Joel Payamps (trade with OAK), RHP Gus Varland (Rule 5 Draft from LAD), 1B Luke Voit (free agent), RHP Bryse Wilson (trade with PIT) and OF Jesse Winker (trade with SEA).

BREWERS vs. METS
SUMMARY: Are 76-84 all-time, including 1-0 this season…..went 2-4 last season.

at MIL: Are 39-40 all-time, going 37-30 at American Family Field and 2-10 at County Stadium…..are 1-0 this season…..went 1-2 last season and are 16-3 over their last 19 games in Milwaukee.

at NY: Are 37-44 all-time, going 21-20 at Citi Field and 16-24 at Shea Stadium…..went 1-2 last season.

TONIGHT’S STARTER: #20 – LHP WADE MILEY (9g, 8gs, 2-2, 3.16 in 2022)

MILEY AT A GLANCE: Wade Miley, 36, went 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 9 games/8 starts with Chicago-NL last season…..he missed most of the season while spending time on the injured list on three occasions: 4/7-5/9 (left elbow inflammation), 5/29-6/9 (left shoulder strain) and 6/11-9/5 (left shoulder strain)…..he signed as a free agent with Milwaukee on 1/9/23…..he is signed through the 2023 season with a mutual option for 2024.

WELCOME BACK!: Miley returns to Milwaukee, where he pitched in 2018 for the National League Central champions and went 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts…..he went on to make 4 starts during the postseason, posting a 1.23 ERA (14.2ip, 2er), as the team went on to advance to the seventh game of the NLCS against Los Angeles.

THE CENTURY MARK: Miley needs 1 win for 100 in his Major League career.

CAREER: Is 99-94 with a 4.13 ERA in 292 games/285 starts (1618ip, 742er)…..is in his 13th Major League season with Arizona (2011-14), Boston (2015), Seattle (2016), Baltimore (2016-17), Milwaukee (2018, ‘23), Houston (2019), Cincinnati (2020-21) and Chicago-NL (2022)…..he was an All-Star with the Diamondbacks in 2012…..he threw a no-hitter with the Reds on 5/7/21 at Cleveland…..Miley was selected by Arizona in the supplemental first round (43rd overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Southeastern Louisiana University.

CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Is 4-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts (53.2ip, 25er)…..his last outing in Milwaukee came with the Reds on 7/9/21 as he earned a 2-0 victory (8ip, 7h, 3bb, 4k)…..CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 48-50 with a 4.00 ERA in 155 games/153 starts (863.1ip, 384er)…..went 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 4 starts last season (13ip, 7er).

CAREER vs. METS: Is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 6 starts (36.1ip, 15er)…..his last start against New York came with the Reds on 7/31/21 at Citi Field…..he received no decision in the 5-4, 10-inning loss (7ip, 4h, 3r, 3er, 3bb, 2k, 1hr).

MLB Preview: Philadelphia Phillies (0-4) at New York Yankees (3-1)

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MLB Preview: Philadelphia Phillies (0-4) at New York Yankees (3-1)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:

GAME #4 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the New York Yankees, 8-1, at Yankee Stadium in New York … Starter Taijuan Walker (L, 0-1) made his Phillies debut and allowed 4 runs over 4.1 innings on 4 hits with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts … Alec Bohm had three hits and a double for the Phils and Andrew Vasquez (2.1 IP) and Seranthony Dominguez (1.0 IP) made scoreless appearances in relief of Walker.

TRANSACTIONS: Prior to today’s game, the Phillies selected the contract of RHP McKinley Moore from Lehigh Valley (AAA) … To make room for Moore on the 26-man roster, RHP Yunior Marte was optioned to LV following last night’s game … To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Jhailyn Ortiz was designated for assignment … Moore, 24, made nine appearances for the Phillies in spring training as a non-roster invitee … He allowed one unearned run and posted a 0.00 ERA (9.1 IP) with 11 strikeouts to one walk while posting a 0.64 WHIP (5 H) and holding opponents to a .156 average … The 6-foot-6 right-hander made one appearance for Lehigh Valley this season, March 31 at Rochester, where he tossed 33 pitches over 2.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout and was credited with the win … Originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Moore was acquired by the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Adam Haseley on March 29, 2022.

HOMECOMING KING: This series, Rob Thomson returns to Yankee Stadium and will manage against the Yankees after spending 28 years (1990-2017) with New York … Thomson, the 56th manager in Phillies history, signed a two-year contract for the 2023 and 2024 seasons on 10/10/22 after being named interim manager on 6/3/22 … After he took over, Thomson guided the Phillies to a 65-46 record (.586 win %) and the franchise’s first postseason berth since 2011 … Thomson became only the fourth manager in history to take a team at least seven games under .500 and lead them to the postseason, joining Dick Howser (KC, 1981), Cito Gaston (TOR, 1989) and Jim Tracy (COL, 2009) … Thomson also became just the eight manager (9th time) to lead a team to a World Series after the club began the season with a different manager and the first since Jack McKeon in 2003 with FLA … This is Thomson’s sixth season with the Phillies after originally being hired as bench coach on 12/5/17 … Over his almost three-decade run in New York, Thomson served many roles including 10 seasons on the ML staff as bench coach (2008, 2015-17) and 3rd base coach (2009-14).

BACK IN THE GREAT NORTHEAST: After spending 47 days between Clearwater, FL and Dallas, TX, the Phillies are back in the Northeast for a three-game set against the Yankees … The Phils will return home to Philadelphia for the home opener at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds … The Phillies are 0-4 to start a season for the 11th time in franchise history (1883, 1888, 1934, 1942, 1946, 1969, 1977, 1987, 2006, 2016, 2023).

EYES OF THE NATION: Tonight, the Phillies will make their fourth straight appearance on national television in a co-exist game with NBC Sports Philadelphia+ and TBS … On Saturday at TEX, the game was broadcast exclusively on FOX, Sunday was ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball and last night’s series opener at NYY was a co-exist between MLB Network and NBC Sports Philadelphia.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE: Through four games and 17 plate appearances, Nick Castellanos has seen 72 total pitches for an average of 4.24 pitches per plate appearance … On 4/2 at TEX, Castellanos saw 18 pitches in four plate appearances and walked twice … This spring, Castellanos drew 11 walks in 62 plate appearances (17.8 % BB rate) and posted a .371 OBP … In Spring Training from 2017-22, Castellanos walked 12 times in 269 plate appearances (4.5% BB rate)

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).

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).

PHILLIES VS. YANKEES
2023 Record: 0-1
2023 at Home: 0-0
2023 at NYY: 0-1
All-Time Record: 19-20
All-Time at Citizens Bank Park: 6-5
All-Time at Yankee Stadium: 6-7
Current Streak: Lost 3

TONIGHT’S STARTER – MATT STRAHM • LHP #25
2023 SPRING TRAINING: 1-1, 3.60 ERA (4 ER, 10.0 IP), 7 H, 5 BB, 11 SO in 6 appearances (3 starts).

TONIGHT’S START:
• Bite of the Big Apple: Tonight is Strahm’s second career start against the Yankees, with his first coming on 5/27/19, also at Yankee Stadium … In that game, he struck out a career-high 10 batters … Strahm has also appeared in 9 games in relief against NYY, and in those games has a 1.04 ERA (1 ER, 8.2 IP), 4 H (all singles) and 9 SO … 5 of his 6 relief apps against NYY last season were scoreless

• Like Riding a Bike: Strahm is making his first start since 8/17/21 at COL, with his previous start coming back on 8/21/10 at CIN … Following that start on 8/21/19, 91 of his last 92 appearances have been in relief

• Welcome Aboard: Strahm is in his first year of a two-year contract with the Phillies after signing with the club as a free agent in December

• vs AL East: 5-7, SV, 5.05 ERA (29 ER, 51.2 IP) in 40 games (3 starts)

• vs Interleague: 2-3, 4.50 ERA (19 ER, 38.0 IP) in 24 games (2 starts)

ROAD:
• 2023: 0-0, 0.00 ERA (1.0 IP) in 1 relief appearance
• Career: 9-18, 3 SV, 3.73 ERA (66 ER, 159.1 IP) in 112 games (16 starts)

2022 SEASON:
• Spent season with BOS as a relief pitcher
• Posted a 1.88 ERA (3 ER, 14.1 IP) over his first 17 appearances and a 2.95 ERA (13 ER, 39.2 IP) over his first 45
• On COVID-related IL, 5/30-31
• On injured list with a left wrist contusion, 7/13-8/18; included rehab assignment to Worcester (AAA)
• Averaged 10.48 SO/9.0 IP (52 SO, 44.2 IP)
• Surrendered just one home run to the 57 LHH he faced

CAREER
• Signed by Phillies as a free agent, 12/9/22
• Selected by Kansas City Royals in 21st round of 2012 MLB Draft
• Attended Neosho County Community College (KS)

NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees are 3-1 on their season-opening six-game homestand after winning the first game of a three-game set vs. the Phillies (through Wed.) and going 2-1 vs. the Giants last weekend…will embark on their first road trip on Thursday, with stops in Baltimore (3G from Thurs., Sat.-Sun.) and Cleveland (4/10-12).

Marks just the third time since 2004 the Yankees have won at least three of their first four games of a season (3-1 in 2020 and 2011)…with a win today, would mark just the second time since 2004 the Yankees have won four of their first five games (went 4-1 in 2020).

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees defeated the Phillies, 8-1, in their series opener on Monday at Yankee Stadium…LHP Nestor Cortes (5.0IP, 7H, 1R/ER, 0BB, 3K, 0HR) made his season debut and earned the win, allowing just 1R over 5.0IP…2B Gleyber Torres (2-for-2, 2R, 1HR, 2RBI, 3BB, 1SB) reached base a career-high five times and hit his 100th career home run with a solo shot in the third inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 1BB) hit his first home run of the season with a two-run shot in the fifth inning…RF Franchy Cordero (1-for5, 1R, 1 double, 2RBI) made his Yankees debut and hit a tworun double in the fifth inning…3B DJ LeMahieu (2-for-5, 2R, 1 triple) and C Jose Trevino (2-for-4, 1RBI) each picked up multihit games…CF Aaron Judge (1-for-4, 1R, 1BB) extended his career-high on-base streak to 37 games…RHP Ian Hamilton made his Yankees debut and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief (3H, 2K)…RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (1.1IP) and RHP Clay Holmes (1.0IP, 1H, 2K) were also scoreless in relief.

GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres hit his 100th career home run on Monday with a solo shot in the third inning…his 100th HR came in his 580th career game, becoming the seventh-fastest Yankee to reach the milestone (in terms of games played)…trails only Gary Sánchez (355G), Aaron Judge (371G), Joe DiMaggio (395G), Lou Gehrig (514G), Joe Gordon (528G) and Mickey Mantle (576G).

At 26 years, 111 days, was the seventh-youngest Yankee to reach 100HR, trailing Mickey Mantle (23y, 242d), Joe DiMaggio (23y, 273d), Lou Gehrig (24y, 364d), Joe Pepitone (25y, 278d), Don Mattingly (26y, 68d) and Bobby Murcer (26y, 103d). – credit: Elias.

Reached base a career-high five times and recorded a career-high-tying 3BB (also on 5/4/21 vs. Houston, 6/24/19 vs. Toronto and 6/16/19 at Chicago-AL).

Stole his third base of the season in the first inning on Monday…did not record his third stolen base in 2022 until his 65th game played on 6/24 vs. Houston.

Has reached base in 9-of-17 plate appearances this season, batting .333/.529/.833 (4-for-12) with 5R, 2HR, 4RBI, 5BB and 3SB.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners have recorded 6SB in their first four games…marks their most stolen bases within their first four games of a season in the last 34 years (since 1990)…marks just the fifth time in the last 107 years (since 1917) that the Yankees have recorded at least 6SB in their first four games (10SB in 1969, 9SB in 1989 and 6SB in 1974, ’76 and 2023).

INF Gleyber Torres and INF Anthony Volpe have each stolen three bases this season…marks just the third time in franchise history the Yankees have had two players steal at least three bases within the club’s first four games of a season…joins Rickey Henderson (5SB) and Roberto Kelly
(3SB) in 1989 and Fritz Maisel (4SB), Doc Cook (3SB) and Hugh High (3SB) in 1915.

NASTY NESTOR: LHP Nestor Cortes made his season debut on Monday and earned the win…allowed only 1R over 5.0IP (7H, 0BB, 3K, 0HR)…has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 39-of-43 starts since the beginning of 2021 and 2R-or-fewer in 33 of those starts…in 51 appearances (43 starts) since the beginning of 2021, has gone 15-7 with a 2.60 ERA (256.1IP, 74ER), 269K and a .203 (190-for-938) opponents’ BA…his 2.60 ERA since 2021 is the third-lowest in the Majors (min. 200.0IP), trailing only Max Scherzer (2.42) and Julio Urias (2.58).

WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings on Monday (4H, 0BB, 4K)…currently own an 8.0 scoreless inning streak.

NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run of the season on Monday with a two-run shot in the fifth inning…has reached base in 9-of-18 plate appearances this season, batting .333/.500/.667 (4-for-12) with 2R, 1 double, 1HR, 4RBI, 4BB, 1HP and 1SF in four games.

PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have allowed just 8R over their first four games…marks their fewest runs allowed in their first four games of a season in the last 35 years (since 1989) and matches their fewest runs allowed in their first four games of a season in the last 49 years since 1975 (also allowed 8R in their first four games in 1988)…the last time they allowed fewer runs through their first four games was 1974 when they allowed just 5R over their first four games.

Lead the Majors with a 12.00 K/9.0IP ratio (48K/36.0IP) and rank second with a 6.00 K/BB ratio (48K/8BB).

Yankees starters have tossed at least 5.0IP and allowed 1R-or-fewer in three of their four starts.

ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge owns a career-high 37-game on-base streak (since 8/29/22), batting .389/.530/.810 (49-for-126) with 36R, 8 doubles, 15HR, 26RBI, 38BB, 1HP and 2SB in that span…is tied with DJ LeMahieu’s 37- game streak from 6/10-7/28/21 for 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 28 of those 37 games.

Has reached base safely in each of his last 25 games at Yankee Stadium (since 8/19/22), batting .357/.495/.667 (30-for-84) with 16R, 5 doubles, 7HR, 14RBI, 22BB, 2HP and 3SB in those games…is tied for the fourth-longest on-base streak at the current Yankee Stadium, trailing only Mark Teixeira’s 33-game streak from 6/3-8/16/10, his own 31-game streak from 9/3/17-5/4/18 and Derek Jeter’s 28-game streak from 8/5/12-8/30/13…Giancarlo Stanton also had a 25-game streak from 6/29-8/19/18 and Judge had a 25-game streak from 5/28-7/31/17.

Has hit safely in each of his first four games this season and reached base multiple times in three of those games…is batting .412/.444/.765 (7-for-17) with 4R, 2HR, 4RBI and 1BB through his first four games.

Is 3-for-5 with 2RBI and 1BB with RISP this season.

Has hit .302/.413/.618 (395-for-1,306) with 287R, 59 doubles, 1 triple, 117HR, 261RBI and 245BB in 368 career games in the Bronx.

BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have hit 9HR through their first four games this season, tied for their fourth-most HR through their first four games of a season in franchise history…trails only their 12HR in 2003, 11HR in 2011 and 10HR in 1932…also hit 9HR through their first four games in 1957.

Marks the fourth time in Yankees history that the team has hit multiple home runs in each of the first four games of a season (also 1969, 2003, ’11)…with multiple home runs tonight, it would mark just the second time in franchise history the Yankees have hit multiple home runs in each of their first five games of a season (first 5G in 2011).

Their 9HR are tied with Baltimore and San Francisco for the second-most in the Majors, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (10HR in five games).

LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in each of his three games this season, batting .308/.357/.538 (4-for-13) with 3R, 1 double, 1 triple, 1RBI and 1BB.

As a Yankee (since 2019), has hit .333/.413/.506 (85-for255) with 54R, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 9HR, 28RBI, 33BB, 4SB, 3HP and 2SF in 66 Interleague games…is tied for the fourth-highest batting average in Interleague play by any Major League player over that span, trailing only
Jeff McNeil’s .356BA, Starling Marte’s .341BA and Pedro Severino’s .336BA…is the highest batting average (min. 100PA) by a Yankee in the history of Interleague play (next: Carlos Beltrán-.326BA).

STRIKING FIRST: The Yankees have scored first in each of their four games…have scored in the first inning in three of their four games.

RISPY BUSINESS: C Jose Trevino is 3-for-4 with 1RBI with RISP in 2023…as a Yankee (since 2022), has hit .371/.410/.515 (36-for-97 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2HR, 32RBI, 6BB and 1HP with RISP.

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DOMINGO GERMÁN (2-5, 3.61 ERA in 2022)
RHP Domingo Germán will make his season debut tonight vs. the Phillies…the 30-year-old made his final spring training appearance on 3/17 at Detroit (L, 2.2IP, 9H, 7ER, 0BB, 1K, 4HR)…in 2022, went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees… allowed 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 consecutive starts from 7/27-9/30/22…missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome…in five seasons with the Yankees, has gone 26-21 with a 4.37 ERA (413.2IP, 201ER) and 429K in 92 games (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.

SPRING FLING: Made four spring starts, going 1-1 with an 8.71 ERA (10.1IP, 10ER) and 11K…made his spring debut on 3/1 vs. Washington (ND, 2.1IP, 1H, 1ER, 0BB, 3K, 1HP)…earned the win in his next spring start on 3/6 vs. Pittsburgh, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings (1H, 1BB, 4K)…allowed 2ER over 2.1IP (ND, 3H, 0BB, 3K) on 3/11 vs. Philadelphia…took the loss in his final spring start on 3/17 at Detroit (2.2IP, 9H, 7ER, 0BB, 1K, 4HR).

VS. PHILADELPHIA/INTERLEAGUE: Will be making his fourth career appearance (third start) vs. Philadelphia…is 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA (9.1IP, 9ER) and 8K in three career games (two starts) against the Phillies.
Last faced the Phillies on 7/20/21 at Yankee Stadium (ND, 4.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 5K, 1HR).

In two career starts vs. Philadelphia, has gone 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA (8.1IP, 13H, 9ER, 4BB, 7K, 1HR).

Has made one career relief appearance against the Phillies, retiring all three batters faced with 1K on 6/27/18 at Philadelphia.

Has gone 4-3 with a 4.28 ERA (69.1IP, 65H, 34R/33ER, 18BB, 67K, 11HR) in 15 career Interleague games (13 starts).

Went 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA (17.2IP, 4ER) and 15K in four Interleague games (three starts) in 2022…allowed 2ER-or-fewer in all three starts and 1ER in two starts.

In 11 career games (10 starts) against NL East teams, has gone 2-2 with a 4.80 ERA (50.2IP, 50H, 28R/27ER, 14BB, 53K, 10HR).

HOME SWEET HOME: Has gone 12-8 with a 3.84 ERA (194.1IP, 151H, 88R/83ER, 70BB, 214K, 38HR) in 44 career games (33 starts) at Yankee Stadium… has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 30 of his 33 home starts…went 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA (33.1IP, 14ER) and 28K in seven starts at Yankees Stadium in 2022.

Has held opponents to a .209 BA (151-for-722) at Yankee Stadium in his career, compared to a .254 BA (220-for-867) on the road.

Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in nine consecutive home starts since 6/30/21, including all seven of his home starts in 2022.

His 10 wins at Yankee Stadium since 2019 are tied with Nestor Cortes for the fourth-most wins by any pitcher during that span, trailing only Gerrit Cole (16), Jameson Taillon (12) and Masahiro Tanaka (11).

2022: Went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…opponents hit .236 (65-for-275, 11HR); LH .230 (31-for-135, 5HR); RH .243 (34-for-140, 6HR).
Surrendered 3R-or-fewer in 12 of his 14 starts, including 2R-or-fewer in eight starts and 1R-orfewer in four starts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Is 26-21 with a 4.37 ERA (413.2IP, 371H, 213R/201ER, 127BB, 429K, 74HR) in 92 career games (70 starts)…has made three career Opening Day rosters (2019, ‘21, ’23).

Won 18 games in 2019, nine times as many wins as he totaled in 28 games (14 starts) in his first two Major League seasons (2017-18).

Has a 3.31 ERA (49.0IP, 18ER) in 22 career relief appearances.

Was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.

MLB Preview: Minnesota Twins (4-0) at Miami Marlins (1-4)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Minnesota Twins (4-0) at Miami Marlins (1-4)

MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:

THE TWINS: Began the season with a three-game sweep of the Royals at Kauffman Stadium over the weekend, followed by a win in Miami last night…tonight, they will play the second of three at loanDepot Park…after tomorrow afternoon’s series finale, the Twins will travel home to begin their 14th season at Target Field with three against the Astros from Friday-Sunday and three against the White Sox from Monday-Wednesday.

Twins are one of two teams in baseball yet to lose, joining the Tampa Bay Rays (4-0).

SEE YOU ON FRIDAY: Thursday afternoon’s Home Opener at Target Field has been postponed and rescheduled for 3:10 pm (CT) on Friday, April 7…the Twin Cities is expecting temperatures in the upper 30’s and high wind…it marks the fourth postponed Home Opener in club history (since 1961), also April 13, 1962 (snow); April 22, 1972 (cold and wet grounds); and April 7, 2022 (cold and rain/snow in forecast).

ADJUST YOUR BUNNY EARS: Tonight’s game can be seen on Bally Sports North Extra, due to a Minnesota Timberwolves scheduling conflict…the Wolves play the Nets at 6:30 pm (CT).

PARTY IN THE CITY WHERE THE HEAT IS ON: The Twins beat the Marlins last night at loanDepot Park by a score of 11-1, extending their winning streak to start the season to four…Tyler Mahle (1-0) was the starter and winner, allowing one run on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with one walk and seven strikeouts…the offense recorded 10 hits, four being home runs from Max Kepler (1), Joey Gallo (3), Trevor Larnach (1) and Ryan Jeffers (1)…Kepler’s led off the game, marking the 14th leadoff homer of his career, tying Chuck Knoblauch for third on the Twins all-time list (Brian Dozier – 28 & Jacque Jones – 20).

WINNESOTA: After Texas’ 2-0 loss to Baltimore last night, Minnesota is now one of two teams in baseball yet to lose a game, joining Tampa Bay (4-0), who beat the Nationals last night…the Twins are looking to start a season 5-0 for the for the third time in Twins/Senators franchise history (since 1901)…the previous two times were 1968 and 1913…the 1968 team started 6-0 and the 1913 team started 5-0.

MIAMI NICE: The Twins and Marlins are playing each other for the 18th time in their history tonight…the Twins are 10-7 against the Marlins, going 2-1 at the Metrodome, 2-1 at Dolphin Stadium, 3-3 at Marlins Park and 3-2 at Target Field…Twins have won three of their last four against the Marlins and five of their last seven, dating back to 2016.

Notable numbers vs. Sandy Alcantara: Joey Gallo is 3-for-8 with a double, a triple and a walk…Max Kepler is 1-for-1 with a home run and two walks.

NATIONAL NEWS: The Twins have won four straight against National League opponents, dating back to a three-game sweep of the Giants, from August 26-28, 2022…four-straight wins against an NL opponent is their longest since taking five straight from St. Louis and Pittsburgh from July 28-August 5, 2020.

The Twns went 8-12 against the National League last season, going 0-4 vs. the Dodgers, 1-2 vs. the D-Backs, 2-1 vs. the Rockies, 1-3 vs. the Brewers, 1-2 vs. the Padres and 3-0 vs. the Giants…for the first time, the Twins will play each of the 15 National League teams… Minnesota’s 2023 Interleague home slate includes Target Field visits from the Nationals (April 21-23), Padres (May 9-11), Cubs (May 12-14), Giants (May 22-24), Brewers (June 13-14), Diamondbacks (August 4-6), Pirates (August 18-20) and Mets (September 8-10)… following this series, the Twins will also play road games at the Dodgers (May 15-17), Braves (June 26-28), Cardinals (August 1-3), Phillies (August 11-13), Brewers (August 22-23), Reds (September 18-20) and Rockies (September 29-October 1).

Jose Miranda is hitting .351 (20-for-57) with three doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI and a .938 OPS in 16 games against NL opponents.

Max Kepler is hitting .383 (23-for-60) with 10 walks, a .471 on-base percentage and a 1.105 OPS in his last 18 IL games.

GALLO-BOMBS: Joey Gallo has four hits in 13 at-bats this season, all of which have gone for extra-bases (3 home runs and 1 double)…last season with the Yankees and Dodgers, Gallo recorded 56 hits, 29 going for extra bases (52%)…Gallo is tied with three others for major league lead in home runs (box to right) and is tied for third in the AL in total bases (also right)…additionally, according to Elias, Gallo is tied with three others for most home runs through their first four career games for the Twins/Senators (since 1901):

SERIES STUFF: A victory tonight would secure the second series win of the season for the Twins…in 2022, they went 21-24-6 in series play, going 14-8-4 at home and 7-16-2 on the road…the last time the Twins won both of their first two series in a season came in 2021, taking two of three at both Milwaukee and Detroit.

ROAD ‘LOS: In his last 29 road games, dating back to August 13, 2022, Carlos Correa is hitting .321 (36-for-112) with five doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, 12 walks, a .386 on-base percentage and an .886 OPS…since that date, his road average ranks sixth in the AL, his OBP ranks seventh and his OPS ranks eighth (minimum 100 plate appearances).

ARMS RACE: Through four games, Twins pitchers combined to post a 1.25 ERA (36.0 IP, 5 ER), with 14 walks, 36 strikeouts, while holding batters to a slashline of .190/.277/.286.

Starters have gone 4-0, 0.84 ERA (21.1 IP, 2 ER), with 10 walks and 22 strikeouts…Twins rank second in baseball in starter ERA, trailing only Tampa Bay (0.39)…additionally, they rank fourth in opponent batting average (.173).

The Twins bullpen has combined to allow just three runs on 11 hits in 14.2 innings pitched, posting an ERA of 1.84 and an opponent batting average of .216…the bullpen’s 15 base runners allowed are tied for fourth fewest in baseball.

LARNACH ON WOOD: Trevor Larnach has seven hits and three walks in 19 plate appearances this season, slashing .438/.526/.750 in four games…his .438 batting average ranks fifth in the AL, trailing Adam Duvall (.588), Matt Chapman (.533), Wander Franco (.533) and Austin Hays (.462).

TWINS VS. MARLINS
2023 Record: …………………………………..1-0
Current Streak:……………………………..1 win
2016 at Home: …………………………………2-1
2023 at Miami:…………………………………1-0
All-Time Record:…………………………….10-7
All-Time at Home: …………………………….5-3
All-Time at Miami:…………………………….5-4

STARTING PITCHER – KENTA MAEDA 18
Making his first appearance since August 21, 2021 after Tommy John surgery.

Facing Miami for the first time since July 9, 2019…is 1-2 2.28 ERA (27.2 IP, 7 ER), 3 BB, 25 K with one hold in five career appearances against Miami.

Entering his fourth season with the Twins after being traded, along with Jair Carmargo, from Los Angeles-NL in exchange for Brusdar Graterol and Luke Raley.

SPRING RECAP: Maeda made five Grapefruit League appearances this spring and started four games, going 1-1, 4.91 ERA (14.2 IP, 8 ER) with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts…was scoreless in his first two appearances that spanned three innings, giving up two hits and no walks…on March 19, allowed five runs against Atlanta over 4.0 innings, the most ever in his spring training career…pitched 5.0 innings in his final appearance on March 24 against New York-AL and surrendered two runs, three hits and issued three walks.

LAST START: Maeda had his third shortest outing of the season on August 21, 2021 against New York-AL…allowed five runs over 4.1 innings with five strikeouts and one walk…he exited the game in the fourth inning with right forearm tightness…season was cut short after it was revealed he would need Tommy John surgery.

TOMMY JOHN: Missed entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery on right elbow…spent the summer at the Twins spring training facility in Fort Myers, FL, with occasional visits to Minneapolis.

AGAINST MIAMI: Maeda is facing the Marlins for the sixth time in his career, going 1-2, 2.28 ERA (27.2 IP, 7 ER), with 12 walks and 59 strikeouts in his five appearances..has only made four starts against Miami…last faced Miami on July 19, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in a relief appearance, pitching one hitless inning and fanning two batters, earning his first hold of the season.

Maeda’s last appearance against Miami at loanDepot Park was on May 17, 2018 where he secured the win by pitching 8.0 shutout innings with eight strikeouts…the only blemishes in the game were two line drives to the outfield.

ON THE ROAD: In the 2021 season, Maeda pitched 66.7 percent of his games on the road…he went 4-3, with a 6.06 ERA (68.1 IP, 48 ER) with 22 walks and 76 strikeouts in 14 starts away from Target Field… is 26-22, 4.71 ERA (387.2 IP, 203 ER) with 124 walks and 491 strikeouts in his career on the road.

LEFTIES AND RIGHTIES: In 2021, Maeda posted similar lines to both lefties and righties with right handers batting .257/.312/.421 with 52 hits, nine doubles and 56 strikeouts over 202 AB, while lefties posted a 258/.331./445 line with 54 hits, 11 doubles a 57 strikeouts over 207 AB.

The 2021 season was different than the rest of his career where he historically has seen more success against right-handed batters, with righties only batting .203/.253/.349 with 297 hits against Maeda, as opposed to left-handed batters slashing .250/.321/.424 with 349 hits.

2021 ARSENAL: Over the 2020-2021 seasons, Maeda’s slider has overtaken his four-seam fastball as his most-used pitch in his five-pitch arsenal…here’s a breakdown of his 2021 offerings and the results:

PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (#, vs. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
Slider (82.1)……………………. 36.7% (652 pitches, 445/207)………… .231 (35-for-151), 8 2B, 7 HR, 40 K
Split Finger (84.2)……………. 28.5% (505 pitches, 133/372).. .229 (33-for-144), 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 45 K
4-Seam Fastball (90.6)…….. 25.9% (460 pitches, 236/224)………….. .297 (27-for-91), 5 2B, 6 HR, 28 K
Sinker (89.9) ………………………. 5.3% (94 pitches, 52/42)…………………….. .524 (11-for-21), 1 2B, 1 HR
Curveball (75.2)…………………… 3.6% (64 pitches, 6/58) ………………………………………….. .000 (0-for-4)

MINNESOTA NICE: Maeda is entering his fourth season (third active) with the Twins…since joining Minnesota, Maeda has gone 12-6, 3.90 ERA (173.0 IP, 75 ER) with 42 walks and 193 strikeouts.

Maeda has the most strikeouts by a pitcher within his first 32 games with the Twins, has given up the second lowest amount of hits with 146 (trailing Joe Ryan at 131) and has the 15th lowest ERA (minimum 170.0 IP).

INTER-LEAGUE GAMES: Since the start of his career in 2016, Maeda has pitched in 24 interleague games, going 7-7, 4.35 ERA (111.2 IP, 54 ER) with 38 walks and 121 strikeouts.

Has given up the least amount of hits in 24 interleague games since 2016 with 92 (minimum 110.0 IP).

CAREER NOTES
• Missed entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery on right elbow…
• Finished second in the 2020 American League Cy Young Award voting, accruing 92 total votes (Cleveland’s Shane Bieber was the unanimous winner).
• Named Joseph W. Haynes Award winner for Twins Pitcher of the Year in 2020, voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA…also named the starting pitcher on 2020 All-MLB Second Team.
• Pitched 8.0 no-hit innings on August 18, 2020 vs. MIL before bid was broken up in the ninth…longest no-hit bid of career, and set Twins record with eight-straight K’s.
• Is the third Japanese-born player in Twins franchise history, after Micheal Nakamura (2003) and Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2011-12).
• Owns the fifth-most strikeouts in MLB history among Japanese-born pitchers.
• His 16 wins in 2016 were the second-most wins ever by a Los Angeles-NL rookie, behind only Rick Sutcliffe (17-10, 1979), and tied for the second-most ever in a single season by a Japanese pitcher.
• In 2016, led qualifying MLB rookie starting pitchers in starts (32), wins (16), opponents’ batting average (.229), WHIP (1.14), innings pitched (175.2) and strikeoutto-walk ratio (3.58).
• Named to the 2016 Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team, and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the second of three games against the Minnesota Twins, their first of 15 Interleague series in 2023. Are coming off their opening series against the New York Mets in which they went 1-3. The club’s first road trip will include a three-game series against the Mets that starts on April 6, with a built-in off day on April 7, before heading to play the reigning National League champion Phillies from April 10-12.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series opener against Minnesota, 1-11, after RHP Johnny Cueto’s early exit in his Marlins debut. Cueto surrendered 2 home runs, including a lead-off homer, in his first 7 batters faced before leaving with an injury. RHP Jeff Lindgren gave Miami 5.0 innings in relief in his Major League debut, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits with 3 walks. The Marlins offense totaled a season-high 12 hits, yet went 2×9 with RISP and left 9 runners on base. INF Luis Arraez extended his hitting streak to 5 games, going 2×5 with 1 RBI. OF Bryan De La Cruz (3×4) and OF Avisail Garcia (2×4) each had multi-hit games to join Arraez.

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS
The Marlins have made the following roster moves prior to today’s game:
• Recalled INF/OF Garrett Hampson and LHP Braxton Garrett from Triple-A Jacksonville.
• Selected LHP Daniel Castano from Triple-A Jacksonville.
• Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on the 15-day IL (Right biceps tightness).
• INF Joey Wendle on the 10-day IL, retro to 4/3 (Strained right intercostal).
• Designated RHP Jeff Lindgren for assignment.

TWINS IN TOWN
The Marlins host the Minnesota Twins this week at loanDepot park for the first time since 2019 when they went 1-2 in the three-game set. Are 7-11 in 16 match-ups against the Twins dating back to 2002. Is just the third time the club hosts the Twins since moving to Miami.

CELEBRATING OUR CHAMPIONS
The Marlins yesterday presented Sandy Alcantara with his 2022 NL Cy Young Award and will continue their week of celebrations tonight as Luis Arraez is set to receive his 2022 AL Batting Champion and Silver Slugger Awards. Jon Berti, the 2022 NL Stolen Base champion, will receive his hardware tomorrow. Following the presentation of their awards, the trophies will be on display on the Promenade Level.

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
INF Luis Arraez is 11×21 (.524), ranking second in Franchise history for hits through five games to start his Marlins career behind only Emilio Bonifacio (14 H in 2009).
• 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 currently lead MLB; ranks second in NL in batting avg., and fifth in MLB in batting avg. going into Tuesday’s game.

CY YOUNG SANDY
The 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner RHP Sandy Alcantara toed the rubber last Thursday for Miami in his fourth consecutive Opening Day start. He became the first pitcher in Marlins history to make four consecutive Opening Day starts. Surpassed the previous mark of three, which he shared with Josh Beckett (2003-05) and Josh Johnson (2010-12). Alcantara was also one of three pitchers in the Majors to make a fourth consecutive Opening Day start with the same team, joining Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (sixth) and Cleveland’s Shane Bieber (fourth).
• Alcantara, the first Marlin to win the National League Cy Young Award, ranks among the best all-time in several categories through 111 games started, including his 630 strikeouts (6th), 9 complete games (6th), and 713.1 innings pitched (9th).
• Among Marlins pitchers with at least 500.0 innings pitched, Alcantara has posted the lowest ERA (3.10).
• The Marlins tonight will return last summer’s hit “Sandy’s Beach” package, which offers fans the opportunity to see the reigning Cy Young in action, a ticket in the “Sandy’s Beach” section, and exclusive access to a Sandy Alcantara t-shirt.

HISTORIC PAIR
C Jacob Stallings caught all 228.2 innings thrown by Alcantara in 2022, joining Tim McCarver/Stebe Carlton (1977 Phillies), Damon Berryhill/Greg Maddux (1993 Cubs), and Robinson Chirinos/Justin Verlander (2019 Astros) as the only battery mates in MLB history to share every pitch in a Cy Young winner’s season (credit: Elias Sports Bureau).

SOLER POWER
OF Jorge Soler has hit safely in 4 of 5 games to start the season and is tied for the NL-lead with 3 doubles alongside San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts, Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos, and San Francisco’s Mike Yastrzemski.
• Soler’s double in the fourth inning yesterday had an exit velocity of 114.1 mph – the highest among safely batted balls in MLB on day five of the regular season.

BACK IN THE 305
The Marlins are scheduled to face RHP Pablo Lopez on Wednesday at loanDepot park. Lopez went 28-31 with a 3.94 ERA in 94 starts with the Marlins prior to being traded in the offseason. Will mark the 37th time in franchise history the Marlins will face a starting pitcher who made at least 90 starts for the organization before joining another team. These opposing starters have gone 14-11 with a 3.87 ERA in the 36 previous such starts against the Marlins.

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.

CAN’T MAKE IT THAT EASY
Miami’s pitching currently ranks 3rd in MLB with 23 walks, behind only Arizona (28) and Chicago-AL (26). Through 30 years of the club’s history, the team has only given more free passes through the first four games to begin a season six times – 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2011 (24 BB); 2016 (25 BB); and 2002 (26 BB).
• On the other side of the rubber, the Marlins offense has struck out 52 times in 163 at-bats, marking the most strikeouts in club history through the first five games of a season. Miami is second in MLB in strikeouts, behind only Colorado (53 SO).

TODAY’S STARTER – 22 SANDY ALCANTARA
• Sandy Alcantara (Al-CON-ta-ra), 27, finished his historic 2022 season with 32 starts going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 228.2 innings, along with 6 complete games, a 0.98 WHIP, and a .212 opponents’ batting average in 32 starts. He led Major League Baseball in innings pitched and complete games and led all NL pitchers with an 8.1 WAR (Baseball Reference).

• Walked 4 batters and allowed 3 runs in 5.2 innings on Opening Day vs. the Mets, a very similar outing to his Opening Day start in 2022, when he walked 5 batters and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in 5.0 innings.

• In November 16, 2022 – Sandy Alcantara was named unanimously the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, becoming the first pitcher in Marlins’ franchise history to receive the honor.

• Won Baseball Digest’s MLB Pitcher of the Year Award. Became the second Marlin to win this honor (Dontrelle Willis, 2005). Was named the second annual Juan Marichal Award recipient, an honor given to the league’s best Dominican player.

• His 14 wins were the most by a Marlins pitcher since Jose Urena in 2017 (14-7). The last Marlin to have more wins was Jose Fernandez, who won 16 games in 2016.

• Became the first pitcher since Chris Sale in 2016 to throw 6 CG. Only three pitchers in club history have recorded more CGs in a season – Livan Hernandez (9, 1998), A.J. Burnett (7, 2002) and Dontrelle Willis (7, 2005).

• Posted a 1.64 ERA (121.0 IP/22 ER) in 16 starts at loanDepot park. Marked the best home ERA by a Marlins starter with at least 15 starts since Jose Fernandez in 2016 and is the fourth-lowest mark in club history (J. Fernandez, 1.19 – 2013; J. Johnson, 1.57, 2010; J. Fernandez,
1.63 – 2016).

MLB Preview: Chicago Cubs (1-3) at Cincinnati Reds (3-1)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Chicago Cubs (1-3) at Cincinnati Reds (3-1)

CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:

Cubs vs. Reds
The Cubs and Reds play 13 games spanning four series … following this series the teams meet for three games at Wrigley Field May 26-28 … Chicago last season went 11-8 vs. the Reds, its first season series victory over Cincinnati since going 11-8 in 2018.

CUBS AIM TO REBOUND: The Chicago Cubs tonight play the second of three games against the Cincinnati Reds after dropping last evening’s series opener, 7-6 … the team has dropped three-straight games after winning on Opening Day … this marks the club’s first 1-3 start since 2019 (1-4 after five games that year) … following this three-game set against the Reds, the Cubs return home for a Thursday off day prior to a six-game homestand against the Rangers (3 games starting April 7) and Mariners (3 games beginning April 10).

© The Cubs open the season with 16 of their first 25 games through April 27 at Wrigley Field … of those first 25 tilts, just six are against their own division, the N.L. Central: the just-completed Brewers series and this series against the Reds … in fact, after this series the Cubs play 29-straight games outside of the division until hosting the Cardinals for three games, May 8-10.

© What’s even more odd? … following this series in Cincinnati the team’s next road series against an opponent in its own division is not until June 19-21 for three games in Pittsburgh.

DISHING ON DANSBY: As the charts on the lower right of this page indicate, Dansby Swanson has had a prolific start at the dish in his Cubs career … Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) points 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-6 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 sixth-most in baseball (Xander Bogaerts leads with 84).

THAT’S THE 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 last 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 16 at-bats as a Cub.

WEZ ON THE BUMP: Cubs rookie Hayden Wesneski makes his first start of the season after having made his major league debut in 2022 – he posted a 3-2 record with a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) in six starts at the end of the season … that includes two outings against the Reds in which he was 1-1 with a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP).

COMFY IN CINCY: Ian Happ, who was the first University of Cincinnati Bearcat to be selected in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft when he was picked ninth overall by Chicago in the 2015 draft, has batted .290 (82-for-283) with 26 homers and 63 RBI in 90 games against the Reds.

© In 43 games at Great American Ball Park, Happ has hit .311 (46-for-148) with a 1.113 OPS thanks in part to 28 extra-base hits including 16 homers.

© Eric Hosmer last night was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI and is batting .375 (21-for-56) with five homers, 15 RBI and a 1.130 OPS in 15 games here.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Cubs catcher Tucker Barnhart this week returns to Great American Ball Park for the first time since he spent eight seasons with the Reds … he made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2014 and was with the club through 2021 before he landed with Detroit for the 2022 season.

© Barnhart won two N.L. Gold Gloves while with the Reds, earning the honor in 2017 and 2020 … he played 744 games for the Reds.

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 14.87 atbats, the second-best rate among N.L. hitters with at least 900 plate appearances (Kyle Schwarber leads with one homer every 12.10 at-bats).

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

PITCHING IN: After Marcus Stroman spun 6.0 shutout innings with eight strikeouts on Thursday’s Opening Day, Justin Steele matched him with 6.0 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts on Saturday … this marked the first time since the mound was moved to 60’6” in 1893 that the Cubs began the season with back-to-back starts of at least 6.0 shutout innings … thanks to Ed Hartig for his research assistance.

DEBUT DANDIES: The Cubs had five players in their Opening Day starting lineup making their team debuts: Cody Bellinger, Eric Hosmer, Trey Mancini, Miles Mastrobuoni and Dansby Swanson … team historian Ed Hartig notes that just twice in the franchise’s first 21,932 regular season games have more players made their Cubs debut in a game … April 25, 1876, the Cubs first N.L. game, saw nine Cubs make their debuts … April 2, 2001, eight players made their Cubs debut.

© Along with the aforementioned five newcomers in the Opening Day starting lineup, seven others have made their Cubs debut (Barnhart, Boxberger, Fulmer, Merryweather, Rios, Taillon and Torrens) to bring the Cubs all-time regular season roster to 2,212 players since 1876.

ROSSY AT THE HELM: David Ross is in his fourth season as manager of the Cubs after he was named the 55th manager in franchise history, October 24, 2019, replacing Joe Maddon … this is Ross’ 26th professional baseball season … he played 15 major league seasons as a catcher, including his final two with Chicago (2015-16) … is a two-time World Series champ with Boston (in 2013) and Chicago (2016).

© Ross in 2020 led the Cubs to the N.L. Central Division title … the 2021 club was 71-91, a season in which Chicago utilized a MLB single-season record 69 players, and last year went 74-88.

Starting Pitcher – #19 RHP Hayden Wesneski
Last Time Out
Hayden in his last spring outing vs. Arizona March 23, allowed one unearned run in 5.0 IP … struck out four-plus batters for the fourth time in five Cactus League starts.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
3/23 ARI W, 11-1 5.0 4 1 0 2 5 – –

2022 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 2-1 2.18 4 2 20.2 15 5 5 4 21
Road 1-1 2.19 2 2 12.1 9 4 3 3 12
AVG vs. LHB: .159 (7-for-44) / AVG vs. RHB: .221 (17-for-77)
Hayden in 2022 made his major league debut, appearing in six games (four starts) with Chicago, going 3-2 and posting a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) … recorded 33 strikeouts, registered a 0.94 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average.

© After his debut on Sept. 6, his 2.18 ERA ranked ninth among qualified major league pitchers.

© Made his major league debut in relief Sept. 6, 2022, against Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) … he earned his first career win in the outing … became the first reliever in major league history (since at least 1901) to make his major league debut with at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing two or fewer hits and striking out at least eight batters.

© Made his first major league start Sept. 17 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings … became the first Cubs rookie with a start of at least 7.0 innings while allowing one run or fewer, walking none and striking out at least seven batters since Mark Prior (July 19, 2002).

© In the fifth inning on Sept. 22 at Pittsburgh, tossed the Cubs’ first immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins did so, Sept. 11, 2004 against the Marlins.

© Appeared in five games (four starts) for Triple-A Iowa, posting a 5.66 ERA (13 ER/20.2 IP) prior to his selection Sept. 6.

© Was acquired from the Yankees on Aug. 1 for right-handed pitcher Scott Effross.

© Went 6-7 with a 3.51 ERA (35 ER/89.2 IP) in 19 starts for Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, with 83 strikeouts.

Career Notes
Hayden is in his second season in the Cubs organization, his fifth professional campaign overall.
© Ranked as the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect by MLB.com entering the 2023 season.

© Was acquired from New York (A.L.) on Aug. 1, 2022, for pitcher Scott Effross.

© During parts of three seasons in the minors in the Yankees (2019-2022) and Cubs (2022) organizations, he is 18-16 in 67 games (47 starts) … has posted a 3.68 ERA (110 ER/269.0 IP) with 287 strikeouts, 78 walks and a 1.16 WHIP.

© In 2021, was named Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Month for September, going 3-0 with one complete game and a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) in three starts.

© Following the 2021 season, was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America and an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com

© Selected by New York (A.L.) in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Sam Houston State University.

© Attended Sam Houston State University (Hunstville, Tex.) … graduated from CyFair High School (Cypress, Tex.).

Wesneski’s 2022 Arsenal
Pitch Pct. Thrown Avg. MPH Avg. EV HR SO Whiff BAA
Slider 32.0% 81.2 83.1 2 20 33.8% .119
4-Seam 25.5% 93.1 85.5 0 7 24.2% .120
Sinker 22.5% 92.0 85.7 0 1 14.3% .300
Cutter 12.3% 88.7 76.1 1 4 30.6% .250
Change 7.7% 87.0 81.0 0 1 30.0% .375

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

REDS HOTS
• The Reds today sent to Louisville on rehabilitation assignments RHP Tony Santillan (low back Pars stress fracture) and IF/OF Nick Senzel (11/14/22 surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe).
• With a 3-1 record, the Reds are 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).

TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 2 of 3-game series vs Tucker Barnhart’s Cubs and Game 5 of a 6-game homestand that included a season-opening 2-1 series win vs Pit.
• Following tomorrow’s game the Reds will travel to Phi (3g) and to Atl (3g) for their first road trip, including the Phillies’ home opener on Thu.

SERIES NOTES
• The Reds in 2022 went 8-11 vs Cubs, including 5-4 at Great American Ball Park, 3-6 at Wrigley Field and a 4-2 “home” loss on 8/11 in the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa.
• The teams met in the final 6 games of the 2022 championship season (3g at Wrigley Field, 3g at Great American Ball Park), the longest continuous stretch of games between the Reds and Cubs since they played 7 straight games from 8/29-9/5, 1931…@EliasSports.

PHILLIES UP NEXT
• 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.

REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto (8/19/22, surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder) is rehabbing with Louisville (2g, 2-8, solo HR, 1bb, 4k)…in the opener of Sat’s doubleheader 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)…today joined Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment.
• RHP Tony Santillan (low back Pars stress fracture)…today joined Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment.
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is rehabbing at the Reds’ player development complex in Goodyear.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) has been rehabbing with the team in Cincinnati.

THE SKIPPER…: David Bell is in his fifth season as a Major League manager (254-296, .462, 2020 Wild Card)…was hired on 10/22/18…on 9/22/21, the club announced a 2-year contract extension through 2023.
• David and his father, Buddy, is the fourth father-son duo to serve as Major League managers, joining George & Dick Sisler, Bob & Joel Skinner and Bob & Aaron Boone…Buddy managed Det (1996-1998), Col (2000- 2002) and KC (2005-2007).
• David previously spent 4 seasons in the Reds organization’s player development department as a manager, at Class AA Carolina from 2009-
2011 and at Class AAA Louisville in 2012.

SHORT HOPS: For the seventh consecutive year, the Reds started a different shortstop on Opening Day (Zack Cozart 2012-2017, José Peraza 2018, José Iglesias 2019, Freddy Galvis 2020, Eugenio Suárez 2021, Kyle Farmer 2022, Jose Barrero in 2023).
• It is the Reds’ longest such streak since 1900 for that position.
• 3 previous times since 1900, there were stretches of at least 7 straight Opening Days without consecutive starts at shortstop by the same player (though not necessarily 7 different shortstops): 1906-1914 (Mike Mowrey, 2 starts), 1968- 1974 (Dave Concepcion, 3 starts) and 2004-2012 (Alex Gonzalez, 2 starts)…notes courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, Kyle Farmer led the Reds with 97 starts at SS…on 11/18/22, he was traded to the Twins for RHP Casey Legumina.

Tonight’s Pitcher – #85 Luis Cessa, RHP
• Tonight is making his first appearance and start of the season in the Reds’ fifth game…will be his 11th career appearance and third start vs the Cubs.
• Made his fifth Opening Day roster (2016, 2019, 2021 for NYY and 2022, 2023 for Cin).
• In 2022, in his second season with the Reds went 1-3, 4.30 in a career-high 10 starts and 3-1, 4.91 in 36 relief apps.
• In August 2022 joined and remained in the rotation after the Reds lost to trade or injury starting pitchers RHP Luis Castillo (to the Mariners), RHP Tyler Mahle (to the Twins), RHP Robert Dugger (right shoulder pain), RHP Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain), RHP Graham Ashcraft (right biceps soreness), RHP T.J. Zeuch (back soreness), RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder tightness) and LHP Mike Minor (left shoulder soreness).
• Beginning 8/22 at Phi made his last 9 apps of the 2022 season as a starter (1-3, 3.77, .226baa).
• Between games of the day/night doubleheader vs Pit on 7/7/22 went on the 15-day injured list with a left intercostalis muscle strain…missed 20 games (13-7) until he was reinstated on 8/2, after RHP Tyler Mahle was traded to the Twins.
• After he came off the 15-day IL on 8/2, posted a 3.26 ERA (.211baa) in his last 15 apps and 9 starts of the season.
• During 2023 spring training made 1 appearance for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
• Pitched the sixth and seventh innings of Mexico’s 10-inning, 5-4 loss vs Colombia in Arizona Pool C (2ip, 2h, 1er, 0bb, 1k, 25 pitches).
• Returned to the Reds after Mexico’s 5-4 quarterfinal win vs Puerto Rico and finished the spring with appearance, started and received no decision in the 4-3 loss at Mil.
• Is the only player, manager or coach in Reds history to wear uniform #85.

MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (4-0) at Washington Nationals (1-3)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (4-0) at Washington Nationals (1-3)

TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:

OFF TO THE RACES — The Rays won their fourth consecutive game to open their 2023 slate with Monday night’s 6-2 victory over Washington at Nationals Park, securing the first 4-0 start to a season in franchise history…Luke Raley (2-for-3, 2R, BB, 2HR, 3RBI) turned in his first career multi-homer game while Isaac Paredes (2-for-4, 2R, HR, RBI) clubbed his first home run of the season…Rays starter RHP Drew Rasmussen (6.0IP, 2H, 0R, 7SO) retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced in his 2023 debut.

Tampa Bay has previously started the season 3-0 on three occasions (2002, 2012, 2022), but lost its fourth game each year.

WHAT’S THE DIFF? — Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents, 27-5 (+22), the best run differential over the first four games of a season in club history, surpassing the 2008 Rays (+13, 31-18)…it ties the 18th-best run differential through four games in MLB history (since 1901), and the best since Houston in 2021 (+22).

Tampa Bay’s 27 runs scored are its fourth-most through four games, trailing the 2008 (31R), 2020 (28R) and 1998 (28R) clubs.

The Rays’ best run differential through five games of a season is +14 (2014 & 2020)…their franchise mark for most runs scored through five games is 36 (2020).

AS STINGY AS IT GETS — The Rays have permitted only five runs in 2023, their fewest allowed over the first four games of a season in club history, ahead of the 2019 squad (9R)…marks the fewest runs yielded by any MLB club over the first four games of a season since San Diego in 2019 (also 5R)…Minnesota has also allowed five runs in its first four games this season.

The Rays have allowed two-or-fewer runs in each of their first four games for the first time in club history.

Tampa Bay’s current record for fewest runs allowed through five games is 10 runs (2019)…the last MLB club to allow five-or-fewer runs through its first five games was San Francisco in 2002 (4R).

ROTATIONAL DOMINATION — Rays starting pitchers have produced a 0.39 ERA (23.0IP, 1ER), the lowest through the rotation’s first four starts of a season in club history, ahead of the 2022 team (1.98)…per Elias, it marks the lowest starting pitcher ERA through any team’s first four games since Toronto in 2019 (0.00).

POWER SURGE — The Rays have hit seven home runs, tied with the 2006, 2008 and 2020 clubs for second-most through four games in franchise history, trailing only the 2007 and 2009 teams (8HR each)…the club record for homers through five games is nine (2007).

Six different players have homered for Tampa Bay, trailing only Baltimore (8) for most in the AL…Luke Raley paces the Rays with two homers.

VS. WASHINGTON — Prior to the current series, the Rays last met the Nationals in 2021 — the clubs split a two-game series at Tropicana Field from 6/8-9 before Washington swept a two-game set at Nationals Park from 6/29-30…overall, Tampa Bay is 18-20 (.474) against Montreal/Washington, including a 13-13 (.500) record vs. the Nationals dating to 6/30/06.

INTERLEAGUE RUNDOWN — Tampa Bay went 12-8 (.600) in Interleague play last season, including an 8-2 record at home vs. a 4-6 mark on the road…since 2008, the Rays are 172-119 (.591) in Interleague play, the second-best winning percentage in the majors over that stretch behind Boston (.631, 183-107). Ê MLB’s new balanced schedule calls for each club to face all 29 teams for at least one series, with the total number of Interleague games per club jumping from 20 to 46.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN — Since 2018, Tampa Bay is 191-165 (.537) on the road, the fourth-best winning percentage in the American League during that timeframe…the 2022 Rays went 35-46 (.432) away from home, including an eight-game winning streak from 4/19-5/7 and a five-game losing skid to end the regular season from 10/1-5. SUSTAINED SUCCESS—Tampa Bay has reached the postseason in a franchise-best four straight seasons and in eight of the last 15 seasons since 2008…only four other clubs have reached the postseason as often since 2008: Los Angeles-NL (12), New York-AL (11), St. Louis (10) and Atlanta (8)…the Rays are one of three AL teams (Astros, Yankees) and one of six in the majors (Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers) to make the postseason in each of the last four seasons (2019-22).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP JOSH FLEMING
SINK OR SWIM — Last season, Fleming used his sinker for 54.7 percent of his pitches…his ground ball rate of 63.8 percent ranked eighth in the majors among pitchers with at least 35 innings.

In 2021, he used his sinker for 45.7 percent of his pitches…his ground ball rate of 55.7 percent ranked third in the AL behind Houston’s Framber Valdez (70.3%) and Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. (56.9%) (min. 75.0IP).

RAMPING UP — In six Grapefruit League outings, Fleming pitched to a 4.91 ERA (14.2IP, 8ER) while holding opponents to a .214 average (12-for-56)…after allowing six runs on 2/25 at Minnesota, Fleming pitched to a 1.32 ERA (13.2IP, 2ER) while holding opponents to a .125 average (6-for-48) over his remaining five appearances.

2022 REWIND — Made 10 appearances (3 starts) over five stints with the Rays last season: Opening Day-5/6, 7/4, 7/10-8/27, 9/13-14 and 10/5… marked the first time he had made an Opening Day roster in his career… spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Durham, going 9-2 with a 3.06 ERA (64.2IP, 22ER) over 15 appearances (10 starts), tying for fourth in the International League in wins.

Tossed a season-high 5.0 innings on 7/4/22 at Boston, but did not receive any run support (5.0IP, 8H, 4R-3ER, 4SO).

Was charged with 11 unearned runs, tied for third in the AL despite his 35.0 innings ranking tied for 224th in the circuit.

D.C. DEALINGS — Fleming will be making his second career start against Washington and first at Nationals Park…in his lone appearance against the Nationals on 9/16/20 at Tropicana Field, Fleming tossed 3.2 scoreless relief innings, allowing a hit and walk with two strikeouts.

EAST FEATS — In nine career appearances (5 starts) vs. NL East opponents, Fleming is 6-1 with a 3.29 ERA (38.1IP, 14ER)…in his last start vs. an NL East club on 7/17/21, he took the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits and a walk with one strikeout at Atlanta.

TAKING A LOOK BACK — In 2021, Fleming tied Shane McClanahan for the team lead with 10 wins and tied for second among major league rookies behind Houston’s Luis Garcia (11)…on 6/13/21 vs. Baltimore, Fleming became the fifth pitcher in club history to make a hitless relief appearance of four innings or more and the first since Álex Torres on 5/18/13 at Baltimore.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW — Fleming was selected from the alternate training site on 8/23/20 and made his major league debut that night…he earned the won over Toronto after throwing 5.0 innings of two run ball, allowing four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Fleming became the third Rays pitcher to start and win each of his first three major league appearances, joining Jake Faria in 2017 and Jeremy Hellickson 2010.

From 8/23/20 through season’s end, his five wins tied Tyler Glasnow and Seattle’s Marco Gonzales for the major league lead.

He became the second Rays rookie to finish a season with five wins or more and no losses, joining Jalen Beeks (5-0) in 2018.

MVP HONORS — In 2019, Flemming was named Most Valuable Player for Double-A Montgomery by the Rays baseball operations department.

His 11 wins for Montgomery tied for the Southern League lead while his 3.31 ERA (127.2IP, 47ER) ranked fifth.

Fleming earned SL Pitcher of the Week honors for 7/22-28, 2019 after tossing back-to-back nine-inning complete games.

Earned a mid-August promotion to Triple-A Durham and combined to go 12-7 with a 3.57 ERA (148.2IP, 59ER) between the two levels during the 2019 campaign.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:

MOVING ON
The Washington Nationals fell to the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-2, in the first game of this three-game series on Monday night…Dominic Smith collected two hits, while Jeimer Candelario clubbed his first home run of the season.

• This is the Rays’ first three-game series in Washington since 2012…Tampa Bay played two-game series in the nation’s capital in 2021, 2020, 2018 and 2015.

KUHL AND THE GANG
MacKenzie Gore and Trevor Williams each made their Nationals debut the last two games, and Chad Kuhl makes his Nationals debut tonight…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the second time in Nationals history (2005-pres.) that at least three starting pitchers made their club debut on consecutive nights.

• Elias notes that the other time it happened was Washington’s first four games of the 2005 season: Livan Hernandez, Zach Day, Esteban Loaiza and Tomo Ohka.

• The last time it happened in Major League Baseball was April 11-13, 2022 when Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer and Chris Paddack made their first starts as members of the Minnesota Twins, per Elias.

BULLPENNING
Washington’s bullpen has held opposing batters to a .206 batting average (13-for-63) through the first four games…The group has issued just four walks this season including just one in the last three games.

• Mason Thompson has tossed 5.0 innings of two-hit, one-run relief across two outings…He threw 2.0 innings on March 30 vs. Atlanta (2.0 IP, H, 3 SO) and matched a career-high with 3.0 innings on April 3 vs. Tampa Bay (3.0 IP, H, ER, HR, SO)…He has yet to issue a walk this season.

HITTERISH
Some notes on a few hitters early in the 2023 season:

• Keibert Ruiz is tied for the team lead with a .438 on-base percentage…He has reached base safely in all four games and in seven of 16 plate appearances (4 H, 2 BB, HBP)

• Dominic Smith has hit safely in three of four games, going 5-for-14 (.357) with one RBI, two walks and two runs scored…He is tied with Keibert Ruiz for the team lead with a .438 on-base percentage…Like Ruiz, he has also reached base safely in all four games this season.

• Lane Thomas is 5-for-16 (.313) with one double, one RBI and one run scored through four games this …He’s hit safely in three of four games.

NOTHING BUT A NUMBER
The Nationals are one of six teams with at least three players in the top 50 youngest players in Major League Baseball to start the season…The Arizona Diamondbacks (5), St. Louis Cardinals (5), Detroit Tigers (3), Pittsburgh Pirates (3) and Seattle Mariners (3) also have three players in the top 50.

• CJ Abrams (22) is the third-youngest player in Major League Baseball, while Luis Garcia (23) is 15th and Keibert Ruiz (24) is 50th.

OPPONENT
TAMPA BAY RAYS
The Nationals and Rays will meet three times this season, all in D.C….Nationals manager Dave Martinez played three seasons (1998-2000) for the Devil Rays…He recorded the first hit in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history on March 31, 1998…He returned to spend seven seasons (2008-14) as the Rays’ bench coach after serving as a Spring Training instructor for them in 2006-07…Tim Bogar worked with Martinez during the 2008 season, serving as Tampa Bay’s quality assurance coach…Jim Hickey served as Tampa Bay’s pitching coach from 2007-17…Corey Dickerson hit 51 home runs across two seasons (2016-17) with Tampa Bay, including a career-high 27 in his 2017 American League All-Star season… Erasmo Ramírez went 22-20 with a 3.98 ERA in 124 games (36 starts) across three seasons (2015-17) with Tampa Bay…Rays pitcher Kevin Kelly graduated from St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly before attending James Madison University… Rays infielder Brandon Lowe grew up in Suffolk, Va. before attending the University of Maryland.

TODAY’S STARTER – #52 CHAD KUHL
Veteran right-hander signed a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training and went on to make the club…Enters 2023 at 31-31 with a 4.74 ERA in 127 games (111 starts) in six Major League seasons…Began his professional career with Pittsburgh before spending the 2022 season with the Colorado Rockies

vs. TAMPA BAY
Has never faced the Tampa Bay Rays.

2023 SPRING TRAINING
Capped Spring Training with a 2.61 ERA (3 ER/10.1 IP) and 11 strikeouts against just three walks across his last two Grapefruit League outings.

2022
Began the season 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA (6 ER/29.2 IP) through his first five starts…His 1.82 ERA was the lowest by a Rockies starter to begin a season (through five starts) since Ubaldo Jiménez (0.79 ERA in 2010)….Tossed a shutout (3 H, 5 SO, zero BB) on June 27 vs. Los Angeles (NL)…Became the 26th pitcher to toss a shutout at Coors Field and the 17th Rockies pitcher to throw a shutout in Denver, and the 16th at Coors Field.

2021
Made his first career Opening Day start at Chicago (NL)…Made a career-high 14 relief appearances…Went 4-2 with a 2.41 ERA (14 G/6 GS) at PNC Park, and 1-5 with a 7.32 ERA (14 G/8 GS) on the road.

2020
Made the Opening Day roster after missing 2019 due to Tommy John surgery…Made his season debut on July 27 vs. Milwaukee in relief (3.2 scoreless IP).. Was his first professional relief appearance and his first MLB game since July 26, 2018…Took a no-hitter into the sixth inning on Sept. 24 vs. Chicago (NL) en route to a 7-0 victory (7.0 IP, 2 H).

2019
Missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

2018
Began the season in Pittsburgh’s starting rotation before being placed on the Injured List on June 27 (right forearm strain).

2017
Struck out a career-high 142 batters in a career-high 157.1 innings and a career-high 31 starts in his first full Major League season…Tied for ninth in the NL with 0.97 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (min. 150 IP).

2016
Earned his first MLB win (5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) in his MLB debut on June 26 vs. Los Angeles (NL)…Faced Clayton Kershaw…Made four starts before getting optioned on July 19…Was recalled Aug. 9 and remained on the Pirates active roster through the end of the season.

2013-15
Advanced through Pittsburgh’s Minor League system…Led the Pirates’ system and the Florida State League in wins (13) in 2014…Ranked third in the Eastern League in ERA (2.48) in 2015.

MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (2-3) at San Diego Padres (3-2)

MLB Editor
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MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (2-3) at San Diego Padres (3-2)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:

HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 2-3 on their opening 6-game road trip @ Dodgers (2-2) and Padres (0-1).
♦ Corbin Carroll is hitting .455 (10-for-22)/1.296 OPS with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 2 RBI in 7 career games vs. Padres.
♦ Christian Walker has reached base safely in each of his first 5 games this season, batting .353 (6-for-17) with 1 home run, 2 RBI and 1 walk.

CHASE FIELD HOME OPENER IS THURSDAY, APRIL 6
♦ The D-backs home opener is Thursday, April 6 with a 7:10 p.m. game vs. Dodgers…tickets are available at dbacks.com/tickets.
♦ Festivities will be led off with the Opening Day Street Festival presented by Waymo…all fans will be able to welcome the 2023 season with great music, food, and drinks prior to the first home game.
♦ The first 30,000 fans will receive a commemorative 25th Anniversary rally towel.

CORBIN BARRELS
♦ Corbin Carroll collected his first 3-hit performance last night @ Padres.
♦ At age 22-225 days, Carroll became the second-youngest D-back since 2013 with a 3+-hit game before 40 career Major League games, behind Geraldo Perdomo (22-203 days on May 13, 2022).
♦ The youngest to do so was Justin Upton (19-347 days) on Aug. 7, 2007.

LONGO-ING, GOING, GONE
♦ Evan Longoria collected his first home run as a D-back last night @ Padres.
♦ It marked his first home run @ Petco Park since April 5, 2021 (go-ahead solo HR), nearly 2 years to the day, while with the Giants.
♦ Longoria’s 316 career homers as a third baseman are the most among all active players, ahead of Nolan Arenado (295), Josh Donaldson (246) and Manny Machado (228).

GO-AHEAD OPPORTUNITIES
♦ Arizona’s 12 go-ahead home runs since 2022 ranks tied for fourth in the NL (also: Rockies), behind Phillies (16), Giants (15) and Cardinals (13).

SAN DIEGO SLUGGER
♦ Christian Walker’s 13 home runs @ Petco Park since 2019 are tied for second most by an opposing player (also: Justin Turner and Joc Pederson), behind Charlie Blackmon (14).

RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
AT A GLANCE: Is in his fourth full season with the D-backs.
• 2022 D-backs Most Valuable Pitcher by the Arizona Chapter of the BBWAA after going 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA.
• Finished fi fth in the NL Cy Young Award voting, behind Sandy Alcantara (MIA), Max Fried (ATL), Julio Urías (LAD) and Aaron Nola (PHI).
• Acquired on July 31, 2019 from the Marlins.
• Cardinals’ third-round pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of North Carolina.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his second start of the season after making fi rst career Opening Day start on March 30…became the 12th diff erent D-backs pitcher in franchise history to start the season opener.

LAST START: Took the loss in his fi rst start of the season on March 30 @ Dodgers (5 ER in 4.2 IP).

VS. PADRES: Has gone 1-3 with a3.98 ERA (19 ER in 43.0 IP) in 8 career starts.
• Is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA (2.45 ERA) over 3 career starts @ Petco Park…has allowed just 2 earned runs or fewer in each start.
• Made his last start @ Padres on June 21, 2022 (1 ER in 6.0 IP).

2022 REVIEW: Set career highs in virtually all categories, including wins, starts, innings and strikeouts.
• Led the NL in WHIP and opponent average…also ranked among NL leaders in win pct. (T-2nd, .750), ERA (4th), quality starts (T-7th, 19), strikeouts (8th) and innings (10th).

THE SCORELESS STREAK: Established the D-backs’ all-time record for consecutive scoreless innings (44.1) from Aug. 8-Sept. 11, 2022, surpassing Brandon Webb’s 42.0-inning stretch (July 20-Aug. 17, 2007) and was the longest in the Majors since Zack Greinke’s/LAD 45.2-scoreless frames in 2015.

SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:

Padres win 3rd straight game with their 1st walkoff of 2023; make MLB history with homers from back-to-back homers from No. 8 and No. 9 hitters
• Last night in the 9th inning, No. 8 hitter David Dahl hit a pinch-hit, game-tying home run, and No. 9 hitter Ha-Seong Kim hit his 1st-career walk off home run in San Diego’s 5-4 victory over the D-backs.

• It was the first time in Padres history in which they won a game on B2B game-tying and walk-off home runs, and it marked the first time in MLB history that a team’s 8 and 9 hitters had done so.

• Starter Ryan Weathers went 5.0 innings with 2 runs allowed on 5 hits and 2 punchouts.

Yu Darvish makes his season debut
• Yu Darvish made 3 appearances (1 start) for champion Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic this past March… pitched 3.0 innings against Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic on Friday, allowing 3 runs (two earned) on 3 hits and 0 walks while striking 1 one on Friday, March 11…he was brought on in relief for Japan’s Wednesday, March 16 win over Team Italy before pitching 1.0 inning in relief again in the WBC championship on Tuesday, March 21 vs. USA.
• He finished his offseason by throwing roughly 80 pitches across 5.0 innings in Arizona in an intrasquad game this past Thursday, March 30.

Up next: Padres embark on a 8-day, 7-game roadtrip to Atlanta and NY Mets
• The Padres will fly to Atlanta postgame today, enjoy an off day in Atlanta, play a 4-game series against the Braves (Friday will be an Apple TV+ game and Sunday will be ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball)… after the Braves 7:08 pm ET first pitch, the Padres will travel to Manhattan that night and play the Mets in a 3-game set from April 10-12…they’ll return home on the night of April 12 and play the Brewers at home the next day

STARTING PITCHER – YU DARVISH
Davish vs. the D’Backs
36-year-old Yu Davish takes the mound for his 2023 debut in SD’s 6th game of the season and the final game of the Padres first homestand of the year. Darvish has made 15 career starts vs. ARI, with 10 of those 15 coming since 2021 when he joined the Padres…he has 7 quality starts in those 10 outings vs. ARI as a Padre, with a 3.93 ERA and .224 opp. AVG…he’s earned the win in each of his last 4 starts vs. the D’Backs, dating back to June 20, 2022.

The latest on Yu
Darvish made 3 appearances (1 start) for champion Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic this past March…he pitched 3.0 innings against Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic on Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out one batter on Friday March 11. He was brought on in relief for Japan’s Wednesday, March 16 win over Team Italy before pitching 1.0 inning in relief again in the WBC championship on Tuesday, March 21 vs. USA. He finished his offseason by throwing roughly 80 pitches across 5.0 innings in Arizona in an intrasquad game this past Thursday, March 30.

Stick around a while, why don’t Yu
On February 29, 2023, the Padres signed Darvish to a new six-year contract through the 2028 season. During the press conference, Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager said: “If you see the work he puts in in the offseason, the attention to his craft, there’s no secret sauce for why he’s one of the best performers in the game. He’s incredibly curious, he loves the game, and he works like he’s the 26th man on the roster, when he’s as good as any pitcher in the game of baseball.”

It’s been quite the decade
Since his rookie 2012 season through 2022, Darvish ranked in the top 10 in a multitude of categories among all hurlers who have tossed at least 1,400 innings, including: total baserunners allowed (1,740, 1st), SO/9 IP ratio (10.81, 3rd), H/9 IP (7.23, 3rd), opponents’ AVG (.217, 3rd), XBH allowed (448, 3rd), BABIP (.282, 4th), and pitches thrown per game (99.4, 6th).

Darvish comfy at Petco
Entering the 2023 season, among all hurlers who have made at least 30 regular season starts in Petco Park history, he ranks 1st in opponents’ AVG (.201), and his 3.07 ERA at Petco ranks T-5th in the ballpark’s history with Tim Stauffer, behind only Jake Peavy (2.75), Andrew Cashner (2.76), Joe Musgrove (2.84) and Chris Young (2.94).

Darvish and Nomo…Nomo and Darvish
On Sept. 2, 2022 @ LAD, he surpassed the 3,000 strikeout mark in his 17 professional seasons between Japan (2005-11, 1,250 SO) and Major League Baseball (2012-22, 1,788 SO)… only one other pitcher has 3,000 strikeouts with at least 1,000 in each league: Hideo Nomo, currently an advisor for the Padres.

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