Weekday Matchups: Braves Face Phillies, Looking To Build Off 12 HR In First Six Matchups

COURTESY OF STATS PERFORM

CUBS (77-67) at ROCKIES (51-91)

● Since the start of the 2010 season, the Rockies are 23-14 (.622) against the Cubs when playing at home. It’s their best home record against any NL opponent in that span (minimum five games).

● Since joining the Cubs rotation on August 5, Javier Assad has the fourth best ERA in the National League at 2.34 (min. 30 IP). His teammate Justin Steele is third over that span at 2.28.

● Cody Bellinger has 24 doubles, 25 home runs, 20 stolen bases and a .318 batting average. He is one of three players in MLB with at least 20 doubles, 20 home runs, 20 steals, and a .300 batting average, with Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. being the others.

● Kyle Freeland has a 4.97 ERA since the start of the 2019 season, the second worst in the National League over that span (minimum 500 innings). Only Patrick Corbin's 5.00 ERA since 2019 is higher than Freeland's.

● Nolan Jones has a .878 OPS in 335 plate appearances. This is on pace to be the third highest by a rookie in Colorado franchise history (minimum 300 plate appearances). Todd Helton in 1998 (.911) and Trevor Story in 2016 (.909) are the only Rockies to have a higher OPS in their rookie campaigns.

● The Rockies have a 5.70 team ERA, the worst in the league. This would be heir third bottom two finish in team ERA in the last four seasons: 2020 (second worst, 5.59), 2022 (worst, 5.06) and now 2023.

BRAVES (93-49) at PHILLIES (78-64)

● The Braves have won four of the six games they’ve played against the Phillies this season (2-2 in Atlanta, 2-0 in Philadelphia). Atlanta has hit 12 home runs in those six games (with at least one in each game) and allowed only four homers.

● Atlanta beat Pittsburgh yesterday but the Braves’ 20-game home-run streak came to an end. It was only the 16th game in which they did not hit a home run this season, half as many as the MLB team with the second lowest total of homerless games this year (Dodgers, 32).

● Matt Olson has recorded at least two hits in each of his last five games (11-for-18, .611). It’s the longest streak of multiple-hit games in Olson’s MLB career and it ties the longest streak by a Braves player this season. Austin Riley had five straight multi-hit games from August 28 through September 1.

● The Phillies lost two of the three games in their weekend series against the Marlins and both of their losses were by a one-run margin (3-2 on Friday, 5-4 on Sunday). Philadelphia has lost 11 of its last 14 one-run games, after winning 20 of its first 29 such games this year.

● Taijuan Walker, who signed with the Phillies in the offseason, is 15-5 in 2023. Walker is the third pitcher over the last 50 seasons with 15 or more wins for the Phillies in his first season with the team. The others are Jon Lieber (17-13 in 2005) and Roy Halladay (21-10 in 2010).

● Charlie Morton has pitched to a decision in 92.6% starts this season (25/27: 14 wins, 11 losses), the highest percentage of any MLB pitcher who’s made 20 or more starts this year. Morton’s only no-decision starts this season came in consecutive appearances: June 7 versus the Mets (Braves won) and June 12 at Detroit (Braves lost).

CARDINALS (63-80) at ORIOLES (90-52)

● The series will be the sixth all-time regular season series between the Cardinals and Orioles. The franchises did meet in the 1944 World Series with the Cardinals defeating St. Louis Browns (now Baltimore Orioles) four games to two with all six games being played at Sportsman’s Park.

● Jordan Walker is batting .290 versus righthanders this season, which is the highest batting average among NL rookies (min. 200 PA). The last Cardinals rookie with such a high average against RHP was Tommy Edman in 2019 (.298, min. 200 PA).

● Thirty-six year-old Paul Goldschmidt has 77 walks this season, the most among players who are currently 35 years old or older. The 77 walks are the most by a Cardinals player who finished a season at 36 or older since Mark McGwire in 1999 (133 at 36).

● This is the fourth time in Orioles franchise history they have at least 90 wins through 142 games played. All three previous times the team made the World Series (1969, 1970 & 1979).

● Baltimore is 20-3 (.870) when Gunnar Henderson hits a home run this season. That is tied for the best team winning percentage in MLB when a player hits a home run with Seattle’s Teoscar Hernandez (min. 20 games with a HR). Henderson is tied for the most home runs in MLB by a rookie with 24 (Corbin Carroll and Triston Casas).

● Dean Kremer has the lowest ERA, 1.82, in the AL since August 10 (min. 25 innings pitched). In five starts over that span, Kremer has given up 26 hits, walked seven and struck out 24 with a 2-1 record.

NATIONALS (64-79) at PIRATES (66-77)

● Pittsburgh took two of three in Washington in April, including a 16-1 victory that marked the Pirates’ biggest win this season and the Nationals’ biggest loss (later matched). The Nats are looking for their first series win at PNC Park since 2019; the Pirates have taken five of the seven meetings there over the last two seasons.

● Washington hits the road following a nine-game homestand in which the Nationals slashed .229/.298/.346. Nats’ pitchers allowed at least six runs in all but one of those games (3-2 win vs. Mets) and the starting rotation had an 8.71 ERA on the homestand.

● CJ Abrams had multiple hits in both of his games against the Dodgers, including a 2-for-3 effort with a triple and three walks in Saturday’s win. After hitting .327 with nine extra-base hits in July, Abrams batted .223 with eight extra-base hits in August; the shortstop is batting 6-for-27 (.273) with three XBH (two homers) in six games so far this month.

● Patrick Corbin allowed three homers in Tuesday’s loss to the Mets, the 10th time this season he has allowed multiple home runs. That is tied with Lucas Giolito for the third-most such games; only Lance Lynn (12) and Jordan Lyles (11) have more.

● Pittsburgh dropped two of three in Atlanta for its first series loss since August 24-27 (won three straight). Sunday’s loss snapped the Pirates’ seven-game home run streak, their longest since a 10-game run in June 2022.

● Andre Jackson has a 5.25 ERA in his last five outings after pitching eight shutout innings over the previous three outings. Jackson has a 6.00 ERA and .219 AVG in four starts this season (all with Pirates) compared to a 4.71 ERA and .246 AVG in 10 relief appearances.

RANGERS (78-64) at BLUE JAYS (80-63)

● The Blue Jays have won 10 and lost only two of their last 12 home series against the Rangers (including a 2021 series played in Buffalo). They lost twice in three-game series versus the Rangers in Toronto in both August 2012 and April 2018.

● Texas hit three home runs in its 9-4 win over Oakland yesterday. It was the Rangers’ 25th game with three or more homers this season (19-6 record), fifth most among AL teams, behind the Rays (29), Angls (28), Yankees (28) and Twins (25).

● Marcus Semien was 4-for-5 with two home runs in the Rangers’ win on Sunday, his second game with four hits and two homers this year. The only other MLB players with multiple games of four or more hits and two or more home runs this season are Mookie Betts, Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez (two each).

● The Blue Jays drew eight walks in their win over the Royals on Sunday. Toronto batters have walked 53 times in the team’s nine games this month. No other MLB team has more than 45 bases on balls since September 1.

● Chris Bassitt won his last two starts, pitching eight scoreless innings versus Washington (Aug. 30) and eight innings with only one run allowed at Oakland (Sept. 5). It was the first time a Blue Jays pitcher went at least eight innings and gave up no more than one run in each of two consecutive games since Aaron Sanchez did so in 2016 (June 29-July 4).

● Andrew Heaney has allowed 22 home runs in his 27 starts this season. Heaney is 3-6 with a 7.12 ERA in the 12 starts in which he gave up at least one homer and 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA in the 15 starts in which he didn’t allow a home run.

YANKEES (71-72) at RED SOX (73-70)

● The Red Sox have an 8-1 record (.889) against the Yankees this season, their best against any single opponent. It also represents their best winning percentage against the Yankees since they went 19-2 (.905) against them in Boston’s World Series-winning season of 1912.

● Only one pitcher in the American League has a better strikeout per nine innings rate than Nick Pivetta’s 11.54: Kevin Gausman, at 11.67 (min. 100 IP).

● Just two hitters have more RBI than Rafael Devers’ 452 over the last five seasons: Pete Alonso (483) and Matt Olson (468). One more RBI will give Devers the most by a Boston player over a five-year span since David Ortiz had 502 from 2012-16.

● The Yankees have the second lowest team batting average this season at .225. The last time they finished in the bottom five was in 1990, when they had the worst mark in MLB at .241.

● Clarke Schmidt has a 3.84 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 19 starts since May 19. He had opened the season with a 6.30 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in his first nine outings, from April 1 to May 14.

● Gleyber Torres leads the Yankees in hitting this season with a .269 average. That would be the lowest average by the team’s season leader (among qualified hitters) since Roy White led the team in 1968 with a .267 average.

DIAMONDBACKS (75-69) at METS (65-77)

● The Mets have won their last six series against the Diamondbacks, including a three-game set this season (July 4-6 in Arizona). It’s their longest current streak of series wins versus one team. The Mets won 16 of the 19 games in those six series against the Diamondbacks.

● The Diamondbacks are 18-10 (.643) since August 12, when they ended their season worst nine-game losing streak. They have the third best record in the National League over that stretch, behind the Braves (20-8, .714) and Dodgers (18-9, .667).

● Zach Davies, who signed with Arizona as a free agent in March 2022, is 4-10 in the 42 starts he’s made over the last two seasons. His four wins as a starter over the last two seasons are the fewest by any of the 92 pitchers who’ve made at least 40 starts. The Mets’ starter, Jose Quintana (8-12, 41 GS) has the third fewest wins. (Zack Greinke: 5-22, 49 GS).

● The Mets have the highest stolen-base percentage in the majors this season (89.6%), but they’re the worst team in the majors at preventing stolen bases this year (opponents successful 86.5% of the time). The Diamondbacks have the second highest stolen-base percentage (86.4%) and they’re second best at preventing steals (70.4% opponents SB%).

● DJ Stewart is hitting .323 (21-for-65) with 10 home runs and 21 runs batted in over his last 18 games (August 15 to date). The only MLB players with more home runs since that date than Stewart are the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber (13) and Trea Turner (12).

● Jose Quintana has given up only one home run in his nine starts for the Mets (Tyler O’Neill, Aug. 17 at St. Louis). Among players who debuted with the Mets since 2000, the only other pitcher to allow no more than one home run over his first nine starts for the team is Taijuan Walker (Mets debut in 2021, also one home run).

MARLINS (74-69) at BREWERS (79-63)

● Monday will mark the first of seven scheduled meetings between the Marlins and Brewers. The Marlins won four of the seven matchups last season –including three of four at American Family Field, where they have not dropped a series since 2018.

● Miami took two of three in Philadelphia and has won eight of its last 10 after dropping 10 of its previous 13. The Marlins are hitting .268 (.315 w/ RISP) and scoring 6.0 runs per game over the last 10 after batting .216 (.163 w/ RISP) and averaging 2.9 runs per game in the previous 13.

● Jesus Luzardo has made three straight quality starts, posting a 1.00 ERA and 0.61 WHIP in that span after going 0-3 with a 11.68 ERA in the previous three outings. The Marlins are averaging just 4.00 runs of support per nine innings for Luzardo, fifth lowest in the NL; teammate Braxton Garrett ranks third (3.70) and Sandy Alcantara ranks sixth (4.29).

● Milwaukee dropped its last home game on September 3, snapping an eight-game home win streak that had been their longest since April 2013. Opponents are batting just .224 in Milwaukee, third best in the NL ahead of the Phillies (.222) and Dodgers (.223).

● Brandon Woodruff has yet to allow more than four hits this season while pitching into the sixth inning in seven of his eight starts. Woodruff has a 0.79 WHIP in 47.0 innings this season, second in MLB (Dodgers’ Evan Phillips – 0.75; min. 40 innings).

● The Marlins are 30-12 (.714) in one-run games this season, best in MLB; they ranked thirdworst in 2022 (24-40, .375). The Brewers rank third this season with a 27-15 (.643) record.

RAYS (88-56) at TWINS (75-68)

● Tampa Bay swept a three-game set with Minnesota at Tropicana Field in June and has won four straight in the matchup. The Twins managed just three runs on 13 hits in the three games at the Trop but have won nine of the 13 meetings at Target Field since 2018.

● Tampa Bay took three of four against Seattle and is 14-5 since taking an 18-4 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Angel Stadium on August 19. The Rays have a 3.13 ERA in that span, including a 2.29 mark from the bullpen. The Rays’ relievers have not allowed an earned run in any of their last six outings.

● Josh Lowe went 3-for-4 with two doubles in Sunday’s win and is hitting .295 in 45 games since the All-Star break. He is slashing .283/.324/.493 this season after going .221/.284/.343 in 52 games last year.

● Tyler Glasnow has gone at least six innings in each of his starts since the All-Star break. His 2.17 ERA in that span ranks second in the AL behind the Royals’ Cole Ragans (1.69; min. 50 innings).

● In each of its last three series, Minnesota has won the first two games before dropping the finale – all three losses were by one or two runs. The Twins overcame a deficit in five of the six wins and their 37 comeback wins this season rank third in the AL.

● Sonny Gray has a quality start in eight of his last nine starts after tallying just seven in his first 19 this season. His 1.01 WHIP in the second half ranks fifth in the AL; Glasnow ranks second with a 0.88 mark (min. 50 innings).

ROYALS (44-100) at WHITE SOX (55-88)

● The Royals and White Sox have split their 10 meetings this season, with Kansas City winning five of the seven at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox have won five straight home games against the Royals; they have not won six straight at home against KC since 2007-08.

● Sunday marked the Royals’ 100th loss of the season, the club’s seventh 100-loss season and third in the last six years. The Royals have gone 8-25 since August 5 (when they snapped a seven-game win streak), tied with the Rockies for worst in MLB in that span.

● Bobby Witt Jr. stole two bases in Sunday’s loss and ranks second in the AL with 41 steals this season – only Oakland’s Esteury Ruiz (58) has more. It is the fourth 40-steal season by a Royal in the last six years (Whit Merrifield, 2018 & 2021; Adalberto Mondesi, 2019). The Nationals are the only other team with multiple such seasons in that span.

● Brady Singer has allowed six homers in his last three starts (12.2 innings) after conceding just one in his previous five starts (33.0 innings). Singer has a career 3-2 record against the White Sox, but the Royals have gone 8-3 in his outings.

● Since August 1, the White Sox are 12-4 when scoring at least five runs compared to 0-20 when held to four runs or fewer. The White Sox are averaging 4.08 runs per game this season, fifth worst in MLB, including 2.89 in nine September contests.

● Dylan Cease conceded five runs and three homers in a no-decision against the Royals on Tuesday and has a 9.30 ERA in his last four starts. He has a 6.35 ERA and .284 AVG in 10 starts since the All-Star break after posting a 4.30 ERA and .241 AVG in 19 first-half starts.

ATHLETICS (44-99) at ASTROS (82-62)

● The ASTR0S are 9-1 with a 1.92 team ERA and only 62 hits allowed in 89 innings in their 10 games against the Athletics this season (6-1 in Oakland, 3-0 in Houston). The A’s did not have more than eight hits in any of those 10 games.

● The Athletics (44-99) are one loss away from their second straight season of 100 or more losses (60-102 in 2022). It will be the fourth time that the A’s had 100+ losses in each of two or more consecutive seasons. The Philadelphia A’s did that in 1915-16 and 1919-20-21 and the Kansas City Athletics did so in 1964-65.

● Ken Waldichuk was 1-3 with a 6.83 ERA over his first 13 starts this season (A’s record: 6-7) but he’s 0-1 with a 3.82 ERA in his seven starts since then (A’s record: 2-5).

● The Astros have scored at least six runs in each of their last 20 wins (including nine wins in which they scored 11 or more runs). Since August 3, Houston is 20-1 in games in which it scored at least six runs and 0-14 when scoring five or fewer runs.

● Jose Abreu has at least one RBI in 11 of the 14 games he’s played since he came off the injured list on August 23 (21 total RBI), and at least one in each of his last six games (14 total RBI). It’s the longest RBI streak by an Astros player this season and it ties Abreu’s career high, done five times before (most recently in 2021).

● Framber Valdez (11-6 in 2021, 17-6 in 2022, 11-9 this year) is the fifth left-handed pitcher to record at least 11 wins for the Astros in each of three (or more) consecutive seasons. The others are Jim Deshaies (four: 1986-89), Bob Knepper (1984-86), Mike Hampton (1997-99) and Wandy Rodriguez (2009-11).

ANGELS (67-77) at MARINERS (79-64)

● The Angels and Mariners meet for the fourth time this season, with Seattle leading the season series six games to four. The Angels took two of three in their only series of season played in Seattle in April, improving to 8-4 there since the beginning of 2022.

● The Angels are 32-40 (.444) on the road this season, tied for seventh lowest in MLB. It currently is their ninth consecutive losing season on the road – their second longest streak in franchise history (10 between 1972-1981).

● The Angels this season have had an MLB-high 29 different players on the IL and the secondmost player games missed, 1746 (both are team highs since 1987). They currently have four players with 100+ games played this season – their fewest in any season with 100+ games since 1994 (also four).

● Since July 1, the Mariners are 41-22 (.651), the third-best record in MLB and are 2.5 GB of first in the AL West. Entering July, the Mariners were 38-42 (.475), tied for 10th worst record in MLB and were 10.0 GB in the division.

● Julio Rodriguez (age 22) is the second player in MLB history with multiple 25+ HR, 75+ RBI, and 25+ stolen base seasons, prior to turning 23 (Mike Trout, 2012-2013). If Rodriguez (29 HR, 36 SB) hits one more home run, he will be the third youngest player to reach 30+ homers and 30+ stolen bases in a season (M. Trout -- age 20; R. Acuna Jr. – age 21).

● Since July 4, Logan Gilbert is 8-0, the best record in MLB among pitchers with at least six decisions in that span. He also has walked 1.33 batters per nine innings, the fifth fewest in MLB since July 4.

GUARDIANS (68-76) at GIANTS (73-70)

● The Giants have an 11-1 record (.917) against the Guardians since the start of the 2010 season, their best against any single opponent over that span (minimum 10 games). In these 12 matchups, San Francisco has hit 10 homers while allowing just two to Cleveland.

● Sean Manaea has a 5.38 ERA as a starter since the beginning of the 2022 season. It’s the fifth highest ERA in MLB over that span (minimum 30 starts).

● Wilmer Flores has 22 doubles, 22 home runs and 57 strikeouts in 402 plate appearances. He is the only player in MLB to hit at least 20 doubles and 20 homers with fewer than 60 strikeouts (minimum 400 PA).

● Just four pitchers currently in the American League have a worse ERA than Cal Quantrill’s 5.70 this season (minimum 75 IP): Joey Wentz (6.65), Luis Severino (6.65), Jordan Lyles (6.24), and Alek Manoah (5.87). ● Since 2017, José Ramírez leads MLB with five different seasons with at least 30 doubles, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). Francisco Lindor, Trevor Story and Trea Turner are next, with three such seasons each.

● The Guardians are last in MLB in home runs, with 109. The last time they finished with the fewest homers in the league was in 1927, when they had 26.

PADRES (67-77) at DODGERS (87-55)

● The Padres and Dodgers meet for the fourth time this season, with Los Angeles leading the season series, 8-2. The Dodgers currently have won 12 consecutive series against the Padres – their longest streak against a single opponent in franchise history and the second longest active streak in MLB (NYY against KC – 15).

● Since July 1, Manny Machado is tied for seventh in MLB in home runs (17) and RBI (48) in 61 games. Prior to the beginning of July, Machado ranked 104th in home runs (nine) and 111th in RBI (33) in 66 games.

● Blake Snell currently ranks second in MLB in ERA (2.52) and first in opponent batting average (.192). He would become the second pitcher in San Diego’s history to rank top two in each stat in a single season (Jake Peavy, 2007).

● The Dodgers at 87-55 (.613) have secured their 13th consecutive winning season – tied for longest streak in franchise history (Brooklyn Dodgers: 1945-1957). This includes their 26-12 (.684) record against the NL West – their third highest win percentage of all-time.

● Freddie Freeman is currently batting .336 this season – second best in MLB and the highest mark by a Dodger since 1997 (Mike Piazza - .362). This is also on pace to be Freeman’s second season with a .300+ AVG, 20+ HR and 40+ doubles with Los Angeles – tied with Babe Herman (1929-1930) for most such seasons in franchise history.

● Gavin Stone will be starting his fourth career game and will look to improve on his 3.00 WHIP and 14.40 ERA over 10 innings pitched in his three prior starts. Both are the highest marks by any pitcher through their first three MLB starts in Dodgers franchise history (minimum 10 IP).