There has been lots of talk about Shane Bieber’s great start to this unusual season – 5-0, 1.11 with 65 strikeouts.  In the theme of “In baseball, we count everything,” it has been noted that the 65 whiffs ties Bieber for the fourth-most strikeouts in the first six starts of a campaign (Elias Sports Bureau).   In this post, BBRT will take a look at the top five (in strikeouts in a season’s first six starts) – how they got there and what they did in their seventh starting assignment.  First a chart (BBRT loves charts) and then some commentary.

 

A few notes, on the performance of players on this list over those six starts:

• Shane Bieber had the lowest ERA (1.11) and also the fewest innings pitched (40 2/3).
• Nolan Ryan’s gave up the fewest hits (20 in 50 innings), but the most walks (30).
• Pedro Martinez and Shane Bieber tied for the most wins (5), while Nolan Ryan had the fewest wins (2).

Some other notes:

• Ryan is the only pitcher to finish his streak season with a losing record (10-13).
• The only hurler on the list not to lead the league in strikeouts out after his blazing start was Pedro Martinez in 2001 – a season when a rotator cuff injury cost him a month of playing time. (We’ll see what Bieber does.)
• None of the players on the list had a 20-win season in the year of their quick starts.
• The three players Bieber is joining on this list are all in the top 15 in career strikeouts – Nolan Ryan (Number One); Pedro Martinez (13); Curt Schilling (15).
• The most strikeouts in the seventh start for players on this list was Pedro Martinez, with 15 whiffs in his seventh start of 2000.  We, of course, have yet to see what Bieber does.

Now, let’s look at the list.

Nolan Ryan, Angels – 71 strikeouts in his first six starts of 1978

No surprise to find MLB’s career strikeout king at the top of this list.  Ryan is also the career leader in bases on balls – and his 30 walks over his first six 1978 starts also leads this list (more than twice as many as the runner-up).

Ryan had the fewest wins (during his first six starts) among our five leaders – going just 2-1, despite a nifty 1.62 ERA.  With a little help from his friends, he would have fared better.  He gave up zero runs in four of those six starts, yet his only victories came in a pair of complete-game shutouts.  The biggest disappointment probably came in an April 13 start against the Twins (in Minnesota). Ryan got a no-decision, despite pitching ten innings of shutout ball, giving up just four hits (four walks), while fanning 12.  The Angels did win the game 1-0 on a Joe Rudi walk-off home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning.

Ryan finished the season at 10-13, 3.72, leading the league in strikeouts (260) and walks (148) in 234 2/3 innings pitched.  Over  his career, Ryan would lead the league in strikeouts 11 times and walks eight times.

Nolan Ryan fanned just five batters in eight innings in his seventh 1978 start – taking the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and six walks to the Indians.

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Pedro Martinez, Red Sox – 67 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2000

The only pitcher to appear twice in the top-five list, Martinez picked up five wins in his first six starts of 2000. He made it into the eighth inning in only one of those six starts (a complete-game in start number six). Ironically, the one complete game was his only loss in the streak – a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay in which Martinez gave up just six hits and one walk, while fanning 17.  His mound opponent that day was Steve Trachsel, who pitched a three-hit shutout, walking three and fanning 11.  In the first five games of the season, Martinez went seven innings four times and 7 1/3 once. He never gave up more than two earned runs in any of those contests.

Martinez finished the season at 18-6, with a league-best 1.74 earned run average and a league-leading 284 strikeouts in 217 innings. Winnings his third Cy Young Award.

In his seventh start of the 2000 season, Pedro Martinez continued his whiffing ways, shutting out the Orioles (9-0) on two hits, while walking none and fanning 15.

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Pedro Martinez, Red Sox – 66 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2001

Martinez went 3-0. 1.47 in his first six starts of 2001 (the Red Sox lost all three of his no-decisions). While he had no complete games in his run, he averaged just over seven innings a start. His best start in the string was an April 8 game against Tampa Bay, when he went eight innings, giving up just three hits and three walks, while fanning 16.  In his three no-decisions, Martinez pitched 21 innings and gave up five earned runs (fanning 25). Martinez, who missed a month of the season (rotator cuff), finished the year 7-3, 2.39, with 163 strikeouts in 116 2.3 innings.

In his seventh start of 2001, Martinez picked up a win against the A’s – pitching seven innings and giving up four hits, no walks and one run, while fanning six.

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Curt Schilling, Phillies – 65 strikeouts in his first six starts of 1998

Curt Schilling lost two of the six games in his early-season (1998) strikeout streak – giving up three earned runs in seven innings in each of those contests. He also picked up three wins – and could have had a fourth with just a little support. In his first start (March 31, versus the Mets), Schilling went eight innings, giving up just two hits, walking one and fanning nine. He left the game after the eighth frame, with the score knotted at zero.  The Mets eventually won 1-0 in fourteen innings.

Schilling finished the 1998 season at 15-14, 3.25 – leading the National league in complete games (15), innings pitched (268 2/3) and strikeouts (300).

In his seventh start of the 1998 campaign, Curt Schilling went seven innings versus the Astros, giving up five hits and two runs (one earned), while walking one and fanning 13. While he deserved better, he left the game trailing 2-1 and took the loss, as the Astros topped the Phillies 4-1.

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Shane Bieber, Indians – 65 strikeouts in his first six starts of 2020

Shane Bieber’s first six starts of 2020 earned him five victories (tied for the most among the pitchers on this list) and a 1.11 earned run average (lowest among the players on this list).

Bieber pitched the fewest innings of any player on the list (40 2/3 in is six starts), three times tossing just six frames. His longest outing was an eight-inning stint against the Twins, when he gave up just three hits, walked none and fanned 13.  In four of his six outings, he held his opponents scoreless. Bieber’s only no-decision came against the White Sox on August 9, when he gave up three runs on four hits (two walks, eight whiffs) in six innings.  The big hits were home runs by Jose Abreu and James McCann. The Indians won the game 5-4 in ten innings.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Stathead.com; MLB.com

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David Ortiz never did it in his 20-season, 541-home run career.  Hank Aaron (755 career home runs) accomplished the feat just once in 23 seasons, as did Frank Robinson (586 career home runs) in 21 seasons.  Heck, even Babe Ruth (714 career dingers) only did it twice in 22 campaigns.  And, these guys had nicknames like Big Papi, The Hammer, The Judge and The Sultan of Swat.  I’m talking about going deep three times in a game – and, yesterday (lucky August 13), Markus “Mookie” Betts hit three home runs in a game for the sixth time in his career – tying the major -league record for three-blast contests.

Betts had his sixth three-homer night out of the leadoff spot, as his Dodgers topped  the Padres 11-2 … and maybe there was a bit of retribution involved (he was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance of the game). Overall, Betts was four-for-four (he also had an infield single), with four runs scored and five driven in.

As you can see in the chart below, Betts got to his sixth three-homer game much more quickly than either of his predecessors (Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa).  It clearly seems like this is a record likely to fall.

Through Yesterday, Betts had a career average of .302 (in 813 games), with 146 home runs, 485 RBI, 627 runs scored and 127 stolen bases. He is a four-time All Star, the 2018 AL Most Valuable player (when he won the batting title at .346, hit 32 home runs, drove in 80 and scored a league-topping 129 times).  Overall, he scored 100+ runs in four of his first six seasons, drove in 100+ in two of those campaigns and hit.300+ twice.

Now, let take a look at some additional three-homer game tidbits.

• While no teenager has recorded an MLB three-homer game, two twenty-year-olds have done it.  The Tigers’ Al Kaline (April 17, 1955) at 20 years-119 days and the Braves’ Eddie Mathews (September 27, 1952) at 20 years-350 days.

• Stan Musial is the oldest player to go deep three times in a game. He had his second (and final) career three-homer game on July 8, 1962 at 41 years-229 days old. Here’s a chart of those 40 or over to hit three long balls in a single contest.

• The White Sox’ Merv Conn0rs (three-homer game on September 17, 1938) hit the fewest career home runs of any player with a three-HR contest – eight. Connors played just 52 games for the White Sox in two MLB seasons (1937-38) – going .279 (46-for-165), with eight home runs and 25 RBI. At the time of his three-homer game, he was playing in his 38^th MLB game and had hit a total of three home runs in the previous 37.
• Two father-son combos have each recorded three-homer games – Cecil Fielder (May 6 & June 6, 1990, April 16, 1996) and Prince Fielder (September 27, 2011) and Ken Griffey Sr. (July 22, 1986) and Ken Griffey Jr.  (May 24, 1996, April 25, 1997).
• One grandfather-grandson combo has each recorded a three-homer game Carl Yastrzemski (May 19, 1976)  and grandson Mike Yastrzemski (August 16, 2019).

Knock Three Times – Three Home Runs on Opening Day

The Opening Day, single-game record of three home runs is shared by four players – the Blue Jays’ George Bell, Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes, Tigers’ Dmitri Young and White Sox’ Matt Davidson.

On April 4, 1988, George Bell – batting clean-up and serving as the DH – became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in an Opening Day game, as his Blue Jays topped the Royals 5-3 in Kansas City. Bell went three-for-four with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting all three home runs off Royals’ starter Brett Saberhagen.

On a windy April 4, 1994, Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes (leading off and playing CF for the Cubs in Chicago) hit three solo shots off Mets’ starter Dwight Gooden. Rhodes also had a single and a walk in five plate appearances. Despite Rhodes’ record-tying performance, the Cubs lost to the visiting Mets 12-8. At the time, Rhodes had played 107 MLB games in four seasons – hitting a total of five home runs. His MLB career consisted of 225 games in six seasons, with a .224 average and just 13 round trippers (with a high of eight in 1994). 

On April 4, 2005 the Tigers’ Dmitri Young joined Bell and Rhodes on the list of batters with three home runs in an Opening Day game – as the Tigers topped the Royals 11-2 in Detroit. Young started at DH and went four-for-four with four runs and five RBI.  Young, an All Star in 2003 and 2007, hit a total of 21 home runs in 2005 – and 171 in 13 MLB seasons. 

On March 29, 2018, as the White Sox topped the Royals 14-7 in Kansas City, DH and (appropriately) cleanup hitter Matt Davidson opened the season with a three-homer, five-RBI game. He went three-for-four with a walk, four runs scored and five RBI.  Davidson, in his fourth MLB season, went on to a .228-20-62 campaign.  In his 273 MLB games (2013, 1015-18), Davidson has just three multi-homer contests. and a total of 49 round trippers.

• Babe Ruth is the only player to twice hit three-homers in a World Series game. Ruth accomplished the feat in the 1926 (Game Four) and 1928 (Game Four) Series.  Additional players with a three-HR World Series game include Reggie Jackson in the 1977 Series (Game Six); Albert Pujols in the 2011 Series (Game Three); and Pablo Sandoval in the 2012 Series (Game One).
• Two pitchers have hit three home runs in a game.  On August 15, 1986, Guy Hecker of the American Association (considered a major league) Louisville Colonels collected three singles and three home runs in a 22-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. In a May 13, 1942 game against the Cubs, the Boston Braves’ Jim Tobin flied out to deep right field in the third inning; homered to lead off the fifth; homered again to lead off the seventh; and hit a two-run home run with two outs in the eighth (to break a 4-4 tie in a game the Braves won 6-5).

Primary Resources:   Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com

 

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It’s August first and that means we are starting into the second calendar month of a very non-traditional MLB season.  We are dealing with a July start, empty stands and “piped-in” fans, COVID postponements, extra innings starting with a runner placed at second base, expanded playoffs and even – “Say it ain’t so, Joe!” – upcoming seven-inning games in double headers. Wow.  A lot to take in.

Baseball Roundtable is going to stick with one of its traditions, however. The monthly wrap up.  It will be the usual mix of MLB stats and stories that caught my attention, along with selection of BBRT’s players and pitchers of the month.  Even though July was a short month (from a games-played perspective), there will be a Wrap Up (who knows when they might pull the plug on the season.)

Given the small sample size and disparities in games played (COVID game postponements limiting the Marlins and Phillies to three games each), BBRT statistical leaders may differ a bit from those on MLB lists.  For example, Marlins’ SS Miguel Rojas is listed as the MLB batting leader (.700 average), but he has just ten at bats.  BBRT’s leader board requires 20 at bats, so you will find Giants’ SS Donovan Solano at the top (.458 in 24 July at bats.)

So, let’s get to it.  First a few general observations.

• As usual, pitchers appear to be ahead of hitters early on, with all of MLB averaging .233 and 45 hitters with at least 20 at bats hitting under .200 – including such “names” as George Springer, Kris Bryant, Cody Bellinger; Jose Altuve; and Ronald Acuna, Jr.
• As Rod Serling would say, “For your consideration,” 2018 and 2019 National League batting champ Christian Yelich ended July with one hit (albeit a home run) in 27 at bats for a .037 average.
• The 2020 season saw only 45 complete-games in 2,429 contests – one every 54 games.  Through July 31 this season, we’ve already seen three complete games in 104 contests – one every 35 games.
• The Cardinals’ bullpen held opponents to a .100 average in July.
• Shane Bieber Bieber fanned 27 batters in 14 July innings, putting up a 2-0 record and a 0.00 earned run average.
• Nelson Cruz of the Twins has shown that “40 is the new 30,” leading MLB in RBI with 11 – and putting up a two-double, two-home run, seven-RBI game against the White Sox on July 26.
• Nobody had more hits in July than Mariners’ CF Kyle Lewis (rookie status still intact), who collected 15 hits in eight games (.455 average).

More on all of this and more as you read on, but let’s get to the players and pitchers of the month.

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American League BBRT Player of the Month for July – Kyle Lewis, CF, Mariners

Mariners’ 25-year-old rookie CF Kyle Lewis led all of MLB with 15 July base hits and his .455 average tied the Yankees’ D.J. LeMahieu for tops in the AL among batters with at least 20 at bats. Lewis also had two home runs and his eight RBI were second only to Nelson Cruz in the American League. Lewis, a first-round draft pick out of Mercer University in 2016, hit .268 in 18 games with the Mariners in 2019 (after hitting .263 in 122 games at Double A). Lewis, who leads the AL with 13 strikeouts, does need work on plate discipline.

Others considered:  BBRT also looked at the Twins’ Nelson Cruz (.333-3-11), but took into  consideration that seven of his MLB-best 11 July RBI came in one game. Red Sox’ catcher Christian Vazquez also deserve a shout out.  His four home runs tied for the MLB July lead and he added eight RBI and a .348 average.

 

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American League Pitcher of the Month for July – Shane Bieber, Indians

No contest here, as Indians’ right-hander Shane Bieber’s July was one for the record books. On Opening Day (July 24), he fanned 14 Royals in six shutout innings – coming within one of the MLB Opening Day record for whiffs. Then, six days later, he whiffed 13 Twins in eight shutout innings, tying the MLB record for strikeouts in the first two starts of a season.  For details on those records, click here. So, here’s Bieber’s line for July:  2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 innings pitched, seven hits, just one walk and 27 strikeouts. Game. Set. Match.

Shane Bieber fanned at least one batter in every inning he pitched in July.

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National Player of the Month for July – Donovan Solano, 2B, Giants

Donovan Solano has been around for awhile. He signed as an International free agent with the Cardinals in 2005 and finally made it to the big leagues with the Marlins in 2012. He is now in his seventh MLB  season (serving primarily as a utility infielder). Over his first six MLB campaigns, he played in 451 games and put up a .269-13-122 stat line.  Since signing a minor-league contract with the Giants in December 2018, Solano has been on fire.  He hit .322 in 24 games at Triple A in 2019 and then .330 in 81 games after a call up to the Giants. This July, he has raked at an MLB-best .458 pace (11-for-24), with one home run and ten RBI (trailing only the 11 of the Braves’ Dansby Swanson and Twins’ Nelson Cruz).  While he has yet to draw a walk this season, he has fanned only three times in 24 at bats.  He puts the ball in play.

Others considered:  Braves’ SS Dansby Swanson hit .387, with two home runs and an MLB-best 11 RBI in July. The swing factor here (pun intended) was his 12 strikeouts to Solano’s three (Swanson drew just one walk). Also, Salano’s .458 average was a bright and shiny thing.

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National League Pitcher of the Month – Sonny Gray, Reds

Sonny Gray put up the lowest ERA in the NL (0.71 in 12 2/3 innings pitched).  He won both his starts, giving up just four hits and three walks. He also fanned 20 batters (second in the NL to Max Scherzer’s 21) and held hitters to an NL-best .098 average. A nice start for the veteran (in his eighth MLB season) and two-time All Star.

Others considered: Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs got a brief look-see after throwing the season’s first complete-game shutout (a three-hitter against the Brewers) in his first start of the season. He pitched his way out of the competition by giving up six runs in his second start. Max Scherzer’s NL-high 21 July strikeouts also merited some attention, but he went 0-1, 2.84 to Gray’s 2-0, 0.71.  It was Gray all the way.

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Now, here are your standing as of end of play July 31.  Too early for any analysis, let the numbers speak for themselves.  If I had to pick a “surprise” this early, I guess it would be the Padres leading the NL West – and sitting atop all of MLB in July runs scored.  They seem to be doing it with a pretty balanced attack – six players with five or more RBI: SS Fernando Tatis, Jr. (9); 1B Eric Hosmer (7); LF Tommy Pham (7); and five each from 3B Manny Machado, CF Trent Grisham, and RF Wil Myers.  They also have six players with five or more runs scored and four players with two home runs.  The Padres also put their speed to good use, getting stolen bases from six players – with their 14 July steals leading MLB by a wide margin. Your other division leaders (excluding the three games-played Marlins) are pretty much as expected.

—-LEAGUE LEADERS – TEAMS —–

(as of end of play July 31, 2020)

RUNS SCORED … MLB Team Average – 32

AL: Astros (42); Mariners (41); Angels (46)

NL:  Padres (52); Braves (46); Cubs (44)

Runs Per Game

Given the small sample – and range in the number of games played – it is important to note that your runs per game leaders were the Padres in the NL (6.50) and the Astros in the AL (6.00).  One additional team averaged six or more runs per game in July – Cubs (6.29)  

The Rangers scored an MLB-low 13 runs in five July games – and had the lowest R/G (2.60).

BATTING AVERAGE … MLB Team Average – .233    (To qualify for BBRT leaderboard, minimum five games played.)

AL: Red Sox (.264); Mariners (.262); Astros (.249)

NL: Mets (.266); Giants (.257); Cubs (.254)

The Team Mendoza Line

Four teams were hitting below .200 as July play closed: Pirates (.177); Rangers (.180); A’s (.194); Brewers (.198).

HOME RUNS … MLB Team Average – 8

AL: Tigers (15); Twins (12); Angels (12); White Sox (11); Blue Jays (11)

NL: Reds (12); Cubs (12); Dodgers (11); Padres (11)

Who Digs the Long Ball?

The Diamondbacks were power-starved, with just two home runs over their first eight games.

STOLEN BASES … MLB Team Average – 3

AL: Mariners (8); Astros (6); Rangers (5); Blue Jays (5)

NL: Padres (14); Mets (5)

Slow Ride. Take It Easy.

Six teams had stolen only one base through July – Red Sox, White Sox, Indians, Marlins, Brewers, Cardinals.

BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS … MLB Team Average – 62

AL: Tigers (90); Mariners (79); Royals (75)

NL: Braves (93); Mets (75); Padres (75)

Making Contact

Phillies hitters (only three games) fanned an MLB-fewest 18 times as of end of play July 31.  Among teams with at least five games played, the Cardinals and Orioles had the fewest whiffs (44). 

WALKS DRAWN … MLB Average – 25

AL: Angels (37); Rays (37); Astros (35)

NL: Padres (40; Dodgers (37); Reds (36)

Ouch!

Who crowds the plate?  The Cubs led MLB in hit-by-pitch through July 31 at 12 (the MLB team average was 4). 

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE … MLB Average – 4.26

AL:  Indians (2.13); Blue Jays (3.29); Twins (3.34)

NL:  Dodgers (2.04): Nationals (2.69); Rockies (2.72)

He Shoots! He Scores!

Mariners’ hurlers had a rough July with an MLB-worst 6.49 ERA.  Over in the NL, the Phillies were at the bottom at 5.67.

The Indians had the lowest ERA among starting staff in July at 2.18.  The Rockies were the surprise leaders in the NL at 2.46.

STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average – 62

AL:  Indians (94); Rays (85); Angels (72)

NL: Reds (93); Diamondbacks (82);Mets (72); Padres (72)

Inning-by-Inning

The Reds also led all of MLB in strikeouts per nine innings at 13.5– finishing July with ten or more whiffs per nine frames were: Indians (11.8); Brewers (11.0); Rays (10.9); and Rangers 10.8; Diamondbacks (10.0)

SAVES … MLB Average – 2

AL: Tigers (4); Indians (4); Twins (3); Mariners (3)

NL: Braves (3); six with two

Firemen

The Cardinals had the lowest bullpen ERA at 0.98, while the A’s pen had the lowest AL ERA at 1.91.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED … MLB Average – 25

AL: Indians (14); Yankees (16); A’s (19)

NL: Cardinals (9); Phillies (10/three games)); Nationals (19); Marlins (19/three games); Reds (19)

Stingy with those Free Passes

Looking at walks per nine innings, the Indians posted the best ratio at 1.3. The only other team with less than two walks per nine frames was the Cardinals at 1.9.

The Diamondbacks’ staff walked the most batters – 44 in 8 games (5.8 per nine innings).  The Marlins who played just three games, walked an MLB-worst 6.6 batters per contest.

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Now a few individual highlights.

Late Opener – Kiki is all Four It

Dodgers’ 2B Enrique “Kiki” Hernandez got his season off to a running start.  In the Dodgers July 23 opener (at home) against the Giants, Hernandez – a .243 career hitter (starting his seventh MLB season) – went four-for-five, with a home runs, two runs scored and five RBI. It was Hernandez’ first MLB four-hit game, as well as his first five-RBI game.  The Dodgers, by the way, prevailed 8-1.

Round. Round. Get Around. I Get Around.

In his MLB career, Kiki Hernandez has played every position except catcher.  As the 2020 season opened, he had started 126 games in CF, 110 at 2B, 57 in LF, 54 at SS, 32 in RF, 14 at 3B, 11 at 1B and two at DH. He also made on appearance on the mound, 1/3 inning of scoreless relief.

Kepler Goes Deep – In a Hurry

Twins’ RF Max Kepler took White Sox starter Luis Giolito yard on the very first pitch of the game – as the Twins and White Sox opened their 2020 seasons in Chicago.    In the very next inning, on a 2-2 count – Kepler went deep again.  Two innings into the season and two home runs, not a bad start. The wins won the game 10-5.

The only two players to homer in the first two innings of their team’s season are Kepler and the Angels’ Ted Kluszewski (1961). Kluszewski two blasts were extra special, they came not only in the teams first game of the season, but also the first game in franchise history – a 7-2 win at Baltimore. Side note:  They came off pitchers with similar names:  Milt Pappas in the first inning and John Papa in the second.

Home Plate is Off Limits

On July 24, as the Cub and Brewers opened the season at Wrigley, Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout (The Cubs won 3-0).  In the game – the first Opening Day complete-game shutout since 2013 (Clayton Kershaw) – Hendricks fanned nine and didn’t walk a batter. Surprisingly, in this age of throw-hard/swing-hard baseball, not a one of Hendricks’ 103 pitches reached 90 M.p.h.

Number-Nine. Number-Nine.  Number-Nine.

Ironically (?), all three hits off Hendricks belonged to the Brewers’ number-nine hitter, SS Orlando Arcia.

Leaving No Doubt

That Angels and Athletics battled to a 3-3 tie after nine innings in Oakland.  That opened the door to MLB’s first extra inning under the new rule, starting extra innings with a runner placed on second base. (A rule many feel puts the legitimacy of victory in doubt.). In the top of the tenth, the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (the last out in the ninth) was placed a second, but erased on a rundown between second and third (as PH Jared Walsh reached first one fielder choice).  To make a long inning short, the Angels ended up loading the bases, but did not score.

In the bottom of the inning, A’s SS Marcus Semien (last out of the A’s ninth) was placed on second. Angels’ reliever Hansel Robles then hit Ramon Laureano with a pitch, struck out Matt Chapman; wild pitched Semien and Laureano to third and second; and walked Khris Davis.  That loaded them up with one out for Matt Olson, who hit the fist pitch from Robles over the CF fence for a walk-off Grand Slam – making the win a no-doubter, despite the 2020 extra-inning rule.

Worth Waiting For

On July 25, 35-year-old Rockies’ right-hander Daniel Bard took the mound for the first time since April 27, 2013 – a period of seven years, two months and 28 days. Bard was a first-round selection (out of the University of North Carolina) by the Red Sox, sporting a fastball that topped out at at 100+ MPH and was regularly in the mid- to high-90s.  He also used a slider and change up. In 2008, Bard was 5-1, 1.51, with seven saves and 107 strikeouts (versus 30 walks) in 46 appearances (77 2/3 innings) at Double A and Triple A.

In his first season with the Red Sox (2009), Bard went 2-2, 3.65 with 63 whiffs (22 walks) in 46 appearances.  Then, in 2010 and 2011, he made 70 or more appearances for Boston each season.  After three MLB campaigns, Bard had 5 wins (13 losses), with a solid 2.88 ERA in 192 appearance – 213 strikeouts and 76 walks in 197 innings.

One for the Record Books

In 2011, Bard threw a Red Sox-record 25 consecutive scoreless innings (25 appearances from May 27 through July 31).

Then in 2012, the Red Sox attempted to convert Bard to a starter and the wheels seem to come off – and Bard lost command of his pitches.  He went 5-6, 6.22 in 17 games, walking 43, hitting eight batters and fanning 38 in 59 1/3 innings for Boston. Sent to  Triple A, he did not fare any better (3-2, 7.03 with 29 walks and 32 strikeouts in 32 innings).  After that season, Bard pitched only one more MLB inning before retiring in October of 2017. But he didn’t give up and, in 2020, announced he was going to make a comeback.  He did some throwing for scouts and, in February, signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies.  He was added to the 40-man roster in mid-July and on July 25, came into the game with two outs in the fifth inning and his Rockies leading the Ranger 2-0.   Bard went 1 1/3 innings (two hits/one whiff) and, since starter Jon Gray has not gone five innings, Bard picked up the win – his first MLB victory in more than seven years.  Notably, Bard threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes.

You Can’t Win ‘Em All

Three games (and four days) into the strange 2020 season and there was not a single undefeated team.  The last time that happened?  1954 (when there were only 16 teams). The deepest MLB ever got into a season with at least one team boasting a perfect record? In games, that would be thirteen – with the 1982 Braves (first loss on the season’s 18^th day) and the 1987 Brewers (first loss on 16^th day of the season) getting off to 13-0 starts .

Off to a Good Start

On July 27, Reds’ rookie catcher Tyler Stephenson – who had come into the game in  the top of the seventh inning with the Reds down to the Cubs 7-1 – stepped to the plate for the first time in his MLB career in the bottom of the frame and popped a 1-0 pitch (off reliever Duane Underwood Jr.) 420-feet over the CF fence (making the score 8-2 at the time). Stephenson finished the game two-for-two, with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI. For those who track such things, Stephenson was the 123rd player to homer in his first MLB at bat (this number includes players from the old American Association).

An Even Better Start

Bob Nieman of the 1951 Browns and Keith McDonald of the 2000 Cardinals are the only players to homer in their first TWO MLB at bats. For more on McDonald’s career (he had only three MLB hits – and they were all home runs – click here.

A Lead-Off Two-Run Homer … Never Saw that Before

New rules, new results! On July 29, as the Dodgers topped the Astros 4-2 in 13 innings at Minute Maid Park, the Dodgers’ Edwin Rios became the first MLB player to lead off an inning with a two-run home run. Rios had come into the game as a pinch-hitter to open the 11^th inning (striking out). He then stayed on as DH.  In the top of the 13^th, as per 2020 rules, with the scored tied at 2-2, the Dodgers started the frame with Enrique “Kiki” Hernandez placed at second.  Rios, the first batter of the inning, then took reliever Cy Sneed deep for a two-run, lead-off homer that proved to be the game winner.

Rollin’ a 300

On July 29, as the Angels faced the Mariners in Anaheim, the Halos’ LF Justin Upton was sitting at 299 career home runs.   In the sixth inning, he got the landmark 300th long ball – a three-run shot off the Mariners’ Brian Shaw.   Despite Upton’s blast, the Angels lost the game 10-7.  As of July 1, Upton (in his 14th MLB season, had a career line of .265-300-941. He is a four-time All Star and has hit 30 or more home runs in four season and stolen 20 or more bases twice.

Back-To-Back, Bro’

 On April 23, in the second game of a Braves’ doubleheader against the Rockies (in Colorado), Justin Upton and his brother Melvin were playing LF and CF, respectively.  They were also batting second and third in the order. In the top of the fifth inning of that game, they became only the second set of brother to go deep back-to-back in an MLB game.  The only other brothers to accomplish the feat are the Pirates’ Lloyd and Paul Waner in 1938. 

The Call it the Streak

On July 30, on the back of a ninth-inning, three-run home run by Aaron Judge, the Yankees topped the Orioles 8-6. It was the Bombers 18^th consecutive win over the Orioles – dating back to April 4 of last season. Over those 18 games, the Yankees outscored the Orioles 153-75.  Even sadder for the Birds, it was the Yankees 17^th straight win at Camden Yards. The Yankees last lost in Baltimore was on July 10, 2018.

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The Individual July Stats Leaders

One qualifying point here.  For percentage stats – like average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage I am listing only those hitters with at least 20 July at bats. The Marlins, of course, had a number of games suspended due to the COVID outbreak.  That limited SS Miguel Rojas to just ten at bats. In those ten at bats he hit .700, with a 1.300 slugging percentage and .750 on-base percentage … which leads MLB. Rojas, however, does not qualify for BBRT’s leaderboard.

BATTING AVERAGE – minimum 20 at bats

AL:  D.J. LeMahieu, Yankees (.455); Kyle Lewis, Mariners (.455); Hanser Alberto Orioles (.440)

NL: Donovan Solano, Giants (.458); Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (.414); Dansby Swanson, Braves (.387)

A Big O-Fer

The most at bats through July 31 without a it is 21 – Hunter Pence, Giants.  

BASE HITS

AL: Kyle Lewis, Mariners (15); Jose Ramirez, Indians (12); David Fletcher, Angels (12)

NL: Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (12); Dansby Swanson, Braves (12); three with 11

HOME RUNS

AL: Christian Vazquez, Red Sox (4); Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays (4); seven with three

NL: Colin Moran, Pirates (4); Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (3); Trevor Story, Rockies (3); Corey Seager, Dodgers (3); Max Muncy, Dodgers (3)

The Total Picture

The Blue Jays’ Teoscar Hernandez, Tigers’ JaCoby Jones and Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski share the lead in total bases this July at 23.

RUNS BATTED IN

AL: Nelson Cruz, Twins (11); four with 8

NL: Dansby Swanson, Braves (11); Donovan Solano, Giants (10); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (9)

OBP – SLG  WOW!

Among hitters with at least 20 at bats, Indians’ Joe Ramirez led MLB in on-base percentage at .529 and JaCoby Jones of the Tigers had the highest slugging percentage at .885.

RUNS SCORED

AL: J.P Crawford, Mariners (9); Nelson Cruz, Twins (8); six with seven

NL: Trent Grisham, Padres (9); Freddie Freeman, Braves (8); Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (8)

STOLEN BASES

AL: Ten with two

NL: Tommy Pham, Padres (5); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (3); three with two

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

AL:  Niko Goodman, Tigers (13); Kyle Lewis, Mariners (13); Evan White, Mariners (13)

NL: Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (17); Yeonis Cespedes, Mets (13); Christian Yelich, Brewers (12); Dansby Swanson, Braves (12); Fernando Tatis, Jr. Padres (12)

No Whiff Zone

The Angels Andrelton Simmons has the most at bats without a whiff at 16,

WALKS DRAWN

AL:  Yandy Diaz, Rays (9); Carlos Santana, Indians (7); Domingo Santana, Indians (7); Anthony Rendon, Angels (7); J.P. Crawford. Mariners (7); Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox (7)

NL: Eric Sogard. Brewers (7); Freddie Freeman, Braves (7); Marcell Ozuna, Braves (7); Chris Taylor, Dodgers (7); Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (7); Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (7)

That Hurts!

The Cubs Anthony Rizzo is available for target practice. He has been hit by a pitch six times already this season. There’s a three-way tie for second place at three plunkings.

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PITCHING VICTORIES

AL:  Gerrit Cole, Yankees (2-0), Burch Smith, A’s (2-0); Dallas Keuchel, White Sox (2-0); Shane Bieber, Indians (2-0); Brandon Bielak, Astros (2-0)

NL:  Sonny Gray, Reds (2-0); Adam Kolarek, Dodgers (2-0); Ross Stripling, Dodgers (2-0)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (Minimum seven innings pitched)

AL: Shane Bieber, Indians (0.00/14 IP); Lance Lynn, Rangers (0.00/12 IP); Zach Plesac, Indians (0.00/8 IP)

NL:  Sonny Gray, Reds (0.71); Zack Wheeler, Phillies (1.29/7 IP); German Marquez, Rockies (1.54/11 2/3 IP)

Take It on Home, Boys

Rick Porcello of the Mets gave up the most runs in July, surrendering 11 runs (nine earned) over two starts (six innings pitched).

STRIKEOUTS

AL:  Shane Bieber, Indians (27 – 14 IP); Lance Lynn Rangers (17/12 IP); Dylan Bundy, Angels (15/12 2/3 IP)

NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (21/12 2/3 IP); Sonny Gray, Reds (20-12 2/3 IP); Luis Castillo, Reds (17/12 IP)

K-Men

Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer stand atop the list of strikeouts per nine innings – at 17.4 and 14.9. respectively.

SAVES

AL:  Joe Jimenez, Tigers (4); seven with two

NL: Wade Davis, Rockies (2); Trevor Gott, Giants (2); Mark Melancon, Braves (2); Drew Pomeranz, Padres (2); Archie Bradley, D-backs (2)

One Bad Outing Doesn’t Spoil the Whole Darn Barrel

Wade Davis of the Rockies has two save, despite a 16.88 earned run average in three appearances. Brad Hand of the Indians has two saves, despite a 15.43 earned run average in three appearances.

GAMES PITCHED

AL: Scott Barlow, Royals (5); Buck Farmer, Tigers (5); Greg Holland Royals (5); Evan Marshal, White Sox (5)

NL: Drew Pomeranz, Padres (5); Tanner Rainey, Nationals (5); Tyler Rogers, Giants (5)

I like to Finish What I Start

We saw three complete games in July – one each y the Yankees Gerrit Cole, Cubs Kyle Hendriks and National Matt Scherzer.

 

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Stathead.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com; ESPN.com

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

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Indians’ right-hander Shane Bieber tied a major-league record and set a new American-League standard last night (July 30, 2020), when he fanned his 13^th batter in an eight-inning, three-hit, no run performance against the Minnesota Twins.  (The Indians won 2-0.) It gave Bieber 27 strikeouts in his first two outings of the seasons. (Bieber fanned 14 Royals in a six-inning scoreless stint on July 24 – a game the Indians also won by a 2-0 score.  On the season, Bieber is now 2-0, with a 0.00 earned run average and 27 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched (seven hits and one walk).

Shane Bieber has struck out at least one batter in every inning he has pitched this season.

So, whose records did Bieber tie and break?  First, he broke a lesser-known record, held by a more widely known pitcher.  That would be the American League mark of 25 strikeouts in the first two appearance of a season – held by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Ryan set that mark back in April of 1978 (when he was with the Angels) – fanning 13 A’s in a six-inning, no-run, two hit, four walk outing on April 8 and following it up by fanning 12 Twins in a ten-inning, no-run, four-hit, four-walk outing on April 13.  Despite, Ryan’s stellar pitching, the A’s split the two games – losing 4-2 to the A’s and dropping the Twins 1-0 in 11 frames.  Ryan did not get a decision in either contest.

Now, for the MLB record Bieber tied (perhaps a better-known record by a lesser-known hurler) – the one that really gets Baseball Roundtable’s attention.  That is the MLB record of 27 whiffs in a pitcher’s first two mound appearance of a season. That one belongs to the Dodgers’ Karl Spooner and is even more “magical” than Bieber’s recent feat.  Why?  Because Sponger not only set the record for the most strikeouts in a pitcher’s first two appearance of the season, he did it in the first two appearances in his MLB career.

Spooner truly looked like he was going to be a “pitching phenom” for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1954, Spooner went 21-9, 3.14 at Fort Worth (Double A Texas League), fanning 262 batters in 238 innings – despite missing a month of the season with a knee injury.  That performance earned him a late-season call up to the “show” and a September 22 start against the league-leading (and already pennant-clinching) rival New York Giants. How did he do?  Spooner went the full nine innings, gave up just three hits and no runs – and set the record for strikeouts in an rookie’s inaugural game by fanning 15 Giants. That earned the 6’, 185-pound, 23-year-old -year-old southpaw a second start (September 26 against the Pirates).  He notched a second complete-game shutout, this time fanning a dozen Pirates.   So, after 18 MLB innings, he had given up just ten hits and six walks, thrown two complete-game shutouts and fanned 27.

For more on great first-game-ever pitching performances click here. 

Unfortunately, Spooner suffered a shoulder injury in Spring Trailing the following year – finishing his first (and last) full MLB season with an 8-6, 3.65 record in 29 appearances (14 starts). He made 28 minor league appearances between 1956 and 1958, but never returned to the majors.

The 25-year-old Bieber, by the way, is in his third MLB season. He was an All Star in 2019, when he went 15-6, 3.28 and led the AL in complete games (3) and shutout (2). His career record stands at 28-13, 3.57, with 404 strikeouts in 343 innings.

Primary resources: Stathead.com; Baseball-Reference.com; Elias Sports Bureau.

Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.