Game Notes – 05/08/2025

When the 1984 Tigers closed up shop for the night on May 22, the club was an astounding 33-5 (.868 winning percentage) with an equally double-look, spit-take worthy run differential of 110.  That immense difference between runs scored and allowed through 38 contests hadn’t been reached since 1939, when the Yankees had piled up a difference of 133 on their way to a 31-7 (.816) start.  To get to the point, when it comes to soaring from the start, the 1984 Tigers set an incredibly high bar for all succeeding versions within the franchise.  The 2025 crew can’t match that World Series winning  club, but the connections are there.  The 2025 team owns a differential of 83 – the best for the franchise through 38 games since that ’84 team.  The 2025 staff’s ERA – 2.95 – is the best at this stage since 1984, and while the team winning percentage this year (.658) can’t draw a direct, unimpeded line to the band from 41 years ago, there’s only one better mark in between – a .684 winning percentage from the 2014 outfit.

The Tigers swept the Rockies in a doubleheader by the scores of 10-2 and 11-1.  The franchise last produced 10+ runs in both ends of a doubleheader in 1947, when they beat the Browns 11-2 and 10-1 on August 31.  In this present-day demolition, Spencer Torkelson was among the stars at the plate, combining for five hits with a pair of doubles and four RBI.  In the double-dip destruction 78 years ago, third baseman George Kell had five hits, a pair of doubles, a steal and seven RBI.

In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Tigers righty Casey Mize went the first six and picked up his sixth win of the year to tie for the AL lead in the category.  Detroit hadn’t had a six-game winner at this exact stage of the season (through 37 games) since 2014, when Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer each were 6-1.  

Diamondbacks righty Brandon Pfaadt put up six-and-a-third scoreless innings to win his sixth game and take sole possession of the NL lead in the category.  Arizona hadn’t had a six-game winner through 38 games since 2008, when Brandon Webb was 8-0.

Brayan Bello worked through four-and-two-thirds scoreless innings to help his Red Sox to a 5-0 win on Thursday.  The 25-year-old has made three of his four starts this year at Fenway Park, and in those three, claims a 1.10 ERA over 16.1 innings.  Since 1920, there are 179 Red Sox hurlers who’ve made at least 15 home starts in a season, with the five best by ERA looking like this: 

1.53     Roger Clemens in 1990

2.03     Tex Hughson in 1943

2.10     Derek Lowe in 2002

2.21     Lefty Grove in 1936

2.22     Pedro Martínez in 1999

Kris Bubic assembled his fourth scoreless outing of the season, going the first seven innings and allowing six hits and a walk and striking out seven.  The Royals’ southpaw is fourth in the AL with a 1.69 ERA, is tied for fourth with four wins and is tied for eighth with 47 strikeouts.  In Kansas City history, there are eight other pitchers who had at least eight starts at this juncture of the season (39 games) and an ERA below 2.00; only one of them owned a mark lower than Bubic’s.  In 2009, Zack Greinke held a 0.60 ERA in eight outings.  Bubic lands just better than Tim Belcher in 1997, who posted a 1.72, and Seth Lugo from last season, when the righty owned a 1.74.  Bret Saberhagen (1.75 in 1987) fills out the rest of the top five.

Bobby Witt, Jr. did a whole lot from the dish on Thursday, doubling twice, scoring twice, driving in two and nabbing two stolen bases.  The shortstop – who also added two singles – is one of 35 players since 1901 to have a line while hitting out of the two-spot that included at least two of all these:  extra-base hits, runs, RBI and steals.  There are a few other shortstops in the group:  Rabbit Maranville (1929), Luis Aparicio (1965), John Valentin (1995) and Barry Larkin (also 1995). 

Kyle Schwarber was 1-for-4 to extend his on-base streak to 37 games – this run is tied for the fourth longest to open a season this century.

2000-2025:  Longest On-Base Streak to Begin a Campaign

44    Matt Holliday for the Cardinals in 2015

41    Albert Pujols for the Cardinals in 2008

40    Odúbel Herrera for the Phillies in 2018*

37    José Bautista for the Blue Jays in 2014

37    Kyle Schwarber for the Phillies in 2025*

*These two are the two longest streaks for any Phillies player since 1901

Reds catcher Jose Trevino had three doubles – he’s one of 168 catchers since 1901 to have a three-double game and the first since another Reds backstop did it:  Austin Wynns on June 29, 2024.  The other Cincinnati reps to be on the list:  Ernie Lombardi (five times, in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937 and 1938), Ray Lamanno (1947), Johnny Edwards (1965) and Jason LaRue (2003).  Lombardi’s five are the most for anyone, with Mickey Cochrane and Victor Martinez each having four appearances.  

Shohei Ohtani homered for his 41st run scored.  He’s one of 26 players since 1901 to have reached that number through 38 team games and the first since Bryce Harper in 2017.  Before Harper, Álex Rodríguez in 2000 had been the last.  Here’s the rest of the entire collection, the 20th century lineup:

1900s:  Nap Lajoie (1901), Fielder Jones (1901), Dave Fultz (1902)

1910s:  Ty Cobb (1911, 1915)

1920s:  Ty Cobb (1921), Babe Ruth (1926, 1928), Lefty O’Doul (1929)

1930s:  Babe Ruth (1930), Babe Herman (1930), Chuck Klein (1931, 1932), Jimmie Foxx (1932), Arky                           Vaughan (1934), Lou Gehrig (1936)

1940s:  Johnny Mize (1947), Eddie Joost (1949)

1950s:  Mickey Mantle (1955, 1956)

1990s:  Frank Thomas (1994), Larry Walker (1997), Roberto Alomar (1999)

Thanks to Baseball Reference and its extraordinary research database, Stathead, for help in assembling this piece.