Joe Saunders #51

Joseph Francis Saunders III...resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with wife Shanel, and two daughters, Mattea and Avellina...1999 graduate of West Springfield (VA) High School...played college baseball at Virginia Tech University going 27-7 with the Hokies... created Team Saundo (@TeamSaundo) charitable program in 2009 to help underserved children through various initiatives.

2012

Split season between Arizona (21 GS) and Baltimore (7 GS)...acquired by the Orioles on Aug. 26 in exchange for RHP Matt Lindstrom ... Made 2 postseason starts going 1-0, 1.59 ERA (2 ER, 11.1 IP)... starting and winning pitcher in Wild Card game Oct. 5 at Texas (5.2,6,1,1,1,4) ... Limited left-handed batters to a .199 batting average (33x166) with zero HR allowed and only 5 extra base hits...over last two seasons held LHB to a .205 avg (69x336) ... Received 0 or 1 runs of support in 12 of 28 starts ... Posted a 1.24 ERA (5 ER, 36.1 IP) in first 5 starts, April 11-May 2 with Arizona.

2011

Went 12-13 with a 3.69 ERA (87 ER in 212.0 IP) in 33 starts in his first full season with the D-backs...established career bests in innings pitched and tied his career high in starts...Was 1 of 10 left-handers in the Major Leagues to total at least 30 starts and 200.0 innings in each of the last two seasons, joining Mark Buehrle, Gio Gonzalez, Cole Hamels, Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Rick Romero, CC Sabathia, C.J. Wilson and Randy Wolf...His 3.69 ERA and .266 opponents average were his best since 2008 (3.41/.253)...Held left-handers to a .212 average (36-for-170)...Induced a career-high 5 GIDP's on April 16 vs. Giants, tying the club record by Billy Buckner on Sept. 8, 2009 vs. Dodgers...Was 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA (59 ER in 166.0 IP) in his last 25 starts after starting 0-5 with a 5.48 ERA (28 ER in 46.0 IP) in his first 8...the 5-game losing streak was a career high...Retired 14 straight batters beginning with 2 outs in the third inning through the seventh inning on June 4 vs. Nationals...according to Elias Sports Bureau, marked his second-longest stretch as he sat down 15 straight on Sept. 11, 2009 vs. White Sox (with Angels)...Tossed first fifth-career complete game on July 26 @ Padres...his shutout bid was broken up by Jesus Guzman's solo home run with 2 outs in the ninth inning....POSTSEASON: Did not factor in the decision in NLDS Game 4 vs. Brewers (3 ER in 3.0 IP).

2010

Acquired in a trade with the Angels on July 25 and went on to post a 4.25 ERA (39 ER in 82.2 IP) and .293 opponents average with 19 walks and 50 strikeouts in 13 starts with the D-backs...went 6-10 with a 4.62 ERA (62 ER in 120.2 IP) in 20 starts with the Angels...Accumulated a combined career-high 114 strikeouts and 203.1 innings pitched, having worked at least 200.0 innings the first time in his career...Tossed 15 quality starts, his second-highest single-season total behind his 22 quality starts in 2008...Tossed at least 7.0 innings in 14 starts and went 8-3 with 1.65 ERA (20 ER in 109.0 IP) and .226 opponents average with 16 walks and 63 strikeouts in those contests...tossed at least 8.0 innings in 7 starts, surpassing last season's mark of 3 games, and went 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA (6 ER in 59.0 IP) and 2.05 opponents average with 8 walks and 28 strikeouts in those games...In his 9 victories, posted a 1.13 ERA (9 ER in 71.2 IP) and .209 opponents average with 12 walks and 37 strikeouts...Allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 16 of his 33 starts, going 9-2 with 1.52 ERA (20 ER in 118.1 IP) and .231 opponents average with 24 walks and 68 strikeouts...Tossed his second-career complete game shutout, 4-0, on May 14 vs. Athletics... recorded his second complete game of the season on June 9 @ A's...Struck out a season-high 8 batters on June 26 vs. Rockies in a 4-2 victory...retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced...Made his final start with the Angels on July 23 @ Rangers, taking the 1-0 loss despite allowing just 1 run on 7 hits with a walk over 7.0 innings...Acquired from the Angels on July 25 with pitchers Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez and Tyler Skaggs for RHP Dan Haren...Did not factor in the 3-2, extra-inning loss on July 29 @ Phillies in his D-backs debut despite allowing just 2 runs over 7.0 innings...Joined Curt Schilling as the only other D-backs pitcher to throw a complete game in his first home start with the Dbacks after accomplishing the feat on Aug. 3 vs. Nationals...Snapped a career-long 4-game losing streak with a 7-2 win on Aug. 30 vs. Padres...Collected his first big league hit on Sept. 4 vs. Astros and finished 2-for-4 with his first career RBI and stolen base, snapping an 0-for-15 career skid...became the fourth D-backs pitcher to record a stolen base, joining Shawn Estes (2005), Brian Anderson (1998, 1999) and Jeff Suppan (1998).

2009

Completed second full season with a 16-7 record with a 4.60 ERA (186 IP - 95 ER) in 31 starts with Angels....Is 33-14 in last two seasons with Angels, 48-22 lifetime...Among AL leaders in wins, ranked tied for 7th (tied with Jered Weaver)...Was Angels Opening Day starter...Pitched 6.2 innings in Opening Day victory, combining with relievers on 3-0 shutout (3 H, 2 BB, 2 SO)...Tossed first career shutout opposite Zack Greinke and the Royals, May 9 at Angel Stadium (1-0 win; 9 IP 5 H, 1 BB, 6 SO)...Shutout came two days after Jered Weaver tossed his first career complete game...Gave up seasonhigh eight runs and career-high four home runs, June 30 at Texas (9-5 loss; 3.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO, 4 HR)...Earned 40th career victory, June 24th vs. Rockies (11-3 win; 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR)... With a 40-19 record, set mark for highest winning percentage (.678) at 40 wins in club history...Was placed on the 15-day disabled list, August 8 with irritation in his left shoulder and was reactivated from DL, August 26... Won final seven decisions (7-0, 2.55) after returning from DL...Is 25-3 (33 starts) in his career when pitching seven innings-or-more, 7-1 in 2009...Matched career-high with 31 starts...Second in AL with a career-high 29 home runs allowed in 31 starts (24 allowed to right-handed batters), previous high was 21 HR in 2008...Among AL leaders, placed 8th with 202 hits allowed and 6th with 102 runs allowed...His .696 winning percentage was fourth highest in AL.

2008

Was 17-7 with one complete game and a 3.41 ERA (198 IP - 75 ER) in 31 starts...Allowed 187 hits (21 HR), walked 53 and struck out 103...Missed scheduled starts May 22 at Toronto due to illness (severe cold), July 13 at Oakland (birth of first child) and Sept. 23 at Seattle (kidney stone)...Set career bests in all major categories...Among AL leaders, ranked sixth in ERA, sixth in wins and posted the best road ERA (2.55) in the circuit...Became only third Angel in club history to open a season 6-0-or-better...Teammate Ervin Santana became fourth player to join group...Saunders and Santana became 8th pair of teammates since 1920 to start 6-0 simultaneously...The previous duo was Pedro Martinez (7-0) and John Burkett (7-0) of the 2002 Boston Red Sox (Courtesy of STATS LLC)...Is first Angel left-hander with 17 wins since Jarrod Washburn in 2002 (18-6)...Selected to first career All-Star Game...Pitched third inning (1 H) of AL's 4-3, 15-inning win at Yankee Stadium...Marked Angels first left-handed pitcher to be selected since Chuck Finley in 1996...Became first Angel with 12-or-more wins (12-5) at All-Star Break since Finley (12-4) and Langston (12-3) in 1991...Dropped 3-2 decision, July 8 at Texas...Marked first complete game of career...Struck out career-best nine batters, Sept. 28 vs. Texas...Dropped consecutive decisions (two starts) once (Aug. 22-27)...Allowed six runs each of those two starts (6.2 IP -12 ER) after limiting opponents to three-earned runs or less in previous 11 starts... Saunders improved to 14-5 in the Angels' 9-2 win July 30th at Fenway Park...No Angels' pitcher had won 14 games by the end of July since Chuck Finley and Mark Langston both won 14 in 1991...Angels were 23-8 in his 31 starts... Angels were 13-1 when he pitched 7-or-more innings...Allowed three consecutive home runs in second inning, June 9 vs. Tampa Bay (Evan Longoria, Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro)...Marked first Angel to allow three straight HRs in an inning since Jason Dickson (April 18, 2000 at Toronto)...At 12-4, became first 12-game winner in AL (also became AL's first seven, nine and 11-game winner; 7-1, 9-2, 11-3)...Saunders joined Frank Tanana as the only pitchers in club history to go 5-0 in April...Tanana accomplished the feat in April of 1978...Santana also joined the 5-0 April club... Along with Santana is just second duo in Major League history to post 5-0 records-or-better in month of April (Aaron Sele & Rick Helling - both 5-0 for 1998 Texas Rangers)...Pitched eight innings-or-more in six of his 31 starts...Had no eight-inning performances in his career prior to 2008 season...Is 7-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his career in April... Is 18-5 in career after an Angels loss...Posted 15 consecutive scoreless innings, Sept. 12-28, equaling best by an Angel in 2008 (Jon Garland)...Pitched into seventh inning-or-later 18 times...Limited opponents to three earned runs-or-less 24 times...Walked more than three batters just twice...He and wife Shanel welcomed their first child July 12 (daughter Mattea).

2007

Was 8-5 with a 4.44 ERA (107.1 IP - 53 ER) in 18 starts with Angels in 2007...Allowed 129 hits (11 HR), walked 34 and struck out 69...Had four stints with Angels this season...Was 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA (86.1 IP - 49 ER) in 14 starts with triple-A Salt Lake in 2007...Equaled career-best 7.2 innings pitched, Aug. 19 at Boston (also Sept. 8, 2006 vs. Toronto)...Posted career-best eight-game win streak dating back to 2006 (July 19, 2006-Aug. 8, 2007; 11 starts)...Six-game win streak this season was longest by an Angel...Was 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA (18.1 IP - 4 ER) in three April starts...Finished 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA (51 IP - 21 ER) in eight road starts...Posted 3-0 record and 2.97 ERA (30.1 IP - 10 ER) in five starts prior to All-Star break...Limited opponents to three earned runs-or-less in 11 of 18 starts...Walked 34 batters - 1 IBB (1.88 per start) and struck out 69 (3.83 per start)...Angels were 11-7 in games he has pitched this season...Is 9-1 in career after an Angels loss...Lone loss came Sept. 26, 2007 at Texas (16-2 score).

2006

Saunders made 13 starts for the Angels in 2006. He was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on July 18 and won his first Major League game that day, beating the Indians by allowing one earned run on four hits in seven innings. He was sent back down following the start, then recalled for good on Aug. 1. He pitched 205 2/3 innings between the Majors and Minors, the most he has thrown in any of his previous three seasons of professional baseball. Saunders won his first four starts of the year, allowing fewer than two earned runs in each contest, and finished 7-3 with a 4.71 ERA. The left-hander struck out a career-best eight batters against the Royals on Sept. 19. He won that game after giving up one earned run in seven innings. Saunders went 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA while starting on an extra day of rest, not including his first two starts for the Angels, as both followed Minor League outings. He was 2-3 with an 11.86 ERA on days with regular four days of rest. Saunders was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He went 10-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) with Salt Lake.

2005

Began third professional season at double-A Arkansas...Registered 7-4 record with two complete games, one shutout and a 3.49 ERA (105.1 IP - 41 ER) in 18 starts...Allowed 107 hits (9 HR), walked 32 and struck out 80 batters... Tossed complete game, May 1 vs. San Antonio in the first game of a doubleheader (6-2 win; 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 6 SO) and complete game shutout, July 1 at Tulsa (4-0 score; 9 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1 WP)...Finished 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA (46.2 IP - 12 ER) in eight starts at home...Posted 2-0 record and 0.43 ERA (21 IP - 1 ER) in three starts in July, earning Organization Pitcher of the Month honors...Also named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for June 27-July 3...Strikeout high for season was 10, July 12 at San Antonio (7 IP)...Made nine starts at triple-A Salt Lake, recording 3-3 mark with one complete game shutout and a 4.58 ERA (55 IP - 28 ER)...Allowed 65 hits (3 HR), walked 21 and struck out 29...Blanked Las Vegas on one-hit, July 23 at Salt Lake in first game of doubleheader (4-0 score; 7 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 7 SO)...Overall, was 10-7 with three complete games, two shutouts and a 3.86 ERA in 27 starts to earn Angels' Organization Pitcher of the Year...Was originally recalled by Angels, Aug. 16, and made major league debut same day vs. Toronto...Received no decision in Angels' 4-3 loss (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO)...Was optioned Aug. 17 and recalled final time, Sept. 6...Other start with Angels came Sept. 14 at Seattle, receiving no decision in Angles 10-9 loss (2 IP, 5 H, 6 R 6 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO). .168 average against.

2004

Began third professional season at single-A Rancho Cucamonga, going 9-7 with 3.41 ERA (105.2 IP - 40 ER) in 19 starts... Allowed 106 hits in 105.2 innings, walking 23 while striking out 76...Owned .265 average against...Promoted to double-A Arkansas, going 4-3 with 5.77 ERA (39 IP - 25 ER) in eight starts...Struck out 25 while walking 14...Opponents batted .327 against him.

2003

Missed entire season due to fraying of labrum in left shoulder.

2002

Began first professional season at rookie-level Provo, going 2-1 with 3.62 ERA (32.1 IP - 13 ER) in eight starts...Allowed only one home run in 40 hits...Struck out 21 while walking 11...Promoted to single-A Cedar Rapids, posting 3-1 record and 1.88 ERA (28.2 IP - 6 ER) in five starts...Struck out 27 while walking only nine and owned .168 average against.