ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ Arizona is 1-1 on its opening 6-game road trip @ Dodgers (1-1) and Padres (April 3-4).
♦ Madison Bumgarner, in his last 3 starts @ Dodgers, has allowed 3 runs or fewer and posted a .167 opponent average (9-for-54).
FACING KERSHAW
♦ Christian Walker’s 4 home runs off Clayton Kershaw since 2018 is the most against in the Majors while Evan Longoria’s .310 average is the highest against:
NAME HR NAME AVG NAME OPS
C. Walker …………..4 E. Longoria .. ..310 C. Blackmon ….1.080
C. Blackmon ………….3 C. Blackmon ……304 C. Walker ….. 1.025
E. Escobar ……………..2 C. Walker ……. .286 K. Marte……… .866
K. Marte ……………2 K. Marte …….. .281 E. Longoria …. .734
1 + 99
♦ On Friday night, Kyle Lewis collected his first career pinch-hit home run (go-ahead 2-run) and first with the D-backs in the top of the 8th vs. Dodgers.
♦ In his first Major League relief appearance, Drey Jameson earned his fourth career win (W; 1 ER in 4.0 IP, 5 K).
GO AHEAD
♦ Kyle Lewis marked the team’s second go-ahead home run after the seventh inning since the final game of the 2022 season on Oct. 5 @ Brewers (Josh Rojas).
♦ Arizona had 6 go-ahead homers after the seventh inning that resulted in wins in 2022.
CLOSE ONES
♦ Last night marked the D-backs’ fi rst 1-run victory vs. Dodgers since July 30, 2021 (W, 6-5) and first 1-run win @ Dodger Stadium since Aug. 9, 2019 (W, 3-2).
♦ In their last 12 matchups (since 2022), the D-backs are 4-3 vs. Dodgers in games decided by 2 or fewer runs.
♦ In 2022, Arizona’s 17 1-run victories were the most in a season since 2019 (24).
TRAILING LATE
♦ The D-backs marked their first win vs. Dodgers when trailing after the 7th inning since July 31, 2020 @ Chase Field (W, 5-3)
WALKER REMAINS A DODGER DELIGHT
♦ Christian Walker has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 road games @ Dodgers, since Sept. 14, 2021, at a .326 clip (15-for-46)/1.097 OPS with 6 home runs, 10 RBI and 3 walks.
♦ His 15 home runs and 38 RBI vs. Dodgers since 2019 (61 G) are the most in baseball:
LHP MADISON BUMGARNER ♦ #40 ♦ 6-4/240 ♦ 33
AT A GLANCE: Fourth season with the D-backs…agreed to a 5-year deal through 2024 on Dec. 17, 2019.
• 4-time NL All-Star (2013-16), 3-time World Series champion (’10, ’12, ’14), 2014 World Series MVP and 2-time Louisville Slugger® Silver Slugger Awards™ winner (’14-15).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his 41st career start vs. Dodgers and 25th start @ Dodger Stadium.
• Since 2009, has made more starts (40) against the Dodgers than any other pitcher in the Majors.
VS. DODGERS: Is 16-17 with a 2.90 ERA (81 ER in 251.1 IP), 1.11 WHIP and .232 opponent avg. in 41 career appearances.
• In 3 starts last season, was 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA (9 ER in 17.0 IP), 1.12 WHIP and .219 opponent avg.
RECENTLY AT THE RAVINE: Won on Sept. 21 @ Dodgers, allowing just 1 run on 1 hit over 6.0 frames in his 2022 finale.
MOUND MILESTONE CONTINUES: Needs 4 strikeouts to tie Chris Sale (2,064) for 79th place on the all-time strikeout list.
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER FAST START: In 2022, was 1 of 2 NL pitchers to not allow more than 3 runs in his first 8 starts (also: Miles Mikolas/STL).
• His 2.29 ERA was the second lowest of his career through 8 games behind his 2.18 mark set in 2013.
A WORKHOUSE: Since 2011, is 1 of 4 pitchers to make at least 30 starts in 8 or more seasons along with Max Scherzer (9), Jose Quintan (8) and Just Verlander (8).
2022 RECAP: Went 7-15 with a 4.88 ERA (86 ER in 158.2 IP) in 30 starts in his third season with Arizona.
• Made his eighth career Opening Day start (third as a D-Back) on April 7 vs. Padres.
• Was 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA (4 ER in 24.0 IP) in his first 6 starts of the season.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
VEN STEVEN: The Arizona Diamondbacks returned the favor on Friday night, erasing a one-run lead in the eighth inning and outlasting the Dodgers, 2-1, to even the series. The Dodgers offense recorded five hits and nine walks but stranded 12 runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position as they dropped their first game of the 2023 season. The Dodgers will look to take a series lead this evening as future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will take the ball for the Boys in Blue in his season debut at 6:10 p.m. After the conclusion of their matchup on Sunday afternoon, the Dodger will welcome the Rockies for two games as they conclude their first homestand of the 2023 season.
DUCKS ON THE POND: Despite the offensive woes on Friday night, Dustin May shined bright for the Dodgers. The right-hander tossed a career-high 7.0 innings, allowing three hits without giving up a run and striking out four batters in his season debut. The offense was led by Mookie Betts as he delivered the lone run of the game, blasting a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Dodgers a short-lived lead. He would finish the game 1-for-3 with two walks while Miguel Vargas reached a game-high four times (three walks, double). David Peralta added another hit on Friday and has hit safely in both games this season. He has three hits and one walk in eight plate appearances for the Boys in Blue.
SNAKE KING: Former MVP Clayton Kershaw will make his first start of the season against the Diamondbacks tonight and he is 20-11 with a 2.70 ERA (75 ER/250.0 IP) and 276 strikeouts. Last season, he tossed two gems against the Snakes, firing 13 innings, allowing one run on eight hits while striking out 15 to record a perfect 2-0 mark. In his career at Dodger Stadium against the Diamondbacks, he is 11-1 with a 1.60 ERA (21 ER/118.0 IP) and 135 strikeouts in 19 starts. Since losing to the Diamondbacks on August 30, 2012 at Dodger Stadium, the southpaw has posted a perfect 7-0 record with a 1.62 ERA (14 ER/77.2 IP) and 90 strikeouts in 12 starts against the D-Backs at Dodger Stadium.
WILL I AM: Will Smith went 1-for-3 with two walks last night, extending his hitting streak against the Diamondbacks to five games (9-for-16, 5 RBI). In 49 games against the Diamondbacks, he is a .303 (48-for-158) hitter with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 33 RBI. On Thursday night, he set a new Opening Day Dodger franchise mark for RBI from the catcher position, surpassing Roy Campanella (2), A.J. Ellis and Yasmani Grandal, who previously held the mark with three. The former Louisville Cardinal also tied a franchise mark with three hits from the Catcher spot on Opening Day, joining Hank DeBerry (1929), Roy Campanella (’52, ’53), Steve Yeager (1978), Mike Scioscia (1991), Todd Hundley (2000), Paul Lo Duca (2004) and Austin Barnes (2019).
vs. ARI: The Dodgers fell to the Diamondbacks last night, but are still 15-6 an their last 21 against the Diamondbacks, including a 8-3 record at Dodger Stadium against the Snakes since 2022. Since the start of the 2020 season, the Dodgers are 39-11 against the Diamondbacks with a 20-4 mark at Dodger Stadium. According to Sportradar, the Dodgers record against the Diamondbacks is the best record against a division opponent since 2020:
Team Opponent Division W-L Pct
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks NL West 39-11 .780
Phillies vs Nationals NL East 36-12 .750
Braves vs Nationals NL East 35-14 .714
Mariners vs Rangers AL West 35-13-1 .729
Giants vs Diamondbacks NL West 34-14 .708
Rays vs Orioles AL East 34-14 .708
OLD WESTERN: The Dodgers dropped to 1-1 on the season and are now 55-23 against the National League West dating back to last season. The Dodgers have posted nine straight winning seasons against the National League West division, including four 50+ win seasons against their NL West foes (2014, 2019, 2021-22). In the nine-year span, the Dodgers are 408-243 (.627) against the NL West.
TONIGHT’S STARTER LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW (12-3, 2.28 ERA in 22 GS in 2022)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
• Started four games in Spring Training, going 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA (7 ER/18.1 IP) with 16 strikeouts against just two walks…held a 1.04 WHIP
• Both victories came in his last two starts against the Guardians on March 21 and the Angels on March 26 at Dodger Stadium
VS. D-BACKS:
• Last faced the Snakes on Sept. 19, 2022, snagging the victory after firing 6.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out 10
• Owns a lifetime 20-11 record against the club with a 2.70 ERA (75 ER/250.0 IP) and 276 strikeouts against 65 walks…has secured 11 of those victories at Dodger Stadium
2022 NOTES:
• Veteran southpaw had a stellar season, going 12-3 over 22 starts with a 2.28 ERA (32 ER/126.1 IP) with 137 strikeouts against just 23 walks in 493 total batters faced…produced his 11th season of double-digit victories in 15 years
• Became the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader on April 30, 2022 against Detroit, striking out Spencer Torkelson in the fourth inning, passing Don Sutton (2,696)…has 2,807 career strikeouts and stands 24th on the all-time Major League strikeout list…passed Cy Young with strikeout 2,804 in game 162
• Started his first Midsummer Classic in 2022 at Dodger Stadium, firing a scoreless frame and striking out one…was a member of his ninth All-Star team
• Tabbed a 9.76 strikeout-per-nine innings mark and limited hitters to a .206/.246/.310 slashline…did not allow a run in six of 22 starts, securing victories in five of the six outings: April 13 at MIN, May 7 at CHC, July 3 vs. SD, July 15 at LAA, Sept. 13 at ARI, Sept. 30 vs. COL
• Took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Angels on July 15 before a single by Luis Rengifo broke up his Perfect Game bid… finished with 8.0 scoreless and became the first pitcher in Major League History to have two games of 7.0 perfect baseball in the same season since 1961…other occurrence was his first start and win of the year in Minnesota on April 13, striking out a season-high 13-batters on 80 pitches
• Tossed 5.0+ innings in 18 of his 22 starts, notching 12 quality starts for a .800 winning percentage, his highest mark since the 2017 season…also fired double-digit strikeouts three times: April 13 at MIN, July 9 vs. CHC, Sept. 19 vs. ARI
CAREER NOTES:
• Since the start of the live-ball era in 1920, has the lowest all-time career ERA (2.48) and WHIP (1.00) among starting pitchers with at least 1,500.0 innings pitched…his .209 opponents’ average ranks third among pitchers with that qualifier, behind only Nolan Ryan (.204) and Sandy Koufax (.205) and his strikeout-per-nine mark of 9.79 ranks 5th
• Became the ninth all-time pitcher to win three or more Cy Youngs after the 2014 season since the award was instituted in 1956…became the 14th NL pitcher to win the award via a unanimous vote in 2014…by winning the award in 2013-14, he became the ninth pitcher in either league to win the award in consecutive seasons…finished second in the 2012 and 2017 Cy Young voting, third in 2015 and fifth in 2016
• Became the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader on April 30, 2022 against Detroit, striking out Spencer Torkelson in the fourth inning, passing Don Sutton (2,696)…has 2,807 career strikeouts and stands 24th on the all-time Major League strikeout list…passed Cy Young with strikeout 2,804 in game 162
• Became the all-time leader in postseason strikeouts with 207 after striking out six batters in Game 5 of the 2020 World Series…passed Justin Verlander (205) to earn the distinction
• Started his first Midsummer Classic in 2022 at Dodger Stadium, firing a scoreless frame and striking out one…was a member of his ninth All-Star team
• Topped the Majors with 301 strikeouts in 2015 and led the NL in Ks in 2011 and 2013…has collected 200-plus strikeouts in seven of his 11 big league seasons, which is the most in franchise history and the fourth most in National League history
• Obtained his 2,000th career strikeout in the second inning against Milwaukee on June 2, 2017, reaching the milestone in 1,837.2 innings, the
fourth fastest all-time behind only Pedro Martinez (1715.1 IP), Randy Johnson (1734.0 IP) and Max Scherzer (1784.0)
• His 13 career postseason victories are the most by a Dodger pitcher in franchise history and is fifth overall in MLB history…also holds the franchise lead in postseason starts (30), innings pitched (189.0), strikeouts (207), and losses (12)
