LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN: The Dodgers closed out their first homestand of the season on Tuesday night, improving to 4-2 on the season with a 5-2 victory over the Rockies. Julio Urías was spectacular, firing 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out six without issuing a walk. At the plate, Will Smith stayed red hot, going 2-for-4 and homering in his third consecutive game. Elsewhere, Max Muncy and Jason Heyward clubbed solo homers while Mookie Betts had his first two-hit game of the 2023 campaign. Tonight, the Dodgers begin a seven-game road trip with the first of four with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following their stay in Arizona, the Dodgers will fly to San Francisco Sunday evening and begin a three-game series with the Giants on Monday night. Tonight is the Diamondbacks’ 2023 home opener and the Dodgers will be taking part in the festivities in Downtown Phoenix for the first since 2008, when Arizona beat the Dodgers, 9-3, behind former Dodgers Dan Haren and Orlando Hudson. Los Angeles beat the D-Backs in their 2003 home opener, getting a complete-game shutout from Hideo Nomo, who bested Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
DIGGING THE LONGBALL: Los Angeles banged three homers on Tuesday night, including the first of the year for Max Muncy and Will Smith’s third, which tied for second in the Major Leagues. The Dodgers have hit 13 home runs this season, which is tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the most in baseball. Los Angeles leads the Majors in OPS with a .903 mark and are tied with Milwaukee for the most runs scored in the NL with 38.
The Dodgers have homered in six straight games to begin the season, marking their most through six games since 2019 (17). That 2019 club homered in their first 10 games to begin the campaign.
LET’S GET IT STARTED: Dodger southpaw Julio Urias spun 6.0 scoreless innings on Tuesday night, giving Los Angeles its fifth quality start in six tries. Those five quality starts lead the Major Leagues, just ahead of the Guardians (4) and Rays (4). Dodgers starters have posted a 1.80 ERA (7 ER/35.0 IP) in the first six games of the season, which ranks second in the Majors, trailing only the Twins (1.08). The starters have struck out 35 and walked just three and their 0.71 WHIP leads all of baseball, just ahead of Minnesota (0.90).
WILL I AM: Will Smith belted his third homer of the season in the first inning Tuesday, giving him home runs in three consecutive games and extending his hitting streak to five games. Smith is hitting .421 (8-for-19) with three homers, 10 RBI and a 1.478 OPS. He has reached 11times in 23 plate appearances. In 50 games against the Diamondbacks, he is slashing .302/.383/.599 with 12 homers and 34 RBI.
SAY HEY: New Dodger outfielder Jason Heyward cracked his second homer of the season Tuesday night, surpassing his 2022 48-game total of one home run. Heyward has just three-career homers at Chase Field in 34 games, belting two for the Braves in 2014 and one for the Cubbies in 2021. The 2010 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up is 3-for-9 with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored in four games this
season.
vs. THE SNAKES: The Dodgers split their four games with Arizona last week and are now 16-7 in their last 23 against the Diamondbacks, including a 7-3 record at Chase Field against the Snakes in 2022. Since the start of the 2020 season, the Dodgers are 40-12 against the Diamondbacks overall with a 19-8 mark in the desert. 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 40-12 .769
Phillies vs Nationals NL East 36-12 .750
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
Braves vs Nationals NL East 36-15 .706
HOW THE WEST IS BEING WON: The Dodgers improved their mark to 4-2 on the season and are now 58-24 (.707) 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 that nine-year span, the Dodgers are 411-244 (.627) against the NL West
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. D-BACKS: RHP DUSTIN MAY (0-0, 0.00 ERA in 1 GS in 2023)
2023 NOTES:
• He pitched a career-high seven innings in his last start, recording the no decision with four strikeouts
• Texas native took the mound in five games (four starts) during Cactus League play, posting a 5-4 record with 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) and 20 strikeouts against just seven walks
• Pitched in Spring Training for the first time since 2021…missed 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery
vs. D-BACKS:
• Will face the Snakes for the fifth time in his career…he has allowed eight earned runs over 12.1 innings in four games (three starts) against the Diamondbacks
2022 NOTES:
• Split season between ACL Dodgers, Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles Dodgers…pitched in one game, five games, and six games respectively as he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery suffered on May 1, 2021
•
Struck out three batters in 2.0 innings in lone Arizona Complex League game…with Triple-A Oklahoma City, went 1-0 in 5 starts, posting a 1.89 ERA (4 ER/19.0 IP) and giving up four hits and two homers
• Appeared in six Major League games and posted a 4.50 ERA (15 ER/30.0 IP), fanning 29 batters against 14 walks…pitched aggressively against Major League lefties holding them to a .148
CAREER NOTES:
• In his fifthbig league season with a8-8record and a 3.11ERA in 38Major League games (26starts) with the Dodgers in 2019-22…has limited opponents to a .212 batting average with a 1.06 WHIP
• Started just five Major League games last season before suffering a UCL injury on May 1
• Made his big league debut on August 2, 2019 against San Diego, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings, taking the loss in the Dodgers’ 5-2 defeat
• Earned his first win on August 13, 2019 at Miami after tossing 5.2 innings of one-run ball, striking out five batters while allowing a walk
• Has an 24-17 mark with a 3.50 ERA in 78 games (73 starts) in four minor league seasons…has 394 strikeouts in 403.2 minor league innings
• Named 2018 California League Post-Season All-Star, as well as 2017 Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star
• Originally selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs begin their opening homestand of the 2023 season vs. Dodgers (April 6-9) and Brewers (April 10-12).
♦ The D-backs are 14-10 (.583) in Chase Field home openers (2-3 vs. Dodgers; last in 2020).
♦ Christian Walker has reached base safely in each of his first 6 games this season…is batting .429 (6-for-14) with 1 home run and 2 RBI in 4 games vs. Dodgers this season.
♦ Nick Ahmed is hitting .333 (4-for-12) with 1 double and 1 RBI in his first 4 games this season.
♦ Josh Rojas is hitting .300 (3-for-10) with 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 walk and 1 stolen base over his first 3 games this season.
♦ Merrill Kelly is 2 strikeouts shy of 500 in his career with the D-backs and surpassing Wade Miley (499) for 8th all-time in franchise history.
GUB’S FAREWELL TOUR
♦ Greg Schulte, affectionately nicknamed The Gub’nuh by his colleagues and the D-backs only broadcaster to call games since the inaugural season in 1998, will call his final Chase Field home opener and season in the booth.
VS. DODGERS
♦In their opening series @ Dodger Stadium from March 30-April 2, the D-backs secured their first series split or win vs. Dodgers since April 25-27, 2022 at home (2-1), May 8-9, 2018 for a road 2-gamer (1-1), April 13-15, 2018 for a road 3-gamer (2-1) and April 14-17, 2017 for a road 4-gamer (2-2).
SWIPING HOME
♦ Josh Rojas’ steal of home on Tuesday @ Padres marked the fi rst in Major League Baseball this season.
♦ His steal of home marked the 11th in franchise history and fi rst since Christian Walker on Sept. 11, 2022 @ Rockies [source: Sportradar].
CHAOS ON THE BASE PATHS
♦ The D-backs’ 4 stolen bases in 8th inning on Tuesday @ Padres tied a franchise record (3x; last: 2016) [source: Sportradar].
♦ The last time Arizona stole 4 bases in an inning was against San Diego on Oct. 1, 2016…the other time was Sept. 21, 2011 vs. Pirates [source: Sportradar].
♦ The D-backs’ 9 stolen bases this season lead the NL, ahead of the Pirates (7), Mets (6) and Brewers (5).
SMALL BALL
♦ Since 2022, Arizona’s 26 bunt hits are the third most in the Majors, behind the Giants (30) and Nationals (27).
♦ The D-backs’ 83 bunt attempts since 2022 (sacrifi ce hits + bunt hits + bunt outs) are the most in baseball, ahead of the Angels (77) and Nationals (65).
♦ Since 2019, Arizona is batting .452 (61-for-135) on bunts… their 9 RBI via bunts are tied for third most in baseball (also: Cubs & Phillies), behind the Dodgers (12), Rockies (10), Nationals (10) and Padres (10).
RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
AT A GLANCE: In his fifth season with the D-backs.
• Played 5 seasons in the Rays’ system (2010-14) then 4 seasons (2015-18) with the SK Wyverns in the KBO League.
• Rays’ eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is 2 strikeouts shy of 500 in his career with the D-backs.
• 500 strikeouts would surpass Wade Miley (499) for 8th all-time in franchise history, behind Randy Johnson (2,077), Brandon Webb (1,065), Robbie Ray (998), Patrick Corbin (897), Curt Schilling (875), Zack Greinke (683) and Dan Haren (570).
LAST START: Made his fi rst start of the season on March 31 vs. Dodgers (ND; 0 ER in 3.2 IP).
VS. DODGERS: Is 0-9 with a 5.64 ERA (42 ER in 67.0 IP) in 13 career starts.
• Has allowed 3 earned runs in each of his 6 career starts (3 quality) vs. Dodgers @ Chase Field with an 8.63 K/9 IP.
ARIZONA KID: Grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., and attended Desert Mountain High School, Yavapai College and Arizona State University…attended Arizona State University (2010) and helped the Sun Devils reach the College World Series in 2010…went to Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. (2008-09) and went 15-1 in 2 seasons.
2022 RECAP: Went 13-8 with a 3.37 ERA (75 ER in 200.1 IP).
• Set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts (177).
• Had the third-most pickoff s (4) in the Majors behind Robbie Ray/SEA (6) and Taijuan Walker/NYM (5). 2022 HARDWARE: In 2022, named NL Pitcher of the Month for July after going 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA (6 ER in 41.1 IP), 8 walks, 33 strikeouts and a 0.77 WHIP in 6 starts.
