LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
SEEKING OASIS: The Dodgers saw their three-game winning streak snapped last night, falling to the Diamondbacks in their first road loss of the season, 6-3. Clayton Kershaw failed to secure win No. 199 in his 400th-career start and the offense mustered just five hits. Tonight, the Dodgers continue their seven-game road trip (1-1) with the third contest of four with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following their stay in Arizona, the Dodgers will fly to San Francisco tomorrow evening and begin a three-game series with the Giants on Monday night. The Dodgers walked nine times last night and lead the Major Leagues with 48 free passes. The club also leads the National League with an .867 OPS and a .500 slugging percentage. On the other end of the spectrum, the Dodgers have stolen just one base thus far, tied for dead last in the Majors along with Cincinnati, Minnesota and Texas.
DIGGING THE LONGBALL: The Dodgers hit two more homers last night, courtesy of rookie James Outman and super utilityman, Chris Taylor. The Dodgers have hit 16 home runs this season, which leads the National League and ranks second in the big leagues, trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays (18). Los Angeles also leads the National League with 46 runs scored. The Dodgers have homered in eight straight games to begin the season and their 16 longballs are the club’s most through seven games since 2019 (21). That 2019 club homered in their first 10 games to begin the campaign. On this date in 2015, current Dodger special assistant Adrián González became the first player in Major League history to slug five home runs in his team’s first three games of the season.
LET’S GET IT STARTED: Dodger legend Clayton Kershaw issued back-to-back homers in the sixth inning last night that prevented him from securing a quality start, but Los Angeles still leads the big leagues with six quality starts, just ahead of Tampa Bay (5). Dodger starters have posted a 2.30 ERA (12 ER/47.0 IP) in the first eight games of the season, which ranks second in the Majors, trailing only the Twins (1.12). The starters have struck out 44 and walked just seven and their 0.81 WHIP leads all of baseball, just ahead of Minnesota (0.87).
WILL I AM: Will Smith had the night off, but on Thursday ripped a double in the third inning that extended his hitting streak to a Dodger season high six games. Smith is hitting .391 (9-for-23) with three homers, 10 RBI and a 1.377 OPS. He has reached 13 times in 28 plate appearances. In 51 games against the Diamondbacks, he is slashing .301/.384/.596 with 12 homers and 34 RBI.
STAY HOT, KID: Rookie Dodger outfielder James Outman hit a solo homer off Madison Bumgarner in the second inning and finished the game going 1-for-3. Outman, who was born in Redwood City, went to Cal State Sacramento and grew up a Giants fan, was 17 when Bumgarner was last pitching San Francisco to a World Series title in 2014. On the season, Outman is slashing .350/.519/.850 with a 1.369 OPS. His seven RBI rank third on the team, trailing just Will Smith (10) and Trayce Thompson (8) while his six walks are tied with Mookie Betts for third on the squad, trailing Miguel Vargas (11) and Freddie Freeman (7). Outman has appeared in 11 career games with an at-bat and in those contests has racked up 28 total baes. Those 28 TB are the second-most all-time by a Dodger in his first 11 contests with an AB, trailing just Yasiel Puig (2013, 33).
vs. THE SNAKES: The Dodgers split their four games with Arizona last week and with last night’s loss are now 17-8 in their last 25 against the Diamondbacks, including an 8-4 record in their last 12 at Chase Field. Since the start of the 2020 season, the Dodgers are 41-13 against the Diamondbacks overall with a 20-9 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 41-13 .759
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 fell to 5-3 on the season and are now 59-25 (.702) 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 412-245 (.627) against the NL West.
TODAY’S STARTER vs. D-BACKS: RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD (0-0, 1.50 ERA in 1 G in 2023)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
• He made his season debut last Sunday, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits in a no decision.
• Pitched in five games (four starts) during spring ball, going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA (12 ER/18.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts against just two walks…held a 1.13 WHIP
• Only victory came in his second start in Dodger blue against San Diego, where he fired 3.0 scoreless frames with two strikeouts without issuing a walk
VS. D-BACKS:
• Will face Arizona for the sixth time in his career…owns an overall 3-1 record in five starts with a 2.27 ERA (8 ER/31.2 IP) and 1.11 WHIP after striking out 40 batters and walking just six…has pitched at Chase Field just once in his career
2022 NOTES:
• Began his season with the Los Angeles Angels before getting traded at the deadline to the Philadelphia Phillies…earned a 10-10 record over 25 games (24 starts) with both clubs, striking out 95 batters and walking 31 en route to a 3.94 ERA (59 ER/134.2 IP)
• Recorded wins in his first two starts of the season (April 9 vs. HOU, April 16 at TEX), marking the first time in his Major League career he earned back-to-back victories to start the season in as many outings
• With the Angels, posted a 5-8 record in 15 starts with a 3.83 ERA (34 ER/80.0 IP) and 1.21 WHIP with 64 strikeouts…with the Phillies, bettered his record to a 5-2 mark in ten games (nine starts) with 31 strikeouts and a 4.12 ERA (25 ER/54.2 IP)
• Limited hitters to a .263 overall average, with righties kept at a .256 (77-for-301) and lefties at .272 (61-for-224)
• Returned to the Postseason for the first time since 2016, totaling a 0-1 record across four games (two starts) with a 3.24 ERA (3 ER/8.1 IP) and 0.84 WHIP…was one of two Phillies pitchers with previous World Series experience
• Started Game 5 of the World Series for the Phillies, taking the loss after allowing two unearned runs on three hits and four strikeouts through 3.0 innings…signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on December 16
CAREER NOTES:
• 2016 All-Star right-handed pitcher joins the Dodgers after splitting his time last season between the Angels and Phillies…owns a 57-41 Major League record over seven seasons with a 1.18 WHIP and 3.42 ERA (324 ER/852.2 IP)…has struck out 872 batters and walked 197 for a 9.20 strikeout-per-nine innings mark
• Across nine Postseason appearances, the righty has tallied a 2-2 mark with a 2.62 ERA (10 ER/34.1 IP) with 44 strikeouts and .190 opponents’ batting average…was a member of the 2015 New York Mets World Series roster and 2022 Philadelphia Phillies roster
• Threw his first two career complete games on Sept. 2 at San Francisco and on Sept. 30 vs. Miami, both in 2018…has fired four complete games in his career (also: May 2, 2019 vs. CIN, Aug. 4, 2022 vs. WSH)
• Named to the 2016 NL All-Star team, his first and only All-Star selection…did not pitch in the game due to arm fatigue
• Started three games during the 2015 playoffs with the New York Mets and earned the win in two of the three outings…his 26 strikeouts were tied for second-most by a rookie in postseason history and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series vs. Kansas City, becoming the second youngest Met to win a World Series game
• Smashed his first Major League home run, a solo homer to dead center, on May 27, 2015 vs. Philadelphia (off Sean O’Sullivan), also his first Major League hit…has hit seven doubles, six home runs, and 15 RBI at the Major League level
• Made his Major League debut as a Met at Chicago-NL on May 12, 2015, pitching 5.1 innings in his first big league start, striking out six…earned his first career win five days later on May 17 vs. Milwaukee after firing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts
• Picked up the save in the Futures Game in 2014, a 3-2 triumph for the United States over the World Team…in 1.0 inning, allowed one hit, no runs, no walks and one strikeout…started and hurled a scoreless inning for Team USA in the 2013 Futures Game at Citi Field as a member of the Mets farm system
• Originally signed by Blue Jays scout Steve Miller in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 1-1 in their opening homestand of the 2023 season vs. Dodgers (1-1) and Brewers (April 10-12).
♦ Zach Davies has gone 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA (4 ER in 13.1 IP) in his last 3 starts vs. Dodgers.
WIN NO. 1 FOR GAJOWNIK
♦ High-A Hillsboro Hops manager Ronnie Gajownik notched her first managerial win last night with a 7-3 defeat over Tri-City.
♦ On Thursday, she became the first female manager at the High-A level and second overall female manager in affiliated professional baseball since Yankees’ Rachel Balkovec.
BACK-TO-BACK FACTS [source: Elias Sports Bureau]
♦ At an age diff erence of 14 years-319 days, Evan Longoria and Corbin Carroll became the first pair of teammates with back-to-back HR and age diff erence of 14+ years since Jeff Mathis (37) and Leody Taveras (22) with the Rangers on Sept. 26, 2020 (15-161 day age difference).
♦ Carroll has been a part of Arizona’s last 3 back-to-back occurrences: April 7 vs. Dodgers (6th inn; Longoria/Carroll), Oct. 5, 2022 (9th inn; Rojas/Carroll) and Sept. 7, 2022 09/07/2022 (2nd inn; Varsho/Carroll).
♦ It also marked the fi rst back-to-back homers off Clayton Kershaw since Sept. 20, 2019 (1st inn: Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon/COL).
LONGO RAISING THE ROOF
♦ In his Chase Field debut as a D-back, Evan Longoria went 3-for-3 with 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI.
♦ The last time he collected 3+-hits in a game was on Sept. 23, 2022 @ Chase Field (3-for-5) while with the Giants.
♦ Since 2018, Longoria has collected 13 total 3+-hit performances and 6 have occurred @ Chase Field.
♦ Over his career @ Chase Field, he has combined to hit .377 (40-for-106)/.437 OBP/.679 SLG with 8 doubles, 8 homers and 28 RBI over 28 games.
ON THE BASES
♦ The D-backs 52 pct. extra bases taken percentage is fourth in the NL, behind the Braves (61 pct.), Mets (58 pct.) and Padres (53 pct.).
Percentage of times the runner advanced more than 1 base on a single or 2+ bases on a double, when possible.
RUNS BEING SAVED
♦ The D-backs’ 7 Defensive Runs Saved are tied for second in the Majors with the Twins, behind the Brewers (13) and ahead of the Dodgers (6) and Royals (6).
YOU SHALL NOT PASS
♦ The D-backs’ staff has only allowed 10.5 pct. of inherited runners (2 IRS/19 IR), the third-best mark in the NL, behind the Marlins (8.3 pct.) and Cardinals (10.0 pct.).
PICKED OFF
♦ C Gabriel Moreno’s backpick of Miguel Vargas at first base in the top of the seventh inning last night marked the fi rst of his career and fi rst among all Major League catchers this season.
GO AHEAD
♦ With last night’s go-ahead home run by Corbin Carroll, the D-backs have tallied 2 go-ahead home runs in the sixth inning or later this season that have resulted in victories vs. Dodgers (also: Kyle Lewis on March 31; 8th inn.).
· In 2022, David Peralta collected the D-backs’ lone go-ahead homer vs. Dodgers on April 26 (8th inn.) to round out a 5-3 win.
RHP ZACH DAVIES ♦ #27
AT A GLANCE: Second season with the D-backs and ninth in the Majors.
• Played 5 seasons with Brewers (2015-19), 1 with Padres (2020) and 1 with Cubs (2021).
• Selected in the 26th round by Orioles in the 2011 draft.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: In 2022, went 1-1 with a 3.16 ERA (20 ER in 57.0 IP) and .238 opponent avg. in 11 starts @ Chase Field…yielded 2 runs or fewer in 7 of those starts.
ZACH ATTACK IS BACK: Signed a 1-year contract with a mutual option for 2024 on Jan. 11.
LAST START: Posted a no decision in the 2-1 win on April 2 @ Dodgers…allowed his lone run on Will Smith’s first-inning homer and struck out 4 over 5.0 frames.
VS. DODGERS: In 15 career stars, is 4-5 with a 3.07 ERA (28 ER in 82.0 IP), 1.17 WHIP and .231 opponent avg.
• In his last 3 starts, boasts a 2.70 ERA (4 ER in 13.1 IP) and has yielded 2 walks or fewer in each game.
VS. NL WEST FOES: Has gone 19-15 with a 3.53 ERA (113 ER in 288.0 IP) and .238 opponent avg. in 55 career starts.
A WORKHORSE: Is 1 of 11 pitchers with 27+ starts in 5 of the last 7 seasons since 2016.
FROM THE DESERT: His family moved to the greater Phoenix area when he was 7.
• A 2011 graduate of Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Ariz.
• Committed to play college baseball at Arizona State University before getting drafted in 2011. 2022 RECAP: Made 27 starts in his first season with Arizona, going 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA (61 ER in 134.1 IP)…issued 2 walks or fewer in 22 of his starts while limiting left-handed
batters to a .222 average.
• Placed on the 15-day injured list on June 2
