ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are in first place in the NL West, 2.0 games ahead of the Dodgers, and have been in or tied for first place since April 8.
♦ It marks the first time Arizona has held a 2.0+-game division lead over consecutive days since June 30-July 1, 2018.
♦ The D-backs are currently the only team in the NL West with a winning record.
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a 5-game hitting streak since April 12 and is batting .409 (9-for-22) with 3 doubles, 1 homer and 3 RBI in the span.
♦ Madison Bumgarner won his last start @ Busch Stadium on April 29, 2022 (1 ER in 5.0 IP).
SERIES-LY SPEAKING
♦ With a win today, the D-backs will complete their first series sweep vs. Cardinals since 2007 (Sept. 7-9, 2007 @ Chase Field) and third overall since 1998.
♦ Arizona’s first sweep vs. St. Louis occurred in a 2-game series from July 19-20, 2000 @ Chase Field.
THE ARIZONA ANSWER-BACKS
♦ The D-backs’ 7 comeback wins this season are tied for most in the Majors (also: Guardians, Red Sox and Pirates).
♦ The D-backs’ .500 win pct. (7-7) in games trailing is tied for the best in baseball with the Rays (3-3), Braves (4-4) and Pirates (7-7).
♦ In 2022, Arizona is tied for eighth most with 37 comeback victories (also: White Sox and Phillies).
HIT MACHINES
♦ Last night marked the D-backs’ fi rst 14+-hit performance vs. Cardinals since May 20, 2016 @ Busch Stadium (15 hits in 11-7 victory).
♦ Arizona’s 3 games with 14+ hits this season are second most in the Majors (also: Phillies and Nationals), behind the Cubs (4 games).
THIS WEEK’S BROADCAST UPDATES
♦ Due to the Suns NBA Playoff schedule (Go Suns!), the following upcoming D-backs broadcasts have been moved to Bally Sports Arizona Extra (TV) and ESPN Phoenix 620 AM (Radio):
• Thursday, April 20 vs. Padres – 6:40 p.m.
• Saturday, April 22 vs. Padres – 5:10 p.m.
BRING ‘EM AROUND
♦ The D-backs’ .330 average (34-for-103) with runners in scoring position since April 6 is the best in baseball, ahead of the Cubs (.320), Rangers (.318) and Pirates (.312).
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ The D-backs’ 5 leadoff extra-base hits (4 2B, 1 3B) are the most in baseball, ahead of the Braves (4; 3 2B, 1 HR).
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 46 extra-base hits (31 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR) lead the NL, ahead of the Pirates (44), Braves (43) and Phillies (42).
♦ Arizona has 4+ extra-base hits in 3 straight games and 2+ in 15 of its 18 games.
RUNS PREVENTED
♦ The D-backs’ 9 Outs Above Average (OAA) and 7 runs prevented (RP) are the most in the Majors, ahead of the Mariners (5 OAA/4 RP), Royals (5 OAA/4 RP) and Mets (5 OAA/3 RP).
♦ Josh Rojas leads all fi elders with 4 Outs Above Average (OAA), ahead of Christian Walker (3), Eduardo Escobar/ NYM (3), Ke’Bryan Hayes/PIT (3), Anthony Rizzo/NYY (3) and Joey Wiemer/MIL (3).
TODAY’S STARTER – LHP MADISON BUMGARNER ♦ #40
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 fourth start of the season (third on the road) in search of his fi rst win of 2023.
LAST START: Lost on April 14 @ Marlins, allowing 5 runs over 5.0 innings.
VS. CARDINALS: Is 5-7 with a 5.46 ERA (51 in 84.0 IP) in 15 career starts.
• Won his last start @ Cardinals on April 29, 2022…yielded just 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk over 5.0 frames.
• In 8 career starts @ Cardinals, has gone 4-2 with a 4.04 ERA (22 ER in 49.0 IP), 1.14 WHIP and .247 opponent avg.
MOUND MILESTONES: Needs 6 strikeouts to tie fellow left-hander, Fernando Valenzuela (2,074), for 79th place on the alltime strikeout list.
A WORKHORSE: 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).
“FOURWARNED”: Is limiting hitters to a .182 average (2-for-11) off his 4-seam fastball in his first 3 starts.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending National League Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals host the first place Arizona Diamondbacks in the last of a three-game series this afternoon at Busch Stadium … The Cardinals are 2-4 over their seven-game homestand after splitting a four-game set with Pittsburgh and are 4-8 at home through 12 games this season.
SNAKE BITTEN: Looking ahead, the Cardinals have never been swept at home by Arizona. The only time they came down 2-0 at home was 22 years ago almost these exact three days (Apr. 16-18). Arizona won the first two games before Darryl Kile out-dueled Randy Johnson for a 3-1 win on April 18, 2001 as Bobby Bonilla hit a two-run HR in the 6th inning for the lead.
HEATING UP?: The Cardinals have homered in three straight games for the first time this season. The three home runs in last night’s game marks the 6th game this season the Cardinals have hit multiple home runs in a game, T-8th among MLB teams (Tampa Bay 11, Los Angeles-NL 10).
SLURPEES: The last time the Cardinals had a 7-11 record was 1997 (finished 73-89).
WHACKING DAY: Since Arizona joined MLB as an expansion team in 1998, the Cardinals .613 win percentage (103-65) against the Diamondbacks is the highest in MLB among National League and common interleague opponents … Arizona’s .385 winning pct. vs. the Cardinals is also their worst against any annual opponent … St. Louis’ .625 home winning pct. vs. the Diamondbacks is its 4th-best at Busch Stadium III (2006-present).
WILD, WILD WEST: Tonight is the 3rd of 16 consecutive games against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions … Since 2019, the Cardinals are a combined 65-54 vs. both West Divisions, including a 41-19 mark at home.
WILL-SON!: C Willson Contreras blasted a pair of home runs last night to become the second Cardinals player with multiple home runs this season (Nolan Gorman vs. TOR 4/2) and marked the 12th time in his career. Contreras was the first Cardinals catcher with multiple home runs since Yadier Molina (4/17/2021 at PHI); the 3rd catcher in MLB this season with a multiple home run game (Yan Gomes & Mitch Garver) and the 13th Cardinals catcher to hit that mark in franchise history (Yadier Molina 9, Ted Simmons 6, Tom Pagnozzi 3, Darrell Porter 2, nine tied with one).
STOP THIEF!: Willson Contreras has thrown out five attempted base-stealers this season, tied with J.T. Realmuto for the MLB lead …Cardinals backstops Contreras and Andrew Knizner have combined for six runners caught stealing, most among MLB teams … Overall this season, MLB teams are stealing bases at a combined 81.9% success rate.
STREAKING WITH GOLDY: Paul Goldschmidt has reached base safely in all 17 games this season, his longest career on-base streak to begin a season and tied with two others for MLB’s 2nd-longest active OB streak behind Xander Bogaerts (19) this season … Matt Holliday holds the Cardinals record of reaching base in 45 straight games to begin the 2015 season.
RARE COMPANY: With his next stolen base, Paul Goldschmidt (316 HR, 149 SB) will become only the 38th player in MLB history with 315+ home runs and 150+ stolen bases, while joining Mike Trout (353 HR & 204 SB) as the only two active … Since 2019, Goldy has swiped 25 consecutive bases without being caught, the longest active streak in MLB.
THIS AFTERNOON: RHP Adam Wainwright is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment in Double-A Springfield this afternoon at Hammons Field, throwing approximately 60 pitches against Midland (AA-Athletics) … Wainwright has missed the first 17 games of the season due to a groin injury suffered in March while working out with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
WILKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU: RHP Wilking Rodríguez (right shoulder) is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Memphis (AAA) on Thursday against Indianapolis (AAA-Pirates) … Rodríguez, who was selected from the Yankees in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, made seven Grapefruit League appearances for St. Louis before injuring his right shoulder.
TWIN KILLINGS: The Cardinals lead MLB with 23 double plays turned defensively … Last season, St. Louis also led MLB in twin killings (181), which was nearly 30 more than second place Colorado (154) … Jack Flaherty is 2nd in MLB in double plays induced (7), while Steven Matz, Miles Mikolas, and Jake Woodford each have three to rank T-8th in MLB.
HIT CHARADE: The Cardinals pitching staff allowed their 10th game surrendering double-digit hits, most of any staff in the National League despite winning two of those games (2-8). Kansas City leads MLB with 12. The Cardinals are tied with the Reds for most hits allowed this season with 175, while the Athletics pitching staff has allowed the most hits at 178.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: According to Elias, the Cardinals have played the 4th-toughest schedule to open the 2023 season, with their opponents combining for a .602 win pct … San Diego leads MLB with a .617 opponent win pct. ..the strength of schedule is the cumulative sum of St. Louis’ opponent wins divided by the cumulative sum of their opponents wins + losses.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JAKE WOODFORD (0-2, 5.65)
TODAY’S GAME
NL Ranks: HR Allowed (4, T6th); Opp. GIDP (3, T5th)
• Today’s start marks his 4th of the season (14th career) and 69th career appearance.
• Brings a 5.1 scoreless innings streak from his last start into today’s game. Seven of his 16 outs recorded in last start (4/14 vs. PIT) came on ground balls.
• Makes his first career start vs. ARI after four previous career relief appearances. The Diamondbacks are his 10th different opponent to make a start against.
• Eight of his 14 career starts have come against N.L. Central opponents, posting a 3-3 record with a 2.83 ERA. Has not allowed more than three runs in any of those eight starts.
• He’s 2-0 career vs. NL West clubs (both wins vs. ARI at Chase Field), but the Cardinals are just 3-10 in his games pitched vs. the NL West.
• Career 3-5 with 4.22 ERA (59.2 IP/28 ER) in 13 career starts with the Cardinals going 8-5 in those games.
LAST TIME OUT
• Blanked the Pirates over his 5.1 IP last Fri. (4/14), and the Cardinals out-lasted the Buccos, 3-0. Woody got 7 of his 16 outs on ground balls in the no-decision.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/14 PIT W 3-0 — 5.1 7 0 0 1 3 0 81-54
2023
• Had a strong Grapefruit League season, going 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 5 games (2 starts). He led the pitching staff with 18 strikeouts in his 17.2 IP.
• Allowed career-highs with six runs and three home runs, while matching his career-high with seven hits in his first start of the season, an 8-4 loss to ATL (4/3) at Busch Stadium. Surrendered a 473-foot home run to Austin Riley, the 2nd-longest by an opposing player at Busch Stadium in the 1st inning.
• Allowed three runs over 4.2 innings, all coming off hits by Willy Adames on a two-RBI double and a solo home run. Struck out a season-high five in his second loss, a 6-1 decision at Milwaukee.
