ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Turnaround – The Braves return to Arizona tonight for this first time since June 1 of last season, when they beat the D-backs, 6-0, to start a streak of 14 consecutive wins for the club. Atlanta entered that game here in Arizona with a 23-27 (.460) record, and sat 10.5 games out of the division lead. From June 1 through the end of last season, starting with a win here at Chase Field, the Braves went 78-34 (.696), the best record in baseball.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and D-backs tonight open a three-game series in what is the first of six scheduled meetings between the clubs this season… Arizona will travel for three games at Truist Park, July 18-20.
- Atlanta and Arizona played six total games last season, with the Braves winning four of the six… The Braves have won the season series with the Diamondbacks in each of the last two years, and since 2008, Atlanta has only lost the season series with Arizona twice…They went 3-4 against the D-backs in 2019, and 2-5 in 2016…Atlanta is 52-40 (.565) overall against Arizona since that year.
- The Braves dropped two-of-three games in Arizona last season, losing a series at Chase Field for the first time since 2017… The Braves’ lone win in that series prevented a series sweep and was the first of the club’s 14 consecutive wins from June 1-15.
- Atlanta is 48-38 (.558) all-time here at Chase Field since the facility opened in 1998, including a 10-5 (.667) record since 2018.
- RH Charlie Morton has made 12 career starts against Arizona, going 5-1 with a 4.01 ERA (30 ER/67.1 IP) and 69 strikeouts versus the D-backs…In his lone start against them last season, he allowed four hits and four runs over 5.0 innings in a no-decision…The 6-foot-5, 235-pound righthander had made 10 starts for Atlanta this season, and is 5-5 with a 3.59 ERA (23 ER/57.2 IP).
- RH Merrill Kelly has never beaten Atlanta, going 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA (9 ER/20.0 IP) in three career starts…The 6-foot-2, 190-pound native of Houston, TX, pitched against the Braves once last season, July 31 at Truist Park, and threw 7.0 scoreless innings in a no-decision…Kelly has started 11 games for Arizona this season, going 6-3 with a 2.83 ERA (20 ER/63.2 IP).
WIN: Atlanta avoided a three-game sweep to Oakland on Wednesday afternoon with a win, 4-2, over the A’s… It was just the second series win of the season for the Athletics.
- The victory gave the Braves a winning record for the month of May, as the club went 15-14 (.517) over 29 games…Atlanta has not played to a losing record in a calendar month since going 13-15 (.464) in May of 2022.
- Ozzie Albies opened the scoring on Wednesday with a two-run homer out to right field, his 11th of the season…His 11 homers and 36 RBI are both second most among N.L. second basemen, trailing just Nolan Gorman of the Cardinals.
- The Braves led the National League with 51 total home runs in May, while their .788 OPS trailed just the Dodgers (.820) for tops in the N.L.
- Atlanta improved to 10-8 (.556) in day games with the win…The Braves were under .500 last season in day games, playing to a 24-27 (.471) record.
WINS ABOVE REPLACEMENT: Atlanta’s roster has collectively compiled 31.0 fWAR on the season, most by any team in the majors…The Astros, Yankees and Padres all have 30.6 to rank just behind.
- The Braves lead the majors with 3.3 fWAR from the catching position, and rank second with 3.5 from right field (Yankees – 4.0).
- All nine offensive positions have contributed a positive fWAR for Atlanta, including five positions over 2.0 and two more over 1.5.
- The Braves’ pitching staff is also tops in baseball with 12.8 fWAR on the season, including a league-best 3.1 mark from the bullpen.
- Individually, Atlanta has three of the five most valuable players in baseball by fWAR, with Sean Murphy ranking third (2.8) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2.7) placing fifth.
ROTATION: Atlanta’s starting rotation has combined to compile a 3.41 ERA (112 ER/295.1 IP) and a 3.52 FIP this season, both marks which are best in the National League.
- Atlanta starters have allowed just 112 earned runs on the season, eight fewer than any other N.L. team, while also pacing the circuit in strikeouts (312) and homers allowed (28).
- Since the date Max Fried was placed on the injured list, May 9, Braves’ starters have pitched to a 3.42 ERA and a 3.75 FIP…No other N.L. starting staff has an ERA under 4.10 in that span.
- Three pitchers have made at least 10 starts for Atlanta this season, and all three rank within the top 16 in ERA in the National League…Bryce Elder leads all of baseball with a 1.92 ERA, Spencer Strider ranks eighth in the N.L. with a 2.97 ERA, and Charlie Morton sits 16th with a 3.59 mark.
BULLPEN: Four Atlanta relievers combined to throw 3.2 perfect innings on Wednesday… It marked the second time this season that the unit has gone at least 3.0 perfect innings in a game.
- The Braves’ bullpen pitched 3.1 perfect innings on April 2 at Washington, albeit in a loss, 4-1.
- Only three other teams have multiple 3.0-plusinning perfect efforts by their bullpen this season – Miami, Seattle and Toronto.
- A.J. Minter pitched 1.0 inning with a strikeout on Wendesday and has retired each of the last seven batters he has faced, three via strikeout.
MORTON DECISIONS: Charlie Morton has taken a decision in each of his starts this season, going 5-5 in his 10 turns…His 10 decisions are tied for most in the majors.
- No Braves starter has opened the year with a longer streak of consecutive decisions since 2010, when Derek Lowe went 8-5 over his first 13 starts…Lowe did not have a no-decision until June 12.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #50 Charlie Morton RHP
2023 Record: 5-5, 3.59 ERA • 2022 Record: 9-6, 4.34 ERA
vs. RHB: .259 (30-116), 2 HR • vs. LHB: .279 (31-111), 4 HR
Home: 2-3, 4.13 ERA (13/28.1) • Away: 3-2, 3.07 ERA (20/29.1)
Today’s Game
- Set to make his 11th start of the season and first against Arizona.
- Struck out nine hitters while scattering seven hits over 5.1 innings of two-run ball in his last start against Philadelphia.
- Has either won or lost each of his starts this season…His 10 consecutive games with a decision is tied for the longest active streak in 2023.
- Morton has struck out 316 hitters with his curveball since the beginning of the 2020; the most in the majors.
- During that span hitters are missing on 52.9% of curveballs thrown, the second highest rate in the majors…The MLB average is 11.6% (among QS).
- Over the last two seasons he has thrown his curve on 40.0% of pitches, also the most in baseball among qualified starters.
- Utilizing his curveball on 46.0% of pitches thrown this season.
- Morton’s 967 strikeouts since the 2018 season are the fourth most in baseball.
- Prior to the 2018 season, Morton threw his curveball on 21.3% of pitches throughout his career.
- Since the beginning of 2018 he has thrown his curve on 36.1% of pitches.
- Enters play with only 21% of balls put in play against him registering as line drives this season.
- Tied for the fourth lowest mark in the National League.
- Hitters are registering a .342 batting average on balls in play against Morton in ’23.
- The MLB BABIP this season is .301 for qualified starters.
- Batters are hitting 39.2% of balls 95 mph or higher against Morton while the MLB average for qualified starters is 39.7%.
- In his age 39 season, Morton is the sixth-oldest active pitcher in the majors.
2023 Recap
- Struck out 10 hitters over 6.2 scoreless innings in his win against Texas on May 15.
- Has now struckout at least 10 hitters in six games since turning 38, passing Hall-of-Famer Cy Young for the ninth most such games dating to 1901.
- Morton is the first player with at least six games of 10 or more strikeouts at his age since Hall-of-Famers Randy Johnson and John Smoltz.
- Made his first start of the season against St. Louis.
- Only struck out one hitter through 5.1 innings pitched against the Cardinals, marking just the ninth time in his career Morton pitched at least 5.0 frames while failing to record at least two punchouts and the first since June 5, 2015 against Pittsburgh.
- Struck out San Diego’s Jake Croneworth on April 8 to record his 1,700th career punchout.
- Is one of 16 active pitchers in baseball with as many strikeouts.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are tied for first in the NL West with the Dodgers and share the best record in the NL…Arizona has spent 24 days in/tied for first place this season (April 2-30, June 1) and it is the latest the team has been in first place since Sept. 2018.
♦ The D-backs have won a season-high 5 straight games and are 11+ games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 7, 2018 (76-65).
♦ Since May 12, the D-backs’ 14-5 (.737) record is tied for the best in the Majors (also: Astros).
♦ The D-backs’ 28 wins vs. NL opponents are second behind the Dodgers (31).
♦ Through 57 games, the D-backs have matched their exact record at this point in 2017 (34-23), the last season they appeared in the postseason…in 5 of the 6 seasons they won 33+ games through 57 games, they were postseason contenders (Wildcard in 2017; Division Champs 1999, 2002, ’07; World Series Champs in 2001).
♦ The D-backs have won 3 of their last 4 games vs. Braves @ Chase Field (since 2021) and went 2-1 in 2022 at home.
SWWWWEEP
♦ With yesterday’s walk-off win, the D-backs notched their first series sweep of the season and first 4-game series sweep vs. Rockies since Sept. 26-29, 2002.
♦ It was the D-backs’ first sweep overall since Aug. 26-28, 2022 @ White Sox and first 4-game sweep since April 22- 25, 2019 @ Pirates.
♦ The D-backs have won 6 their last 8 series.
ANSWER-BACKS: ACTIVATED
♦ The D-backs’ 17 comeback wins are tied for the second most in the NL (also: Reds), behind the Mets (18).
♦ Since 2022, the D-backs’ 54 comeback wins are second in the NL, behind the Dodgers (64).
KETEL REACHES 30 ON-BASE & EXTENDS HIT STREAK
♦ Ketel Marte’s career-best 30-game on-base streak (since April 26) is the longest active on-base streak in the Majors, and the third longest by a D-back since 2014…in the span, is hitting .297 AVG/.368 OBP with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 17 RBI, 13 walks and 2 HBP.
♦ Marte is the ninth D-back in franchise history to collect a 30+-game on-base streak and first since Paul Goldschmidt in 2018 (46 – franchise best).
♦ He is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak (since May 20), his longest of the season (.313; 15-for-48) and tied for the fi fth-longest active streak in the Majors (also: Gleyber Torres/NYY)…this season, he has 4 separate streaks of 7+-game hit streaks.
THE RUNNING GAME
♦ The D-backs’ 86.9 stolen base pct. is the highest in the Majors (53-for-61) while their 53 stolen bases are the second most in the NL, behind the Pirates (60).
♦ Corbin Carroll’s 16 total stolen bases are tied for second in the NL (also: Starling Marte/NYM), behind Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL (23).
♦ Defensively, the D-backs have allowed the fewest stolen bases (18) in the NL while Gabriel Moreno leads the Majors with a 54.2 caught-stealing pct. (13-of-24).
D-FENSE! D-FENSE!
♦ The D-backs’ .990 fielding pct. is tied for the best in the Majors (also: Mets, Rays and Padres) and 20 errors are second fewest committed.
♦ The D-backs’ 11 Outs Above Average (OAA) are second, behind the Padres (15).
MOUND NOTABLES
♦ Since May 20, D-backs starters rank among the NL in wins (T-1st, 6), runs allowed (T-1st, 27), home runs allowed (T1st, 4), ERA (2nd, 3.62), opponent avg. (5th, .244), WHIP (6th, 1.24) and strikeouts (T-7th, 55).
♦ Since May 20, D-backs relievers rank among the NL in K/9.0 IP (1st, 11.84), wins (T-1st, 6), ERA (2nd, 2.08), runs allowed (2nd, 12), strikeouts (2nd, 57), opponent avg. (2nd, .213) and WHIP (4th, 1.27).
YOUNG ‘BACKS
♦ The D-backs’ 28.2 roster age is tied for fifth youngest in the Majors (also: Athletics and Phillies)…the Guardians currently own the youngest squad (26.5).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
AT A GLANCE: In his fifth season with the D-backs.
- Played 4 seasons (2015-18) with the SK Wyverns/KBO.
- Grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., and attended Desert Mountain High School, Yavapai College and Arizona State.
- Pitched for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In his last 6 starts (4 quality), is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA (10 ER in 37.1 IP), .185 opponent average, 8 walks and 44 strikeouts…has allowed 1 earned run with at least 6.0 IP in 4 of those 6 outings.
- The D-backs are 5-1 in his last 6 starts.
- His .192 opponent average ranks fourth in the NL behind Dustin May/LAD (.173), Spencer Strider/ATL (.178) and Marcus Stroman/CHC (.188).
- When leading off an inning, holding batters to a .164 average (10-for-61) with 19 strikeouts.
LAST START: Earned the 4-2 win vs. Red Sox on May 28 after allowing 1 run in 6.1 innings…matched a season high with 10 strikeouts (also: May 5 vs. Nationals).
VS. BRAVES: Is 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA (9 ER in 20.0 IP) in 3 starts.
- Posted a no-decision after tossing 7.0 scoreless innings in his last start on July 31, 2022 @ Braves…made his last start @ Chase Field on Sept. 22, 2021 (6 ER in 6.0 IP).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL starters in average (3rd, .192), wins (T-3rd, 6), ERA (7th, 2.83) and WHIP (7th, 1.07).
VS. LEFT AND RIGHT: Limiting lefties to a .176 average (21-for 119) with 36 strikeouts and righties to a .210 average (22 for-105) with 33 strikeouts.
CHANGING IT UP: Opponents are hitting .129 (8-for-62) with 23 strikeouts and a whiff rate of 34.9 pct. off his changeup.
