ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
IN THE WEST: The D-backs are second in the NL West (-1.0) for the first time since May 31, behind the Dodgers…this season, Arizona has spent 62 days in/tied for first place in the division.
RECORD AMONG THE REST: The D-backs’ 52-40 (.565) season record is seventh best in the Majors, behind the Braves (61-29, .678), Rays (58-35, .624), Orioles (55-35,
.611), Dodgers (52-38, .578), Rangers (53-39, .576) and Marlins (53-40, .570).
ROAD WARRIORS: The D-backs’ 26-16 (.619) road record is the third best in the Majors, behind the Braves (30-14, .682) and Orioles (28-17, .622).
♦ The D-backs’ 26 wins through their first 42 road games is tied for the most in franchise history with the 2001 World Series Champion Dbacks at this point.
2-3-4 OFFENSE PRODUCTION: The D-backs’ 2-3-4 hitters in the batting order ranks among the best in the NL: AVG (1st, .278), hits (1st, 306), extra-base hits (1st, 133), total bases (1st, 555), SLG (2nd, .505), OBP (3rd, .346), home runs (3rd, 54) and RBI (3rd, 188).
VS. BLUE JAYS: The D-backs are 6-3 all-time @ Blue Jays…they swept their last series @ Blue Jays (3-0) from June 7-9, 2019.
♦ Arizona is 16-20 all-time in Canada, going 6-3 @ Rogers Centre and 10- 17 @ Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT: The D-backs are 14-10 (.583) in Interleague Play this season (vs. Tigers, Royals, Rangers, Athletics, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays), tied for the sixth-best win pct. in the Majors (also: Braves and Yankees), behind the Marlins (20-8; .714), Blue Jays (17-7, .708), Phillies (19-10; .655), Reds (17-10; .630) and Dodgers (13-9, .591).
♦ D-backs among qualifi ed MLB leaders in interleague play:
PLAYER AVG PLAYER OBP PLAYER SLG
L. Arraez/MIA … .374 J. Soto/SD ……… .485 L. Robert Jr./CWS . .762
L. Robert Jr./CWS .350 L. Arraez/MIA .. .437 C. Carroll/AZ .733
C. Carroll/AZ .. .347 L. Wade Jr./SF .. .437 J. Jung/TEX ……. .692
A. Rosario/CLE . .347 Y. Diaz/TB ………. .410 M. Betts/LAD … .690
T. Estrada/SF ….. .333 C. Carroll/AZ . .405 R. Acuña Jr./ATL . .611
DIAMOND DEFENDERS: The D-backs’ .990 fielding pct. is the best in the Majors while their 33 errors are the fewest, ahead of the Padres (37) and Orioles (37).
♦ D-backs’ catchers 41 stolen bases allowed are second fewest in the Majors, behind the Tigers (38).
♦ The D-backs 15 team defensive runs saved are fifth in the NL, behind the Brewers (33), Braves (22), Padres (21) and Rockies (19).
♦ Christian Walker’s 7 Outs Above Average (OAA) and 6 Runs Above Average (RAA) lead all MLB first basemen, ahead of Josh Naylor/CLE (5 OAA/3 RAA) and Anthony Rizzo/NYY (4 OAA/3 RAA).
EXTRA! EXTRA! The D-backs’ 66 straight games with an extra-base hit (since April 28, 38-27 record) is the Majors’ longest active streak…it is also the second-longest streak in a season in club history behind the 69-gamer from July 18-Oct. 7, 2001.
SWIPIN’ BAGS: The D-backs’ 93 stolen bases are third in the Majors, behind the Reds (112) and Rays (111).
♦ Since June 12, the D-backs have stolen 30 bases, third most in the Majors, and only been caught stealing twice (July 7 vs. Pirates and July 14
@ Blue Jays), tied for second fewest (also: Rangers and Phillies).
SERIES-LY: Coming into this series, the D-backs have secured 18 wins in their 30 total pre-All-Star break and have won 7 of their last 11 series.
FOR THE TAKING: The D-backs’ 105 bases taken^ are tied for most in the Majors (also: Padres) while their 48 pct. extra bases taken percentage* is second in the Majors (also: Reds), behind the Rays (49%) and Braves (49%).
^Bases advanced on fl ys, passed balls, wild pitches, balks, def. indifference.
*Pct. runner advanced more than 1 base on single or 2+ bases on a double.
FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno mark their first series in Toronto since being traded to the D-backs in December 2022 for OF/C Daulton Varsho.
♦ Gurriel Jr. was signed by Toronto in 2016 and spent parts of the last 5 seasons (2018-22) with the Blue Jays…hit .291 (132-for-453)/.343 OBP with 32 doubles (career high), 1 triple, 5 home runs and 52 RBI in 121 games in 2022.
♦ Moreno, who was signed by Toronto in 2016, made his Major League debut last season with the Blue Jays and hit .319 (22-for-69)/.356 OBP with 1 double, 1 home run and 7 RBI in 25 games.
CARSON KELLY – A CANADIAN CHAMPION: Carson Kelly spent sixth and seventh grade living in Markham, located approx. 20 miles northeast of Toronto, while his dad,
Mike, worked for Nike in their Golf Division as the president of Golf Canada.
♦ While living in Markham, Kelly participated in a local tournament and his team was eliminated…however, he was 1 of 2 players added to the advancing team, and they went on to win a national tournament in Quebec.
RETURN OF THE MAC: D-backs’ first base coach Dave McKay (Vancouver) was the first Canada-born player to appear with Toronto in the club’s inaugural game on April 7, 1977 vs. White Sox (2-for-4 with a RBI).
♦ McKay, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, was selected by the Blue Jays in the fifth round (49th overall) of the 1976 Expansion Draft.
♦ He played 3 seasons with Toronto (1977-79) and hit .233 with 10 home runs and 79 RBI in 287 games.
STARTING PITCHER – RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: His 11 wins are tied with Shane McClanahan/TB and Spencer Strider/ATL for the most in the majors.
- Is 1 win shy of matching his career-high win total from 2022.
- His 3.7 fWAR (FanGraphs) ranks second in the majors behind Kevin Gausman/TOR (4.0) and ahead of Zac Wheeler/PHI (3.5) and Framber Valdez/HOU (3.2).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL leaders in wins (T-1st, 11), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd, 5.43), walks (T-4th, 23), home runs allowed (5th, 9), strikeouts (6th, 125) and ERA (6th, 3.04).
THE STOPPER: Is 7-0 with 1.80 ERA (13 ER in 65.0 IP) in 10 games following a D-backs loss this season.
EARLY RISER: Is 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA (60 ER in 179.0 IP), 1.02 WHIP, .209 opponent average and 190 strikeouts in 31 career day starts.
- Since 2022, his 2.36 ERA (31 ER in 118.1 IP) is fifth best in the majors in day games behind Dylan Cease/CWS (2.14), Framber Valdez/HOU (2.16), Taijuan Walker/PHI (2.17) and Clayton Kershaw/LAD (2.33).
- The D-backs are 9-3 in his last 12 day starts.
LAST START: Earned his 11th win of the season after allowing 1 run in 7.0 IP on July 7 vs. Pirates…lone run came on an RBI single by Tucupita Marcano in the fi fth inning… retired 20 of 25 batters faced.
VS. BLUE JAYS: Making his first career start.
- Made his lone start against an AL East team this season on June 27 vs. Rays.
FIRST HALF STATS: Went 11-3 with a 3.04 ERA (40 ER in 118.1 IP), 125 strikeouts, 1.05 WHIP and .226 opponent average in 19 starts before the 2023 All-Star break.
LAST 5 STARTS: In his last 5 starts, is 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA (11 ER in 34.0 IP), 32 strikeouts, 0.79 WHIP and .185 opponent average.
AHEAD IN THE COUNT: His .130 opponent average (22-for-169; 63 K) when ahead in the count is tied for second with Kevin Gausman/TOR among starters (min. 15 GS) and behind Marcus Stroman/CHC (.119) while ahead of Michael Kopech/CWS (.132).
RISP-Y BUSINESS : Holding runners in scoring position to a .195 average (17-for-87) with 30 strikeouts.
LIMITING THE LONG BALL: Has allowed nine homers in 118.1 innings (472 BF) this season. His 0.68 homers per nine is seventh best in the NL (min. 50 IP).
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: Has walked 2 or fewer batters in 17 of his 19 starts.
VS. RIGHT AND LEFT: Is limiting righties to a .217 average (51-for-235) with 64 strikeouts, while lefties are batting .237 (50-for-211) with 61 strikeouts.
0-2 GOT YOU: Has a .114 (27-for-236) opponents average and 125 strikeouts with 2 strikes and opponents are 5-for-41 (.122) with 19 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.
- His .114 opponent average with 2 strikes is eighth best in the Majors.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the 7th inning last night, taking their series opener with the Diamondbacks by a 7-2 final…All 10 Toronto batters recorded at least one hit, the 2nd time this season that 10+ Blue Jay batters hit safely in a single game (13 on May 23 at TB)…Moved to 16-14 in series openers this year…Are now a season-high 10 games over .500. Toronto has won six of its last seven games and has gone 25-16 over the last 41…Toronto’s .610 win% over that span (since May 26) is the best mark in the AL (2nd: CLE – .571)…With a win today, can improve to 19-11-0 in series play this season (10-4-0 at home).
THE DERBY CONTINUES: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the scoring in the 2nd inning last night with a solo shot to left center field, his 14th home run of the season…Became the 5th Home Run Derby champion to go deep in his 1st game after the All-Star break (last: Prince Fielder in 2009), and the only one to do it in his 1st plate appearance…Later singled in the 7th inning, finishing the night 2-for-5, his 26th multi-hit effort of the season. The three-time All-Star has gone 18-for-64 (.281) over his last 16 games, notching four doubles, five homers, and 17 RBI for a .921 OPS…His 59 RBI are currently 6th most in the AL while his 96 hits are tied for 9th… Has recorded an AL-leading 163 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season.
OH, CHAPPY DAY: Matt Chapman reached base safely four times on Friday, singling in the 2nd and 3rd innings, doubling in the 7th, and drawing a walk in the 8th…Finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI, his 6th three-hit effort of the season…Now has 29 doubles to lead all AL batters, while sitting T-4th in extra-base hits (42)…Over his last 18 games, has batted .286 (18-for-63) with 10 extra-base hits and six RBI (.956 OPS). The Victorville, CA, native ranks 2nd in MLB with a
59.0 hard-hit percentage (1st: Aaron Judge – 62.6), 7th in average exit velocity (93.9 MPH), 10th in barrel rate (11.0%), and 13th in hard-hit balls (134).
TWO-HIT WHIT: Whit Merrifield drove in a pair of runs with a single in the 7th inning last night, putting Toronto in front, 6-2… Also singled in the 2nd frame, part of a 2-for-5 night, his 23rd multi-hit game of the season…Has notched multiple hits in four of his last five games and in five of his last seven.
The three-time All-Star has kept a .308 (52-for-169) batting average over his last 46 games, including eight doubles, four homers, and 24 RBI (.790 OPS)…Among AL players, is currently T-7th in stolen bases (19) and 11th in AVG (.288).
MORE ON BRANDON: Brandon Belt singled, doubled, and plated a run with a fielder’s choice on Friday…Went 2-for-4 on the night, his 11th multi-hit game of the season…Over his last 44 contests, has batted .292 (40-for-137) with 13 doubles, five homers, 16 RBI, and 30 walks (.916 OPS)… His .420 OBP over that span (since May 4) is the highest in the AL (min. 100 AB)…His 4.50 pitches/ PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 100 PA).
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are kicking off the unofficial 2nd half of the season with a six-game, seven-day homestand (1-0 so far)…Have gone 24-18 this season at Rogers Centre…The .571 win% at home is 4th best in the AL… After this weekend series against the Diamondbacks, will have Monday off before hosting the Padres (44-47) for a three-gamer next week. Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.263), 4th in home OBP (.333), 5th in home OPS (.748), and 7th in home SLG (.415)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among all AL teams with 3.38 home ERA and a .219 home opponents’ average, while sitting 3rd with a 1.15 home WHIP.
BEEN BERRÍ GOOD LATELY: José Berríos pitched 5.1 frames of one-run ball last night, giving up seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts…Over his last 17 outings, has gone 8-4 with a 2.69 ERA (31 ER/103.2 IP) and a 1.09 WHIP…His ERA over that span (since April 14) ranks 4th among American League pitchers…The Blue Jays have now won 22 of his last 26 starts at Rogers Centre.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have combined for 44 quality starts, T-3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (526), 5th in innings pitched (505.0), 8th in ERA (3.96), and 14th in AVG (.245).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 826 hits this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.261), 5th in OBP (.327), 6th in SLG (.417), 6th in OPS (.745), and 6th in extra-base hits (281). Toronto’s offence has racked up 10+ hits on 35 occasions this season, 5th most among AL teams…
Since 2021, have racked up an MLB-high 173 double-digit hit games (2nd: BOS – 161).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 9th interleague series of the year…Has gone 17-7 vs. NL clubs so far…The .708 win% in interleague games is 2nd best among MLB teams (MIA – .714)…Have set a club record with 17 interleague wins (14 in 2021)…Since the beginning of 2021, Toronto’s .688 win% in Interleague Play (44-20) is the best in the Majors (2nd: LAD – .645).
VS. THE DIAMONDBACKS: All-Time: 10-10
2023: 1-0 Home: 3-6
Home: 1-0 Rogers Centre: 3-6
The Blue Jays are meeting the Diamondbacks for the first time since 2019 when they were swept in a three-game series at Rogers Centre…Have gone 3-6 all-time against Arizona in Toronto, going winless over the three series played (0-2-1). Daulton Varsho is facing his former club for the first time in his career…Was selected by Arizona in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft and played 283 games for them from 2020-22, batting .234 (214-for-916) with 93 extra-base hits and 121 RBI…Was nominated for his first career Gold Glove as a rightfielder last season. Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 153 career games against the DBacks, batting .274 (143- for-522) with 27 doubles, eight triples, 20 home runs, and 69 RBI for an .837 OPS…In 49 meetings since 2019, has gone 54-for-165 (.327) with 28 extra-base hits and 26 RBI (.612 SLG, 1.028 OPS). George Springer is a career .407 hitter (44-for-108) over 26 games against Arizona, notching 14 extra-base hits and 20 RBI (.685 SLG, 1.153 OPS)…His career .468 OBP vs. ARI is 3rd best in MLB history (min. 100 PA), behind only Manny Ramirez (.522) and Barry Bonds (.499).
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 20th start of the season and his 9th at Rogers Centre…Gave up 3 runs over 4.0 innings his last time out, on 7/9 at DET, allowing 9 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts. Has 6 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, tied with Michael Wacha for the most in MLB. Has held opposing RHH to a .193 AVG, the 7th-best mark in the AL.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took a no-decision on 7/4 at CWS, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings of work (6H, BB, 5K). Won his 8th game of the year on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked his 10th quality start of the year. Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5. Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete Game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
