ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are in fi rst 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 fi rst time Arizona has held a 2.0+-game division lead since July 1, 2018 (+2.5).
♦ The D-backs are currently the only team in the NL West with a winning record.
♦ Corbin Carroll, since April 10, is hitting .318 (7-for22)/1.030 OPS with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 RBI, 1 walk and 1 stolen base.
♦ Drey Jameson is making his fi rst career start vs. Cardinals.
ROSTER MOVES
♦ The D-backs made the following roster moves:
• Reinstated LHP Joe Mantiply (left shoulder inflammation) from the 15-day injured list.
• Optioned RHP Luis Frías to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game.
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):
• Today, April 18 @ Cardinals – 4:45 p.m.
• Thursday, April 20 vs. Padres – 6:40 p.m.
• Saturday, April 22 vs. Padres – 5:10 p.m.
THE ARIZONA ANSWER-BACKS
♦ The D-backs’ 4 wins when either tied or trailing by 1 run after the bottom of the sixth is tied for the most in the Majors with the Guardians and Orioles….in 2022, Arizona won 14 total of these contests (T-8th most).
SLAMMIN’ SMITH
♦ Last night, Pavin Smith hit his first career grand slam (414 ft.) in the top of the 7th inning @ Cardinals off Andre Pallante.
♦ It marked the fi rst grand slam by an Arizona designated hitter in franchise history.
MERRILL MOVIN’ UP
♦ Last night, Merrill Kelly collected his 64th career start of 6.0+ innings with the D-backs to surpass Robbie Ray (2015-19) for the 11th most in franchise history….Kelly is 4 shy of passing Miguel Batista (66; 2001-06) for 10th all-time.
PERFECT OUTTA THE ‘PEN
♦ Andrew Chafi n has not allowed a run in his 8 outings (7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 10 K) and is 1 of 5 relievers in the Majors with 8 or more scoreless outings:
Jesse Chavez/ATL (9), Colin Holderman/PIT (8), David Robertson/NYM (8) and Peter Strzelecki/MIL (8).
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ The D-backs’ 4 leadoff extra-base hits (4 2B) are tied for the most in baseball with the Braves (4; 3 2B, 1 HR).
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 41 extra-base hits (28 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR) lead the NL, ahead of the Phillies (40), Braves (39) and Dodgers (38).
♦ Arizona has 2+ extra-base hits in 14 of its 17 games.
RHP DREY JAMESON ♦ #99
AT A GLANCE: Selected by the D-backs as a compensatory-round selection in First-Year Player Draft (June 15, 2019).
• Attended Ball State University from 2018-19 where he was named 2019 MAC Pitcher of the Year after going 6-3 with a 3.24 ERA (33 ER in 91.2 IP) and single-season MAC record 146 strikeouts in 16 starts.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his second start of the season (first road start) after making 3 appearances in relief.
• Made his first Opening Day roster and began the season in the bullpen.
• Recorded his first career win as a reliever (March 31 @ Dodgers) and first save (April 4 @ Padres).
• Enters ’23 as the D-backs’ No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
VS. CARDINALS: Will be making his first career appearance.
LAST START: Posted a no decision on April 12 vs. Brewers, tossing 4.0 scoreless frames with 4 strikeouts.
DR. DREY ROAD TOUR: In his 2 road starts in the Majors last year, went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA (4 ER in 12.0 IP) and 14 strikeouts.
EQUALLY TOUGH: Is limiting righties to a .174 average (4-for-23) with 9 strikeouts…lefties are batting at a .200 clip (4-for-20) with just 1 walk this season.
DYNAMITE DEBUT: Tied the D-backs record for most scoreless innings (7.0) in a Major League debut on Sept. 15 vs. Padres.
• The 7.0 innings were also the second most innings, behind Geraldo Guzmán on July 6, 2000 @ Astros (8.0).
• Jameson’s 2 hits allowed is tied for the second fewest allowed in a Major League debut by a D-back (also: Chase Anderson on May 11, 2014 @ White Sox).
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The defending National League Central Division Champion St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks play the second game of a three-game series tonight at Busch Stadium … The Cardinals are 2-3 over their seven-game homestand after splitting a four-game set with Pittsburgh.
ROMERO RECALLED: The Cardinals today announced that they recalled LHP JoJo Romero from Memphis (AAA) and optioned RHP Andre Pallante to Memphis … Romero has made five relief outings with the Redbirds, logging a 1.59 ERA (5.2 IP), 0.71 WHIP, and .176 average against to begin the season.
WHACKING DAY: Since Arizona joined MLB as an expansion team in 1998, the Cardinals .617 win percentage (103-64) against the Diamondbacks is the highest in MLB among National League and common interleague opponents … Arizona’s .373 winning pct. vs. the Cardinals is also their worst against any annual opponent … St. Louis’ .646 home winning pct. vs. the Diamondbacks is its 4th-best at Busch Stadium III (2006-present).
WILD, WILD WEST: Tonight is the 2nd of 16 consecutive games against opponents from the NL and AL West Divisions … Since 2019, the Cardinals are a combined 65-53 vs. both West Divisions, including a 41-18 mark at home.
STOP THIEF!: Willson Contreras has thrown out five attempted basestealers 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 16 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 (18) 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.
REHAB ASSIGNMENTS: RHP Adam Wainwright is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment in Double-A Springfield tomorrow 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 … 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.
START ME UP: Over the last six starts (May 12-present), the Cardinals rotation has recorded a 2.88 ERA (11er/34.1ip) with 28 strikeouts and an opposing .741 OPS .. All five starters have pitched 5.1 innings or longer in their starts.
TWIN KILLINGS: The Cardinals lead MLB with 22 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, Jordan Montgomery, and Jake Woodford each have three to rank T-7th in MLB.
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 .588 win pct … Oakland leads MLB with a .617 opponent win pct.
GO-AHEAD GORMAN: 22-year-old Phoenix-area native Nolan Gorman leads St. Louis in the Triple Crown categories (.333/4/14), while ranking among Major League hitters in OPS (1.064, 6th), game-winning RBI (3, T-4th) and go-ahead RBI (4, T-6th).
MAYBE IT’S A SIGN: The Cardinals are 4-7 in their first 11 home games … The 2011 World Series Champion Cardinals began their home slate 5-6, while the 2004 NL Champs started 3-9 at Busch Stadium II before finishing 50-19 over the final 69 home games.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (2-1, 2.45)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: Wins (2, T-3rd), Run Support Avg (7.36, 7th), WHIP (1.09, T-9th), Baserunners/9 IP (9.82, 8th), BB/9 IP (.245, 9th), HR/9 IP (0.00, T-1st).
• Is set to make his 4th start of the season and his 112th career (15th as a member of the Cardinals). Facing Arizona for the first time in his career, one of four MLB teams he’s yet to pitch against (STL, SD, SF).
• Is 8-4 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts as a member of the Cardinals and St. Louis has won 10 of his 14 starts.
• Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 78 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22).
• Is the only Cardinals pitcher who has not induced a double play this season with the remaining four in the rotation all ranking in the Top 5 of the National League leaders.
• Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (43 total batters faced). Joins Bailey Falter, Joey Kuhnel, Brooks Raley and Josh Winder as pitchers who have faced 40+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.
• Made his fourth Opening Day Roster and first with the Cardinals, adding to 2018, 2021 and 2022 with the Yankees. Was on the Injured List in 2019 and Taxi Squad in 2020.
• Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (88-of-111) of his career starts. Ranks 18th among left-handed pitchers since 2017 with 87.
LAST TIME OUT
• Suffered his first loss of the season exiting after 6.1 innings allowing two runs in a 5-0 loss. Extended his scoreless inning streak to a career-high 15.0 innings before allowing his first run on back-to-back doubles by Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana in the 6th inning.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
4/13 PIT L 5-0 L-1 6.1 6 2 2 2 5 0 96-63
2023
• Established a new career-high with a 15.0 inning scoreless streak from 4/2-13, surpassing his previous high of 14.2 IP.
• Won his opening start of the season behind a 9-4 offensive effort vs. TOR (4/2) in a series clinching win.
• Threw 7.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball at MIL (4/8). Was the longest outing by a Cardinals pitcher this season and his 2nd consecutive scoreless outing against an N.L. Central opponent on the road (16.0 IP streak).
