ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs begin a 5-game road trip @ Rockies (April 28-30) and Rangers (May 2-3)…Arizona has won 4 of its last 6 series.
♦ The D-backs are in first place in the NL West, 1.0 game ahead of the Dodgers…Arizona has spent 19 total days this season in or tied for first place (since April 8).
♦ Arizona makes 2 trips to Coors Field this season (also: Aug. 14-16)…the D-backs went 4-5 @ Rockies last season.
♦ Corbin Carroll has hit safely in 6 straight games (.500; 10-for-20, 4 2B, 1 3B) and has reached base safely in 12 of his last 15 games (.345; 19-for-55) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 5 RBI, 7 walks and 5 stolen bases.
♦ Emmanuel Rivera is batting .750 (3-for-4) with 2 RBI in his first 2 games with Arizona since joining on April 25… prior to his recall, he hit safely in 15 of his 16 games with Triple-A Reno (.348; 23-for-66).
COORS FIELD CORRELATIONS
♦ Since 2021, Josh Rojas is batting .355 (22-for-62) with 6 doubles, 1 homer and 13 RBI @ Coors Field… his 22 hits @ Coors Field in the span are tied for fourth most (also: Mookie Betts/LAD).
♦ Since 2021, Christian Walker has the second most home runs @ Coors Field (also: Trent Grisham, Brandon Belt and Mike Yastrzemski), behind Brandon Crawford (6).
SNAKES AMONG THE REST
♦ The D-backs rank in the Majors in doubles (1st, 55), triples (1st, 7), hits (4th, 226), strikeouts (4th fewest, 197), stolen bases (6th, 24) and average (6th, .260).
SHUTOUTS IN APRIL
♦ The D-backs’ 4 combined shutout games in April are the most in franchise history (previous high in April: 3; 2021, 2009, 2002 and 2000).
WALK IT OUT
♦ Arizona has drawn 30 walks in its last 10 games compared to 28 walks in their first 16 games.
♦ The D-backs drew a season-high 8 walks on Monday vs. Royals…the last time Arizona drew 8+ walks in a game was on Sept. 11, 2022 @ Rockies (9 walks).
♦ Corbin Carroll’s 17.9 walk pct . (7 BB in 39 PA) is the team’s highest in the 10-game span.
FOR THE TAKING
♦ The D-backs’ 57 pct. extra bases taken percentage leads he Majors, ahead of the Reds (51%), Astros (49%), Orioles (48%), Rays (48%) and Padres (48%).
Percentage runner advanced more than 1 base on single or 2+ bases on a double.
DEFENSE RULES
♦ The D-backs’ 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) lead the Majors, ahead of the Mariners (9), Angels (6), Mets (6) and Padres (6).
♦ The D-backs’ 7 runs prevented (RP) ties for the most in the Majors (also: Mariners), ahead of the Mets and Angels (5).
♦ Josh Rojas’s 5 OAA are the most among all fi elders while Christian Walker’s 4 OAA are tied for second with 6 others.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 69 extra-base hits (45 2B, 7 3B, 17 HR) are the second most in the Majors, behind the Pirates (72).
STOLEN BASE RACE
♦ Corbin Carroll’s 10 stolen bases currently rank tied for second most in the Majors (also: 5 others), behind Ronald Acuña Jr. (13).
♦ Carroll is 1 of 5 players with 10+ stolen bases with 1 or no caught stealings.
RISP-Y BUSINESS
♦ Since April 7, Arizona’s .304 average (51-for-168) with runners in scoring position is fourth in the Majors behind the Rangers (.344), Pirates (.324) and Cubs (.307).
♦ Geraldo Perdomo’s .667 average (8-for-12) with runners in scoring position leads the Majors [min. 10 PA].
TODAY’S STARTER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29 ♦
AT A GLANCE: In his fi fth season with the D-backs.
• Played 5 seasons in the Rays’ system (2010-14) then 4 seasons (2015-18) with the SK Wyverns in the KBO League.
• Rays’ eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: I s making his 10th career start vs. Rockies (5th @ Coors Field).
• Has allowed 2 or fewer runs in his last 5 starts vs. Colorado.
• His 519 career strikeouts with the D-backs ranks 8th all-time among starters in franchise history, behind Randy Johnson (2,077), Brandon Webb (1,065), Robbie Ray (998), Patrick Corbin (897), Curt Schilling (875), Zack Greinke (683) and Dan Haren (570).
LAST START: Took the loss on April 22 vs. Padres (4 ER in 5.0 IP).
VS. ROCKIES: Is 3-3 with a 4.55 ERA (29 ER in 57.1 IP) over 9 starts vs. Rockies.
• Has gone 2-2 in 4 starts @ Coors Field…won his last road start on July 1, 2022 (1 ER in 7.0 IP).
• Did not factor in the decision in his last start on Aug. 6, 2022 vs. Rockies (ND; 2 ER in 7.0 IP).
CHANGING IT UP: Opponents are hitting .128 (5-for-39) off his changeup and curveball with 14 strikeouts…is throwing his changeup 27.1% of the time this season and 24.0% with his fastball.
• In 2022, threw his fastball 29.2% of the time and changeup 21.9%.
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Colorado Rockies return home following a seven game road trip to Philadelphia (1-3) and Cleveland (2-1) … their series victory against the Guardians was their first since Sept. 16-18, 2022 at Chicago-NL when they took two of three from the Cubs … had lost or split each of their first seven series of 2023, the first time in franchise history that Colorado has failed to win any of their first seven series.
• The Rockies take on division-rival Arizona for the first time this season beginning tonight … will have an off day Monday before hosting Milwaukee for three games Tuesday-Thursday.
• Overall, the Rockies .308 winning percentage is last in the National League and is the second-lowest in franchise history through 26 games, ahead of the 2005 Rockies (6-19, .250).
START YOUR ENGINES
• Rockies’ starters have pitched to a 1.84 ERA (14.2 IP, 3 ER) through their last three games including starts from Austin Gomber (5.0 IP) and Ryan Felter (6.0 IP) with no earned runs allowed.
• Through the seven-game road trip to Philadelphia and Cleveland, Colorado’s starting pitching recorded a 3.12 ERA (34.2 IP, 12 ER) with 31 hits and 30 strikeouts … tallied four starts of 5.0 or more frames.
• Prior to the road trip, the starters held a 7.03 ERA (87.0 IP, 68 ER) through the first 19 games of the season, posting five quality starts with six starts of fewer than 4.0 innings pitched.
KB2
• Kris Bryant was 2-for-4 with an RBI Wednesday in Cleveland, 6-for-13 with a pair of RBI through the three-game set … the outfielder has strung together three consecutive multi-hit games, one shy of tying his career high (4, 3x, last: May 21-25, 2019).
• Bryant is slashing .312/.379/.452 through 24 games this season and holds the 10th-best batting average in the National League … his 29 hits are also tied for the 10th-most in the NL.
DONUTS
• The Rockies won the series opener Monday in Cleveland, 6-0 … of their eight wins on the season, three have been shutouts, tied for the fourth-most shutouts in the National League.
• Colorado had six shutouts in 2022, but did not record their first until June 24 at Milwaukee … the franchise record for shutout victories in a season is 12, set by the 2010 Rockies.
SPRING CLEANING
• Colorado has made 19 errors, tied with San Francisco for the most in the Majors, and has allowed an MLB-leading 19 unearned runs through its first 26 games.
BRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES
• After going hitless on Monday, Tuesday night Brenton Doyle went 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI and two stolen bases Tuesday in Cleveland … it marked the first time in Rockies history that a player had three hits and two stolen bases in a game that featured his first career hit.
• Doyle also became the fifth player Major League player since 1900, first since Charlie Bates on Sept. 22, 1927, to have a game with at least three hits and two stolen bases within his first two career games … the only other Major Leaguer in history to record those numbers while also tabbing an RBI and an extra-base hit in one of his first two career games was also Bates.
I HAD TO COME TO CLEVELAND TO BECOME A CROOK
• Entering Tuesday’s game, the Rockies had just two stolen bases on the season, the least in franchise history through 24 games.
• With three stolen bases Tuesday, Colorado now has five through 26 games (the Pirates lead MLB with 37), tied for the second-fewest stolen bases through the first 26 games in club history with the 2022 team having also stole five bases over 26 games, while the 2017 team swiped four … the most stolen bases through 25 games is 36 by the inaugural 1993 Rockies.
• Since 2019, the Rockies rank 23rd in the Majors with 239 total swiped bags.
CHUCK (STILL) NAZTY
• With two runs scored Tuesday, Charlie Blackmon tied Larry Walker for second on the all-time Rockies runs scored list at 892 …Todd Helton ranks first in Rockies history with 1401.
• Blackmon’s 292 career doubles are five short of tying Walker for the second-most doubles in franchise history.
• Blackmon’s home run in the first inning of Tuesday’s game was his 40th career lead-off home run … his 40 lead-off home runs rank ninth all-time (Brady Anderson’s 44 rank eighth).
BIRD BATH
• Jake Bird is tied for fourth in the Majors with 17.0 relief innings pitched and is tied for fifth among relievers with 19 strikeouts … has pitched 11.1 innings without an earned run over his last seven outings with six hits, four walks and 15 strikeouts.
• Bird has spun more than one inning six times this season, tied for the third-most 1.1+ inning outings in the National League with Brent Suter leading the way with nine.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #21 KYLE FREELAND LHP
DENVER KID
• Kyle Freeland will make his sixth start of the season tonight, his fourth at Coors Field.
• The 29-year-old Denver native graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, 15 minutes south of Coors Field … selected in the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft (eighth overall), the third player in University of Evansville history to be drafted in the first round.
• The Rockies announced on April 19, 2022 that they agreed to a five-year contract extension with Freeland covering the 2022-26 seasons … the extension includes two arbitration years and three years of free agency.
SKID
• Suffered his second consecutive loss his last time out, last Saturday at Philadelphia … allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and six
strikeouts in six innings of work … all four runs scored on three home runs, the sixth time in is career he has allowed at least three home runs.
• Suffered his first loss of the season April 17 vs. Pittsburgh at Coors Field … allowed a career-high tying nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 2.2 innings pitched in a 14-3 Rockies loss … allowed six of his nine runs in the second inning.
• Has allowed six total home runs over his last three starts after allowing no home runs (and no runs total) over his first two starts of the season.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
• Began his season with two scoreless outings, the first pitcher in franchise history to toss at least six scoreless innings in each of his first two appearances of the season … allowed his first run of the season in the first inning of his third start, ending a 13.0 inning scoreless streak to begin the season, tied with Jason Jennings (2001) for the second-longest streak to begin a season in franchise history, behind Jhoulys Chacín (14.1 IP, 2010).
• His 0.96 ERA through his first three starts of the season was the lowest in the National league and the lowest in franchise history through a starting pitcher’s first three starts of the season.
HOPE OPENER x3:
• With his start on April 6, Freeland became the franchise leader for starts in a Home Opener with three (also: 2017 and 2022 both vs. Los Angeles-NL) … tossed 6.2 shutout innings against the Nationals, allowing four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
• Started Opening Day at Coors Field in 2022, April 8 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers … made his Major League debut in the Rockies’ Home Opener in
2017, April 7 vs. the Dodgers … allowed one run across six innings in the 2-1 win.
HISS
• Has made 17 career starts against Arizona, going 3-6 with a 5.40 ERA (91.2 IP, 55 ER) 32 walks and 66 strikeouts … D-backs hitters have slashed .284/.341/.487 with 15 home runs career against Freeland.
• Is 1-3 (Rockies 6-3) with a 5.86 ERA (50.2 IP, 33 ER) 14 walks and 42 strikeouts in nine career stars against the D-backs at Coors Field … has not faced Arizona at home since 2021.
• Started two games against Arizona in 2022, both at Chase Field, going 0-1 (Rockies 1-1) with a 4.38 ERA (12.1 IP, 6 ER) … tossed six scoreless in his first start on May 6 before allowing six runs in 6.1 innings on July 9.
LAND OF THE FREE
• Appeared in two games for the USA in the World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs on three hits over 6.0 innings (3.00 ERA), striking out five and walking two.
• In the Championship Game vs. Japan, struck out WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani … Freeland’s 41 pitches in the game were the most by any pitcher who appeared during the contest.
• In three Cactus League starts, went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 ER) with one walk and five strikeouts.
ROAD WARRIOR
• Has gone 5-6 with a 3.07 ERA (99.2 IP, 34 ER) in 17 starts on the road over the past two seasons, the ninth-lowest road ERA in the NL over that span.
• Posted a 2.18 road ERA (53.2 IP, 9 ER) in nine road starts since last year’s All-Star Break, the third-lowest road ERA in the Majors over that span (min. 40 IP).
HOMETOWN KID
• Has gone 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA (15.1 IP, 9 ER) in three starts at home this season … quality starts in each of his first two starts.
• Career record of 29-25 with a 4.79 ERA (428.2 IP, 228 ER) in 81 appearances (78 starts) at Coors Field … ERA seventh all-time at Coors Field among pitchers with at least 40 starts.
THE YEAR TWENTY THOUSAND AND TWENTY-TWO (2022)
• Finished the 2022 season posting a 4.53 ERA across 31 starts … of those 31 starts, 13 of them were quality, his most in a full season since logging 24 quality starts in 2018 … set career-highs in runs allowed (96), earned runs (88).
YOU’RE GROUNDED
• Since his debut in 2017, Freeland ranks second in the Majors and leads the National League with 105 GIDP (Kyle Gibson leads the Majors with 116).
FINISHED STRONG
• Has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of his last 18 starts since July 25 of last season, compiling a 7-6 record with a 4.04 ERA (100.1 IP, 45 ER) … posted a 4.34 ERA (149.1 IP, 72 ER) in 26 starts since June 4.
• Spun five or more frames in 22 of his last 26 starts and six or more innings 17 times through this span (13 quality starts).
THE HOME RUN HIGHWAY
• His 19 home runs allowed in 2022 were his fewest since 2018 (17) … his 0.98 HR/9 was the 13th-lowest in the National League in 2022 … his lowest HR/9 rate since he posted a 0.76 clip in 2018.
THIS ‘N THAT
• Finished fourth in 2018 NL Cy Young Award voting going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA (202.1 IP, 64 ER) … became the second pitcher in Rockies history to ever finish in the top five in Cy Young voting (also: Ubaldo Jiménez, third place in 2010).
• Pitched 8.1 no-hit innings on July 9, 2017 vs. Chicago-AL, the longest no-hit bid for a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field in franchise history.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEELS
• Making the 156th start of his career tonight, tying Jason Jennings for the fifth-most in franchise history.
• His 51 career wins rank ninth in franchise history, two behind Jon Gray and Pedro Astacio with 53 each.
• His 659 strikeouts are the seventh-most in franchise history … trails Jeff Francis in sixth with 742 strikeouts.
• Career 4.27 ERA ranks fourth all-time among Rockies starting pitchers (min. 75 starts) … 105 career opponent grounded into double plays are the fourth-most in franchise history (min. 50 GS).
