ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 2-1 on their 5-game road trip @ Rockies (2-1) and Rangers (May 2-3)…Arizona has won 2 consecutive series and 5 of its last 7.
♦ The D-backs are currently second in the NL West, 0.5 game behind the Dodgers…Arizona has spent 23 total days this season in or tied for first place (since April 8).
♦ Arizona is 7-5 vs. Rangers (4-2 on the road) since 2019.
♦ This series marks the D-backs’ first @ Rangers since July 2021.
♦ Zac Gallen has a 28.0 scoreless-inning streak (April 4 [final inning] – April 26)…it is the longest active scoreless streak in the Majors.
♦ Geraldo Perdomo is batting .383 (23-for-60)/1.073 OPS with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 16 RBI and 7 walks over 21 games…if qualified, his average ranks second in the Majors, behind Luis Arraez/MIA (.438).
THE SCORELESS STREAK
♦ Zac Gallen extended his scoreless streak to 28.0 innings following his last start vs. Royals (0 ER in 6.1 IP).
♦ Since 2019, Gallen’s 11 starts of 7.0+ innings and 2 or fewer hits allowed leads the Majors… his 14 scoreless starts of 7.0 + innings are tied for most in the Majors (also: Sandy Alcantara/MIA).
• In 2022, Gallen established the D-backs’ record for consecutive scoreless innings (44.1) from Aug. 8-Sept. 11, 2022, surpassing Brandon Webb’s 42.0-inning stretch (July 20-Aug. 17, 2007) and was the longest in the Majors since Zack Greinke’s/LAD 45.2-scoreless frames in 2015.
ELITE COMPANY
♦ Zac Gallen has tossed 2 consecutive starts with 11+ strikeouts and no walks…only 2 pitchers in baseball have ever tossed 3 total: Clayton Kershaw in July 2015 and Chris Archer May/June 2015 [source: Elias Sports Bureau].
NEARING ANOTHER FRANCHISE FEAT
♦ Zac Gallen’s 7 starts with Arizona with 7.0+ innings and 3 or fewer baserunners are tied for second most in club history with Curt Schilling and Brian Anderson, behind Randy Johnson (9).
• His 5 total starts of 7.0+ innings and 3 or fewer baserunners in 2022 tied the Major League regular-season record with 5 others (Jack Flaherty/STL in 2019; Clayton Kershaw/LAD in 2015; Pedro Martínez/BOS in 2000; Dave Davenport/ STL in 1915; Addie Joss/CLE in 1908).
BANISTER’S RETURN TO TEXAS
♦ D-backs’ Bench Coach Jeff Banister managed the Rangers from 2015-18, going 325-313 (.509).
♦ Won 2 AL West division titles (2015-16).
♦ Was named the 2015 AL Manager of the Year after going 88-74 (.543)…was the first AL manager to win the award with no previous Major League managerial experience.
SNAKES AMONG THE REST
♦ The D-backs rank in the Majors in doubles (1st, 65), triples (3rd, 7), strikeouts (3rd fewest, 218), average (4th, .265), hits (6th, 259) and stolen bases (8th, 25).
APRIL COMPARISON
♦ The D-backs .271 average in the month of April marked the third highest in franchise history and best mark since 2010 (.273 – franchise best in April).
♦ Additionally, Arizona’s 25 stolen bases were the second highest in April behind their 32 in 2017 while their 62 doubles ranked the second most in the month and highest total since 2008 (64).
DEFENSE RULES
♦ The D-backs’ 11 Outs Above Average (OAA) lead the Majors, ahead of the Mariners (9), Angels (7), Padres (6) and Tigers (6).
♦ Josh Rojas’ 6 OAA are tied the most among all fielders (also: Javier Báez/DET).
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 83 extra-base hits (55 2B, 7 3B, 21 HR) are second most in the Majors, behind the Pirates (87).
RISP-Y BUSINESS
♦ Since April 7, Arizona’s .317 average (64-for-202) with runners in scoring position is third in the Majors, behind the Rangers (.335) and Pirates (.330).
♦ Geraldo Perdomo’s .556 average (10-for-18) with runners in scoring position leads the Majors [min. 20 PA].
RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
AT A GLANCE: Is in his fourth full season with the D-backs.
• 2022 D-backs Most Valuable Pitcher by the Arizona Chapter of the BBWAA after going 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA.
• Finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting, behind Sandy Alcantara (MIA), Max Fried (ATL), Julio Urías (LAD) and Aaron Nola (PHI).
• Acquired on July 31, 2019 from the Marlins.
• Was the Cardinals’ third-round pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of North Carolina.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Has a 28.0 scoreless-inning streak (April 4 [final inning] – April 26).
• The whiff rates on Gallen’s non-fastballs are all up more than 10 pct. points from last year: curve (34% to 46%), changeup (25% to 41%) and cutter (16% to 29%).
• Selected as the NL Player of the Week for April 10-16 after going 2-0 in 13.2 scoreless innings with 5 hits allowed, 1 walk and 18 strikeouts.
AMONG NL STARTERS: 2nd in strikeouts (51), innings (37.2) and WHIP (0.77); T-2nd in wins (4); 4th in opponent avg. (.178); 5th in ERA (2.15); 7th in win percentage. (.800).
LAST START: Earned his fourth consecutive win of the season on April 26 vs. Royals after tossing 6.1 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
VS. RANGERS: Will be making his second career start.
• Made his lone start vs. Rangers @ Chase Field on Sept. 7, 2021 (L; 3 ER in 6.2 IP, 8 K).
10+ K COLUMN: His 8 total 10+-strikeout performances are sixth most in franchise history, trailing Randy Johnson (106), Curt Schilling (38), Robby Ray (23), Brandon Webb (12) and Patrick Corbin (10).
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas defeated the Yankees on Sunday afternoon, 15-2, to seal a 3-1 series win…club now plays a quick 2-game series with the Diamondbacks (16-13) to cap off a 6-G, 7-day homestand (3-1 vs. NYY, + 2 G vs. ARI)… TEX has won 3 straight after a season-long 4-G losing skid that was the club’s longest drought since an 0-7 span from 9/28-10/4/22…team has dropped 4 of last 7 G, but are still 9-5 in last 14 G and 13-7 in last 20 G beg. 4/9…club’s 17 wins are T4th-most in the A.L…have a 14-11 record last 25 G since club’s 3-0 start to the season.
• Team currently sits 6 games above .500…Texas has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023…high-water mark for the season was 7-over after win on 4/23 vs. OAK (14-7), which was the 1st time TEX had been 7-over since 7/13/19 (50-43)…TEX recorded its 17th win in 2022 on 5/18.
FIRST OF MAY: With the 1st game of May tonight for TEX, some highlights from the team’s 1st month of the season:
• Club went 17-11 (.680) in March/April, 4th-best record in A.L., and currently lead the A.L. West by 1.5 games (HOU, 16-13)…it is the 1st time that TEX holds a division lead past May 1st since 2016, when the club went 15-11 in April and held a 0.5 advantage over Seattle.
• The current 17-11 record is the best 28-G start for the Rangers since 2013 (also 17-11).
• Took 2 of 3 G in HOU from 4/14-16, ending a span in which the club dropped 11 consecutive series at MMP, as it was team’s 1st series win at MMP since a 3-G sweep, 7/27-29/18.
• Swept the Phillies from 3/30-4/2, as TEX opened the season 3-0 for the 9th time in club history & 1st time since 2011, when it won 6 straight to begin a pennant-winning campaign.
STANDINGS: The Rangers own a 1.5-game division lead in the A.L. West on 2nd-place HOU…TEX has been alone in 1st place in 16 of the last 17 days (beg. 4/14), as club was T1st on Thurs…have had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 22 days overall in ‘23…reached a season-best 3.5-game lead in the West with off day on 4/20, which was team’s largest lead in the West since the end of the ‘16 campaign (won division by 9.0 G)…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 32 of the season’s first 33 days (exception: 4/8)… from 2017-22, TEX had 1 day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).
SERIES STUFF: After taking the series from NYY on Sunday (3-1), TEX is now 6-3-0 overall in series this year, going 4-1-0 at home 2-2-0 on the road…club did not win a 6th series in 2022 until 5/26-29/22 at OAK…prior to the series loss at CIN from 4/24-26, TEX had won 4 straight series from 4/10-23, just 2nd time since the start of 2021 to win 4 in a row since going 5-0-0 from 6/15-7/1/18…team has gone undefeated in 2 series: 3-0, 3/30-4/2 vs. PHI; and 3-0, 4/17-19 at KC… club has now won 3-consecutive series at GLF for 1st time in facility history…the last time that TEX won 3 straight home series was a 5-0-0 span from 5/3-6/6/19…it is also the 2nd time this season that TEX wins a series after dropping the series opener in ‘23 (also 4/21-23 vs. OAK).
AT HOME: The Rangers are 11-5 (.688) at home to begin the year, this after starts of 6-10 (in 2022) and 7-9 (in 2021) at GLF the past 2 years…the .688 home win pct. is 4th in A.L. and 5th-best in MLB (14-2, .875-TB; 9-3, .750-TOR; 9-4, .692-BAL/PIT)…TEX has a 97-111 all-time record at Globe Life Field (2020-23), but are 17-12 last 29 G here (beg. 9/11/22).
• TEX has scored 107 R in 16 G at Globe Life Field this season, as club ranks leads the Majors w/ 6.69 R/G at home (TB-6.38).
VS. ARIZONA: TEX owns a 27-22 lead all-time vs. ARI… clubs play 2 series of 2 G (5/2-3 + 8/21-22 at ARI)…TEX last played ARI in 2 G home & home series in 2021 (3-1 record)… club owns a 2-2 record against ARI at GLF (1-1 in ‘20 & ‘21)… TEX has won 3 of last 4, but are still 5-7 in last 12 G (beg. 4/9/19)…TEX has a 15-11 record in 26 G vs. ARI in Arlington…TEX or ARI have never swept a 2-game set in Arlington.
THE POWER RANGERS: TEX posted 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning on Sun. vs. NYY, with each score coming courtesy of home runs by Nathaniel Lowe (2-run), Adolis García (solo), and Jonah Heim (solo)…it marked just the 2nd time in the last 4 seasons (beg. 2020) that Texas has hit 3-ormore HR in a single inning (also 3 HR in 3rd inn. on 9/29/22 at SEA)…the blasts by Lowe and García came in consecutive plate appearances, the 1st instance of back-to-back HR by Rangers in 2023…Texas hit back-to-back HR 8 times in 2022, most recently on 9/29/22 at SEA (Semien/Lowe).
STARRING MARTÍN PÉREZ: Martín Pérez earned his team-leading 4th win of the season (now 4-1, T4th-most wins in A.L.) after turning in a quality start Sun. vs. NYY (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 70 pitches/46 strikes)…his 70 pitches thrown on Sun. were T3rd-fewest by a TEX starter in an outing of 6.0+ inn. since pitches were first officially tracked in 1988: 60-John Koronka on 6/29/06 at SF (6.0 IP), 69-Ryan Drese on 7/2/04 at HOU (6.0 IP), 70-Pérez on Sun. vs. NYY (6.0 IP)/Nick Tepesch on 7/26/14 vs. OAK (6.0 IP)/Mike Morgan on 7/29/99 at BAL (6.0 IP)…has logged 5.0-or-more IP and allowed 3-or-fewer R in each of his 6 starts this season (2.41 ERA), becoming the 1st Ranger to open a season with
6-or-more starts of that ilk since Lance Lynn in ‘20 (7 straight).
MAKING A SLAM DUNK CASE: Josh Jung compiled a career high-tying 5 RBI on Sunday vs. NYY (2x, also 9/27/22 at SEA), putting TEX in front, 4-0, in the bottom of the 1st inning with a grand slam to right field, his 1st career slam and the 3rd by a Ranger this season (also Semien on 4/16 at HOU; García on 4/10 vs. KC)…marked the 1st slam by a TEX third baseman since Adrián Beltré on 8/15/16 vs. OAK…was also the 1st GS by a TEX rookie since Adolis García on 8/29/21 vs. HOU, the only other slam by a TEX rookie at GLF.
• It was just the 16th slam by a rookie in TEX history and it was the 1st slam by a Ranger to be hit in the 1st inning of a game since Ronald Guzmán on 7/15/18 at BAL…the last Arlington instance by a Ranger was Mitch Moreland on 8/27/16 vs. CLE.
• Jung has batted .270/.324/.500/.820 (27-100) with 6 HR, 5 2B, and 21 RBI over the 1st month of the season (26 G)… his 6 HR and 21 RBI are the most ever by a TEX rookie before the end of April, surpassing the previous highs of 5 HR (Adolis García in 2021) and 16 RBI (David Murphy in 2008).
• He finishes the 1st month of the season leading all qualified A.L. rookies in runs (18), RBI (21) and SLG (.500), tied for 1st in hits (27), 2B (5) and HR (6), and placing 2nd in BA (.270).
THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER: Jonah Heim hit a solo HR and recorded a pair of 2B’s on Sun. vs. NYY, matching his career high for XBH (3, 2x, also 7/24/22 at OAK)…it was the 1st time a TEX catcher totaled 3+ XBH in a game at home since Robinson Chirinos on 6/22/17 vs. TOR (HR, 2 2B)…Heim’s 12 XBH as a catcher this season (5 HR, 7 2B) are the most in the A.L., and his 69 XBH as a catcher in 3 seasons with TEX (2021-23) already rank 8th in club history: 580-Iván Rodríguez, 285-Jim Sundberg, 141-Chirinos, 118-Rod Barajas, 100-Gerald Laird, 81-Geno Petralli/Don Slaught, 69-Heim.
OUR HOUSE, IN THE MIDDLE OF STADIUM DRIVE: Sunday’s sellout crowd of 39,078 marked the 3rd sellout at GLF this season…Saturday’s 40,027 set a GLF facility record for baseball…the total paid attendance for the recent 4-game series vs. NYY was 146,771, the highest attendance for any
series in Globe Life Field history…with the game time temp. around 76 degrees, the roof will be open for tonight’s game
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #22 Jon Gray, RHP
(1-1, 3.91)
TONIGHT: The 31-year-old right-hander is set to make his 6th appearance/start of the season in tonight’s series opener against the Diamondbacks…punched out Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer in the 6th inning on 4/26 at CIN to become the 41st active MLB pitcher with 1,000+ career strikeouts (see below)…despite the accomplishment, he enters tonight’s contest with his 2nd-lowest career K/9 (6.04) through first 5 starts of season (5.50 in 2020)…ERA has climbed from 3.21 to 3.91 after surrendering 3 ER in back-to-back starts…is 1 of 2 Texas starters to have not allowed a 1st-inning run this season (also deGrom)…4 of 6 XBH allowed in ‘23 have been HR (one 2-R HR, 3 solo HR)…has fared significantly better against LHB (.182 BA) than RHB (.295 BA)…earned 1st win of season after hurling 5.2 innings and allowing 2 ER at CHC on 4/9…this is Gray’s 2nd season with Texas after signing a 4-year free agent contract with the club on 12/1/21… was hindered by several injuries last season, but still managed to post a 7-7 record, 3.96 ERA (56 ER/127.1 IP), and 134 strikeouts over 24 starts…prior to joining the Rangers, the right-hander had spent his entire pro career with Colorado, ranking 2nd in Rockies history with 849 strikeouts while also placing among the all-time team leaders with 151 starts, 829.1 innings, and 53 wins from 2015-21… was the 3rd overall selection by Colorado in the 2013 MLB Draft after pitching 2 seasons at the U. of Oklahoma…is a native of the Oklahoma City area, growing up in nearby Chandler…Texas is 1-4 in Gray’s 5 starts this season. 1,000 K’S: Gray recorded a pair of strikeouts at CIN on 4/26 to reach 1,000 career strikeouts and become just the 41st active Major League pitcher with 1,000+ career strikeouts…he joined fellow Ranger teammates Ian Kennedy (1,761), Jacob deGrom (1,650), Jake Odorizzi (1,172), and Nathan Eovaldi (1,091) as the 5th pitcher on the Rangers’ 40-man roster with 1,000+ career strikeouts… no other team in baseball currently has more than 3 pitchers with 1,000-ormore career strikeouts on its 40-man roster: 5-TEX, 3- BOS/KC/NYM/PHI/SD.
• Danny Duffy, who is on Triple-A Round Rock’s Injured List while rehabbing from a left elbow injury, has tallied 1,048 career SO’s.
LAST START: Notched his 2nd QS in his last outing at CIN on 4/26, (ND, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB, 2 SO)…Gray exited the game with Texas trailing 2-3 in the 7th inning, turning the ball over to Josh Sborz…in the 9th frame, Brad Miller tallied a sac fly to tie the game at 3…Rangers would go on to lose after Joanthan Hernandez surrendered a walk-off, 2-R HR to Nick Senzel…capped off the Reds 1st sweep of Texas since 2004 (6/15-17/04) and marked the Rangers’ 3rd consecutive road loss.
VS. ARIZONA / INTERLEAGUE: Gray is set to make his 1st start against the Diamondbacks in a Texas uniform, but faced Arizona 18 times (3rd-most vs. any team in career) with Colorado…holds a 5-7 career record against Arizona with a 5.60 ERA (61 ER/98.0 IP)…has given up 5+ ER in his last 2 outings dating back to last 2021.
• Has gone 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA (14 ER/35.2 IP) in 7 G/GS vs. N.L. clubs in his 2 seasons with Texas (2022-23)…is 2-0, 2.53 (6 ER/21.1 IP) ERA in last 4 Interleague starts dating to 2022, incl. last start vs. N.L. on 4/26/23 at CIN (6.0 IP, 3 R-ER).
AT HOME / IN GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Gray has made a pair of starts at home in ‘23, making his season debut on 4/3 vs. BAL (6.1 IP, 2 R-ER), taking a loss despite a quality start in Rangers’ 2-0 defeat…left with a no decision in his last home outing on 4/21 vs. OAK where he matched a career high with 5 walks…in 2022, made twice as many starts on the road (16) than at Globe Life Field (8)… T8th-most road starts in A.L., most by a Ranger since Lance Lynn and Mike Minor in 2019 (17)…saw better results in Arlington (4-1, 3.35 ERA) than on road (3-6, 4.27)…10.26 strikeouts per 9 innings figure (49 SO/43.0 IP) at GLF was substantially higher than away mark (9.07)…opponents hit .206/.247/.376/.623 at home versus .231/.308/.375/.683 on road.
• Despite calling hitter-friendly Coors Field home for the first 7 seasons (2015-21) of his 9-year career, Gray has seen significantly better lifetime results in 84 G/83 GS at home (35-20, 4.40 ERA) than in 95 G/GS on the road (26-37, 4.57 ERA). 2023: Has allowed 3-or-fewer runs in 4 of his 5 starts…has received 16 runs of support in his starts, and his 5.68 RSA (Run Support Average) ranks lowest of all Texas starters…has issued team-high 13 walks and 4.62 BB/9 figure is 6th-highest in A.L. (min. 25.0 IP)…opponents are batting .239/.346/.409/.755 (21-88)…10 of 13 BB have been issued to LHB (3 BB/11 SO vs. RHB)…opp. BA by time thru the lineup: 1st (.200, 8-40), 2nd (.333, 10-30), 3rd (.167, 3-18)…Jonah Heim has caught all 5 starts…made early exit in start on 4/15 at HOU (ND, 2.0 IP, 1 R-ER) after he took a liner off his right forearm during Yainer Diaz at-bat to lead off 3rd inning…was removed from the game after attempting warm-up throws…X-rays were negative and was diagnosed with a right forearm bruise…earned 1st win on 4/9 at CHC (5.2 IP, 2 R-ER), when Will Smith stranded bases loaded in the 6th inning…took loss in season debut on 4/3 vs. BAL (6.1 IP, 2 R-ER).
