ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs’ 11-6 record since April 26 in the second best in the Majors, behind only the Dodgers (14-4).
♦ The D-backs’ 24 wins are the third most in the NL, behind the Dodgers (27) and Braves (26).
♦ Arizona is second in the NL West and has spent 23 total days in or tied for first place (April 2-30).
♦ The D-backs are 6 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 85-77 at the end of the 2019 season.
♦ Arizona’s 4-game win streak ties its longest this season (also: April 7-10).
♦ A win today will secure the D-backs’ second straight series win and fifth in their last 7.
♦ D-backs starting pitchers, in their last 6 starts, have a 3.41 ERA (14 ER in 37.0 IP), .197 opponent average, 10 walks, 32 strikeouts and 0.97 WHIP.
SEEING IT WELL
♦ Since April 23, the D-backs’ .359 OBP leads the Majors, ahead of Red Sox (.355), Braves (.341) and Rays (.339).
♦ Since April 23, the D-backs’ 11.2 walk pct. is second in the Majors, behind the Padres (11.7), compared to their 5.0 walk pct. (MLB low) from the start of season to April 22.
YOUNG ‘BACKS
♦ The D-backs and Athletics are tied for the third-youngest team in the Majors at age 27.8, behind the Guardians (26.4) and Orioles (27.5) and ahead of Nationals (27.9) and Angels, Phillies, Mariners, Pirates, Rays (28.0).
♦ Arizona has featured the most players aged 23 or younger (5) in the Majors this season (Corbin Carroll/22, Gabriel Moreno/23, Geraldo Perdomo/23, Alek Thomas/23 and Carlos Vargas/23), ahead of Los Angeles-AL (4).
KETEL BEING KETEL
♦ Ketel Marte has a 16-game on-base streak (since April 26), tied for sixth longest active streak in MLB…has 1 double, 1 triple, 3 homers, 10 RBI, 9 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches.
♦ He has reached base in 9 straight road games, since April 15, hitting .353 (12-for-34)/1.179 OPS with 1 triple, 7 homers, 8 RBI and 4 walks.
OH, LOURDES!
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a 9-game hit streak, tied for the fourth longest active streak in the Majors…batting .441 (15-for-34) with 4 doubles (1 walk-off ), 5 homers, 12 runs, 10 RBI and 8 walks.
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hitting .373 (19-for-51)/.850 OPS vs. lefties… in last 8 road games, is hitting .321 (9-for28)/1.013 OPS.
WELCOME BACK TO THE FLETCH SHOW
♦ Dominic Fletcher is batting .404 (19-for-47)/1.088 OPS with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 6 runs, 13 RBI and 2 walks in his first 14 Major League games.
♦ With 1 hit today, he would join Gerardo Parra (2009), Mark Reynolds (2007), Chad Tracy (2004) and Matt Kata (2003) as the only D-backs with at least 20 hits in their first 15 career games.
SNAKE BITES
♦ Gabriel Moreno is hitting .409 (18-for-44)/.994 OPS vs. lefties…in his last 9 games, is hitting .414 (12-for-29)/.917 OPS with 1 double, 2 RBI, 3 walks and 2 stolen bases.
♦ Geraldo Perdomo is hitting .353 (6-for-17) vs. lefties… his .464 average (13-for-28) with runners in scoring position is third in the Majors [min. 35 PA], behind Marcus Semien/TEX (.513) and Yordan Alvarez/HOU (.483).
♦ Christian Walker’s 7 homers since April 21 are tied for the most in the Majors (also: Mookie Betts/LAD, Salvador Perez/KC and Brent Rooker/OAK).
Since 2022, Walker ranks among NL players in home runs (T-3rd, 45) [T6th in MLB], RBI (T-6th, 122), extra-base hits (10th, 80) and total bases (T-10th, 351).
D-FENSE! D-FENSE!
♦ The D-backs’ .991 fielding pct. is tied for second in the Majors (also: Mariners), behind the Padres (.993).
♦ Josh Rojas’ 8 OAA leads the Majors, ahead of Eugenio Suárez (7), while Christian Walker’s 5 OAA are tied for fourth most (also: Javier Báez/DET, J.D. Davis/SF and Bobby Witt Jr./KC).
FOR THE TAKING
♦ The D-backs’ 51 pct. extra bases taken percentage leads the Majors, ahead of the Reds, Dodgers and Padres (50%).
Pct. runner advanced more than 1 base on single or 2+ bases on a double
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP TOMMY HENRY ♦ #47
AT A GLANCE: Signed by the D-backs as a Competitive Balance-B selection (74th overall) in the 2019 draft.
- Attended the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to the 2019 College World Series vs. eventual champion Vanderbilt University.
- A Michigan native, attended Portage Northern High School, where he lettered in baseball and basketball.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his second road start of 2023.
- Facing an AL West opponent for the first time.
- The D-backs are 3-1 in his 4 starts.
- Has 9 walks and 9 strikeouts in 4 starts this year.
LAST START: Took the loss on May 11 in his second career start vs. Giants…allowed a 2-run homer to Casey Schmitt in the second inning.
VS. ATHLETICS: Making his fi rst career start.
2 STRIKES: Holding opponents to a .147 avg. with 2 strikes.
PITCH TRACKING: Opposing batters are 2-for-10 (.200) with 1 strikeout on his changeup and 5-for-27 (.185) with 6 strikeouts on his curveball.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost three straight and eight of the last nine games… are 3-11 (.214) in May after going 5-23 (.179) in April…are 9-34 (.209) overall, which is the worst record in the majors (Royals, 12-31/.279)…it is the worst record in Athletics history after 43 games and is tied for fourth worst by an AL, NL or FL team since 1901…it is the worst since the 2003 Tigers also started the year 9-34…the lowest winning percentage in American League history is .235 by the 1916 Philadelphia A’s (36-117)…are 1-12-0 in series play and have been swept six times…lost each of the first 10 series, won two of three at Kansas City from May 5-7, and have lost each of the last two series.
OFFENSE: The A’s are batting .217 (65-for-300) with 25 runs scored over the last nine games (2.7 runs per game)…overall, are tied for the most strikeouts in the majors (399), have the fourth fewest runs (161), fourth lowest batting average (.229), fifth fewest doubles (29), seventh lowest on-base percentage (.308), eighth lowest OPS (.689) and slugging percentage (.381) and ninth fewest extra base hits (114)…have the most sacrifice hits (10) and are tied for the most hit by pitches (26)…have been shut out twice on the homestand and six times overall, which is tied for third most in the majors (Mets and Royals, 7)…A’s pinch hitters are 10-for-36 (.278) with eight walks (.409 on-base percentage)…lead the majors in pinch walks and rank third in pinch hits. PITCHING: The A’s have compiled a 6.17 ERA (85 er in 124.0 ip) in May after posting a 7.97 ERA in April…have a 7.21 ERA for the season, which is the highest in the majors (White Sox, 5.50)…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the highest ERA by an AL or NL team since the earned run became an official stat is 6.70 by the 1930 Philadelphia Phillies…the A’s have allowed 321 runs, which is an average of 7.5 per game…are on pace to allow 1209 runs and the modern Major League record is 1199 by the 1930 Phillies…also have the highest opponents OPS (.886), batting average (.286), on-base percentage (.380) and slugging percentage (.506) in the majors this year…lead the majors in most walks (210), hit batters (32) and wild pitches (24) and have the fourth fewest strikeouts (318).
THE LONG BALL: The A’s have allowed at least one home run in each of the last 19 games (32 home runs total), which is the longest streak in Athletics history (previous: 17, July 26-Aug. 14, 1964)…have yielded 75 home runs for the season, which is the most in the majors (White Sox, 66)…surrendered their sixth grand slam of the season Sunday, which is the most in the majors (Yankees, 3) and tied for fifth most in a season in Athletics history (8 in 1993 and 1999, 7 in 1954 and 1997).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers are 0-7 with a 6.46 ERA (34 er in 47.1 ip) in the eight games since recording their only two wins of the season on May 5 and 6 at Kansas City…are 2-23 with a 7.55 ERA for the season…the ERA is the highest in the majors (Reds, 6.18) and no other team has fewer than six wins from its starters…have the seventh fewest innings pitched (209.2)… went 0-16 over the first 32 games.
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen tossed 5.1 scoreless innings last night, which matches their longest scoreless outing of the season (May 4 vs. Seattle)…has a 6.79 ERA overall, which is the highest in the majors (White Sox, 5.84)…is 4-for-13 (30.8%) in save opportunities…has the lowest save percentage and fewest saves in the majors and the nine blown saves are tied for second most to the Cardinals (11)…has allowed 38-of-86 (44.2%) inherited runners to score, which is the fifth highest percentage…has the second most inherited runners…has 168.1 innings pitched, which is second most (Rays, 179.2).
ON THE BASES: The A’s are 41-for-50 (82.0%) in stolen base attempts…rank third in the majors in stolen bases and attempts…the 41 steals are the most by an A’s team over the first 43 games since 1992 (48)…had their streak of seven consecutive games with a stolen base snapped a week ago today, which was their longest streak in 11 years…A’s opponents are 37-for-52 (71.2%) in stolen base attempts, which is the eighth lowest success rate in the majors… the 15 caught stealings are second most in the majors (Rockies, 18) but the A’s are tied for the fourth most stolen bases allowed…A’s pitchers have four pickoffs, which is tied for second most in the majors (Brewers, 5).
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 1-4 on this seven-game homestand against Texas (1-3) and Arizona (0-1)…went 1-5 on the last homestand against Cincinnati (1-2) and Seattle (0-3) and are 4-19 (.182) at home, which is the lowest home winning percentage in the majors (Royals, 6-17/.261)…leave following the game tomorrow for a seven-game road trip to Houston (three games) and Seattle (four games) that begins on Friday…went 2-4 on the last road trip to Kansas City (2-1) and New York-AL (0-3) and are 5-15 (.250) on the road, which is the worst road record in the majors (Reds and Royals, 6-14/.300)… have compiled a 6.03 ERA (142 er in 212.0 ip) at home compared to 8.73 on the road…are hitting .211 (159-for-755) with 70 runs in 23 home games (3.0 runs per game) compared to .250 with 91 runs in 20 road games (4.6 runs per game).
NIGHT AND DAY: The A’s are 8-17 (.320) in night games and 1-17 (.056) during the day…are batting .259 (224-for-864) with 116 runs in 25 night games (4.6 runs per game), .184 (106-for-576) with 45 runs in 18 day games (2.5 runs per game)…have the lowest day batting average in the majors and the seventh best night batting average.
WINNING LATE: The A’s have scored the winning run in their final at bat in six of their nine wins…have more wins this year when trailing after seven innings (3) than when leading after seven innings (2)…the three wins when trailing after seven innings are tied for sixth most in the majors but no other team has fewer than nine wins when leading after seven innings…are 2-4 (.333) in extra inning games…are tied for second in the majors in extra inning losses, tied for third in games (6) and tied for fifth in wins…have three walk-off wins, which is tied for second most in the majors (Red Sox, 4).
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: Six of the A’s nine wins have been by one run and Oakland is 6-7 (.462) in one-run games…are tied for seventh in the majors in one-run games (13) and tied for eighth in losses…however, have lost six games by 10 or more runs, which matches the A’s combined total from the previous four seasons and is the most since 2008 when they had eight such losses…have a run differential of -160, which is the lowest in the majors (White Sox, -71)… the lowest in Athletics history is -344 by the 1915 Philadelphia A’s and the lowest by an AL or NL team since 1901 is -349 by the 1932 Boston Red Sox.
THE INJURED LIST: The A’s have used the injured list 13 times, including nine times for pitchers…currently have eight players on the IL, including six pitchers…have added eight players to the IL since the start of the season after beginning the year with five players…used the IL 31 times last year, which broke the Oakland record of 27 set in 2016 and matched in 2021.
THIS AND THAT: This three-game series with the Diamondbacks is the A’s first against a National League West team…have a 1-9 record against the NL, with the lone win coming against Cincinnati on April 30…committed four errors Sunday, which were the A’s most in a game since May 30, 2018 against Tampa Bay when they also had four…now have 30 errors for the season, which is the most in the majors (Angels, 29)…have nine outfield assists, which is tied for second most (Royals, 10)…have an average time of game of 2:48, which is the longest in the majors (three teams with 2:43)…however, have not averaged under 2:53 per game since 2010 (2:43).
A’S VS. DIAMONDBACKS
- The A’s had their six-game winning streak against the Diamondbacks snapped last night…the streak was their longest ever against Arizona.
- The loss last night also snapped a six-game winning streak in Oakland…the A’s have now won nine of the last 12 games in the Coliseum.
- The A’s and Diamondbacks meet for the first time since 2021 when the A’s swept the four-game season series, winning two-game series’ in Oakland and Phoenix…it was the second time the A’s swept the season series (3-0 in 2001).
Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-1 0-0 0-1
2021 2-0 2-0 4-0
Oakland History: 23-19
at the Coliseum: 13-10
at Chase Field: 10-9
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Ryan Noda leads Major League rookies in on-base percentage (.402) and walks (28), ranks fourth in OPS (.808), sixth in runs (21), tied for sixth in doubles (8), tied for seventh in extra base hits (12) and ninth in slugging (.406)…Brent Rooker leads the majors in OPS (1.036) and slugging (.628), is tied for fourth in home runs (11) and ranks seventh in on-base percentage (.408)…Esteury Ruiz leads ML rookies in hits (45), stolen bases (19) and hit by pitches (9), is tied for the lead in doubles (10), ranks fourth in batting (.269), tied for fourth in RBI (21), tied for seventh in extra base hits (12) and 10th in on-base percentage (.330).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Kyle Muller (1-3, 7.34 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his ninth start of the season…it will be his second straight on four days rest after pitching on five days rest or more in each of his first seven…his eight starts are tied for the most in the majors among rookies…also ranks fifth in innings pitched (38.0) and tied for seventh in strikeouts (27)…had just 11 career starts entering the season…was the A’s Opening Day starter and made the first Opening Day roster of his three-year career…was acquired from Atlanta in the three-team, nine-player trade on Dec. 12, 2022 that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves.
RANKINGS: Based on a minimum of 30.0 innings pitched, he has the second highest opponents batting average (.340) and on-base percentage (.415) in the majors, the fourth highest ERA (7.34) and fifth highest OPS (.928)…has struck out 27 and walked 21 in 38.0 innings and has the fourth lowest strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.29)…has allowed 53 hits, which is eighth most.
HOME AND AWAY: Is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA (10 er in 19.2 ip) and .821 opponents OPS in four starts at home compared to 1-2 with a 10.31 ERA (21 er in 18.1 ip) and 1.041 OPS in four starts on the road.
BY MONTH: Had a no decision in his one start in March and allowed one run in 5.0 innings for a 1.80 ERA and .485 OPS…then went 0-2 with a 7.23 ERA and .976 OPS in five starts in April…is currently 1-1 with a 10.61 ERA (11 er in 9.1 ip) and 1.004 OPS in two starts in May.
THIS AND THAT: Has a 4.50 ERA (12 er in 24.0 ip) over innings one through three and a 12.21 ERA (19 er in 14.0 ip) from the fourth inning on…has a .254 (16-for-63) opponents batting average and .753 OPS the first time through the order, .300 (18-for-60) with an .875 OPS the second time and .576 (19- for-33) with a 1.337 OPS after that…has surrendered one home run in each of his last six starts…has struck out three batters or fewer in six of his eight starts…has tossed five innings or fewer six times…the A’s are 2-6 in his starting assignments.
