ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs’ 24 wins are third most in the NL, behind the Dodgers (28) and Braves (27)…the team is second in the NL West (23 days in/tied for first place from April 2-30).
♦ The D-backs have won 5 of their last 7 series.
♦ Zac Gallen, in his last 7 starts, is 6-0 with a 1.16 ERA (6 ER in 46.2 IP), .172 opponent average, 0.86 WHIP, 4 walks and 60 strikeouts.
- Has not allowed a home run in his last 47.2 innings, over 8 starts since April 4 @ Padres (start Bottom 6), the sixth-longest active streak in the Majors.
- In his last 8 starts (6 quality) vs. NL Central foes, is 4-2 with a 1.62 ERA (9 ER in 50.0 IP), .145 opponent average, 0.76 WHIP, 14 walks and 54 strikeouts.
♦ The D-backs are 14-6 in their last 20 games vs. Pirates.
YOUNG ‘BACKS
♦ The D-backs’ 27.8 roster age is tied for third-youngest in the Majors with the Nationals, A’s and Rays, behind the Guardians (26.1) and Orioles (27.7) and ahead of the Angels, Phillies, Mariners and Pirates (28.0).
♦ The D-backs’ 5 players aged 23 or younger are tied for most in the Majors with the Angels…players are: Corbin Carroll/22, Gabriel Moreno/23, Geraldo Perdomo/23, Alek Thomas/23 and Carlos Vargas/23.
OH, LOURDES!
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is batting .419 (18-for-43) with 5 doubles (1 walk-off ), 6 homers, 12 RBI and 8 walks during his 11-game hitting streak, the fourth-longest active streak in the Majors, second-longest by a D-back this season (Corbin Carroll, 12 games) and second-longest of his career (12 games; July 11-Aug. 24, 2018).
♦ Has an extra-base hit in 7 straight games (5 doubles, 2 homers), the Majors’ longest active streak and tied for the second-longest of his career (also: May 24-31, 2019).
♦ In his last 10 road games, is hitting .324 (12-for-37)/1.053 OPS with 2 doubles, 3 homers, 7 RBI and 6 walks.
WALKER’S HOME RUN SHOW
♦ Christian Walker has homered in his last 2 games and in 4 straight road games (May 2-3, 16-present).
♦ Since 2022, his 47 home runs are third in the NL behind Kyle Schwarber (56) and Pete Alonso (56).
KETEL BEING KETEL
♦ Ketel Marte’s 18-game on-base streak, since April 26, is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the Majors (1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 9 BB, 2 HBP) and 5 games shy of his careerlong (22, Aug 2-29, 2019).
KETEL BEING KETEL (CONT.)
♦ Has reached base in 11 straight road games , since April 15, hitting .395 (17-for-43)/1.161 OPS with 1 triple, 4 homers, 9 RBI and 4 walks.
♦ Has hit safely in 8 of his last 10 games @ Pirates (.306, 11- for-36, 1.053 OPS, 2 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI).
D-FENSE! D-FENSE!
♦ The D-backs’ .991 fielding pct. is second in the Majors to the Padres (.993) and their 15 errors are tied for second fewest (Astros, Mets, Rays) behind the Padres (11).
♦ Josh Rojas’ 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) are tied for second most in the Majors with Ke’Bryan Hayes/PIT and Bobby Witt Jr./KC, behind Xander Bogaerts/SD (7) and Eugenio Suárez/SEA (7)…Christian Walker’s 5 OAA are tied for sixth (5 others).
SEEING IT WELL
♦ Since April 24, the D-backs’ 91 walks (21 games) are third in the Majors, behind the Dodgers (93 BB, 22 G) and Padres (93 BB, 20 G), and their 11.0 walk pct. is second to the the Padres (12.1).
♦ Since April 23, the D-backs’ .357 OBP is second in the Majors behind the Red Sox (.361) and ahead of the Rays (.338), Braves (.336) and Padres (.335).
SNAKE BITES
♦ Dominic Fletcher, in his fi rst 12 games from April 30-May 13, hit .462 (18-for-39)/1.231 OPS with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 13 RBI and 2 walks.
♦ Gabriel Moreno, in his last 10 games, is hitting .400 (14- for-35)/.904 OPS with 2 doubles, 3 RBI and 3 walks.
♦ Geraldo Perdomo’s .448 (13-for-29) average with runners in scoring position is fifth in the Majors [min. 35 PA], behind Marcus Semien/TEX (.512), Yordan Alvarez/ HOU (.469), Esteury Ruiz/OAK (.455) and Joey Meneses/WAS (.452).
TODAY’S STARTER – RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
AT A GLANCE: Is in his fi fth 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.
- Fifth in the 2022 NL Cy Young Award voting (Sandy Alcantara/MIA, Max Fried/ATL, Julio Urías/LAD, Aaron Nola/PHI).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is 6-0 with a 1.16 ERA (6 ER in 46.2 IP), 0.69 WHIP and 60 strikeouts over his last 7 starts (6 quality).
- His 1.87 ERA (32 ER in 154.1 IP in 24 starts) since July 13, 2022 is the lowest ERA in the Majors (min. 120 IP).
- Whiff rates on non-fastballs are up from 2022: curve (34% to 44%), changeup (25% to 33%), cutter (16% to 26%).
- His 14 scoreless starts of 7.0 + innings since 2019 are tied for most in the Majors (also: Sandy Alcantara/MIA).
- Tallied the D-backs fourth-longest scoreless streak (28.0 IP) in franchise history from (April 4 [fi nal inning]-April 26)…established the D-backs’ all-time record for consecutive scoreless innings (44.1) from Aug. 8-Sept. 11, 2022.
LAST START: Earned his sixth win of the season on May 13 vs. Giants (2 ER in 7.2 IP).
VS. PIRATES: Is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER in 13.0 IP) in 2 career starts.
- Won his last start on Aug. 8, 2022 (0 ER in 7.0 IP, 8 K).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL leaders in wins (T-1st, 6), strikeout-to-walk ratio (1st, 8.75), starts (T-2nd, 9), WHIP (2nd, 0.85), strikeouts (2nd, 70), innings (2nd, 57.1), walks (3rd, 8) and ERA (4th, 2.35).
VS. LEFTIES: Is limiting lefties to a .189 (18-for-95) average
PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES: Were off yesterday…Shut out the Tigers 8-0 Wednesday to earn a split in their two-game series…Lost four straight games from 5/9-13…Won seven straight games from 4/17-23, their longest winning streak since 2018 (11 games)…Are 1.0 game out of first place coming into today in the National League Central.
ROSTER MOVE: The Pittsburgh Pirates today reinstated left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny from the 15-day injured list…In addition, outfielder Miguel Andujar has been designated for assignment.
ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Johan Oviedo gets the start tonight in the opener of this three-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks…Oviedo was in line for the win (5.0ip/1r) but came away with a no-decision in his last start in Pittsburgh’s 6-3 loss last Friday at Camden Yards.
STAYING IN THE PARK: Johan Oviedo surrendered three home runs in 4.2 innings in his season debut on April 3 at Fenway Park…Since then Oviedo has tossed 37.1 innings in his last seven outings without allowing a long ball…Oviedo’s average of 0.64 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings pitched ranks eighth among all National League pitchers with at least 42.0 innings pitched.
BUCCO BLANKINGS: Each of Pittsburgh’s last three wins have come by way of shutouts…The Pirates blanked Colorado 2-0 on May 8 at PNC Park, shut out the Orioles 4-0 Sunday at Camden Yards, and closed out their road trip Wednesday with an 8-0 shutout at Comerica Park against the Tigers…Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has now recorded six shutouts this season, which ranks third in all of MLB behind Tampa Bay and Toronto with seven apiece.
WINNING STARTS HERE: Pittsburgh’s starting pitching staff ranks first in the National League and tied for second in all of MLB with 18 wins along with the Rangers…Tampa Bay’s starting pitching staff ranks first in MLB with 21 wins…Last year Pittsburgh’s starting rotation won a total of 21 times for the entire season.
ONE: Pittsburgh’s pitching staff limited the Tigers to just one hit on Wednesday, which came on an infield single leading off the first inning by Matt Vierling…Prior to Wednesday, the only one-hitter Pittsburgh’s staff recorded last season came in a 1-0 contest on September 13 at Cincinnati.
SETTING UP THE SERIES: The Pirates have won each of their last two series against Arizona here at PNC Park, taking two of three games apiece in 2021 and 2022…Jack Suwinski went 7-for-12 last year against Arizona, highlighted by his first career walkoff home run on June 4 off Mark Melancon…The Pirates will also face the Diamondbacks in the final series leading up to this year’s All-Star break from July 7-9.
HE MAN BEHIND THE MASK: Austin Hedges has started each of Pittsburgh’s last three shutouts behind the plate… Hedges comes into today with the lowest catcher’s ERA (3.31) in all of MLB…As a team, Pittsburgh’s catchers have the sixth-lowest ERA (3.66) in MLB this season, trailing only the Astros (3.36), Rays (3.38), Twins (3.41), Braves (3.55) and Mariners (3.55).
TAKING A STAND: Tonight the Pirates begin a six-game homestand against the Diamondbacks and Rangers…Monday’s visit by the Rangers will be just the fourth series the Rangers have played at PNC Park (also 2002, 2007 and 2019).
AGAINST THE SENIOR CIRCUIT: Each of the last five and 11 of Pittsburgh’s last 14 games have come against American League teams…The Pirates have gone 15-8 against the National League this season, including wins in 12 of their last 16 games beginning with their series against the Rockies at Coors Field on April 17.
DAURI DEALING: Righthander Dauri Moreta came one pitch away from an immaculate inning while closing out Wednesday’s win against the Tigers…Moreta is tied for fourth among all National League relievers in strikeouts (29) and fifth in batting average against (.121).
THE RENEGADE: David Bednar comes into today with the second-lowest ERA (0.56) among all relievers in MLB…The only reliever to produce a lower earned run average in MLB is Baltimore’s Yennier Cano (0.00).
TODAY’S STARTER – 24 – RHP JOHAN OVIEDO
JOHAN OVIEDO: The 25-year-old righthander is making his ninth start tonight…He had a no-decision (5.0ip/1r) in his last start last Friday at Baltimore in a 6-3 loss.
vs. ARIZONA: 0-0 in one start…Allowed three runs (2er) in 4.1 innings in a no-decision on 5/28/21 at Arizona while pitching for St. Louis.
