ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
ALL-STAR FINALISTS ANNOUNCED TODAY AT 3:00 P.M.:
♦ All-Star Phase 1 voting closes at 9:00 a.m. PHX today… Tuesday’s update had Seattle-native Corbin Carroll/OF and Lourdes Gurriel Jr./OF third and fourth, respectively, among outfielders and separated by 1,101 votes.
- Other D-backs receiving votes: Ketel Marte/2B (6th), Gabriel Moreno/C (6th), Geraldo Perdomo/SS (8th), Josh Rojas/3B (9th), Evan Longoria/DH (10th).
♦ Today at 3:00 p.m. PHX, MLB Network will reveal the NL and AL finalists with the Top 2 vote-getters at each position (and the Top 6 outfielders) advancing to Phase 2 of voting to determine starters [Note: if an outfielder is a league’s leading vote-getter, Phase 2 voting at the position will still take place to determine the remaining two starters among the next four outfield finalists].
BEST IN THE WEST
♦ The D-backs are 7-1 in their last 8 road games and 11-2 in their last 13 road games (since May 20).
♦ The D-backs are in first place in the NL West (+2.5) and have spent 44 days in/tied for first place in the division.
♦ The D-backs’ 16-7 record (.696) since May 28 is third in the Majors to the Braves (16-5, .762) and Reds (17-6, .739).
♦ The D-backs’ 45-30 (.600) season record is fifth in the Majors, behind the Rays (52-25, .675), Braves (47-26, .644), Rangers (46-28, .622) and Orioles (45-28, .616).
HI & BYE
♦ Today’s D-backs return to Washington, D.C. is for a 1-game makeup of the June 8 game postponed due to “clearly hazardous air quality conditions”…the D-backs won the first 2 games of the series on June 6-7.
♦ Have won 4 straight road games @ Nationals, are 4-1 overall vs. Nationals this season and 8-2 in their last 10.
♦ Tommy Henry gets the starting nod in the “series finale”…started on June 6 (10-5 win, 5 ER in 4.1 IP).
Mc-TOUGH
♦ Scott McGough’s 0.79 WHIP (19 H, 12 BB, 39.0 IP) leads the NL and is second among all MLB pitchers (min. 30.0 IP) to Jacob deGrom/TEX (0.76) and ahead of Yennier
Cano/BAL (0.80), Phil Maton/HOU (0.84) and Adbert Alzolay/CHC (0.85).
- His 0.79 WHIP is the 15th-best single-season WHIP among relievers in the Majors since 2017 (min. 30.0 IP; 0 GS)…the best mark was Sean Doolittle/WSH (0.60 WHIP in 2018).
- His 0.79 WHIP is the best single-season WHIP by a D-backs reliever all-time (min. 30.0 IP; 0 GS) ahead of Noe Ramirez (0.89 in 2021), J.J. Putz (0.91 in 2011), Brad Ziegler (0.96 in 2015) and José Valverde (0.99 in 2003).
FIRST 104 CAREER GAMES
♦ Corbin Carroll, in Tuesday’s ballot update, was among the Top 6 outfielder finalists with the NL’s Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts and AL’s Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Randy Arozarena (listed below in order of recent vote totals).
♦ Below is a comparison of their stats thru their first 104 career Major League games:
Player Age AVG OBP SLG OPS H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Judge 24-25 .291 .407 .606 1.013 104 14 3 31 72 67 6
Trout 19-20 .302 .360 .507 .867 115 21 3 17 56 34 30
Arozarena 24-26 .270 .355 .475 .830 88 14 1 17 48 33 16
Acuña Jr. 20-21 .290 .365 .563 .928 118 25 4 26 58 45 15
Betts 21-22 .265 .333 .410 .743 106 22 3 10 43 39 15
Carroll 21-22 .287 .367 .558 .925 104 28 5 20 54 37 23
KETEL IN THE NO. 2 SLOT
♦ Ketel Marte, who has reached base safely in 17 of his last 18 games in the No. 2 spot (.292, 21-for-72, .935 OPS, 3 2B, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 11 BB), ranks among No. 2 hitters since May 20 (min. 75 PA) in OBP (4th, .393), SLG (4th, .542), OPS (4th, .935), RBI (T-5th, 15), HR (T-6th, 5), AVG (8th, .292).
PERDOMO ON THE ROAD
♦ Geraldo Perdomo’s .370 road average leads the Majors (min. 75 road PA) ahead of Aaron Judge/NYY (.365), Luis Arráez/MIA (.364), Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL (.353), Bo Bichette/TOR (.342) and teammate Corbin Carroll (.330).
THOMAS STREAKING
♦ Alek Thomas has hit safely in 3 straight games (.462, 6-for-13, 1.231 OPS) since being recalled from TripleA Reno…including his time with the Aces, has hit in 17 straight games since May 31 (.425, 31-for-73, 1.132 OPS).
RIVERA HOT ON THE ROAD
♦ Emmanuel Rivera has hit safely in 11 of 14 road starts at .367 clip (22-for-60)/.882 OPS with 6 doubles and 13 RBI.
STARTING PITCHER – LHP TOMMY HENRY ♦ #47
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Has posted a no decision in his last 3 starts… the D-backs have posted 10-5, 9-8 and 6-3 victories in those 3 contests.
- The D-backs are 5-1 in his last 6 starts.
LAST START: Did not factor in the D-backs’ 6-3 win vs. Guardians on June 17 (2 ER in 6.0 IP).
VS. NATIONALS: Gets the starting nod in the “series finale” after starting the series opener on June 6 (10-5 win, 5 ER in 4.1 IP)…is 0-0 with a 6.10 ERA (7 ER in 10.1 IP) in 2 starts.
EARLY IMPACT: In innings 1-3, is limiting opponents to a .239 average (27-for-113) with 13 walks and 21 strikeouts.
FIRST TIME THRU: Limiting batters to a .228 average (18-for79) with 11 walks and 16 strikeouts the first time through the lineup.
VS. RIGHTIES: Is holding righties to a .245 average (38-for-155) with 30 strikeouts.
PITCH TRACKING: Opposing batters are hitting .238 (10-for-42) with 5 strikeouts on his changeup, .218 (12-for-55) with 14 strikeouts on his curveball and .156 (5-for-32) with 6 strikeouts on his slider.
KEEP ‘EM CHASING : His 33.5 out-of-zone swing percentage is up 8.1 percent (33.0) from 2022 (24.9).
0-2 GOT YOU: Has a .160 (16-for-100) opponents average and 36 strikeouts with 2 strikes and opponents are 3-for-24 (.125) with 10 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.
AHEAD IN THE COUNT : Holding batters to a .207 average (18-for 87 with 21 strikeouts when he is ahead in the count.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
The Nationals and Diamondbacks will meet six times in 2023 (3 in D.C., 3 in ARI)…Henry Blanco played in Arizona from 2011-12 prior to serving as their assistant coach and bullpen catcher in 2014… Patrick Corbin played the 2012-18 seasons with the Diamondbacks prior to signing with the Nationals… Blanco caught Corbin’s Major League debut on April 30, 2012 at Miami…Mike Rizzo spent seven seasons (2000-06) in Arizona’s front office… Stone Garrett made his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in August of 2022…Ildemaro Vargas played for Arizona from 2017-2020…Trevor Williams attended Arizona State University from 2011-13.
LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN
The Washington Nationals finish off a seven-game homestand with the makeup of the final game of a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks that was originally scheduled for June 8.
- The Nationals shutout the Cardinals yesterday to snap a five-game losing streak and avoid a sweep…The shutout was Washington’s second of the season, joining April 25 at New York (NL).
- Trevor Williams worked 6.0 shutout innings, struck out four and allowed just five hits…It was his first scoreless start of 6.0 innings or more this season and the 18th of his career…He last finished an outing with 6.0 or more innings pitched without allowing a run on July 7, 2022 while with the Mets against Miami.
- CJ Abrams’ fifth inning-home run was his third go-ahead home run of the season…Abrams finished 3-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored…His three hits matched a season-high, done twice this year (April 7 at Colorado and May 2 vs. Chicago (NL)).
- The Nationals are in the midst of an 11-game stretch (June 16-26) without playing two consecutive games with the same start time…Washington will play Seattle at 9:40 p.m. ET on June 26 and 27.
WEIRD SCHEDULE, WEIRD STAT
Arizona’s Tommy Henry will become the second pitcher to make three starts against the Nationals (2005- pres.) in a season without the benefit of pitching for a National League East team, joining Jose Quintana last season.
- Henry, however, will become the first non-NL East pitcher to make three starts against Washington, all for the same team…Quintana made two starts with Pittsburgh and one start with St. Louis.
WE WANT CANDY
Jeimer Candelario leads National League third basemen (3rd in MLB) in wins above replacement (2.1) and is tied for third with four defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.com.
- His 22 doubles are the most among National League third basemen and are third in the National League overall.
- He is 9-for-24 (.375) with five doubles, a walk, two RBI, a run and a stolen base over his last six games, with an extra-base hit in three of them.
- Candelario matched a Nationals record (2005-pres.) with three doubles on Friday night vs. Miami.
- Over the last 31 games, Candelario his hitting .313/.402/.565 with 13 doubles, two triples, four homers, 18 RBI, 13 walks and 19 runs scored…The 13 doubles are tied for fourth-most in Major League Baseball since May 15 behind teammate Lane Thomas (15) and Texas’ Corey Seager (15).
LEADOFF LANE
Lane Thomas is hitting .305/.345/.583 with 15 doubles, two triples, 11 homers, 26 RBI, 10 walks, five stolen bases and 36 runs scored since May 1.
- He ranks in Major League Baseball in extra-base hits (3rd, 28), hits (5th, 57), doubles (T5th, 15) and slugging percentage (10th, .583) since May 1.
- On the season, he ranks tied for sixth in the National League in hits (82) and eighth in runs scored (49).
- All of his team-leading 11 home runs have come since May 1.
- On defense, Thomas has recorded seven outfield assists, tied for the most among National League outfielders.
JOEY BATS
Joey Meneses has reached safely in 34 of his last 38 games, hitting .313/.366/.420 with 11 doubles, one triple, one homer, 25 RBI, 13 walks and 19 runs scored during the stretch.
- Meneses ranks in the National League in average with runners in scoring position (2nd, .435), hits (T6th, 82) and batting average (8th, .292).
- Meneses is hitting .522 (24-for-46) against right-handed pitchers with runners in scoring position, the best mark in Major League Baseball ahead of Miami’s Luis Arraez (.452).
STARTING PITCHER – #74 JAKE IRVIN
Tall right-handed starter was added to Washington’s 40-man roster following the 2022 season…Has the “Best Control” in Washington’s system, per Baseball America…Joins other University of Oklahoma pitchers Cade Cavalli (2020 Draft) and Jake Bennett (2022 Draft) in the Nationals organization….Is the 25th pitcher drafted/signed and developed by the Washington Nationals to start a game for Washington (2005-pres.).
LAST START
Allowed one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts on June 17 against Miami…He took a no decision in Washington’s 5-2 defeat.
LAST START
Faced Arizona in game one of this series on June 6…Allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in 4.0 innings…Struck out one and walked three…Took a no decision in a 10-5 Nationals loss.
FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE WIN
Earned his first Major League win on May 8 at San Francisco…Tossed 6.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts, three walks and four hits allowed…With the outing, Irvin became the first pitcher in Nationals history (2005- pres.) to finish one of his first two career starts with at least 6.0 scoreless innings.
FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE START
Made his Major League debut at home against the Chicago Cubs…Allowed one run on two hits in 4.1 IP with four walks and three strikeouts…Took a no decision but the Nationals won the game 2-1.
THE STORY OF HIS CURVEBALL
As told to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post: “To Irvin, baseball was more about having fun than plotting a future. He learned his curveball grip by messing around in the backyard. He honed the pitch by throwing it from shortstop to first base during practice, a way of messing with his teammates.”
- Opposing batters are 6-for-37 (.162) with 12 strikeouts against his curveball.
ANNOUCING HIS PRESENCE WITH AUTHORITY
With his first Major League pitch, Irvin hit Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner in the back..According to Elias Sports Bureau, Irvin was the first pitcher since 2000 to hit a batter with the first pitch he threw in his MLB debut as a starting pitcher.
2023 IN TRIPLE-A
Irvin made five starts for Triple-A Rochester this season…He went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA (14 R/22.1 IP).
