ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
2024 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: Yesterday, the D-backs’ 2024 schedule was announced, and features:
♦ A season-opening homestand vs. Rockies (March 28-31) and Yankees (April 1-3).
♦ AL opponent visits from the Angels (June 11-13), White Sox (June 14- 16), Blue Jays (July 12-14) and Rangers (September 10-11).
♦ Home holidays such as Father’s Day Weekend vs. White Sox (June 14-16) and Labor Day Weekend vs. Dodgers (August 30-September 2).
♦ To view the full schedule, visit dbacks.com/2024.
TOP OF THE WEST: The D-backs are tied for first place in the NL West (+2.5) with the Dodgers and have spent 62 days in/tied for first place in the division.
♦ Arizona reached the All-Star break atop the division for the first time since 2013.
RECORD AMONG THE REST: The D-backs’ 52-39 (.571) season record is tied for sixth best in the Majors (also: Rangers), behind the Braves (60-29, .674), Rays (58-
35, .624), Orioles (54-35, .607), Marlins (53-39, .576) and Dodgers (51-38, .573).
ROSTER MOVES: The D-backs made the following moves Wednesday:
♦ Reinstated LHP Tyler Gilbert from Paternity List.
♦ Optioned RHP Carlos Vargas to Triple-A Reno.
FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno return to Toronto for the first time since being traded to the D-backs in December 2022
for OF/C Daulton Varsho.
♦ Gurriel Jr. was signed by Toronto in 2016 and spent parts of the last 5 seasons (2018-22) with the Blue Jays…hit .291 (132-for-453)/.343 OBP with 32 doubles (career high), 1 triple, 5 home runs and 52 RBI in 121 games in 2022.
♦ Moreno, who was signed by Toronto in 2016, made his Major League debut last season with the Blue Jays and hit .319 (22-for-69)/.356 OBP with 1 double, 1 home run and 7 RBI in 25 games.
VS. BLUE JAYS: The D-backs swept their last series @ Blue Jays (3-0) from June 7-9, 2019.
♦ Arizona is 16-19 all-time in Canada, going 6-2 @ Rogers Centre and 10-17 @ Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
FIRST HALF STANCE: The D-backs are at 52+ wins through their first 91 regular-season games for the first time since 2017.
♦ In each season Arizona was a postseason contender, they had 48+ wins through their first 91 home games:
2017 – 53-38 record (Wildcard) 2002 – 54-37 record (Div. Champs)
2011 – 49-42 record (Div. Champs) 2001 – 53-38 record (WS Champs)
2007 – 48-43 record (Div. Champs) 1999 – 48-43 record (Div. Champs)
D-BACKS FROM CANADA: There have been 3 players in Dbacks history who were born in Canada: Danny Klassan (1998-2000, ’02; Leamington, Ontario), Jamie Romak (2015; London, Ontario) and Adam Loewen (2016; Vancouver, British Columbia).
RETURN OF THE MAC: D-backs’ first base coach Dave McKay (Vancouver) was the first Canada-born player to appear with Toronto in the club’s inaugural game on April 7, 1977 vs. White Sox (2-for-4 with a RBI).
♦ McKay, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, was selected by the Blue Jays in the fifth round (49th overall) of the 1976 Expansion Draft.
♦ He played 3 seasons with Toronto (1977-79) and hit .233 with 10 home runs and 79 RBI in 287 games.
CARSON KELLY – A CANADIAN CHAMPION: Carson Kelly spent sixth and seventh grade living in Markham, located approx. 20 miles northeast of Toronto, while his dad, Mike, worked for Nike in their Golf Division as the president of Golf Canada.
♦ While living in Markham, Kelly participated in a local tournament and his team was eliminated…however, he was 1 of 2 players added to the advancing team, and they went on to win a national tournament in Quebec.
SERIES-LY: Before the All-Star break, the D-backs secured 18 wins in their 30 total and have won 7 of their last 11 series.
YOUNG ‘BACKS: The D-backs’ 27.8 average team age is the sixth youngest in the Majors, behind the Guardians (26.1), Nationals (27.3), Royals (27.3), Pirates (27.7) and Tigers (27.7).
♦ Arizona is 1 of 4 teams to feature players 21-or-younger and 37-andabove (Justin Martinez-21 and Evan Longoria-37) [also: Reds/Elly De La Cruz-21 and Joey Votto-39; Mets/Francisco Alvarez-21 and Justin Verlander-40; and Rockies/Ezequiel Tovar-21 and Daniel Bard-38].
D-FENSE! D-FENSE! The D-backs’ .990 fielding pct. is the best in the Majors while their 31 errors are the fewest, ahead of the Padres (35) and Orioles (36).
♦ D-backs’ catchers 41 stolen bases allowed are tied for second fewest in the Majors (also: Twins), behind the Tigers (38).
SWIPIN’ BAGS: The D-backs’ 91 stolen bases are third in the Majors, behind the Reds (112) and Rays (110).
EXTRA! EXTRA! The D-backs’ 65 straight games with an extra-base hit (since April 28, 38-27 record) is the Majors’ longest active streak…it is also the second-longest streak in a season in club history behind the 69-gamer from July 18-Oct. 7, 2001.
STARTING PITCHER – RHP RYNE NELSON ♦ #19
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is 3-0 with a 1.49 ERA (6 ER in 36.1 IP) in his last 6 road starts…the D-backs are 2-1 in those contests.
- The D-backs are 7-4 in his last 11 bids.
- Making his first career start against an AL East opponent.
- Has exited 12 of his 18 starts with the lead or tied.
UNFAMILIAR FACES: Is facing a new opponent for the 13th time this season… has faced the Marlins, Royals, Rockies, Nationals, Giants, Athletics, Phillies, Braves, Tigers, Brewers, Angels and Mets for the first time in 2023.
LAST START: Took the loss on July 6 vs. Mets (L; 7 ER in 3.0 IP).
VS. BLUE JAYS Making his first career start.
- Is the ninth D-back to start @ Blue Jays and the third youngest (25-162), behind Robbie Ray (24-265) in 2016 and Andrew Good (24-267) in 2004.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT: Is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA (5 ER in 23.1 IP) in 4 career starts vs. AL opponents.
PITCH TRACKING: Opposing batters are hitting .186 (8-for-43) with 10 strikeouts off his changeup and .217 (10-for-46) with 10 strikeouts off his slider.
- Opponents are batting .176 (6-34 AB) vs. his changeup over his last 10 starts.
LEFT ON LEFT: Is holding lefties to a .214 average (15-for-70) over his last 6 starts.
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: Has walked 2 or fewer batters in 13 of his 18 starts.
FIRST PITCH SUCCESS: His first-pitch swing (23.2 to 33.3) and first-pitch strike (53.6 to 61.8) percentages are up from 2022.
BATTED BALL STATS: His ground ball percentage is up to 37.4 from 25.5 while his fly ball percentage is down to 28.7 from 44.7.
THIRD TIME THROUGH: In his third time thru the lineup, is limiting batters to a .222 average (16-for-72) with 8 walks and 10 strikeouts.
NASTY NELLY: Is 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA (7 ER in 32.1 IP) when he pitches 6.0+ innings.
INNING INFO: In innings 6-8, owns a 1.08 ERA (1 ER in 8.1 IP) with a .103 opponent average (3-for-29) and 8 strikeouts.
0-2 GOT YOU: Opponents are 5-for-41 (.122) with 15 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were down to their final out on Sunday in Detroit before scoring a pair of runs in the 9th inning and the game-winning run in the 10th, taking the game by a 4-3 final…Improved to 6-5 in extra-inning contests and 18-11-0 in series play this season (9-7-0 on the road)…Are now 8-4 in rubber games…Own an AL-best .640 win% (16-9) in one-run games this year (4th in MLB). Toronto has gone 21-14 over its last 35 games and is 24-16 over the last 40…Toronto’s .600 win% over that span (since May 26) is the best mark in the AL (2nd: CLE – .585)…With a win today, can improve to 16-14 in series openers this year.
DERBY CHAMP: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was crowned the 2023 Home Run Derby Champion in Seattle on Monday, becoming the 1st Blue Jay to ever win the event…The Montreal-born slugger also became the 2nd ever Canadian to be named champion (Justin Morneau – 2008)…The 24-year old joined his father, Vladimir Sr., as the only
father-son duo to claim Derby titles after the elder Guerrero was victorious in 2007. The three-time All-Star mashed 72 homers on the day, and now trails only Pete Alonso (195) for the most career Home Run Derby blasts in MLB history with 163.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: The Blue Jays had five players named to this year’s AL All-Star team, the 5th time they’ve had at least five such nods in a single season in team history (seven in 1993, six in 2022, five in 2006 & 2016)…In the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday, Whit Merrifield went 1-for-2, Bo Bichette was 0-for-1 with an RBI, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finished the day 0-for-2, and Jordan Romano retired the only batter he faced.
DANNY DOING DAMAGE: Danny Jansen delivered a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the 9th inning on Sunday in Detroit, pulling his side even at 3-3 and sending the game to extra innings…Was his 11th home run of the year, four shy of his career-high 15 jacks from a season ago…Of those 11 homers, eight have either tied the game or given Toronto a lead…Marked his 4th homer in the 9th inning or later this season, matching Daulton Varsho for the most on the team. Over his last 18 games, the Elmhurst, Ill, native has gone 16-for-54 (.296) with three doubles, five homers, and 11 RBI for a .630 SLG% and a .963 OPS.
CAN’T STOP WHITTING: Whit Merrifield picked up a pair of singles in Sunday’s win in Detroit, going 2-for-5 on the day for his 22nd multi-hit game of the year…Has notched multiple hits in three of his last four games and in four of his last six. The three-time All-Star has kept a .305 (50-for-164) batting average over his last 45 games, including eight doubles, four homers, and 22 RBI (.790 OPS)… Among AL players, is currently T-7th in stolen bases (19) and 12th in AVG (.286).
BEEN BERRÍ GOOD LATELY: José Berríos takes the hill for his 19th start of the year tonight…Over his last 16 outings, has gone 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA (30 ER/98.1 IP) and a 1.07 WHIP…His ERA over that span (since April 14) ranks 4th among all American League pitchers… The Blue Jays have won 21 of his last 25 starts at Rogers Centre, dating back to 2021. In his last start on July 6 at CWS, allowed one hit over 7.0 shutout frames…Has three starts this year allowing three or fewer hits over 7.0+ innings, trailing only Logan Gilbert for the most such outings in MLB (4).
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are kicking off a six-game, seven-day homestand…Have gone 23-18 this season at Rogers Centre…The .561 win% at home is 4th best in the AL… After this weekend series against the Diamondbacks, will have Monday off before hosting the Padres (43-47) for a three-gamer next week. Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.258), 4th in home OBP (.330), 6th in home OPS (.741), and 8th in home SLG (.411)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among all AL teams with 3.41 home ERA and a .217 home opponents’ average, while sitting 3rd with a 1.14 home WHIP.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have combined for 44 quality starts, T-3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (522), 5th in innings pitched (499.2), 9th in ERA (3.98), and 12th in AVG (.244).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 810 hits this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also currently 4th in the AL in team AVG (.259), 5th in OBP (.326), 6th in SLG (.415), 6th in OPS (.741), and 6th in extra-base hits (277). Toronto’s offence has racked up 10+ hits on 34 occasions this season, 5th most among AL teams… Since 2021, have racked up an MLB-high 172 double-digit hit games (2nd: BOS – 160).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 9th interleague series of the year…Has gone 16-7 vs. NL clubs so far…The .696 win% in interleague games is 2nd best among MLB teams (MIA – .741)…Have set a club record with 16 interleague wins (14 in 2021)…Since the beginning of 2021, Toronto’s .683 win% in Interleague Play(43-20) is the best in the Majors (2nd: LAD – .645). The Blue Jays have hit 663 home runs all-time in Interleague Play, the most among all 30 teams (2nd: NYY – 641).
VS. THE DIAMONDBACKS: All-Time: 9-10
2023: 0-0 Home: 2-6
Home: 0-0 Rogers Centre: 2-6
The Blue Jays are meeting the Diamondbacks for the first time since 2019 when they were swept in a three-game series at Rogers Centre…Have won two of the eight games in Toronto between these sides, last taking a match on June 22, 2016. Daulton Varsho is facing his former club for the first time in his career…Was selected by Arizona in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft and played 283 games for them from 2020-22, batting .234 (214-for-916) with 93 extra-base hits and 121 RBI…Was nominated for his first career Gold Glove as a right-fielder last season. Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 152 career games against the DBacks, batting .272 (141- for-518) with 26 doubles, eight triples, 20 home runs, and 68 RBI for an .834 OPS…In 48 meetings since 2019, has gone 52-for-161 (.323) with 27 extra-base hits and 25 RBI (.609 SLG, 1.023 OPS). George Springer is a career .413 hitter (43-for-104) over 25 games against Arizona, notching 14 extra-base hits and 20 RBI (.702 SLG, 1.172 OPS)…His career .471 OBP vs. ARI is 3rd best in MLB history (min. 100 PA), behind only Manny Ramirez (.522) and Barry Bonds (.499).
STARTING PITCHER – José Berríos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 19th start of the season and his 8th at Rogers Centre…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 7/6 at CWS(1), throwing 7.0 scoreless innings with a hit, a walk, and 6 strikeouts…Was his 3rd outing this season with 3 or fewer hits and 7.0+ frames, trailing only Logan Gilbert (4) for the most in the Majors…Gave up just 1 hit over 7.0 frames for the 2nd time in his career, also doing so exactly 2 years prior against the same team as a member of the Twins (7/6/21 vs. CWS). Over his last 16 starts, has gone 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA (30 ER/98.1 IP), 89 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP…The 2.75 ERA is the 4th-lowest mark among
AL pitchers over that span (since 4/14). The Blue Jays own a 21-4 record in Berríos’ last 25 starts at Rogers Centre, dating back to 2021.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took the loss on 6/30 vs. BOS, surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits (3HR) with 8 punchouts. Picked up his 8th win of the year on 6/24 vs. OAK, giving up 3R/2ER over
6.0 innings (6H, 2BB, 8K). Improved to 7-4 on the year on 6/14 at BAL, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff single to Adley Rutschman…Marked the longest no-hit bid by a Blue Jay since Ross Stripling also tossed 6.0 hitless innings on 8/17/22 vs. BAL…Finished the game with a seasonhigh 7.2 innings of shutout ball (3H, BB, HBP, 5K)…Improved to a perfect 10-0 lifetime against the O’s (13 starts), joining Jon Lester (14-0) and Red Faber (12-0) as the only pitchers in MLB history to win each of his first 10 career decisions against Orioles/Browns franchise. Won his 6th game of the year on 6/8 vs. HOU, tossing 6.0 innings of 2-run ball (4H, 2BB, 2K)…Marked his 7th quality start of the season. Took a no-decision on 6/3 at NYM, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball wih 4 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts…Allowed 1 run or fewer in a 3rd straight outing. Pitched 5.2 frames of shutout ball on 5/28 at MIN (4H, 5BB, 5K)…Became the winningest pitcher in Target Field history, earning his 33rd career victory to break a tie with Kyle Gibson (32). Tossed 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 5/23 at TB, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts…Was his 5th quality start of the year and his 3rd in the last 4 games. Improved to 3-3 on the year on 5/6 at PIT, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 6.1 frames with 7 strikeouts. Worked 7.0 shutout frames on 4/25 vs. CWS, scattering 4 singles and a walk with a season-high 9 strikeouts…Completed 7.0 innings in consecutive starts for the 13th time in his career (last: 3G from 6/4-15/22)…Has allowed 3 runs over his last 3 starts, posting a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) with a pair of walks and 18 punchouts. Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/14 vs. TB, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was removed from the game with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Yandy Díaz.
