ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HEATING UP: The D-backs have won 7 of their last 9 games. the D-backs 12-4 record (.750) since Aug. 12 is tied for the third-best record in the Majors with the Mariners and Braves behind the Dodgers (12-3, .800) and Brewers (11-3, .786).
FIVE STRAIGHT SERIES: The D-backs have won 5 consecutive series (2-1 vs. Padres, 2-1 @ Rockies, 3-1 @ Padres, 2-0 vs. Rangers, 3-1 vs. Reds).
ANSWER-BACKS: The D-backs’ 35 comeback wins are tied for fifth in the Majors with the Dodgers, behind the Reds (41), Orioles (40), Phillies (38) and Red Sox
(36).
MORENO IMPACTING THE BALL: Gabriel Moreno, among all catchers (min. 80 G), ranks second with a .292 average (1st: Yainer DÃaz/HOU/.326), third with a .347 BABIP (batting average on balls in play), eighth with a .335 OBP (1st: Sean Murphy/ATL/.393) and tied for 11th with 76 hits (Cal Raleigh/SEA; 1st: ElÃas DÃaz/COL/101). In his last 12 games, since August 13, is hitting .364 (16-for-44)/1.073 OPS with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 12 RBI and 2 walks. Among all players since August 13 min. 40 PA), is tied for 10th in average (.364), 11th in SLG (.682) and 13th in OPS (1.073). In his last 7 games vs. NL West, is hitting .360 (9-for25)/1.160 OPS with 2 doubles, 3 homers and 10 RBI.
LOTS OF BASES FOR WALK: Christian Walker’s 63 extra-base hits are tied with Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL for fourth in the NL behind Freddie Freeman/LAD (76), Mookie Betts/LAD (72) and Matt Olson/ATL (70). In his last 8 road games, is hitting .367 (11-for30)/1.272 OPS with 1 double, 4 home runs, 11 RBI and 6 walks.
THOMAS DOING IT ON BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFFENSE: Alek Thomas, in his last 10 games, is hitting .355 (11-for31)/.444 OBP with 1 double, 8 runs, 3 RBI and 5 walks. In his last 8 games vs. NL West, is hitting .391 (9-for23)/.960 OPS. His 8 defensive runs saved this year are fourth most by a D-backs outfi elder since 2016 behind Daulton Varsho (19 in 2022) and Jarrod Dyson (15 in 2019 and 9 in 2018). Earned MLB’s Electric Play of the Week award with his diving catch on Aug. 22 vs. Rangers (in the top of the ninth inning on Marcus Semien’s line drive to the right-center gap, forcing Thomas to cover 98 feet of ground to make a diving catch on the warning track and take away extra bases).
MOUND SUCCESS: Since August 17, D-backs pitchers have the Majors’ sixth-lowest ERA (3.56), trailing the Orioles (2.54), Mariners (2.73), Marlins (3.27), Phillies (3.34) and Brewers (3.50).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In 5 starts in August, is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (7 ER in 30.1 IP, 37 K), 37 strikeouts, 1.02 WHIP and .209 opponent average. In 11 road starts in 2023, is 7-1 with a 2.98 ERA (21 ER in 63.1.0 IP)… the D-backs are 8-3 in those contests. His 2.97 ERA is third-best among NL qualifi ers behind Blake Snell/SD (2.60) and Justin Steele/CHC (2.80).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL pitchers in ERA (3rd, 2.97), opponent average (T-5th, .213), win percentage (6th, .667), wins (T-6th, 10) and WHIP (7th 1.13).
LAST START: Tossed 7.0 shutout innings (1 H, 0 BB, 12 K) and set a season high and tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts on Aug. 24 vs. Reds. Also recorded 12 strikeouts on May 20, 2021 @ Dodgers. Became the second pitcher in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts, 0 walks and 1 or fewer hits allowed, joining Randy Johnson in his 2004 perfect game [Source: ESPN Stats & Info].
VS. DODGERS: In 3 starts in 2023, is 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA (4 R-2 ER in 15.1 IP). In 15 career starts vs. Dodgers, is 0-10 with a 5.03 ERA (44 ER in 78.2 IP). Tossed 6.0 shutout innings on Aug. 9, 2023 vs. Dodgers (ND; 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K).
VS. NL WEST: Including tonight, will have faced NL West opponents in 4 of his 6 starts in August. His last 3 starts against the NL West have been on the road (Aug. 14 @ Rockies and Aug. 19 @ Padres), going 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA (5 ER in 17.1 IP).
TAKING CARE OF RISP-Y BUSINESS IN AUGUST : In 5 starts in August, is holding runners in scoring position to a .083 average (1-for-12) with 5 strikeouts.
VS. LEFT AND RIGHT: In his last 2 games, is limiting lefties to a .115 average (3-for-26, 12 K). Limiting lefties to a .197 average (49-for 249) with 74 strikeouts while righties are batting .230 average (56 for-244) with 72 strikeouts.
PITCH TRACKING: In his last 4 starts, opponents are 2-for-23 (.087) with 6 strikeouts on his four-seam fastball. Is holding hitters to a .167 average (2-for-12) with 3 strikeouts on his curveball in his last 7 starts.
FIRST TIME THRU: Limiting batters to a .194 average (36-for-186) with 18 walks and 55 strikeouts the first time through the lineup.
AHEAD IN THE COUNT : Holding batters to a .160 average (32-for-200) with 84 strikeouts when he is ahead in the count.
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: Has walked 1 or fewer batters in 3 of his last 5 road starts.
LEAD OFF SUCCESS: When leading off an inning, holding batters to a .199 average (26-for131) with 37 strikeouts.
IL REPORT: Placed on the 15-day injured list (right calf inflammation) on June 27…reinstated on July 25.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
ANOTHER SERIES WIN: The Dodgers won their third straight game and sixth in the last seven tries, improving to a Major League best 31-11 (.738) in the second half of the season. The club also won its ninth consecutive series and kept pace with Atlanta, remaining 4.0 games behind the Braves for the best record in baseball. The homestand (2-0) continues tonight as the Boys in Blue try to sweep the Diamondbacks for the second time this month (also Aug. 8-9). Beginning tomorrow night, Los Angeles will close out the homestand with four contests against the aforementioned Atlanta Braves this weekend. The Dodgers hold a season high 13.5-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West division. The Dodgers also clinched a winning record for the 13th consecutive year and the 17th time in the last 18 seasons. The Dodgers are 7-5 vs. Arizona this season and with the win last night, clinched the season series vs. the Diamondbacks for the fifth consecutive year. L.A. is now 25-12 (.676) vs. the NL West. This evening is Salvadoran Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium and fans that purchased a special ticket pack will take home a unique jersey.
A LAUGHER: The Dodgers wrangled the Diamondbacks, 9-1, last night, collecting 16 hits and clinching the season series with the Snakes. The win also improves the squad to 29-13-1 in its 43 series this season. There were plenty of contributors on offense, but none bigger than Chris Taylor, as the birthday boy went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored, an RBI and a walk on his bobblehead night. In addition to Taylor, David Peralta and Jason Heyward both had three hits while the club also saw solo homers by Mookie Betts and Will Smith. On the mound, Clayton Kershaw won his 12th game of the year, giving up one run in 5.0 innings and the relief work of Gus Varland (1.0 IP), Tyson Miller (2.0) and Victor González (1.0) shut Arizona out the rest of the way. Kershaw earned career win No. 209, tying him with Don Drysdale for second most in franchise history. The left-hander has now won 12 or more games in a season 12 times in his career.
DOMINATING THE DOG DAYS: The Dodgers yesterday improved to 23-4 in August with just two games left to play in the month. The Boys in Blue started the month with a 17-3 mark, tying a franchise record for most wins in the first 20 games of the month (also, July 2022, July 2017, August 2013, July 2004, April 1977, July 1963, July 1920, June 1900, June 1899). With their win last Friday, the Dodgers recorded their fourth straight season of 20+ wins in the month of August and became the 15th team in franchise history to reach the 20-win mark for the month.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. DIAMONDBACKS: RHP RYAN PEPIOT (0-0, 2.00 ERA in 2 G)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Tossed 4.0 innings of relief in last outing against the Guardians on Aug.24, giving up three hits and one run while striking out six in the no decision Made his season debut in Game 1 of the doubleheader against Miami on Sunday after being sidelined since March with a left oblique strain…tossed five innings, giving up three hits, one run and one walk while striking out five in the no decision Started in six games during his rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he went 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA (10 ER/22.2 IP), striking out 26 batters against five walks Awarded PCL Pitcher of the Week on August 13 after spinning 6.2 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit while punching out 11 batters Made six starts in Spring Training, going 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA (10 ER/17.1 IP) with 24 strikeouts against nine walks
VS. DIAMONDBACKS:
- Will face Arizona for the fourth time in his career (third start)…he is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (4 ER/11.1 IP) with 14 strikeouts and seven walks He last faced the club September 20, 2022 where he tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four in the win
