ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
IN THE STANDINGS: The D-backs hold the third spot in the NL Wild Card standings, 1.5 games ahead of the Marlins and Giants, and are 2.0 games behind the Cubs (2nd
WC) and 3.5 behind the Phillies (1st WC). The D-backs are second in the NL West,12.0 games behind the Dodgers and 1.5 games ahead of the Giants.
THE WILD STRETCH: The D-backs are 12-8 in this 28-game span from Aug. 21-Sept. 20, which includes 21 games against playoff contenders in the Rangers (2-0), Reds (3-1), Dodgers (0-3), Orioles (1-2), Cubs (3-1 and 3 games Sept. 15-17) and Giants (2 games).
ROSTER MOVES: The D-backs recalled OF Jake McCarthy from Triple-A Reno and optioned OF Pavin Smith to Reno following last night’s game.
SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL ANNOUNCED: The D-backs’ September 17 matchup against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field will now be featured exclusively on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball…the game time has been changed to 4:10 p.m. locally. It marks the D-backs’ fi rst Sunday Night Baseball game this season and fi rst since May 13, 2018 against the Washington Nationals.
FOURTH-BEST RECORD SINCE AUG. 12: Since Aug. 12, the D-backs 19-10 (.655) record is fourth best in the Majors, behind the Orioles (20-7; 741), Rays (19-8; .704)
and Braves (21-9; .700).
ANSWER-BACKS: Last night’s comeback victory marked the first for the D-backs @ Mets when trailing into the eighth inning or later since May 4, 2012 (scored 3 runs in Top 8 to take 5-4 lead) and fourth overall in franchise history (also: June 12, 2008 and Aug. 3, 2002). The D-backs’ 39 comeback wins are fourth most in the Majors, behind the Orioles (46), Reds (44) and Phillies (40)… the D-backs’ 39 comeback wins are eighth most in a season in franchise history…the franchise record is 48 come-from-behind-wins in 2011.
1-2 PUNCH: Ketel Marte, in his last 9 games, is hitting .343 (12-for-35)/.995 OPS with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer, 6 RBI and 3 walks while Corbin Carroll, over his last 11 games, is hitting .310 (13-for-42) with 1 double, 1 triple, 1 homer, 4 RBI and 6 stolen bases.
PHAM-TASTIC: Tommy Pham’s game-tying home run last night in the eighth inning was the third of his career in the eighth inning or later (also: April 21, 2019 vs. Red Sox with the Rays and June 21, 2017 @ Phillies with the Cardinals). Since Sept. 6 (last 6 games), Pham is hitting .407 (11-for-27)/1.317 OPS with 4 doubles, 3 homers, 8 RBI, 1 walk and 1 stolen base…his .407 average ranks fi fth in the NL in the span, behind Matt Olson/ATL (.560), Elehuris Montero/COL (.500), C.J. Abrams/WSH (.500) and Trea Turner/PHI (.444). He has 4 multi-hit games in his last 6 games, including 2 3-hit performances.
GINKEL ON A ROLL: Last night, Kevin Ginkel earned his ninth win of the season…his 9 wins rank tied for second among MLB relievers (also: tied with Mike Baumann/BAL and Matt Brash/SEA), behind Colin Poche/ TB (11) while his 2.26 ERA ranks eighth among NL relievers (min. 50 games)…Ginkel is also the only reliever with 8+ wins without a loss. Ginkel’s 9 wins are tied with Gregg Olson (1999) for the second-most wins by a relief pitcher in a single season in franchise history, behind Óscar Villarreal in 2003 (10)…Ginkel is also the fi rst D-back reliever to reach 9+ wins without a loss.
BATTLIN’ BULLPEN: The D-backs bullpen, over the last 7 games, boasts an MLB-best 1.47 ERA (5 ER in 30.2 IP) with 17 hits allowed (third fewest) in 113 batters
faced, 6 walks allowed (tied for second fewest) and 23 strikeouts.
STEADY STARTS: Since Sept. 4, D-backs’ starters hold a 3.43 ERA (15 ER in 39.1 IP), fourth best in the NL in the span…their 6 starter wins in the span are the most
in the NL while their 0.23 HR/9.0 IP ranks among the group.
EXTRA WALKER: In 10 games, since 2022, Christian Walker’s 6 hits vs. Mets have all gone for extra bases (2 doubles and 4 home runs)…before last night, Walker homered in each of his last 3 games vs. Mets (July 5 off K. Senga, July 4 off M. Scherzer and April 24, 2022 off T. Megill) but has yet to hit a home run @ Citi Field.
1 HOMER AWAY: Corbin Carroll (24 HR/47 SB) is 1 homer shy of becoming the fourth MLB player ever to have 25+ home runs and 40+ stolen bases in a season in their age-22 season or younger…he would join Mike Trout (2012 – 30 HR/49 SB), Alex RodrÃguez (1998 – 42 HR/46 SB) and César Cedeño (1973 – 25 HR/56 SB).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP RYNE NELSON ♦ #19
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In his last 7 road games, is 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA (15 R-14 ER in 42.1 IP).
- In 6 of his last 7 road starts, has allowed 2 or fewer runs and 2 or fewer walks.
- Limiting hitters with infield hits to a .069 average (12-for-173)/.069 OBP/.075 SLG.
- In open air stadiums, owns a 5-2 record with a 3.30 ERA (23 ER in 62.2 IP) and is holding opponents to a .210 average (47-for-224)/.270 OBP/.397 SLG and 45 strikeouts.
- Recalled from Triple-A Reno on Sept. 7…posted a 3.74 ERA (10 R-9 ER in 21.2 IP) in 4 starts with the Aces from Aug. 17-Sept. 2.
LAST START: Earned the win on Sept. 7 @ Cubs after retiring 16 of 20 batters faced and allowing 1 run on 2 hits with 3 strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
VS. METS: Made his lone start against the Mets this season on July 6, @ Chase Field (L; 7 ER in 3.0 IP).
BACK EAST: Making his eighth start against an NL East opponent (all in 2023).
ROAD WARRIOR: In 14 road starts, has held batters to a .232 average (67-for-289) and .277 on-base percentage.
NASTY NELLY: Is 4-0 with a 2.59 ERA (17 ER in 59.0 IP), .179 opponent average and .086 WHIP in starts of 6.0+ innings (9 GS).
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: In 4 of his last 5 road starts, has walked 2 or fewer batters, including 1 start with 1 walk and 2 starts with no walks.
LIMITING LEFTIES: In his last 8 road starts, is limiting lefties to a .167 average (15-for-90) with 1 homer allowed and 19 strikeouts. In 11 games from June 3-July 31, held left-handed batters to a .233 average (27-for116) and .298 on-base percentage.
BATTER BREAKDOWN: Limiting 1-2 hitters to a .223 average (29-for-130), .594 OPS and 24 strikeouts. Hitters 7-9 are hitting .225 (34-for-151) with a .250 on-base percentage and 28 strikeouts.
CHANGING IT UP ON THE ROAD: In his last 5 starts on the road, opponents are batting .125 (1-for-8) with no home runs and 2 strikeouts off his changeup. In 14 road starts, opposing batters are hitting .057 (2-for-35) with no homers and 9 strikeouts off his changeup.
FIRST PITCH SUCCESS: His first-pitch swing (23.2 to 32.4) and first-pitch strike (53.6 to 62.6) percentages are up from 2022.
BATTED BALL STATS: From 2022 to 2023, his groundball percentage is up to 37.9 from 25.5 while his fl y ball percentage is down to 30.3 from 44.7.
INNING INFO: In innings 6-8, owns a 1.26 ERA (2 ER in 14.1 IP) with a .137 opponent average (7-for-51) and 11 strikeouts.
UNFAMILIAR FACES: Has faced 16 opponents for the first time this season: Marlins, Royals, Rockies, Nationals, Giants, Athletics, Phillies, Braves, Tigers, Brewers, Angels, Mets, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Twins and Cubs.
NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets fell to the Snakes, 4-3, yesterday…New York has dropped four of their last five games…New York is in a stretch of 17 straight games without an off-day (1-3)…The Mets continue their penultimate homestand (0-1), a seven-game stand against Arizona (0-1) and Cincinnati (three games).
HOME, SWEET HOME: The Mets are in the midst of their penultimate homestand of the season…The Mets are 35-34 at Citi Field in 2023…This compares to a 30-44 record on the road.
I DON’T WANT TO ROCK, DJ: Over his last 19 games, DJ Stewart is batting .324 (22-68) with 12 runs, five doubles, 10 home runs, 21 RBI and a 1.217 OPS…In 42 games this year, Stewart is batting .266 (29-109) with 15 runs, seven doubles, 11 home runs, 24 RBI, 11 walks, a .347 OBP and a .633 SLG… Stewart recorded a career-high 12 home runs in 100 games with Baltimore in 2021.
30-FOR-30: Lindor has recorded 32 doubles and 26 home runs this season… He is looking to become the 12th player in franchise history to record a 30/30 season…The last player to accomplish that feat was Pete Alonso in 2019…He has stolen 26 bases this year…He is looking to become the fourth player in franchise history to record 30 doubles, 30 home runs and 30 steals in a single-season.
LINSANITY: Over his last 72 games, Francisco Lindor is batting .288 (78-271) with 55 runs, 15 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 41 RBI, 30 walks, 20 steals with a .369 OBP, a .513 SLG and an .882 OPS…Lindor has stolen a career-high 26 bases this season.
I DECLARE fWAR: Francisco Lindor ranks eighth in the majors and fifth in the National League with a 5.4 fWAR…Since he joined the Mets, Lindor has posted a 16.3 fWAR…Only Freddie Freeman (19.0), Mookie Betts (18.3) and Trea Turner (16.8) have posted a higher mark in the Senior Circuit…His 16.3 fWAR since 2021 is sixth in the majors.
CONNECT FOUR: The Mets now feature for players who have hit 20 or more home runs this season: Pete Alonso, Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo…The 2023 Mets are one of five teams in franchise history to accomplish this feat…This includes the 2019 Mets who had a franchise-high five players who recorded at least 20 home runs.
💯: Pete Alonso became the fourth player in Mets history to record three or more seasons with 100 or more RBI…He has previously recorded two seasons with 100 RBI (120 in 2019 and 131 in 2022)…David Wright is the franchise leader with five such seasons…Carlos Beltrán and Darryl Strawberry also recorded three seasons each…Alonso’s 483 RBI since he entered the league in 2019 are the most in the major leagues…He is tied for second in the majors and tied for second in the NL with 103 RBI.
FOR PETE’S SAKE: Pete Alonso has recorded his third season with 40 or more home runs…He became the fifth player in major league history with three or more seasons of 40 or more homers in their first five years, joining Ralph Kiner (four), Ryan Howard (three), Albert Pujols (three) and Eddie Mathews (three)…He is the only player in franchise history with multiple seasons of 40 or more home runs…He is tied for third in the majors and tied for second in the National League with 43 home runs…Alonso’s 189 home runs since he entered the league in 2019 are the most in the major leagues.
SENGA GENESIS: Kodai Senga has recorded 181 strikeouts…That is the second-most strikeouts by a rookie in franchise history…He is 10-7 with a 3.07 ERA (51 ER/149.1 IP) with 70 walks and 181 strikeouts in 26 starts this season…His 3.07 ERA ranks sixth in the majors and third in the National League.
DINGERS!: The Mets have socked 189 home runs this season…That is the fifth-most in the National League…The 2022 Mets hit 171 home runs…The team’s 189 home runs the seventh-most in a single season in franchise history…Next up is the 1987 team, which hit 192 in the season…Four teams in franchise history have cracked 200+ home runs in a single year 2019 (242), 2017 (224), 2016 (218) and 2006 (200).
STARTING PITCHER – JOSÉ BUTTO RHP #70
2023 STATS: 0-2, 3.86 ER A
LAST TIME OUT: Threw a career-high 6.1 innings against Washington at Nationals Park on September 6, his first quality start in the majors…Allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk…Fanned a career-high six batters in a 3-2 Mets loss.
BUTTO VS. THE D-BACKS: Butto will face the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career…Will also be facing an NL West opponent for the first time in his career.
SLINGIN’ IN SYRACUSE: Butto has made 19 starts in Syracuse this season, pitching to a 3-7 record with a 5.93 ERA (60 ER/91.0 IP)…In his last start on August 27 against the Buffalo Bisons, Butto suffered the loss after throwing 5.0 innings, during which he allowed four earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three batters…Butto’s last win came on August 10 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against the Railriders, during which he tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk while fanning four batters… Butto leads the Syracuse Mets in strikeouts this season with 82.
DEBUTTO: RHP José Butto made his season debut on April 16 at Oakland in his last start…He threw 5.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts…He did not factor into the decision as the Mets won in 10 innings, 4-3.
