ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
IN THE STANDINGS: The D-backs are tied for the third spot in the NL Wild Card standings with the Reds, 0.5 a game ahead of the Marlins and Giants…the D-backs 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,13.0 games behind the Dodgers and 0.5 games ahead of the Giants.
THE WILD STRETCH: The D-backs are 12-10 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 reinstated C Gabriel Moreno from the Paternity List and optioned C Jose Herrera to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game.
TRENDING BATS: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has reached safely in 10 straight games (since Sept. 3), hitting .351 (13- for-37) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, 4 RBI and 3 walks. Ketel Marte has hit safely in his last 4 games, hitting .313 (5-for-16) with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 RBI and 1 walk…in his last 10 games, is hitting .333 (13-for39)/1.011 OPS with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 7 RBI and 4 walks.
PHAM-TASTIC: Since Sept. 6 (last 8 games), Tommy Pham is hitting .382 (13-for-34)/1.197 OPS with 4 doubles, 3 homers, 9 RBI, 3 walks and 3 stolen bases…in the span, his 13 hits rank tied for third most in the NL (also: Nico Hoerner/CHC and Eddie Rosario/ ATL), behind Matt Olson/ATL (16) and Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL (15). He has hit safely in 5 straight games (.381; 8-for-21) and has 4 multi-hit games in his last 8 games, including 2 3-hit performances.
SINCE AUG. 12: Since Aug. 12, the D-backs’ 19 wins are tied for fourth most in the Majors (also: Dodgers), behind the Braves (23), Rays (20) and Orioles (20).
BATTLIN’ BULLPEN: The D-backs bullpen, over the last 9 games, boasts an MLB second-best 1.45 ERA (6 ER in 37.1 IP) with a .195 opponent average (26-for-133 – second lowest), 8 walks allowed (tied for second fewest) and 32 strikeouts (seventh most).
GINKEL ON A ROLL: Kevin Ginkel’s 9 wins rank tied for second among MLB relievers (also: Mike Baumann/ BAL, Alexis Diaz/CIN 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.
SOME DEFENSE HISTORY: Arizona’s 49 errors are the fewest in franchise history through 147 games of a season (previous: 65 in 2018)… the current franchise low for errors in a full season (excluding 2020) is 75 in 2013 and 2018. Since 1900, only 2 teams have committed fewer than 60 errors in a regular season (excluding shortened seasons in 1981, 1994, 1995, 2020) [courtesy: Elias Sports Bureau]:
YEAR TEAM # ERRORS
2013 Baltimore Orioles 54 errors
2013 Tampa Bay Rays 59 errors
ALL DEFENSE, ALL THE TIME: The D-backs’ 29 Outs Above Average rank second in the Majors, behind the Brewers (32), while their 37 team defensive runs saved rank fi fifth in the Majors, behind the Blue Jays (82), Brewers (60), Dodgers (48) and Cubs (39)… the D-backs’ .991 fielding pct. is the best in the Majors and 49 errors are the fewest, ahead of the Rangers (55) and Cardinals (58). Gurriel’s 85 straight games without an error is the sixth-longest active streak in the NL. Christian Walker’s 9 defensive runs saved are second among MLB first basemen, behind Carlos Santana/MIL (10) while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is second among all left fi elders with 11 DRS.
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 Rodríguez (1998 – 42 HR/46 SB) and César Cedeño (1973 – 25 HR/56 SB).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In 13 road starts in 2023, is 7-2 with a 3.53 ERA (29 ER in 74.0 IP)… the D-backs are 9-4 in those contests. Is 12 strikeouts away from tying a single season-high and career-high (177 in 2022). His 3.16 ERA is fourth-best among NL qualifiers behind Justin Steele/CHC (2.49), Bake Snell/SD (2.52) and Kodai Senga/NYM (3.07). In his last 6 starts, has 45 strikeouts and his 11.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that span is fourth-best among NL pitchers, behind Freddy Peralta/MIL (13.50), Spencer Strider/ATL (12.74) and Charlie Morton/ATL (12.72).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among qualified NL starters in ERA (4th, 3.16), opponent average (6th, .224), win percentage (T-6th, .647) and WHIP (10th, 1.19).
FRANCHISE RANKINGS: Ranks among D-backs starters in franchise history (min. 50 starts) in wins (6th, 47), games started (6th, 123), WHIP (7th, 1.22), innings pitched (8th, 727.0), ERA (9th, 3.79) and strikeouts (9th, 659). Is 1 win away from tying Ian Kennedy for sixth all-time in wins, 2 strikeouts away from tying Ian Kennedy (661) for eighth all-time and 6 strikeouts away from tying Zac Gallen for seventh all-time in strikeouts.
LAST START: Earned the win on Sept. 9 @ Cubs allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Lone run allowed came on a Cody Bellinger RBI single in the third inning.
VS. METS: Facing the Mets for the first time in 2023. Last faced the Mets on May 31, 2021 @ Chase Field (L; 5 ER in 6.2 IP, 6 K). Made his last start @ Citi Field on May 8, 2021 (L; 3 R-2 ER in 5.2 IP). In search of his second career win against the Mets and first since June 2, 2019.
BACK EAST: In 4 starts against the NL East in 2023 (all at home), is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA (10 ER in 26.0 IP), .178 average, 0.96 WHIP and 31 strikeouts. In his last 4 road games against NL East teams, is 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA (9 ER in 24.2 IP).
HIT IT HERE : Limiting infield hits to a .067 average (13-for-193)/.067 OBP/.078 SLG.
PITCH TRACKING: In his last 4 starts, opponents are 4-for-21 (.190) with 8 strikeouts on his 4-seam fastball and 4-for-23 (.174) with 10 strikeouts on his changeup.
NOT AFRAID OF 1-2-3-4: Limiting hitters 1-4 to a .199 average (55-for-276) with 10 home runs and 84 strikeouts.
FRESH AIR: In open air stadiums, owns a 6-2 record with a 3.76 ERA (28 ER in 67.0 IP).
RISP-Y BUSINESS : From August 4-August 24, held runners in scoring position to a .083 average (1-for-12) with a .214 on-base percentage and .083 slugging percentage.
VS. LEFT AND RIGHT: From May 5-June 2, held lefties to a .162 average (11-for-68) with 24 strikeouts, while righties batted .191(13-for-68) with 23 strikeouts.
IL REPORT: Placed on the 15-day injured list (right calf inflammation) on June 27…reinstated on July 25.
NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets defeated the Snakes, 7-1, last night…The Mets have won back-to-back games and three of their last four…New York is in a stretch of 17 straight games without an off-day (3-3)…The Mets continue their penultimate homestand (2-1), a seven-game stand against Arizona (2-1) and Cincinnati (three games).
AMF LEGACY AWARD: Before Thursday’s game, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will proudly honor Maybelle Blair as the inaugural Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award Honoree…Mets Owner and President of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Alex Cohen created this Legacy Award to celebrate the people and organizations in the baseball community that make a difference and drive impactful change…Maybelle is a pioneer in women’s baseball and a lifelong advocate for girls in sports…She will be recognized during a pregame ceremony, where the Foundation will also present a $5,000 check in Maybelle’s honor to Athlete Ally, a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group based in New York…In addition, Blair will particapte in a pregame press conference at 1 p.m.
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…His 181 strikeouts are tied for the ninth-most in the NL.
HOME, SWEET HOME: The Mets are in the midst of their penultimate homestand of the season…The Mets are 37-34 at Citi Field in 2023…This compares to a 30-44 record on the road.
GOT TO GO TO MO’S: Ronny Mauricio has safely hit in eight of his first 10 career games…He is batting .306 (11-36) with two runs, two doubles, one home run, five RBI, two walks and four steals in his first 10 career games…He is one of five players in franchise history to record a hit in each of his first five career major league games.
STEAL THIS ALBUM: The Mets lead the major leagues with a 89.8% success rate in stolen bases this season…The team has stolen 106 bases out of 118 attempts…It’s the highest success rate in franchise history…The previous high was 82.3% which was accomplished in 2004.
DINGERS!: The Mets have socked 193 home runs this season…That is the fifth-most in the National League…The 2022 Mets hit 171 home runs…The team’s 193 home runs are the sixth-most in a single season in franchise history…Next up is the 2000 team, which hit 198 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).
X MARK’S THE SPOT: In 12 games since his return from the 10-Day IL, Mark Vientos has posted a .512 SLG with an .823 OPS…He has recorded four extra-base hits, five RBI with a .311 OBP.
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.
I DON’T WANT TO ROCK, DJ: Over his last 21 games, DJ Stewart is batting .329 (25-76) with 13 runs, six doubles, 10 home runs, 21 RBI and a 1.188 OPS…In 44 games this year, Stewart is batting .274 (32-117) with 16 runs, eight doubles, 11 home runs, 24 RBI, 11 walks, a .353 OBP and a .624 SLG…Stewart recorded a career-high
12 home runs in 100 games with Baltimore in 2021.
D-BACKS-METS NOTES: The Mets are 18-4 over their last 22 games against the Diamondbacks…That span includes an eight-game winning streak from September 9, 2019-May 31, 2021…New York has won the season series against Arizona each season since 2018.
30-FOR-30: Lindor has recorded 33 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 74 games, Francisco Lindor is batting .290 (81-279) with 57 runs, 16 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 43 RBI, 31 walks, 20 steals with a .370 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 5.6 fWAR…Since he joined the Mets, Lindor has posted a 16.4 fWAR…Only Freddie Freeman (19.2), Mookie Betts (18.6) and Trea Turner (17.0) have posted a higher mark in the Senior Circuit…His 16.4 fWAR since 2021 is sixth in the majors.
STARTING PITCHER – KODAI SENGA RHP #34
2023 STATS: 10-7, 3.08 ERA
LAST TIME OUT: Threw 6.0 innings against Minnesota at Target Field on September 8, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four walks…Fanned five Twins batters in a 5-2 Mets loss.
METS ROOKIE MILESTONE WATCH: In his last start, Senga recorded his 181st strikeout of the season, passing Jerry Koosman for second all-time most strikeouts by a Mets rookie… On August 19 at St. Louis, Senga became the seventh Mets rookie pitcher ever to reach the 150-strikeout mark…Senga finished his start reaching 154 strikeouts, tied with Gary Gentry for sixth all-time among Mets rookie hurlers…The right-hander also earned his 10th win of the season in his last start, becoming the 11th rookie in franchise history to reach doubledigit wins in a season…Senga became the first Mets rookie to reach double-digit wins since Dillon Gee won 13 games as a rookie in 2011…Senga has 176 strikeouts, ranking third all-time for most strikeouts by a Mets rookie pitcher passing Noah Syndergaard (166), Jon Matlack (169) and Tom Seaver (170).
HARD TO HIT: This season, Senga has three starts of 7.0 or more innings and two or fewer hits allowed, tied for the second-most such starts in the majors this season and tied with Dwight Gooden for the most such starts by a Mets rookie in a single season…Only Nolan Ryan (4, 1970) and Jacob deGrom (5, 2015) have had more such starts in a single season in franchise history.
SENGA GENESIS: Senga has recorded 181 strikeouts through his first 26 career major league games, the fourth-most by a Mets pitcher in franchise history…Only Dwight Gooden (202), Matt Harvey (185) and Noah Syndergaard (187) have recorded more during that span…His 181 strikeouts are the third-most by a Japanese born pitcher through 26 career games…He trails only Hideo Nomo (225) and Yu Darvish (196)…Senga’s 3.07 ERA is the seventh-lowest mark by a Mets pitcher through their first 26 career major league games (Min. 100.0 IP).
KODAI THE FRIENDLY GHOST: Senga’s 10 wins are tied for the second-most among all major league rookies this season and his 181 strikeouts also lead all major league rookies… Among qualified National League pitchers, Senga is fifth in opponent’s average (.209), fourth in SO/9 (10.91) and third in ERA (3.07)…Senga ranks fifth in the majors in opponent’s average against left-handed batters with a .195 (51 – 262) clip (Min. 200 LHB faced).
PUTTING THE K IN FORK: Senga’s “ghost fork” has accounted for 98 of his 181 strikeouts through 26 starts…The pitch has a 60.1 percent whiff rate and a 28.4 percent putaway rate… Opponents have managed just 16 hits in 143 at-bats ending with the forkball, a .112 batting average.
