ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and D-backs today conclude a three-game series in what is the third of six scheduled meetings between the clubs this season… Arizona will travel for three games at Truist Park, July 18-20.
- Atlanta beat Arizona, 5-2, last night to even the series at one game apiece.
- Atlanta and Arizona played six total games last season, with the Braves winning four of the six… The Braves have won the season series with the Diamondbacks in each of the last two years, and since 2008, Atlanta has only lost the season series with Arizona twice…They went 3-4 against the D-backs in 2019, and 2-5 in 2016…Atlanta is 53-40 (.570) overall against Arizona since that year.
- The Braves dropped two-of-three games in Arizona last season, losing a series at Chase Field for the first time since 2017… The Braves’ lone win in that series prevented a series sweep and was the first of the club’s 14 consecutive wins from June 1-15.
- Atlanta is 49-39 (.557) all-time here at Chase Field since the facility opened in 1998, including an 11-6 (.647) record since 2018.
- RH Michael Soroka has made two career starts against Arizona, both in 2019, and is 0-1 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) versus the D-backs…
In his lone start here at Chase Field, May 9 of that season, he allowed four hits and one run over 6.0 innings in a no-decision…The 6-foot-5, 225- pound right-hander made his season debut earlier this road trip at Oakland, and allowed five hits and four runs over 6.0 innings to take the loss. - RH Zac Gallen is a perfect 2-0 in two career starts against Atlanta, pitching to a 1.42 ERA (2 ER/12.2 IP) and fanning 12…The University of North Carolina product is tied for the N.L. lead with seven wins this season, going 7-2 with a 2.72 ERA (22 ER/72.2 IP) in 12 starts.
WIN: Atlanta collected 11 hits and scored five runs, both single-game highs for its current road trip, to beat Arizona, 5-2, last night…Sean Murphy, Ronald Acuña Jr., Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna all had multi-hit efforts for the Braves.
- The win sets up a rubber match in today’s finale, and Atlanta is a perfect 3-0 in rubber games this season…The Braves beat Baltimore, Texas and Seattle in rubber games earlier this season to win the sets.
- Atlanta improved to 27-2 (.931) this season when scoring at least five runs, the best such record in baseball.
- The Braves’ 11 hits last night were their most since collecting a season-most 20 hits last Sunday night versus Philadelphia…Atlanta had just nine runs and 24 hits in the first four games of this road trip
TEAM HARD HIT: Atlanta batters hit 12 balls over 100.0 miles per hour last night, including each of the seven hardest-hit balls of the game…The Braves had an expected batting average of .347 for the game.
- The game was the ninth time this season that Atlanta had at least 12 balls over 100.0 mph in a game, easily the most such games in the majors…No other team has done so more than four times this season.
- Atlanta as a team has an average exit velocity of 91.1, highest in the majors and over 1.0 full mile per hour more than any other club…The Angels rank second with an average of 90.0 mph.
- Despite the exit velocity, Atlanta made outs on six of the 12 balls it put in play harder than 100.0 mph last night…Three of those six outs were hit on the barrell and had expected batting averages over .500.
- The Braves have made 182 outs on hard-hit balls this season, defined as balls with exit velocities over 95.0 mph…That total is most in the National League and second most in baseball, behind just Kansas City (186).
- Conversely Atlanta has just 14 soft hits on the year, defined as hits under 60 mph or grounders and popups under 70…That total is fewest in baseball.
HARRIS II HARD HIT: Michael Harris II put all four of his balls in play harder than 95.0 mph last night, including four over 104.0 mph.
- Last night was the first game of his career with four balls in play over 95.0 mph.
- Harris II had the hardest-hit ball of the game, a 113.8 mph single in the eighth inning…It was the hardest-hit base hit of his career.
ACUÑA JR. HOME RUNS: Ronald Acuña Jr. connected on his 12th home run of the season last night, driving a 2-1 pitch in the sixth inning out to leftcenter…It was his first home run since May 17, snapping his season-long homerless drought at 14 games.
- Acuña Jr.’s home run traveled 464 feet, tying for the sixth-longest shot of his career.
- Each of his last 10 home runs have traveled at least 420 feet, dating to a 438-foot shot on April 14 at Kansas City…Per MLB’s Sarah Langs, Acuña Jr.s 10 consecutive homers of at least 420 feet is the longest such run in the Statcast era, which dates to 2015.
- Since he debuted in 2018, Acuña Jr.’s 10 home runs of at least 460 feet are the most in baseball.
BULLPEN: Three Atlanta relievers combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings last night, and the Braves bullpen has now tossed 7.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
- Just two teams – the Padres and White Sox – have a longer active scoreless streak from their relievers.
- Atlanta relievers have not allowed an earned run in their last 9.1 innings, dating to May 29 at Oakland.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #40 Michael Soroka RHP
2023 Record: 0-1, 6.00 ERA • 2023 MiLB Record: 1-2, 4.33 ERA
vs. RHB: .364 (4-for-11), 0 HR • vs. LHB: .091 (1-for-11), 1 HR
Home: 0-0, 0.00 ERA (0 ER/0.0) • Away: 0-1, 6.00 ERA (4/6.0)
Today’s Game
- Set to make his second start of the season.
- His last outing against Oakland marked his first MLB appearance in 1,029 days, dating to August 3, 2020.
- Missed a total of 486 games with a torn Achilles.
- Allowed five hits, four runs, two walks and a home run while fanning three in his last start against the A’s.
- In seven starts with Triple-A Gwinnett, Soroka went 1-2 with a 4.33 ERA.
- Struck out 21 hitters over 18.2 innings pitched through his last four starts and pitching to a 3.86 ERA
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are tied for first in the NL West with the Dodgers and share the NL’s best record and the Majors’ fifth-best record to the Rays (.683, 41-19), Rangers (.649, 37-20), Orioles (.621, 36-22) and Astros (.603, 35-23).
- Arizona has spent 26 days in/tied for first place (April 2, April 8-24, April 26- 30, June 1-3).
♦ Since May 12, the D-backs’ 15-6 (.714) record is the second-best in the Majors behind the Astros (.762, 16-5).
♦ With a win today, the D-backs would win their seventh series in their last 9 series and their second consecutive home series vs. Braves (2-1, May 30-June 1, 2022).
LOVULLO IN ’24
♦ The D-backs extended the contract of Manager Torey Lovullo through the 2024 season.
PEN WORKHORSES
♦ The D-backs are the only team in the Majors with 4 relievers with 26+ outings — Miguel Castro, Andrew Chafin, Scott McGough, Kyle Nelson…the Mariners, Orioles, Blue Jays and Guardians each have 3 such relievers.
♦ Over the last 8 games, since May 27, the D-backs bullpen has a 1.67 ERA (5 ER in 27.0 IP) and .235 opponent average with 7 walks and 35 strikeouts.
GALLEN + MERRILL TOP-10 TEAMMATES
♦ Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly rank among the National League’s Top-10 in several categories:
Zac Gallen Merrill Kelly
Wins T-1st ……….. 7 T-1st ………… 7
Win Pct. 4th……… .778 9th ………. .700
Innings 5th……… 72.2 6th ………. 70.2
ERA 5th……… 2.72 6th ………. 2.80
Strikeouts T-5th …….. 82 10th ……….. 77
OPP AVG 5th………. 218 3rd ………. .194
WHIP 3rd ……… 1.03 7th ………. 1.08
EXTRA-BASE KNOCKS
♦ The D-backs’ 33 straight games with an extra-base hit is tied for the Majors’ second-longest active streak (also: Angels, Dodgers) behind the Orioles (50).
♦ The 33-gamer is the sixth-longest in a season in club history: 35 games done twice (Aug. 20-Sept. 27, 2020; Aug. 28-Oct. 4, 2015), 41 games (Aug. 18-Oct. 2, 2005), 57 games (July 28-Sept. 28, 2003) and 69 games (July 18-Oct. 7, 2001).
SNAKEBITES
♦ Ketel Marte has reached base in 31 of his last 32 games, highlighted by a career-best 30-game on-base streak (April 26-June 1).
♦ Evan Longoria’s career-best 12.13 at-bats per home run ratio is seventh in the Majors (min. 100 PA).
♦ Emmanuel Rivera has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (.379, 11-for-29, .883 OPS, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB)… on the season, his .341 average is second in the Majors (min. 85 PA).
STREAKS AND WINNING RECORDS
♦ The D-backs had a season-high 6-game winning streak from May 28-June 2, their longest since Aug. 12-18, 2020.
♦ The D-backs’ 35-23 record after their June 2 win put them 12+ games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 1, 2018 (74-62).
DOWN ON THE FARM
♦ High-A Hillsboro LHP Yu-Min Lin struck out 13 of 17 batters faced while tossing 5.0 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 1 walk last night @ Everett.
ON-DECK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS
♦ The D-backs took 2 of 3 vs. Nationals from May 5-7.
♦ Have played and split 4-game series @ Nationals each of the last 3 seasons (2022, ’21, ’19).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
AT A GLANCE: Is in his fifth season with the D-backs.
- Fifth in the 2022 NL Cy Young Award voting.
- 2022 D-backs Most Valuable Pitcher by the Arizona Chapter of the BBWAA after going 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is 6-0 with a 0.66 ERA (3 ER in 41.0 IP), 0.73 WHIP, .169 opponent average and 54 strikeouts in 6 home starts this season.
- His 0.66 home ERA leads the Majors (min. 25.0 IP).
- His 2.07 ERA (39 ER in 169.2 IP in 27 starts) since July 13, 2022 is the lowest in the Majors (min. 120.0 IP).
- In innings 1-3, has allowed 6 runs, held opponents to a .180 average, walked 5 and struckout 34.
VS. BRAVES: Is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (2 ER in 12.2 IP) and 12 strikeouts in 2 career starts…won his last start @ Chase Field on May 30, 2022 (2 ER in 5.2 IP).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL leaders in wins (T-1st, 7), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th, 5.13), WHIP (4th, 1.03) strikeouts (T-5th, 82), walks (T-5th, 16) and ERA (6th, 2.72).
EARLY RISER: Is 8-5 with a 2.82 ERA (48 ER in 153.1 IP), 0.98 WHIP, .197 opponent average and 163 strikeouts in 27 career day starts.
- Since 2022, his 1.85 ERA (19 ER in 92.2 IP) is the best in the NL in day games.
LIMITING THE LONG BALL: His 62.0 consecutive homerless innings are the longest active streak in MLB.
- Has yet to allow a home run (149 BF) at home this year.
THE SCORELESS STREAK: Tallied the D-backs fourth-longest scoreless streak (28.0 IP) in franchise history from (April 4 [final inning]-April 26, 2023).
- From April 10 to April 26, went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER in 27.0 IP), 0.44 WHIP, .112 opponent average, 1 walk and 41 strikeouts.
