MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (24-32) at Arizona Diamondbacks (32-23)

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

I THINK WE’VE MET BEFORE

• The Colorado Rockies continue their seven-game road trip this evening with the third of four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks … travel to Kansas City for three games Friday-Sunday, the club’s first games at Kauffman Stadium since 2017.
• The Rockies are coming off of a 5-2 homestand against the Miami Marlins (3-1) and New York Mets (2-1) … beat the Mets 10-7 on Saturday and 11-10 on Sunday, the second and third times this season the club has logged a win despite allowing at least seven runs (3-17).
• The Rockies are in the midst of 17-straight days without an off day … also in a stretch of 33 games in 34 days … last off day was on May 18 with the next two on June 5 and June 22 … have gone 5-7 so far through this stretch.

HI, MY NAME IS

• Right-handed pitcher Blair Calvo became the 26th pitcher the Rockies have used this year when he made his Major League debut last night, the third-most pitchers used in baseball behind Oakland (29) and Tampa Bay (26) … the Rockies used 25 total pitchers in 2022, 26 in 2021 and have used more than 30 pitchers just once since 2016 (31 pitchers, 2019).
• Dinelson Lamet will make his first start of the season tonight, the 11th pitcher to make a start for Colorado this year, tied for the third-most in baseball … entering the season, the Rockies had used 22 total starting pitchers in Bud Black’s tenure as manager since 2017, the fewest starters in the Majors.

DRY HEAT

• Colorado has won six of their last eight series since May 2 and seven of their last 10 series since April 24 … had lost or split each of their first seven series of the season prior to this stretch.
• The Rockies have gone 16-12 (.571) since April 30, the fourth-best record in the NL over that span behind the Dodgers (19-9, .679), Diamondbacks (16-11, .593) and Giants (17-12, .586).
• A win tonight will be the Rockies’ 16th in May … have won at least 16 games in May five previous times in franchise history, most recently in 2019 (16-10).
• Coming off of a 7-20 April in which they slashed .243/.304/.367, the Rockies are slashing .277/.339/.445 in May … are hitting .347 (77-for-222) with runners in scoring position in May after they hit .251 (61-for-243) with runners in scoring position in April.

WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO

• Sunday’s win was the 441st of Bud Black’s Rockies career (2017-2023), passing Don Baylor for the second-most managerial wins in franchise history … Baylor, the Rockies’ first manager in franchise history, went 440-469 in six seasons at the helm from 1993-98 … Clint Hurdle holds the Rockies record for managerial wins, holding a 534-625 record in parts of eight seasons from 2002-09.

RETURN OF THE MAC

• Ryan McMahon had his four-game home run streak and five-game extra-base hit streak snapped on Tuesday but singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high six games.
• Has gone 13-for-23 with two doubles, one triple, four home runs and 12 RBI over his hitting streak … went 4-for-5 on Monday, matching his career-high hit total (also: April 6, 2021 vs. Arizona) … fell a triple shy of the cycle Sunday and a double shy of the cycle on Monday.

BABY GOT BACKSTOP

• Rockies catcher Elias Díaz ranks fourth among NL position players with 2.4 WAR (Baseball Reference), trailing Ronald Acuña (2.9), Freddie Freeman (2.7) and Dansby Swanson (2.5) … his 1.1 defensive WAR is tied for the fourth-best in the Majors, tied for second in the NL.
• Díaz’s .329 batting average (54-for-164) ranks fourth in the Majors, second in the NL … his .374 average (34- for-91) average at home is the second-highest in the Majors while his .426 (20-for-47) average with runners in scoring position ranks sixth the Majors.
• Has appeared in 47 games at catcher, the second-most in the Majors … his 10 catcher caught stealing are third in the Majors.

THE VALLEY

• The Rockies are facing Arizona for the second time this season, the first time in Phoenix … dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks at Coors Field April 28-30.
• Colorado is 11-13 against Arizona over the last two seasons, 21-22 since 2021, 26-27 since 2020 and 64-65 since 2016.
• The Rockies went 5-5 at Chase Field in 2022, including taking three of four here July 7-10.

THANK YOU SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?

• Outfielder Jurickson Profar holds an active 37-game on-base streak since April 15, the longest active streak in the Majors and the longest streak in the Majors this season … it is the seventh-longest streak in franchise history, the longest since DJ LeMahieu’s 38-game streak Aug. 9-Sept. 22, 2016 … LeMahieu’s streak is tied with a Matt Holliday 38-game streak in 2007 for the fifth-longest streak in franchise history.
• Profar is slashing .257/.341/.405 through the streak with 20 walks … over his last 20 games since May 7, is slashing .295/.356/.500 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs, 12 RBI and eight multi-hit games.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #32 DINELSON LAMET RHP
HOW WE GOT HERE

• Dinelson Lamet will make his first start in a Rockies uniform today after being reinstated from the 15-day injured list prior to today’s game … was placed on the IL on May 4 with lower back stiffness.
• Originally claimed off waivers by Colorado from Milwaukee on Aug. 5, 2022 and signed a one-year deal with the Rockies this offseason to avoid arbitration … was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Aug. 3 after being acquired via trade from San Diego on Aug. 1 … the Brewers received Lamet, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP Taylor Rogers and OF Esteury Ruiz from San Diego in exchange for LHP Josh Hader.

SETTING THE TONE

• Has made 56 starts over his career, going 14-17 with a 3.78 ERA (285.2 IP, 120 ER) … opposing hitters have slashed .211/.295/.374 when the
  right-hander starts.
• His last start came on June 26, 2021 against Arizona as a member of the Padres … went 2.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs … received the loss in the 10-1 contest.
• Used solely as a starter in each of his first three seasons from 2017- 2020 … began the 2021 season as a starter before transitioning to the bullpen in September after missing time with forearm injuries.
• on his MLB debut at Citi Field back on May 25, 2017 … tossed five innings and allowed one run, three hits and two walks while striking out
  eight.

START ME UP

• Made three rehab starts with Triple-A Albuquerque, posting a 0.84 ERA (10.2 IP, 1 ER) with six hits allowed, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
• Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings his last time out May 26 vs. Round Rock, allowing two hits with one walk and six strikeouts while throwing 63 pitches … tossed four perfect innings in his previous outing, May 20 vs. Tacoma, striking out four while throwing 38 pitches.

AGE 30 SEASON

• Appeared out of the bullpen 12 times this season before being placed on the injured list on May 4, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) on 14 hits
  across 10.2 innings (12.66 ERA) … issued 12 walks with 13 strikeouts.
• Scored upon eight times in his 12 outings, including in each of his last four before being placed the injured list … allowed a season-high five runs in 0.1 innings on April 28 vs. Arizona.

TURNING TO THE PEN

• Made 31 total relief appearances with the Rockies since being claimed last season, posting up a 7.04 ERA (30.2 IP, 24 ER) … allowed at least one run in 14 of his 31 appearances.
• Went 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA (20.0 IP, 9 ER) in his 19 appearances with the Rockies in 2022 … walked 10 while striking out 29 while limiting opponents to a .189 average (14-for-74).
• Has a 6.97 ERA as a reliever in his career with hitters slashing .253/.378/.442.
• Holds a career WHIP of 1.70 as a reliever and 1.17 as a starter is.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:

HERE’S THE STORY
♦ Since May 12, the D-backs’ 12-5 (.706) record is the best in the NL and tied for the third best in the Majors (also: Rangers), behind the Astros (13-4; .765) and Yankees (13-5; .722).

♦ The D-backs’ 32 wins are tied for the second most in the NL (also: Braves), behind the Dodgers (34)…the D-backs’ 26 wins vs. NL opponents are second behind the Dodgers (31) and ahead of the Rockies (22) and Braves (22).

♦ The D-backs are second in the NL West (23 days in/tied for first place from April 2-30).

♦ The D-backs are 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. Rockies.

SERIES-LY SPEAKING
♦ With a win today, Arizona would secure its second consecutive series win over Colorado and fourth of its last 5.
♦ The D-backs are also looking to win their sixth series in their last 8 overall.

CORBIN RUNNING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
♦ Last night, Corbin Carroll became the fi rst D-backs player ever with multiple games of 2+ SB and 1+ HR in the same season… only 7 others in MLB have done it since 2010 and no one has had 3 such games since 2002 (Aaron Boone/CIN in 2002).

♦ Carroll’s 5 games with 2+ steals is the most in the Majors this season… it is the most games with 2+ stolen bases by a D-back since Jarrod Dyson in 2019 (5) and only 2 Dback players have met the feat 6 times (Jean Segura/2016 and Eric Byrnes/2007)…the franchise record is 10 by Tony Womack in 1999.

MCCARTHY & CARROLL: SUPER DUO
♦ Jake McCarthy and Corbin Carroll became the first pair of D-backs teammates to each steal 2+ bases in the same game since 2018 (Jarrod Dyson & Chris Owings) and seventh overall in franchise history.

♦ McCarthy became just the second D-back in franchise history to steal 2 bases in consecutive games)…no D-back has ever had 3 straight games with multiple steals)…only 1 MLB player has had 3 straight games with multiple steals since 2018 (Trea Turner with Nationals, 2018).

GURRIEL MAKING A STATEMENT
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s 1.158 OPS in the month of May is the second highest ever by a D-back, behind Paul Goldschmidt/2015 (1.226) while his .356 AVG is currently ninth.

♦ Since May 1, Gurriel ranks among MLB leaders [min. 80 PA] in SLG (2nd, .736), OPS (3rd, 1.158), XBH (T-3rd, 16), AVG (T-5th, .356) and homers (T-7th, 8).

GALLEN GALVANIZES
♦ Zac Gallen, over his last 12 appearances at home, is 10-1 with a 0.68 ERA (6 ER in 79.1 IP) and a 0.68 WHIP.

♦ He is the fi rst MLB pitcher to have 10+ wins with an ERA and WHIP both under 0.70 over a span of 12 home starts since Walter Johnson did it from June 12-Sept. 15, 1917.

HOMER HAPPY
♦ Last night marked the third time in May where the Dbacks hit 3+ home runs in a game (Ketel Marte/fi rst inning, Evan Longoria/first inning, Corbin Carroll/sixth inning) and third time at home (also: May 7 vs. Nationals and May 3 @ Rangers).

♦ The D-backs 13 multi-homer games in May are tied for the most in the NL (also: Dodgers).

KETEL CONTINUES…
♦ Ketel Marte’s career-best 28-game on-base streak (since April 26) is the second longest active on-base streak in the Majors, behind Jurickson Profar/COL (37), and the third longest by a D-back since 2014…in the span, is hitting .294 AVG/.365 OBP with 1 double, 2 triples, 6 homers, 16 RBI, 12 walks and 2 HBP.

D-FENSE! D-FENSE!
♦ The D-backs’ .990 fielding pct. is tied for the second best in the Majors (also: Padres and Rays), behind the Mets (.991).

STARTING PITCHER – LHP TOMMY HENRY ♦ #47
AT A GLANCE: D-backs’ Competitive Balance-B selection (74th overall) in the 2019 draft out of the University of Michigan.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Retired 4 of the 5 batters faced over 1.1 scoreless innings in his first career appearance out of the pen on May 27 vs. Red Sox.

• The D-backs are 4-2 in his 6 starts.
• When leading off an inning, holding batters to a .200 average (6-for-30) with 5 strikeouts.

LAST START: Earned his second win of the season on May 22 @ Phillies (2 ER in 5.2 IP)… allowed homers to Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott in the fourth inning.

VS. ROCKIES: Is 2-0 with a 5.91 ERA (7 ER in 10.2 IP) in 2 starts @ Coors Field…making his fi rst start @ Chase Field.

EARLY IMPACT: In innings 1-3, is limiting opponents to a .191 average (12-for-63) with 7 walks and 11 strikeouts.

FIRST TIME THRU: Limiting batters to a .208 average (10-for48) with 6 walks and 10 strikeouts the first time through the lineup.

VS. RIGHTIES: Is holding righties to a .229 average (22-for-96) with 16 strikeouts.

PITCH TRACKING: Opposing batters are hitting .179 (5-for-28) with 3 strikeouts on his changeup and .167 (6-for-36) with 9 strikeouts on his curveball.

KEEP ‘EM CHASING : His 33.7 out-of-zone swing percentage is up 8.8 percent from 2022 (24.9).

0-2 GOT YOU: Has a .158 (9-for-57) opponents average and 18 strikeouts with 2 strikes and opponents are 0-for-8 (.000) with 2 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.