PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES: Lost 5-2 in the finale of their four-game series against the Dodgers last night…Have had five separate winning streaks of at least four games this season, including a season-high seven-game winning streak from 4/17-23…Are 6-7 in their last 13 games following their season-high 10-game losing streak from 6/13-22.
ROSTER MOVES: The Pittsburgh Pirates today placed designated hitter/outfielder Andrew McCutchen on the 10-day injured list (retro to July 6) with right elbow inflammation… Infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes was also placed on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation…Infielder/designated hitter Ji Man Choi (left achilles tendon strain) had his rehab assignment ended and was reinstated to the active roster from the 60-day injured list…Left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny ended his rehabilitation assignment, was reinstated him from the 15-day injured list and designated him for assignment…In addition, right-handed pitcher Cody Bolton was recalled from Indianapolis…Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster remains full.
PIRATING: Last night Ke’Bryan Hayes recorded the 80th stolen base for the Pirates this season…That’s tied for the ninth-most prior to the All-Star break in Pirates history… Pittsburgh comes into today fifth in all of MLB in stolen bases behind the Rays (109), Reds (106), Athletics (89) and Diamondbacks (85).
PLAYING THE FIELD: The Pirates have recorded a .989 fielding percentage (13 errors in 1133 total chances) since the beginning of last month…That’s the sixth-best fielding percentage among all teams in MLB behind Arizona (.991), St. Louis (.990), Philadelphia (.990), Minnesota (.989) and Baltimore (.989).
ABOUT TONIGHT’S STARTER: Rich Hill will make his 18th start of the season tonight in the opener of this final series leading up to the All-Star break…Hill ranks third in all of MLB in called strikes (325) behind San Francisco’s Logan Webb (368) and teammate Mitch Keller (358)…He has also thrown his curveball 38.7 percent this year…According to Baseball Savant, the only three pitchers to throw that pitch at a higher percentage this season are Drew Smyly (48.6%), Charlie Morton (44.9%) and Domingo German (41.4%).
GOING THE EXTRA MILE: Nick Gonzales has seven extra base hits in his last 10 games since tripling on June 27 against the Padres for his first big league hit…Gonzales’ seven extra base hits are tied for the fourth-most in the National League in that time (Mookie Betts leads with 11) while his 26 total bases are tied for the third-most in the NL along with teammate Carlos Santana and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Mookie Betts leads with 32).
LIVING IN THE 412: Vail, Arizona, native Nick Gonzales has gone 8-for-15 on the current road trip and 14-for-34 (.412) in his last 10 games since going hitless in his first three games in the big leagues from June 23-25…Gonzales’ 14 hits since June 27 are tied for the most in all of MLB among rookies along with Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz.
SETTING UP THE SERIES: The Pirates dropped two of three games against the Diamondbacks earlier this year at PNC Park from May 19-21…Pittsburgh’s lone win in that series came against Zac Gallen, who entered that day 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA before allowing eight runs (5er) on eight hits in 3.2 innings while losing a 13-3 decision to Johan Oviedo.
JACK IN THE BOX: Jack Suwinski has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 10-for-24 (.417) with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and 1.438 OPS…Since the eight-game stretch began on June 29, Suwinski’s 10 RBI are the third-most in MLB behind Amed Rosario and Kyle Tucker, who have 11 apiece.
STARTING PITCHER – 44 – LHP RICH HILL
RICH HILL: The 43-year-old lefthander is making his 18th start of the season tonight…He lost a 6-3 decision (5.0ip/3er) against Milwaukee in his last start Sunday at PNC Park.
vs. ARIZONA: 1-7 with a 5.86 ERA (63.0ip/41er) in 12 career appearances (12 starts)…Has lost each of his last six decisions against the Diamondbacks since picking up his only win on 8/1/06…His last outing against Arizona came on 8/30/18 as a member of the Dodgers.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
TOP OF THE WEST: The D-backs are in first place in the NL West (+0.5) and have spent 59 days in/tied for first place in the division.
RECORD AMONG THE REST: The D-backs’ 50-38 (.568) season record is sixth in the Majors, behind the Braves (58-28, .674), Rays (57-33, .633), Orioles (51-35, .593) Rangers (51-37, .580) and Marlins (51-38, .573).
ROSTER MOVES: The D-backs made the following moves:
♦ Selected OF Dominic Canzone [can-ZONE] (No. 6) from Triple-A Reno (first MLB call-up).
♦ Designated LHP Konnor Pilkington for assignment.
♦ Optioned OF Dominic Fletcher to Reno.
♦ Placed RHP Drey Jameson on the 15-day injured list.
♦ Recalled RHP Justin Martinez from Reno.
HEY PERDOMO – YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Today, Geraldo Perdomo was announced as a replacement player (for Dansby Swanson/CHC) for the 2023 National League All-Star team…the D-backs now feature 4 All-Stars in 2023, along with Corbin Carroll (starting OF), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Zac Gallen.
♦ First career All-Star selection for the 23-year-old.
♦ Becomes the 17th D-backs All-Star position player.
♦ Ranks among NL shortstops in OBP (1st, .381), AVG (3rd, .274), walks (3rd, 36), SLG (7th, .417), RBI (7th, 33) and runs (7th, 37).
♦ His 1.184 OPS with RISP leads the NL.
♦ Has made just 1 error in 560.0 innings this season and leads all shortstops in the Majors with a 99.6 fielding percentage.
LEFTY OPPOSITION: The D-backs’ .290 average at home vs. opposing lefty starters ranks third in the Majors, behind the Cubs (.298) and Rangers (.296), while they rank sixth in OBP (.351) and SLG (.464).
♦ Since May 8, Evan Longoria’s .784 SLG (5 2B, 4 HR) vs. lefty starters is tied for fourth in the Majors (min. 40 PA) with Rafael Devers/BOS, behind Riley Adams/WSH (.868), Alec Bohm/PHI (.796) and Spencer Steer/CIN (.791).
♦ Emmanuel Rivera is hitting .352 (25-for-71) with 5 doubles, 1 homer and 14 RBI over 17 games vs. lefty starters this season.
♦ Gabriel Moreno is hitting .324 (22-for-68) with 6 doubles, 2 homers and 14 RBI over 22 games vs. lefty starters this season.
YOUNG ‘BACKS & ‘BUCS: The D-backs’ and Pirates’ 27.8 average team ages are tied for the fourth youngest in the Majors, behind the Guardians (26.1), Nationals (27.3) and Royals (27.4).
SNAKE BITES:
♦ Gabriel Moreno, in his last 5 games, is batting .429 (6-for-14) with 1 double, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base.
♦ Jake McCarthy, in his last 10 games, is batting .367 (11- for-30) with 3 triples, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 3 stolen bases.
♦ Evan Longoria, in his last 15 games, is hitting .310 (13-for-42)/1.079 OPS with 3 doubles, 4 homers, 10 RBI and 8 walks.
SWIPING BAGS:The D-backs’ 85 stolen bases are fourth in the Majors behind the Rays (109), Reds (106) and A’s (89).
♦ Since June 8, the D-backs are 23-for-23 in stolen base attempts (18 @ second base, 5 @ third).
EXTRA! EXTRA! The D-backs’ 62 straight games with an extra-base hit (since April 28, 36-26 record) is tied for the Majors’ longest active streak (also: Angels since
April 29, 2023)…it is also the second-longest streak in a season in club history behind the 69-gamer from July 18-Oct. 7, 2001.
DEFENDERS OF THE DIAMOND: The D-backs’ .990 fielding pct. is the best in the Majors while their 30 errors committed are the fewest, ahead of the Padres (.989, 34 E) and Cardinals (.989, 34 E).
NO-SHUTOUT STREAK EXTINGUISHED, EIGHTH BEST SINCE 1998: The D-backs’ ended their no-shutout streak to start a season at a club-record 87 games…it marked the Majors’ eighth-longest single-season streak since 1998 and was 2 shy of the 2017 Yankees’ run: Reds (163 G, April 3-Oct. 1, 2000), Rangers (160 G, April 1-Oct. 5, 2001), yankees (138 G, March 28-Sept. 1, 2019), Orioles (133 G, April 2-Aug. 31, 2007), Rangers (96, March 31-July 13, 2008), Tigers (April 5-July 16, 2012), Yankees (89 G, April 2-July 16 [GM1], 2017).
♦ Arizona was the last team to not be shut out in 2023.
STARTING PITCHER – RHP ZAC GALLEN ♦ #23
SEATTLE BOUND: Named to his first NL All-Star team.
- Is the 12th D-backs’ All-Star pitcher (23 selections) and ninth starting pitcher (20th selection) along with Randy Johnson (1999, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’04), Curt Schilling (2001, ’02), Byung-Hyun Kim (2002), Brandon Webb (2006-08), José Valverde (2007), Dan Haren (2008-09), Wade Miley (2012), Patrick Corbin (2013, ’18), Zack Greinke (2017- 19), Robbie Ray (2017) and Joe Mantiply (2022).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his 100th career start, 93rd with the D-backs.
- His 3.4 fWAR (FanGraphs) ranks second in the Majors behind Kevin Gausman/TOR (3.8) and ahead of Zac Wheeler/PHI (3.3) and Framber Valdez/HOU (3.0).
- Looks to join Shane McClanahan as the only 11-game winner in the majors.
LAST 4 STARTS: In his last 4 starts, is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA (10 ER in 27.0 IP), 27 strikeouts, 0.85 WHIP and .192 opponent average.
THE STOPPER: Is 6-0 with 1.86 ERA (12 ER in 58.0 IP) in 9 games following a D-backs loss this season.
LAST START: Tied a season high with 12 strikeouts and took his first loss since May 19 (4 ER in 7.0 IP)…allowed a home run to Mike Trout in the fi rst inning and Mickey Moniak in the second inning… retired 16 of the 17 batters faced after the Moniak homer. VS. PIRATES: Is 1-2 with a 3.78 ERA (7 ER in 16.2 IP) in 3 career starts.
- Won his lone start @ Chase Field on Aug. 8, 2022 (0 ER in 7.0 IP, 8 K).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among NL leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (1st, 5.22), wins (T-1st, 10), strikeouts (T-4th, 120), walks (T-5th, 23), ERA (7th, 3.15) and home runs allowed (T-7th, 9).
HOME COOKIN: Is 8-0 with a 1.50 ERA (10 ER in 60.0 IP) with 71 strikeouts, a 0.88 WHIP and .203 opponent average in 9 home games.
- His1.50 home ERA leads the Majors.
- His 8 wins @ home are tied for most in the Majors with Zach Efl in/TB.
- Has allowed 3 or fewer runs in 8 of his 9 starts @ Chase Field this season.
- In 15 home starts since the 2022 All-Star break, is 12-1 with a 1.19 ERA (13 ER in 98.1 IP).
AHEAD IN THE COUNT: His .124 opponent average (20-for-162; 62 K) when ahead in the count ranks second among starters (min. 15 GS) behind Marcus Stroman/CHC (.119) and ahead of Michael Kopech/CWS (.132) and Kevin Gausman/TOR (.136).
RISP-Y BUSINESS : Holding runners in scoring position to a .188 average (16-for-85) with 30 strikeouts.
LIMITING THE LONG BALL: Has allowed nine homers in 111.1 innings (447 BF) this season. The 0.73 homers per nine is eighth best in MLB (min. 50 IP).
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: Has walked 2 or fewer batters in 16 of his 18 starts.
VS. RIGHT AND LEFT: Is limiting righties to a .219 average (49-for-224) with 62 strikeouts, while lefties are batting .244 (48-for-197) with 58 strikeouts.
0-2 GOT YOU: Has a .112 (25-for-224) opponents average and 120 strikeouts with 2 strikes and opponents are 5-for-40 (.125) with 19 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.
- His .112 opponent average with 2 strikes is fifth-best in the majors.
