SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Giants and Diamondbacks play the final game of this brief two-game series. SF is 6-6 against Arizona this year, with four of the losses coming here at Chase Field. A win today would give SF the head-to-head tiebreaker with Arizona.
A WILD RACE: Entering today at 76-75 (.503), the Giants currently sit 3.0 games behind the Cubs and 3.5 games behind the Diamondbacks for the final two spots in the NL Wild Card race…the Giants also trail the Reds by 2.0 games and the Marlins by 2.5 games. Entering play today, FanGraphs gives SF a 5.4% chance of making the postseason. The Giants have the second-toughest remaining strength of schedule in MLB at .575, behind only the Nationals (.614)… this looks at a team’s remaining games and calculates the combined winning percentage for all those opponents.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: The Giants have managed to win a lot of close games against the Diamondbacks in recent seasons. Since 2020, SF is 16-5 in one-run games against the Dbacks…the 16 such wins are tied for the most in MLB against any opponents in that stretch.
ROAD WOES: SF has dropped 24 of its last 29 road games since July 19, the worst road record of any team in the Majors in that span. The Giants have been outscored by a 169-99 margin on the road since July 19. SF’s last road series victory was a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh right after the All-Star Break, July 14-16. In their last 29 road games, Giants pitchers have posted a 5.69 ERA (151er, 238.2ip)…only the Cardinals (5.78 ERA) and Royals (5.69) have a worse mark. SF is plating just 3.41 runs per game in these last 29 road contests, the second-fewest of any MLB team just ahead of Arizona at 3.37…the Giants’ .632 OPS is the lowest in MLB.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP Logan Webb takes the hill for his 32nd start of the season…Webb, who leads all MLB pitchers in innings pitched (201.0ip), has gone 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA (6er, 21.0ip) in three starts against Arizona this season. Webb has thrown just over 1,200 changeups this season… no other pitcher is even to 900…opponents are hitting .220 against that pitch (Sports Info Solutions). He has a 2.59 ERA with C Patrick Bailey, but the most impressive thing about that is the K-BB ratio of 94 strikeouts and just nine walks in 104.1 innings (Sports Info Solutions). In 2023, Webb is 5-1 against NL West opponents with a 2.02 ERA.
NOTABLE BVP: IF Brandon Crawford has faced today’s opposing starter, Merrill Kelly more than anyone else in MLB… Crawford is 11-for-39 (.282) with three doubles and a walk off the Arizona right-hander…OF Joc Pederson is 8-for-25 (.320) with a pair of doubles and triples off Kelly.
STEALING THE SHOW: IF Thairo Estrada swiped his 22nd base of the year on Sunday, surpassing last year’s 21 mark to set a new career-best.
He became the first Giant with as many steals in a decade and first since Hunter Pence also stole 22 bases in 2013. Estrada is also the first Giant to steal 20+ bases in consecutive seasons since Omar Vizquel (2005, 2006). He’s responsible for 41.5% of SF’s total stolen bases this season…the Giants’ 53 steals overall this year are 13 fewer than any other MLB team (Colorado, 66).
IN A PINCH: OF Austin Slater has 29 hits as a pinch hitter over the last three seasons…he’s the only player with more than 20 pinch-hit hits since 2021. His eight hits as a pinch hitter this season are second-most in the Majors behind TB’s Harold Ramirez (10). Slater feels right at home here at Chase Field…he is slashing .388/.468/.627 in 27 career games here…the .388 average at Chase is tops among active players (min. 50 PA).
FASHIONABLY LATE: The Giants have outscored their opponents by 31 runs in the 9th inning or later this season, the best run differential in MLB.
WHAT’S LEFT?: Just 11 games remain on the Giants’ regular season schedule…following this series the Giants continue this 10-game road trip with a four-game set against the Dodgers in Los Angeles…the Giants’ final homestand is a six-game set against the Padres (three games) and Dodgers (three games).
TODAY’S STARTER – LOGAN WEBB RHP #62
2023 RECORD: 10-12, 3.31 ERA
WITH THE GIANTS: Webb is in the midst of his fifth season with SF… he signed a five-year, $90 million extension on April 14 that keeps him in a Giants uniform through 2028…the contract bought out his final two arbitration years and first three years of free agency.
LAST OUTING: Webb continued his sterling September by firing 8.0 innings of one-run ball in Colorado on Friday night but took a no-decision in the Giants 3-2 loss to open this road trip…Webb went 7.0 scoreless before allowing a game-tying run in the 8th inning… SF went back ahead in the top of the 9th only to see the Rockies score two runs and walk off with a victory.
ON THE LEADERBOARDS: Webb passed the 200-inning threshold for the first time in his career in his last outing and enters today’s start leading the Majors in innings pitched (201.0) ahead of Arizona’s Zac Gallen (197.2) and NYY’s Gerrit Cole (192.0)…his 4.4 fWAR is tied for seventh-best in the Majors and fifth-best in the NL behind Zack Wheeler (5.4), Spencer Steer (5.3), Gallen (4.6) and Justin Steele (4.5)…his 3.31 ERA is ninth-best in MLB while his 1.05 WHIP is fifth-best in MLB.
LEADER OF THE PACK, VROOM: The 26-year-old has become the first Giant to surpass the 200-inning threshold since Madison Bumgarner, who worked 207.2 innings in 2019…the last Giants righty to do it was Jeff Samardzija, who threw an NL-best 207.2 innings in 2017…Webb most likely has two starts left this season and has a very real chance to lead the Majors in innings pitched this season…that’s something not too many 26-year-olds (based on age at end of the season) have done since 1990.
VS. ARIZONA: Is facing the D-Backs for a fourth time this season and a second time here in Phoenix…in his three starts this year vs. Arizona, Webb is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA (6er, 21.0ip) with SF going 2-1 in those games…overall, he’s 5-2 lifetime with a 2.62 ERA (16er, 55.0ip) in nine starts…SF is 6-3 in those nine starts…here in Phoenix he’s made three career starts while posting a 2.95 ERA (6er, 18.1ip) but the Giants are 1-2 in those games.
GO WEST: Entering this start, Webb has a 2.02 ERA (14er, 62.1ip) in nine starts against the NL West this season…the team is 6-3 in those nine starts…his 2.02 ERA is the second-lowest by a Giant vs. the NL West (min. 50.0ip) since 1994.
ARIZONA DIAONDBACKS NOTES:
IN THE STANDINGS: The D-backs hold the second NL Wild Card spot, 2.5 games back of the Phillies (1st WC spot), and 0.5 a game ahead of the Cubs, 1.0 ahead of the Marlins, 1.5 ahead of the Reds and 3.5 ahead of the Giants. The D-backs are second in the NL West, 3.5 games ahead of the Giants and 6.0 games over the Padres.
THE WILD STRETCH: Since Aug. 21, the D-backs are 13-7 (.650) against postseason contenders, including a 10-3 home record in the stretch – vs. Rangers (2-0), vs. Reds (3-1), @ Dodgers (0-3), vs. Orioles (1-2), Cubs (3-1 @ Wrigley and 3-0 @ Chase Field) and vs. Giants (1-0).
SEASON SERIES VS. GIANTS: The D-backs are 6-6 vs. Giants with the final regular-season game this afternoon… in their last series @ Chase Field from May 11-14, the D-backs took 3 of 4 games.
FOR THE SERIES: The D-backs look to secure their second consecutive series sweep, fourth series win in their last 5 and ninth in their last 2.
80 WINS IN THE BOOKS: Last night, the D-backs secured their 80th win of the season, marking the first time since 2019 (85 wins) to reach 80+ wins and 13th time in franchise history.
WIN COLUMN: Since Aug. 12, the D-backs’ 14-4 (.778) home record is second in the Majors, behind the Brewers (12-3; .800) and their 23 wins are tied for fourth most in the Majors (also: Rays), behind the Braves (24), Dodgers (24) and Orioles (24).
GO OFF, KETEL: Last night, Ketel Marte recorded his seventh career 4-hit game as a D-back (last: June 3, 2021 @ Brewers)… his 7 4-hit games rank tied for sixth most in franchise history (5 others) and is 2 shy of tying Steve Finley’s 9 4-hit games as a D-back.
BATTLIN’ BULLPEN: D-backs’ relievers have not allowed an earned run in 3 straight games (18.2 innings) and in 9 of their last 14 games.The D-backs bullpen, over the last 14 games, boasts a 1.87 ERA (13 ER in 62.2 IP) and 0.97 WHIP…they rank among MLB teams in WHIP (2nd), walks allowed (T-2nd, 18) and ERA (3rd).
GALLEN ECLIPSES 200 K: Last night, Zac Gallen became the seventh D-backs pitcher (15th overall) to record 200+ strikeouts in a season (last: Robbie Ray in 2019 – 235).
ANSWER-BACKS: The D-backs’ 41 comeback wins are tied for third most in the Majors (also: Phillies), behind the Orioles (48), Reds (46)… the D-backs’ 41 comeback wins are tied for fifth most in a season in franchise history (also: 2002, ’03, ’19)…the franchise record is 48 come-from-behind-wins in 2011.
10+-HIT GAMES: The D-backs’ improved to 40-14 on the season when tallying 10+ hits in a game…their 40 wins in games with 10+ hits rank fourth in the Majors, behind the Braves (56), Dodgers (47) and Cubs (43).
CARROLL NEARING MORE HISTORY: Corbin Carroll (24 HR/48 SB) is 1 homer and 2 stolen bases shy of becoming only the second MLB player ever to have 25+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in a season in their age22 season or younger…he would join César Cedeño (1973 – 25 HR/56 SB).
HOME COOKIN’: Since Aug. 11 at home, Gabriel Moreno, Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte are batting a combined .347 (87-for-251)/1.035 OPS with 17 doubles, 6 triples, 13 homers, 46 RBI and 30 walks.
NO ONE LIKE US: The D-backs are the only MLB team this season to have 4 players with 3.5+ bWAR (Ketel Marte 4.48, Corbin Carroll 5.0, Gabriel Moreno 3.9 and Christian Walker 3.5) and 2 qualified pitchers with a 3.60 ERA or better (Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In 9 career home games against the Giants, is 5-0 with a 1.82 ERA (12 ER in 59.1 IP), 0.86 WHIP, .186 opponent average and 54 strikeouts. Is 5 strikeouts away from tying a career-high (177 in 2022). In his last 7 starts, has 52 strikeouts and his 11.41 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that span is fourth-best among NL pitchers, behind Spencer Strider/ATL (13.01), Freddy Peralta/MIL (12.72) and Blake Snell/SD (11.45).
NL RANKINGS: Ranks among qualified NL starters in ERA (5th, 3.45), opponent average (T-6th, .226) and win percentage (T-7th, .611).
FRANCHISE RANKINGS: Ranks among D-backs starters in franchise history (min. 50 starts) in wins (6th, 47), starts (6th, 124), WHIP (7th, 1.23), strikeouts (8th, 666), innings pitched (8th, 732.0) and ERA (9th, 3.85). Is 1 win away from tying Ian Kennedy for sixth all-time in wins and 5 strikeouts away from tying Zac Gallen for seventh all-time in strikeouts.
LAST START: Took the loss on Sept. 14 @ Mets (7 ER in 5.0 IP, 7 K).
VS. GIANTS: Facing the Giants for the second time in 2023 and first time @ Chase Field this season.
- Faced the Giants on June 24 @ Oracle Park (7 R-5 ER in 5.0 IP).
- Has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 8 of his 9 career home starts against the Giants.
- Dating back to Aug. 5, 2021, Kelly has allowed just 1 homer in 9 career home starts against San Francisco (104 BF).
EARLY RISER : In 4 home day games this season, is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA (9 ER in 24.1 IP)/.263 OBP/.303 SLG with a 1.03 WHIP, .213 opponent average and 34 strikeouts.
SHOW ‘EM WHAT YOU GOT : In the fi rst time through the lineup, is limiting hitters to a .192 average (41-for-214) with 65 strikeouts.
HIT IT HERE : Limiting infi eld hits to a .065 average (13-for-199)/.065 OBP/.075 SLG.
PITCH TRACKING: In his last 5 home starts, opponents are 3-for-32 (.094)/.171 OBP/.188 SLG with 10 strikeouts on his 4-seam fastball.
- In his last 7 home starts, hitters are batting .152 (7-for-46)/.220 OBP/.174 SLG with 16 strikeouts on his changeup.
NOT AFRAID OF 1-2-3-4: Limiting hitters 1-4 to a .206 average (59-for-287) with 10 home runs and 86 strikeouts.
RISP-Y BUSINESS : In his last 8 home starts, is limiting hitters to a .129 average (4-for-31) with 8 strikeouts.
- From August 4-August 24, held runners in scoring position to a .083 average (1-for12) 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.
