TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
SNAKEBITTEN — The Rays were unable to overcome a 5-0 first-inning deficit in last night’s 8-4 loss to the Diamondbacks…RHP Taj Bradley (4.0IP, 7H, 7R, 6ER, BB, 2SO, 4HR) was tagged for a career-high four homers, including two in the opening frame… Tampa Bay drew back within one run, 5-4, with a four-run rally in the second, beginning with a pair of runs on back-to-back wild pitches after loading the bases with no outs…shortly thereafter, an RBI-groundout by C Christian Bethancourt (0-for-4, RBI) preceded CF Jose Siri’s (1-for-4, HR, RBI, R) team-leading 15th homer, which proved to be the Rays final tally of the evening.
RHP Shawn Armstrong (2.0IP, 2H, ER, BB, 3SO), RHP Robert Stephenson (1.0IP, 2SO) and LHP Jake Diekman (1.0IP, 3SO) combined to hold the D-backs to one run following Bradley’s departure.
Making his third start of the season at second base, 2B Isaac Paredes (3-for-4, 2 2B, R) tied his career high with three hits (13x, last: 6/9/23 vs. TEX), including two doubles.
STATE OF THE RAYS — Following last night’s series-opening defeat, the Rays have dropped six of nine, eight of 14, and nine of their last 16 games…they have been held to four or fewer runs in a season-high-tying three straight games (3x, last: 5/29-31)…last night’s loss marked their sixth of the season by 4+ runs, tied with Atlanta for the fewest such defeats in the majors.
Tampa Bay has dropped three straight on the road, its second-longest such skid of the season (longest: 4G, 5/17-5/30)…since winning nine of their first 12 road games to open the campaign, the Rays are just 11-15 (.423) in opposing ballparks since 4/30, the 10th-ranked road winning pct. in the AL in that span.
Rays batters have struck out five or fewer times in three consecutive games, their longest streak since 8/20-22, 2022 (3G)…it ties the third-longest such streak by any club this season, trailing runs by Cleveland (6G, 5/18-23) and Baltimore (4G, 5/9-13).
The Rays currently lead the AL in both homers (124) and stolen bases (99)…they are looking to become the 10th team all-time to lead the AL in both categories at the end of June, including the first since the 2015 Houston Astros (Elias).
HEY SIRI, GO DEEP — Jose Siri has homered three times in his last four games, batting 5-for-14 (.357) in that span with 6 RBI…after entering the season with 11 homers in 125 career games, he has launched a team-leading 15 long balls in 49 games, tied for ninth most in the AL…12 of those homers have come while hitting ninth, signaling the most home runs among all major league nine-hole hitters, ahead of MIL Joey Wiemer (9HR).
Since 5/7, his 13 homers are tied for third most in the AL behind only LAA Shohei Ohtani (21HR) and CWS Luis Robert Jr. (15HR)…his .901 OPS in that span ranks eighth in the AL (min. 130PA).
Ten of Siri’s 15 homers have come against fastballs…his .624 SLG vs. fastballs ranks sixth in the AL (min. 75AB ending with fastballs).
JUNE PARED-ISE — Over his last 11 games, Isaac Paredes is slashing .343/.500/.600 (12- for-35) with three doubles, two homers, 5 RBI and nine walks against nine strikeouts… he ranks among the AL’s June leaders in OBP (3rd, .430), OPS (5th, .984) and SLG (6th, .554)…June has traditionally been the most productive month of his career, as Paredes is slashing .280/.380/.575 with a .955 OPS in 52 June games compared to .222/.304/.382 with a .687 OPS during all other months (188G).
His 16 walks this month are tied for fifth most in the AL…since the beginning of June, he has increased his season walk rate from 5.8 pct. to 9.8 pct.
Paredes has already doubled his career bWAR total from 2.0 to 4.0 this season… his 2.0b WAR are tied for fourth among AL third basemen, trailing TOR Matt Chapman (3.1), CLE José Ramírez (2.9) and TEX Josh Jung (2.2).
MASHIN’ MANNY — Manuel Margot has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games started since 6/9, batting .357 (15-for-42) with eight extra-base hits, 7 RBI and a .959 OPS in those games…his current six-game hitting streak matches his longest of the season (also 5/27- 6/5) and is the longest active run by a Rays hitter.
Margot opened the season batting .180 (11-for-61) over his first 21 games from Opening Day through 4/24…since 4/26, his .305 AVG (40-for-131) ranks 10th in the AL (min. 130AB), trailing only Yandy Díaz (7th, .316) among Rays hitters.
TROUBLE WITH THE CLOCK — The Rays have been charged with an MLB-high 37 pitch timer violations, ahead of Miami (33) and New York-NL (31)…the next closest AL team, Houston, has received only 26 violations…Tampa Bay has committed the most pitcher violations (26) while tying for the second-most batter violations (11) behind New York-NL (12)…this includes an MLB-leading three occasions in which a Rays hitter attempted to call a second timeout.
Conversely, the Rays have benefitted from the fewest opponent violations (15), behind Texas (17)…tonight’s opponent, Arizona, has been aided by an MLB-high 36 opponent violations.
INTERLEAGUE INTEL—Tampa Bay is 15-10 (.600) in Interleague play, the seventh-best winning pct. in the majors and third best in the AL behind New York-AL (12-5, .706) and Toronto (14-7, .667)…the Rays have compiled a +41 (131-90) run differential in Interleague games, second in the majors behind Miami’s +45 (124-79)…since winning nine of their first 10 games vs. NL opponents to open the season, the Rays are 6-9 in their last 15 Interleague matchups since 5/17, including 2-7 on the road in that span with five one-run losses.
DESERT DUEL — The Rays and Diamondbacks meet for their seventh all-time series this week, including the fifth at Chase Field…Tampa Bay is 6-6 in this ballpark, with its most recent visit coming from 6/6-8, 2016 (2-1)…entering this week, the Rays had won each of their last two series against the D-backs since 2016, going 4-2 in that span.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (9-3, 3.35)
TONIGHT’S START — The righty makes his 15th start of the season, including his seventh on the road…has taken the loss in each of his last two roads starts, recording a 5.06 ERA (10.2IP, 6ER) while allowing opponents to bat .400 (4-for-10) with RISP…the Rays are 11-3 overall in his starts, including 8-0 at Tropicana Field.
LAST TIME OUT — Improved to 9-3 on 6/23 vs. Kansas City after tossing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, two walks and two home runs while striking out seven batters…he matched a season high with two walks in the outing (5x, last: 6/17 at SD) and has issued a walk in a season-high six straight starts, his longest single-season streak since 5/16-7/15, 2019 (10GS)…he has now walked multiple batters in three straight starts for the third time in his career and for the first time since a four-game stretch from 9/11-28, 2019.
HANDLING THE HEAT — In four career appearances (3 starts) opposite Arizona, Eflin is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA (21.1IP, 8ER)…in his last outing against the Diamondbacks on 8/6/19, he threw 1.2 relief innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
In his last start vs. Arizona on 6/12/19, he took the loss despite throwing 8.0 innings of two-run ball, scattering five hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.
Has made 31 appearances (28 starts) against NL West opponents and has gone 5-13 with a 5.06 ERA (156.2IP, 88ER)…however, over his last seven starts against the division, he is 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA (41.2IP, 12ER) while holding opponents to a .197 (30-for-152) batting average.
ROAD WOES — Eflin is 1-3 with 5.08 ERA (33.2IP, 19ER) in six road starts this season, compared to 8-0 with a 2.17 ERA (49.2IP, 12ER) in eight starts at Tropicana Field.
In 73 career appearances (67 starts) on the road, Eflin is 16-31 with a 5.34 ERA (362.1IP, 215ER) and one save…in 68 career appearances (62 starts) at home, he is 29-17 with a 3.43 ERA (380.1IP, 145ER).
AHEAD OF THE CURVE — Eflin is holding opponents to a .143 AVG (13-for91) on his curveball, the lowest mark in the majors (min. 75 AB).
Eflin’s curveball has induced a 38.6 pct. whiff rate, third-best on any AL pitcher’s curve (min. 100 curveballs swung at) behind DET Alex Lange (49.6%) and HOU Framber Valdez (40.2%).
QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 5.60 SO/BB ratio is fourth best in the majors (min. 75.0IP), trailing SEA George Kirby (11.29), MIN Joe Ryan (7.00) and MIA Braxton Garrett (6.43)…he joins Garrett (90SO, 14BB) and Ryan (105SO, 15BB) as the only pitchers in the majors with 80+ strikeouts and 15 or fewer walks.
Eflin has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 17 starts since 6/14/22, the second-longest streak of his career (longest: 33GS, 8/29/20-6/3/22)…overall, the righty has issued two or fewer walks in 50 of his last 51 starts dating back to 8/29/2020.
Since the beginning of 2021, his 4.2 pct. walk rate is the lowest in the majors (min. 1,000BF), outpacing KC Zack Greinke (4.6%)…however, he has a 6.9 pct. walk rate in his last six starts since 5/25 (2.7% in first 8GS of 2023).
HELP FROM FRIENDS — Eflin has received 7.02 runs of support per nine innings pitched, the fifth-highest mark in the majors and third in the AL behind TEX Martín Pérez (8.17) and TB Shane McClanahan (7.35)…he has received 9.24 runs per start at home, compared to 3.74 runs per start on the road, including zero runs in each of his last two road outings.
TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT — He is holding left-handed batters to a .184 (28-for-152) average, compared to a .272 (43-for-158) mark against righthanded batters…over his last seven starts since 5/20, he is holding lefties to a .152 (12-for-79) average with 25 strikeouts against just four walks.
GONE FISHING — Opposing hitters are offering at 31.7 pct. of Eflin’s pitches outside of the strike zone, the seventh-highest chase rate in the AL and 17th-highest in the majors (min. 300BF)…excluding the shortened 2020 campaign (34.5%), it marks the highest chase rate of any season in his career.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
TOP OF THE WEST: The D-backs are in first place in the NL West (+2.5) and have spent 49 days in/tied for first place in the division.
D-BACKS SERVE LUNCH TO VETERANS: This afternoon, Dbacks’ pitchers Kyle Nelson and Ryne Nelson served lunch donated by Chick-fi l-A to approximately 40 veterans living at Catholic Charities MANA House in the D-backs Home Plate Kitchen.
HALFWAY POINT HISTORY: With a victory tonight, the Dbacks 49 wins would mark the second-most wins in franchise history through the first 81 games, behind 50 set in 2017 (Wild Card) and 2001 (WS Champs).
JUNE BOOM: Ketel Marte (3rd, 1.114 OPS), Christian Walker (7th, 1.070 OPS) and Corbin Carroll (12th, 1.018 OPS) rank among MLB’s OPS leaders in June… only the Braves have as many players in the ranking (E. Rosario, R. Acuña Jr and M. Harris II).
♦ In Runs Created in June, Christian Walker is fifth with 26.0 RC, Corbin Carroll is seventh with 23.8 RC and Ketel Marte is eighth with 23.2 RC…the top 4 ahead of Walker are Shohei Ohtani/LAA (1st, 41.4), Corey Seager/TEX (2nd, 28.6), Fernando Tatis Jr./SD (3rd, 27.7) and Ronald Acuña Jr./ATL (4th, 26.4).
*Runs Created estimates a player’s off ensive contribution in terms of total runs, combining a player’s ability to get on base with ability to hit for extra bases divided by total opportunities.
WALK CONTINUES CAREER BEST: Christian Walker has hit safely in a career-high 11 straight games at a .419 clip (18-for-43)/1.236 OPS with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 12 RBI and 4 walks (3 strikeouts)…it is the Majors’ fourth-longest active hit streak, behind Jordan Walker/STL (16), Alex Verdugo/BOS (13) and Bo Bichette/ TOR (12).
KETEL EXTENDS TO 20: Ketel Marte has reached base safely in 20 straight games, the Majors’ longest active onbase streak (.342; 25-for-73, 3 2B, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 17 BB).
♦ Since April 26, he has reached base safely in 50 of his 51 games…did not reach base on June 2 vs. Braves.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT: The D-backs are 12-6 (.667) in Interleague Play this season (vs. Tigers, Royals, Rangers, Athletics, Red Sox and Rays), tied for the third-highest win percentage in the Majors (also: Blue Jays), behind the Marlins (18-7; .720) and Yankees (12-5; .706).
♦ D-backs among qualified MLB leaders in interleague play:
PLAYER AVG PLAYER OBP PLAYER SLG
L. Arraez/MIA … .406 J. Soto/SD ……… .488 L. Robert Jr./CWS .831
L. Robert Jr./CWS .385 L. Arraez/MIA .. .462 Corbin Carroll .813
T. Estrada/SF ….. .368 L. Wade Jr./SF .. .446 Christian Walker .742
A. Judge/NYY … .360 L. Robert Jr./CWS .444 R. Acuña Jr./ATL .702
Corbin Carroll .359 Ketel Marte … .434 A. Judge/NYY .. .700
CONSTANT CHAOS ON THE BASES: The D-backs have recorded 1+ stolen bases in 7 straight games (since June 20), tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history (also: 1999 and 2000)…the last time Arizona stole a base in 9+ games in a season was July 13-22, 2007 (franchise record 10 games).
♦ Arizona is 1 stolen base shy of a new franchise June record (currently 27; also: 2015).
SOLID SINCE MAY 28: The D-backs’ 19-9 record (.679) since May 28 is tied for the third best in the Majors (also: Reds), behind the Braves (21-6, .778) and Marlins (19-8, .704). TOP 5 RECORD: The D-backs’ 48-32 (.600) season record is fifth in the Majors, behind the Rays (54-28, .659), Braves (52-27, .658), Orioles (48-30, .615) and Rangers (48-31, .608).
EXTRA! EXTRA! The D-backs’ 54 straight games with an extra-base hit (since April 28, 34-20 record) is tied for the Majors’ longest active streak (also: Angels)…it is the third longest in a season in club history, behind 57 games (July 28-Sept. 28, 2003) and 69 games (July 18-Oct. 7, 2001).
NO SHUTOUT STREAK SETS RECORD, NINTH-BEST SINCE ’98: The D-backs extended their club record to 80 games without a shutout to start the season (previous: 78 games from April 1-June 27, 2013; shutout 3-0 in game 79 on June 28 @ Braves).
♦ It is the Majors’ ninth-longest streak since 1998: 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) and Nationals’ 86-gamer (April 3-July 7, 2017).
♦ Arizona is the only team to not be shut out in 2023.
STARTING PITCHER – RHP ZACH DAVIES ♦ #27
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Is making his ninth start of the season and sixth @ Chase Field.
•` In search of his first win against an AL opponent since Sept. 4, 2020 @ A’s.
- Has faced 27 teams in his 10-year MLB career…only remaining teams are Orioles, Yankees and Blue Jays…has won against 19 of 26 teams he has faced.
LAST START: Took the loss on June 23 @ Giants (6 ER in 4.0 IP)… eclipsed 1,000.0 career innings pitched.
VS. RAYS: Made his lone start vs. Rays on Aug. 5, 2017 while with the Brewers (W; 0 ER in 7.0 IP).
VS. AL EAST FOES: Has gone 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA (2 ER in 10.1 IP) in 2 career starts.
PITCH TRACKING: Opposing batters are hitting .188 (3-for-16) with 2 strikeouts on his cutter.
MISSING BARRELS: Has lowered his barrel pct. down from 8.0 in 2022 to 5.7 in 2023.
- Barrel = comparable hit types (exit velo. + launch angle) that have lead to a min. .500 BA/1.500 SLG.
LIMITING THE LONG BALL: Has allowed 3 home runs in his 8 starts (170 BF)… all 3 homers have come in the fi rst inning and 2 of the 3 have been solo shots.
IT’S UNDER CONTROL: Has walked 2 or fewer batters in 5 of his 8 starts.
0-2, GOT YOU: Opponents are 1-for-8 (.125) with 4 strikeouts on an 0-2 count.
WORKHORSE: Is 1 of 11 MLB pitchers with 27+ starts in 5 of the last 7 seasons since 2016.
IL REPORT: Reinstated from the 15-day injured list (sprained left oblique) on May 27.
- Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 7 in 1 rehab start with Double-A Amarillo on May 20.
FROM THE DESERT: His family moved to the greater Phoenix area when he was 7.
- A 2011 graduate of Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Ariz.
- Committed to play college baseball at Arizona State University before getting drafted in 2011.
