Diamondbacks Report: Drop Two of Three to Marlins; Four with Giants Next

• May 11, 2023

Diamondbacks Report: Drop Two to Marlins, Giants Next

PHOENIX, May 11 — The Arizona Diamondbacks (20–17), second place in the NL West and 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers after dropping two of three to the Miami Marlins, have the opportunity to gain ground in a four-game home series with the San Francisco Giants (16–20). In this edition of Diamondbacks Report, we will briefly review the Marlins series before previewing the key details of the four games with the Giants.

Diamondbacks – Marlins Series Summary

In Game One, Zac Gallen dominated once again. He went seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking one and striking out seven. Gabriel Moreno went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the offense. Christian Walker also hit well, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and a run scored. The Diamondbacks topped the Marlins, 5–2.

Game Two saw the Marlins dominate the Diamondbacks. Brandon Pfaadt, in his second major league start, got roughed up once again, with Jorge Soler tagging him for two tape-measure homers and five RBI. Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 for the Diamondbacks, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, but it was not enough. Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard, scattering seven hits across six innings. He allowed one earned run while walking two and striking out five. The final score was Marlins 6, Diamondbacks 2, but the game wasn’t really that close.

In Game Three, the Marlins rallied to defeat the Diamondbacks, 5–4. Two ninth-inning doubles provided the victory margin. Jesus Sanchez went 2-for-4 and had the biggest hit of the ninth, a three-run home run off Merrill Kelly. The Diamondbacks scored all four of their runs in the fourth thanks to four walks, a balk, an RBI single, and a run-scoring groundout. What made the biggest difference was the Marlins bullpen, who completely shut the Diamondbacks down. They held the Diamondbacks scoreless over 5 2/3 innings.

Pitching Matchups between the Diamondbacks and Giants

Game One — Thursday, May 11

Game One is a matchup between Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (2–1, 2.01 ERA, 48 ERA-minus) and Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry (1–0, 5.17 ERA, 118 ERA-minus).

In Alex Cobb’s seven appearances, all starts with three as a quality start, he has struck out 38, walked six, and has a 1.240 WHIP across 40 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .273 against him, 22 points higher than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

In Tommy Henry’s three appearances, all starts with one — the last one — as a quality start, he has struck out seven, walked seven, and has a 1.532 WHIP across 15 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .283 against him, 32 points higher than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

Matchups with Current Rosters

Ten current Diamondbacks have faced Cobb. Josh Rojas has 16 plate appearances, going 3-for-12 with a double, two RBI, four walks, four strikeouts, and two runs scored. Alek Thomas and Geraldo Perdomo each have 10 plate appearances. Thomas is 3-for-10 with three strikeouts, three RBI, and three runs scored. Perdomo is 2-for-9 with a strikeout, three RBI, a sacrifice fly, and three runs scored. Ketel Marte has nine plate appearances, going 1-for-8 with a double, a walk. Pavin Smith, with eight plate appearances, is 2-for-6 with two walks and two strikeouts. Emmanuel Rivera is 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Other Diamondbacks to have faced Cobb are Lourdes Gurriel Jr., 1-for-6 with a strikeout; Corbin Carroll, 0-for-5 with two strikeouts; Nick Ahmed, 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored; and Jose Herrera, 1-for-2.

Six current Giants have faced Tommy Henry. Brandon Crawford is 1-for-2 with a homer, an RBI, a strikeout, and a run scored. David Villar is 1-for-2 with a homer, an RBI, a strikeout, and two runs scored. The other Giants to have faced Henry are Wilmer Flores, 0-for-1 with two walks; Austin Slater, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts; J.D. Davis, 0-for-2 with a strikeout; and Mike Yastrzemski, 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

Game Two — Friday, May 12

Game Two will see Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (1–2, 6.00 ERA, 137 ERA-minus). As of Thursday afternoon, the Giants have not yet announced a Game Two starter.

In Ryne Nelson’s seven appearances, all starts with two as a quality start, he has struck out 22, walked 10, and has a 1.528 WHIP across 36 innings. Opponents are batting .315 against him, 64 points higher than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

Matchups with Current Rosters

No current member of the Giants has ever faced Ryne Nelson in a major league game.

Game Three — Saturday, May 13

Game Three matches Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (3–2, 2.80 ERA, 66 ERA-minus) with Diamondbacks righty Zac Gallen (5–1, 2.36 ERA, 54 ERA-minus).

In DeSclafani’s seven appearances, all starts with five as a quality start, he has struck out 33, walked four, and has a 0.933 WHIP across 45 innings. Opponents are batting .225 against him, 26 points lower than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

In Gallen’s eight appearances, all starts with five as a quality start, he has struck out 64, walked six, and has a league-leading 0.846 WHIP across 49 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .198 against him, 53 points lower than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

Matchups with Current Rosters

Five current Diamondbacks have faced DeSclafani. Nick Ahmed and Ketel Marte each have 14 plate appearances against him. Ahmed is 4-for-14 with a double, an RBI, three strikeouts, and a run scored. Marte is 3-for-14 with a homer, two RBI, two strikeouts, and three runs scored. Rojas is 3-for-9 with two doubles and two strikeouts. Pavin Smith is 1-for-6 with a strikeout. Evan Longoria is 1-fo-5 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored.

Eleven current Giants have faced Gallen. Mike Yastrzemski has faced him 23 times, going 7-for-20 with three doubles, four RBI, two walks, seven strikeouts, a hit-by-pitch, and five runs scored. Brandon Crawford and Joc Pederson have each faced him 20 times. Crawford is 2-for-19 with a walk and four strikeouts. Pederson is 2-for-18 with two walks and six strikeouts. “Late Night” LaMonte Wade has faced him 18 times, going 1-for-15 with an RBI, a walk, seven strikeouts, a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored. Wilmer Flores is 1-for-10 with a double, an RBI, two walks, three strikeouts, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored. Thairo Estrada is 5-for-10 with a double, an RBI, a walk, three strikeouts, and a run scored. Michael Conforto is 3-for-7 with a double, a homer, three RBI, two walks, a strikeout, and three runs scored.

Other Giants to have faced Gallen are Joey Bart, 2-for-7 with three strikeouts; J.D. Davis, 0-for-3 with a strikeout; Austin Slater, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts; and David Villar, 0-for-1 with an RBI, a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice fly, and a run scored.

Game Four — Sunday, May 14

Game Four pits Giants right-hander Logan Webb (3–5, 3.46 ERA, 82 ERA-minus) against Diamondbacks rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (0–1, 12.10 ERA, 276 ERA-minus).

In Webb’s eight appearances, all starts with five as a quality start, he has struck out 55, walked eight, and has a 1.154 WHIP across 52 innings. Opponents are batting .261 against him, 10 points higher than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

In Pfaadt’s two appearances, both starts with zero quality starts, he has struck out six, walked three, and has a 1.966 WHIP across 9 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .381 against him, 130 points higher than the NL average of .251. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.

Matchups with Current Rosters

Eight current Diamondbacks have faced Webb. Josh Rojas has faced him 13 times, going 3-for-11 with a double, two RBI, a walk, three strikeouts, a sacrifice fly, and two runs scored. Christian Walker has faced him 12 times, going 4-for-11 with two doubles, a walk, and two strikeouts. Ketel Marte is 2-for-9 with a double, a homer, an RBI, two strikeouts, and a run scored. Alek Thomas is 1-for-8 with a double and two strikeouts. Other Diamondbacks to have faced Webb are Nick Ahmed, 0-for-5 with four strikeouts; Geraldo Perdomo, 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt; Jose Herrera, 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, an RBI, a sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored; and Pavin Smith, 1-for-2 with a strikeout.

No current Giants have ever faced Pfaadt in a major league game.

Reliever Comparisons

Giants

The Giants have eight relievers currently active. All pitchers are right-handed unless followed by (L). For reference, the NL average percentage in inherited runners scored is 31%, and the NL average save percentage is 64%.

Long relief

• Tristan Beck — 6 GR, 16 1/3 IP, 5 inherited runners (IR)/2 inherited runners scored (IS) (40%), 1.469 WHIP, 18.3 K%, 5.6 BB%, 4.2 HR%.

Middle relief

• Jakob Junis — 8 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 7 IR/3 IS (43%), 1.810 WHIP, 20.9 K%, 9.9 BB%, 5.5 HR%.
• Cole Waites — 2 GR, 2 IP, 0 IR/0 IS (— %), 2.500 WHIP, 18.2 K%, 9.1 BB%, 0.0 HR%.
• Scott Alexander (L) — 14 GR, 11 1/3 IP, 9 IR/0 IS (0%), 1.235 WHIP, 14.6 K%, 4.2 BB%, 2.1 HR%.
• Taylor Rogers (L) — 14 GR, 10 2/3 IP, 7 IR/2 IS (29%), 1.594 WHIP, 16.0 K%, 16.0 BB%, 4.0 HR%.

Set-up

• John Brebbia — 15 GR, 13 2/3 IP, 9 IR/5 IS (56%), 1.244 WHIP, 36.2 K%, 10.3 BB%, 1.7 HR%, 0/0 SV/OPP.
• Tyler Rogers — 15 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 0 IR/0 IS (— %), 0.927 WHIP, 22.5 K%, 7.0 BB%, 2.8 HR%, 1/3 SV/OPP.

Closer

• Camilo Doval — 16 GR, 15 2/3 IP, 10 IR/4 IS (40%), 1.085 WHIP, 33.3 K%, 12.7 BB%, 1.6 HR%, 8/9 SV/OPP.

The Giants relievers on the active roster have pitched a combined 95 games in relief (GR). Of the 95, 59 have been scoreless — 62.1%, dead last in the National League, whose active roster average is 72.8% and overall average is 69.6%. Here is the scoreless percentage (ScOtg%) for each reliever on the active roster, as of Thursday morning.

Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks have seven relievers currently active. All pitchers are right-handed unless followed by (L). Again, for reference, the NL average percentage in inherited runners scored is 31%, and the NL average save percentage is 64%. (Note: Jose Ruiz’s stats are with the Diamondbacks only.)

Long relief

None.

Middle relief

• Jose Ruiz — 10 GR, 12 IP, 2 IR/1 IS (50%), 1.000 WHIP, 27.7 K%, 2.1 BB%, 4.3 HR%.
• Kevin Ginkel — 16 GR, 16 1/3 IP, 6 IR/2 IS (33%), 1.286 WHIP, 16.2 K%, 10.3 BB%, 1.5 HR%.
• Kyle Nelson (L) — 16 GR, 14 2/3 IP, 13 IR/3 IS (23%), 1.364 WHIP, 28.1 K%, 7.8 BB%, 1.6 HR%.
• Joe Mantiply (L) — 8 GR, 7 2/3 IP, 6 IR/2 IS (33%), 0.522 WHIP, 28.6 K%, 0.0 BB%, 3.6 HR%.

Set-up

• Scott McGough — 17 GR, 16 2/3 IP, 4 IR/0 IS (0%), 1.020 WHIP, 24.2 K%, 7.6 BB%, 7.6 HR%, 1/4 SV/OPP (25%).
• Miguel Castro — 17 GR, 16 IP, 7 IR/3 IS (43%), 1.063 WHIP, 18.5 K%, 7.7 BB%, 1.5 HR%, 1/2 SV/OPP (50%).

Closer

• Andrew Chafin — 17 GR, 13 2/3 IP, 10 IR/6 IS (60%), 1.317 WHIP, 39.0 K%, 8.5 BB%, 3.4 HR%, 5/7 SV/OPP (71%).

The Diamondbacks relievers on the active roster have pitched a combined 101 games in relief (GR). Of the 101, 76 have been scoreless — 75.2%, fifth in the National League, whose active roster average is 72.8% and overall average is 69.6%. Here is the scoreless percentage (ScOtg%) for each reliever on the active roster, as of Thursday morning.

Recent History between the Diamondbacks and Giants

This is their first of 13 meetings in 2023. The Diamondbacks narrowly captured the season series from the Giants in both 2019 and 2022, 10 games to 9. However, the Giants dominated in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the Giants won eight games to the Diamondbacks’ two, while 2021 saw the Giants win 17 of the 19 games.

Diamondbacks and Giants Storylines

The Diamondbacks, currently in second place, are being held back by their starting pitching. One big concern has been innings pitched per start. Gallen has averaged around 6 1/3 innings per start, but the other starters have not lasted nearly as long. Combined, they have averaged 4.9 innings per start. Only the Cincinnati Reds (4.8) and Colorado Rockies (4.7) have fewer. This has led to a high demand on the relievers. Until the beginning of May, they managed to bend but not break. However, over the last week, their fatigue started to show, and they have hit some bumps in the road. Furthermore, the starting pitchers not named Gallen have a combined ERA of 6.00.

The Giants have won or split four of their past six series, but their record in those series has been 10–9. A series win against the Diamondbacks would likely get them past the Padres and into third place. This team ranks lower than the Diamondbacks in hitting but higher in run prevention. On paper, the Diamondbacks should take this series, since they are the better team. However, good pitching shuts down great hitting, so do not be surprised if the Giants either win or split this series. Either way, it has the makings of a close, entertaining series.

Schedules for the Rest of their Divisions

NL West Slate for the Weekend

The San Diego Padres finished their three-game road series against the Minnesota Twins Thursday afternoon, losing by the count of 5–3 to fall to 19–19 on the season. They head to Dodger Stadium for a three-game road series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (23–15), who are off on Thursday. The Colorado Rockies (16–22) are also off Thursday, heading home after a road trip to New York and Pittsburgh. They will host the Philadelphia Phillies (18–19) Friday through Sunday.

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