{"id":5607,"date":"2023-06-02T17:50:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-03T00:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=5607"},"modified":"2023-06-02T17:50:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-03T00:50:29","slug":"diamondbacks-report-rockies-braves-20230602","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/06\/02\/diamondbacks-report-rockies-braves-20230602\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamondbacks Report: Four-Game Sweep of Rockies; Three with Braves Next"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diamondbacks Report: Four-Game Sweep of Rockies, Braves Next<\/h2>\n

PHOENIX, June 2 \u2014 The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> (34\u201323), after sweeping the Colorado Rockies<\/a> (24\u201334), are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in both the NL West and the entire NL. They will play the final three games of their ten-game homestand Friday through Sunday against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (33\u201323). This edition of Diamondbacks Report will briefly review the Rockies series before previewing the key details of the three games with the Braves.<\/p>\n

Diamondbacks \u2013 Rockies Series Summary<\/h3>\n

In Game One, the Diamondbacks rallied from an early 4\u20130 deficit, jumping on rookie Karl Kauffman<\/a><\/strong> for five runs in the second. These came via a two-run Jake McCarthy<\/a><\/strong> single and three-run Pavin Smith<\/a><\/strong> home run. They tacked on one more each in the third and fourth, taking a 7\u20134 lead they did not relinquish. Ultimately, they hung on for a 7\u20135 victory.<\/p>\n

Game Two<\/a> was the marquee pitching matchup of the series, with Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen<\/a><\/strong> facing Rockies ace Kyle Freeland<\/a><\/strong>. Gallen dominated, scattering five hits across six scoreless innings while walking two and fanning seven. Home runs by Ketel Marte<\/a><\/strong>, Evan Longoria<\/a><\/strong>, and Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong> gave the Diamondbacks four runs. A sacrifice fly by Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> gave them a fifth, making for the 5\u20131 final score.<\/p>\n

Games Three and Four<\/h4>\n

Game Three was the Tommy Henry<\/a><\/strong> show. The rookie pitched seven scoreless innings, holding the Rockies to two hits while walking two and striking out seven. Rockies starter Dinelson Lamet<\/a><\/strong>, making his first start since 2021, had an outing to forget, giving up five runs on seven hits in three innings. A Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong> solo home run in the fifth made for the final run in a 6\u20130 whitewash.<\/p>\n

The Rockies took a 3\u20130 lead into the bottom of the sixth in Game Four, but the Diamondbacks slashed it to 3\u20132 in the bottom half on a two-run Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/a><\/strong> double. Ezequiel Tovar<\/a><\/strong> homered to lead off the seventh, making the score 4\u20132. But a Ketel Marte double in the bottom of the seventh plated Emmanuel Rivera<\/a><\/strong>, cutting the deficit to 4\u20133. In the bottom of the ninth, the Diamondbacks handed Rockies closer Pierce Johnson<\/a><\/strong> his first blown save of the season, as Corbin Carroll doubled home Gabriel Moreno and Ketel Marte for a thrilling 5\u20134 win.<\/p>\n

Diamondbacks and Braves Storylines<\/h3>\n

This series needs little introduction, as the Diamondbacks and Braves own two of the three best records in the National League. However, the two teams are moving in opposite directions, as the Braves are 4\u20136 in their last 10, while the Diamondbacks are 7\u20133. Both teams will view this as a good test. It is well-timed, as it comes right after the traditional Memorial Day barometer date.<\/p>\n

Two of the leading Cy Young<\/a><\/strong> candidates will pitch in this series, Spencer Strider<\/a><\/strong> for the Braves and Zac Gallen for the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately for baseball fans, they will not face each other, however, missing it by one day. Another key player in the series is Atlanta Braves<\/a> right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.<\/a><\/strong>, who is in the NL top ten in batting average (third), on-base percentage (fifth), slugging (fourth), runs scored (second), total bases (second), and doubles (fourth). In addition, he leads the NL in stolen bases (23) and WAR (3.0). This series will also feature the runner-up in stolen bases (16), dynamic rookie Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, who is tenth in the NL in runs scored and toward the top in several advanced offensive categories.<\/p>\n

Pitching Matchups between the Diamondbacks and Braves<\/h3>\n

Game One \u2014 Friday, June 2, 6:40 pm Arizona Time<\/h4>\n

Game One is a matchup between Braves right-hander Charlie Morton<\/a><\/strong> (5\u20135, 3.59 ERA, 81 ERA-minus) and Diamondbacks righty Merrill Kelly<\/a><\/strong> (6\u20133, 2.83 ERA, 64 ERA-minus).<\/p>\n

In Morton\u2019s 10 appearances, all starts with five as a quality start, he has struck out 63, walked 24, and has a 1.474 WHIP across 57 2\/3 innings. On average, he pitches 5 2\/3 innings per start and gets about seven runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .269 against him, 17 points higher than the league average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Morton<\/td>\n1.474<\/td>\n24.5%<\/td>\n9.3%<\/td>\n2.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Kelly\u2019s 11 appearances, all starts with six as a quality start, he has struck out 69, walked 25, and has a 1.068 WHIP (seventh in the NL) across 63 2\/3 innings. On average, he pitches 5 2\/3 innings per start and gets 3.3 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .192 against him \u2014 third-lowest in the NL among qualifiers \u2014 60 points lower than the NL average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kelly<\/td>\n1.068<\/td>\n27.4%<\/td>\n9.9%<\/td>\n2.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Morton has faced the Diamondbacks 12 times in his career, all as a starter. He is 5\u20131 with a 4.01 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 29 walks, five home runs allowed, and a 1.337 WHIP across 67 1\/3 innings. Nine Diamondbacks on the active roster have faced the 39-year-old Morton, who is in his 16th big-league season. Evan Longoria is 3-for-15 (.200) with two doubles, three RBI, and five strikeouts. Ketel Marte is 2-for-7 with a homer, two RBI, two walks, and three strikeouts. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 1-for-7 with a sacrifice bunt. Nick Ahmed<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-6 with a double. Josh Rojas<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-6 with a double and three strikeouts. Pavin Smith is 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. Christian Walker is 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI. Jake McCarthy is 1-for-2 with a double, while Geraldo Perdomo<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-2.<\/p>\n

Kelly has started against the Braves three times. He is 0\u20132 with a 4.05 ERA, 20 strikeouts, four walks, three homers allowed, and a 1.100 WHIP across 20 innings. Eleven Braves on the active roster have faced Kelly. Kevin Pillar<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-13 with a double, a homer, an RBI, and three strikeouts. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. is 3-for-7. Ozzie Albies<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-5 with a homer, three RBI, and a strikeout. Austin Riley<\/a><\/strong> is 3-for-6 with a double, a homer, an RBI, and a strikeout. Orlando Arcia<\/a><\/strong> and Matt Olson<\/a><\/strong> are both 0-for-6, Arcia with a strikeout and Olson with two. Sam Hilliard<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-5 with a walk. Eddie Rosario<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-4 with two walks and a strikeout. Travis d\u2019Arnaud is 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts. Michael Harris II<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-2 with a strikeout, and Sean Murphy<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-1 with a double and a walk.<\/p>\n

Game Two \u2014 Saturday, June 3, 7:10 pm Arizona Time<\/h4>\n

Game Two features a pair of young right-handers, the mustachioed Spencer Strider (5\u20132, 2.97 ERA, 67 ERA-minus) for the Braves and Ryne Nelson<\/a><\/strong> (2\u20132, 5.37 ERA, 122 ERA-minus) for the Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n

In Strider\u2019s 11 appearances, all starts with six as a quality start, he has struck out an NL-leading 106, walked 22, and has a 0.990 WHIP across 63 2\/3 innings. On average, he pitches 5 2\/3 innings per start and gets about six runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .178 against him \u2014 lowest in the NL amongst qualifiers \u2014 74 points lower than the NL average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average. (Note: His K% is the highest in the NL among those who qualify for the ERA lead. It is 8.6 percentage points higher than the runner-up.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Strider<\/td>\n0.990<\/td>\n41.6%<\/td>\n8.6%<\/td>\n2.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Nelson\u2019s 11 appearances, all starts with three as a quality start, he has struck out 37, walked 18, and has a 1.439 WHIP across 57 innings. On average, he pitches 5 1\/3 innings per start and gets 6.5 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .291 against him, 39 points higher than the NL average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nelson<\/td>\n1.439<\/td>\n15.2%<\/td>\n7.4%<\/td>\n3.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Strider, in his second full major league season, has faced the Diamondbacks once \u2014 May 30, 2022, at Chase Field. He struggled, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and one homer, walking two and striking out seven across 4 1\/3 innings. Seven Diamondbacks on the active roster have faced Strider, and oddly enough, they each have two plate appearances against him. Both Jose Herrera<\/a><\/strong> and Pavin Smith are 1-for-2, but Smith also has a three-run homer. Ketel Marte is 1-for-1 with a walk. Jake McCarthy and Josh Rojas are both 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, while Geraldo Perdomo is 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Evan Longoria is 0-for-1 with a walk.<\/p>\n

Nelson has never faced the Braves, nor have any Braves on the active roster ever faced him.<\/p>\n

Game Three \u2014 Sunday, June 4, 1:10 pm Arizona Time<\/h4>\n

Game Three will see the Braves start right-hander Michael Soroka<\/a><\/strong> (0\u20131, 6.00 ERA, 135 ERA-minus) against Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (7\u20132, 2.72 ERA, 62 ERA-minus).<\/p>\n

Soroka will be making his second start since suffering a torn Achilles tendon mid-game on August 3, 2020. (Yes, you read that correctly. August 3, 2020.)<\/em> His first start since the injury was Monday night at the Oakland Athletics. It was not a quality start, as he allowed four runs on five hits, walking two while striking out three and surrendering a home run. This has given him a 1.167 WHIP across six innings. In that game, he received a rate of 1.5 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he was in the game. Opponents are batting .227 against him, 25 points lower than the NL average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soroka<\/td>\n1.167<\/td>\n11.5%<\/td>\n7.7%<\/td>\n3.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Zac Gallen<\/h5>\n

Gallen is tied for the NL lead in both wins (seven) and starts (twelve). All his appearances have been starts, with seven as a quality start. In the 12 starts, he has struck out 82, walked 16, and has a 1.032 WHIP across 72 2\/3 innings. On average, he pitches slightly more than six innings per start and gets about 4.9 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .218 against him \u2014 fourth-lowest in the NL among qualifiers \u2014 34 points lower than the NL average of .252. The following table compares his percentages and his WHIP to the NL average. (Note: His BB% is tied for fourth-lowest in the NL among qualifiers. In addition, his HR% is tied for the lowest in the NL.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWHIP<\/td>\nK%<\/td>\nBB%<\/td>\nHR%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gallen<\/td>\n1.032<\/td>\n28.4%<\/td>\n5.5%<\/td>\n0.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.344<\/em><\/td>\n22.4%<\/em><\/td>\n8.9%<\/em><\/td>\n3.0%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Soroka has faced the Diamondbacks twice, both as a starter. He took a no-decision in one and the loss in the other. Across the two starts, both in 2019, Soroka has allowed two runs on eight hits, walking five while striking out ten and hitting four batters. This has given him a 1.182 WHIP across 11 innings.<\/p>\n

Three Diamondbacks on the active roster have faced him: Christian Walker, Nick Ahmed, and Ketel Marte. Walker is 1-for-6 with a triple and three strikeouts. Ahmed is 0-for-1 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, while Marte is 0-for-3 with a strikeout.<\/p>\n

Gallen has faced the Braves twice, both as a starter. One of those two outings was a one-hit, seven-inning complete game shutout. That came in the first game of a double header, with the second game being Madison Bumgarner<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s seven-inning no-hitter. Across the two starts, Gallen is 2\u20130 with a 1.42 ERA, allowing two runs on eight hits with a homer, walking two and plunking one while striking out 12. This has given him a 0.947 WHIP across 12 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Eleven Braves on the active roster have faced Gallen. Sam Hilliard is 1-for-9 with a homer, an RBI, a walk, and six strikeouts. Marcell Ozuna<\/a><\/strong>, for whom Gallen was once traded, is 1-for-9 with a double and four strikeouts. Both Matt Olson and Kevin Pillar are 0-for-6 with three strikeouts. Ozzie Albies is 1-for-5 with a walk. Austin Riley is 1-for-4 with a homer, an RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. is 1-for-3 with two walks. Charlie Culberson<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout. Both Travis d\u2019Arnaud and Eddie Rosario are 1-for-3, and Michael Harris II is 0-for-2.<\/p>\n

Reliever Comparisons<\/h3>\n

Braves<\/h4>\n

The Braves have seven relievers currently active. All are right-handed unless followed by (L).<\/p>\n

Long relief<\/h5>\n