{"id":6179,"date":"2023-06-19T16:18:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T23:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=6179"},"modified":"2023-06-19T16:18:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T23:18:41","slug":"diamondbacks-report-guardians-brewers-20230619","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/06\/19\/diamondbacks-report-guardians-brewers-20230619\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamondbacks Report: Two of Three from Guardians; Three with Brewers Next"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diamondbacks Report: Two from Guardians, Brewers Next<\/h2>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> (43\u201329), after winning two of three against the Cleveland Guardians<\/a> (33\u201338), hold a three-and-a-half-game lead over the San Francisco Giants<\/a> (39\u201332) for the NL West lead and trail the Atlanta Braves<\/a> (46\u201326) by three games for the NL\u2019s best record. They open a seven-game road trip Monday with three games against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> (37\u201334). This edition of Diamondbacks Report will briefly review the Guardians series before previewing the key details of the three games with the Brewers.<\/p>\n

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

The Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak in Game One<\/a>, a comfortable 5\u20131 victory. Zac Gallen<\/a><\/strong> appeared to be back in form, allowing one run on six hits across seven innings. His only blemish was a Jose Ramirez<\/a><\/strong> solo home run in the top of the fourth.<\/p>\n

Game Two<\/a> saw Diamondbacks lefty Tommy Henry<\/a><\/strong> match Guardians ace Shane Bieber<\/a><\/strong> blow for blow. In the bottom of the eighth, the Diamondbacks snapped a 2\u20132 tie with a pair of home runs off Bieber, one solo shot and one two-run blast. Another solo homer off reliever Nick Sandlin<\/a><\/strong> finalized the score at 6\u20132. Interestingly, the three homers in the inning were hit by the three Diamondbacks outfielders in that game \u2014 Jake McCarthy<\/a><\/strong>, Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong>, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Game Three<\/a> was an absolute thrashing. The Guardians teed off on Zach Davies<\/a><\/strong>, chasing him from the game with two outs in the fourth as they scored nine off him and three off reliever Jose Ruiz<\/a><\/strong> en route to a 12\u20133 win. It was a big day for Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor<\/a><\/strong>, who went 4-for-5 with a double, and Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong>, who continued his hot streak by going 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, and three RBI.<\/p>\n

Diamondbacks and Brewers Storylines<\/h3>\n

The Diamondbacks have lost four of their last six after winning 21 of 28. Included in that 21-of-28 span are two separate six-game winning streaks and one four-game winning streak. They hit the road for a seven-game trip that touches both coasts without any off-days. After the Monday\u2013Wednesday Milwaukee series, they fly east for a makeup game in Washington on Thursday afternoon before a three-gamer in San Francisco starting Friday night. Christian Walker remains hot, but their big catalyst is outfielder Corbin Carroll, the runaway favorite for NL Rookie of the Year. Carroll leads the NL in OPS (.975) and is fourth in the majors in wRAA (21.7) behind Shohei Ohtani<\/a><\/strong>, Ronald Acuna Jr.<\/a><\/strong>, and Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong>. (wRAA shows how many more runs the player\u2019s team scored with him in the lineup instead of the average hitter in the league based on certain key offensive statistics.)<\/p>\n

The Brewers come in on the heels of a three-game sweep over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a>, which not only knocked the Pirates from first to third place but also put them below .500. This sweep snapped a six-game losing streak for the Brewers. Prior to the losing streak, the Brewers had won five of six. Needless to say, this is a streaky team. But they now find themselves having to hold off the surging Cincinnati Reds<\/a>, winners of eight in a row and 11 out of 13. A series win for the Brewers here, especially against a division leader, will give them a nice boost going into a ten-game road trip to Cleveland, New York (against the Mets<\/a>), and Pittsburgh. They\u2019ll have to rely on pitching and their outstanding fielding to do so, given how low they rank in just about every relevant offensive category.<\/p>\n

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

Game One \u2014 Monday, June 19, 5:10 pm Arizona Time \/ 7:10 pm Central Time<\/h4>\n

Game One matches Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes<\/a><\/strong> (5\u20134, 3.44 ERA, 79 ERA-minus) with Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly<\/a><\/strong> (8\u20133, 3.04 ERA, 69 ERA-minus).<\/p>\n

Burnes features a six-pitch mix \u2014 a cutter, curveball, changeup, sinker, slider, and four-seam fastball. He has thrown the cutter 53% of the time, curveball 17%, changeup 13%, sinker 9%, slider 8%, and four-seamer less than 1% on the season thus far.<\/p>\n

In Burnes\u2019 14 appearances, all starts with nine as a quality start (64%), he has struck out 83, walked 29, and has a 1.100 WHIP across 83 2\/3 innings. On average, he pitches six innings per start and gets about 5.1 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .207 against him, 45 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
Burnes<\/td>\n1.100<\/td>\n24.3%<\/td>\n8.5%<\/td>\n3.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Merrill Kelly<\/h5>\n

Kelly has six pitches as well \u2014 a four-seamer, changeup, cutter, curveball, sinker, and slider. Kelly has thrown the four-seamer 25% of the time, changeup 24%, cutter 20%, curveball 14%, sinker 13%, and slider 5% so far in 2023.<\/p>\n

In Kelly\u2019s 14 appearances, all starts with nine as a quality start (64%), he has struck out 89, walked 34, and has a 1.108 WHIP across 83 innings. On average, he pitches slightly under six innings per start and gets about 3.8 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .198 against him, 54 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>\n1.108<\/td>\n26.9%<\/td>\n10.3%<\/td>\n2.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Burnes has faced the Diamondbacks four times in his career, all as a starter. He has gone 2\u20130 with a 1.90 ERA, 31 strikeouts, three walks, one home run, and a 0.718 WHIP across 23 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Thirteen Diamondbacks on the active roster have faced Burnes. Ketel Marte<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout. Corbin Carroll, Evan Longoria<\/a><\/strong>, and Christian Walker are all 1-for-7, Carroll with an RBI and three strikeouts, Walker with a strikeout, and Longoria with a homer, two RBI, and two strikeouts. Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-6 with a strikeout. Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-6. Geraldo Perdomo<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-5 with two strikeouts. Jake McCarthy is 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Carson Kelly<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Nick Ahmed<\/a><\/strong> and Emmanuel Rivera<\/a><\/strong> are both 0-for-3, Ahmed with three strikeouts and Rivera with one. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 1-for-2 with a double and a strikeout.<\/p>\n

Kelly has faced the Brewers seven times in his career, all as a starter. He has gone 2\u20132 with a 3.32 ERA, 41 strikeouts, 12 walks, a hit batsman, four homers, and a 0.992 WHIP across 43 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Ten Brewers on the active roster have faced Kelly. Christian Yelich<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-17 with three walks and nine strikeouts. Raimel Tapia<\/a><\/strong> is 7-for-15 with a double and three RBI. Willy Adames<\/a><\/strong> is 6-for-14 with two homers, three RBI, a walk, and four strikeouts. Luis Urias<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-12 with four strikeouts. Rowdy Tellez<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-11 with a walk and a strikeout. Brian Anderson<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-8 with a homer, two RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Victor Caratini<\/a><\/strong> is 2-for-7 with a double and a hit-by-pitch. William Contreras<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-5 with a strikeout. Jesse Winker<\/a><\/strong> is 1-for-3 with an RBI triple. Joey Wiemer<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-1 with a walk.<\/p>\n

Game Two \u2014 Tuesday, June 20, 5:10 pm Arizona Time \/ 7:10 pm Central Time<\/h4>\n

Game Two features Brewers right-hander Colin Rea<\/a><\/strong> (3\u20134, 4.71 ERA, 108 ERA-minus) and Diamondbacks righty Ryne Nelson<\/a><\/strong> (3\u20134, 5.30 ERA, 120 ERA-minus).<\/p>\n

Rea is another six-pitch pitcher. He has a sinker, cutter, four-seamer, slider, curveball, and splitter. He has thrown the sinker 27% of the time, cutter 23%, four-seamer 22%, slider 10%, curveball 10%, and splitter 8% in 2023.<\/p>\n

In Rea\u2019s 12 appearances, 11 starts with one as a quality start (9%), he has struck out 52, walked 22, and has a 1.256 WHIP across 57 1\/3 innings. On average, he pitches slightly under 5 1\/3 innings per start and gets about 6.4 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .236 against him, 16 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
Rea<\/td>\n1.256<\/td>\n21.6%<\/td>\n9.1%<\/td>\n3.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Ryne Nelson<\/h5>\n

Nelson has four pitches in his bag of tricks \u2014 a four-seamer, slider, changeup, and curveball. He has used the fastball 55% of the time in 2023, along with the slider 27%, changeup 12%, and curveball 6%.<\/p>\n

In Nelson\u2019s 14 appearances, all starts with three as a quality start (21%), he has struck out 46, walked 26, and has a 1.542 WHIP across 71 1\/3 innings. On average, he pitches slightly more than five innings per start and gets about 6.3 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .300 against him, 48 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>\n1.542<\/td>\n14.7%<\/td>\n8.3%<\/td>\n2.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Nelson has never faced the Brewers nor anyone on their active roster in his career.<\/p>\n

Colin Rea has faced the Diamondbacks once, a start on July 6, 2016 while with the San Diego Padres<\/a>. Rea allowed four runs on eight hits, including a homer, with three walks, four strikeouts, and a hit batsman across 4 2\/3 innings. The Padres won that game, 13\u20136, with Rea receiving no decision. Only one Diamondback on the active roster has ever faced Rea \u2014 Nick Ahmed, who is 1-for-2 with a walk.<\/p>\n

Game Three \u2014 Wednesday, June 21, 11:10 am Arizona Time \/ 1:10 pm Central Time<\/h4>\n

Game Three pairs Brewers righty Julio Teheran<\/a><\/strong> (2\u20132, 1.78 ERA, 41 ERA-minus) and Diamondbacks ace right-hander Zac Gallen (8\u20132, 2.96 ERA, 67 ERA-minus).<\/p>\n

Teheran, who signed with the Brewers May 25 after being released the previous day by the Padres, has five pitches in his arsenal \u2014 a sinker, cutter, four-seamer, slider, and changeup. He has thrown 37% sinkers, 28% cutters, 12% four-seamers, 12% sliders, and 11% changeups.<\/p>\n

In Teheran\u2019s five appearances, all starts with four as a quality start (80%), he has struck out 20, walked four, and has a 0.824 WHIP across 30 1\/3 innings. On average, he pitches slightly over six innings per start and gets about 1.7 runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .202 against him, 50 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
Teheran<\/td>\n0.824<\/td>\n18.2%<\/td>\n3.6%<\/td>\n2.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Zac Gallen<\/h5>\n

Gallen has five pitches on the menu \u2014 four-seamer, curveball, changeup, cutter, and slider. He throws 45% four-seamers, 26% curveballs, 14% changeups, 7% cutters, and 7% sliders.<\/p>\n

In Gallen\u2019s 15 appearances, all starts with nine as a quality start (60%), he has struck out 100, walked 19, and has a 1.128 WHIP across 91 1\/3 innings. On average, he pitches slightly over six innings per start and gets about five runs of support per nine innings from his team while he\u2019s in the game. Opponents are batting .241 against him, 11 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
Gallen<\/td>\n1.128<\/td>\n27.0%<\/td>\n5.1%<\/td>\n1.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NL Average<\/em><\/td>\n1.343<\/em><\/td>\n22.3%<\/em><\/td>\n8.8%<\/em><\/td>\n3.1%<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Matchups with Current Rosters<\/h5>\n

Teheran has faced the Diamondbacks 11 times, all starts. He is 4\u20131 with a 2.98 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 18 walks, seven homers, two hit batsmen, and a 1.177 WHIP across 60 1\/3 innings. Seven Diamondbacks on the active roster have faced him. Ketel Marte is 1-for-8 with a double, a walk, and two strikeouts. Nick Ahmed is 1-for-6 with a double, a walk, and two strikeouts. Evan Longoria is 1-for-6 with a double, an RBI, and two strikeouts. Christian Walker is 0-for-2 with two walks. Carson Kelly is 1-for-1 with a homer and RBI, while Pavin Smith<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-1.<\/p>\n

Gallen has faced the Brewers five times, all starts. He is 2\u20133 with a 1.86 ERA, 40 strikeouts, seven walks, five homers, a hit batsman, and a 0.897 WHIP across 29 innings. Eleven Brewers on the active roster have faced him. Raimel Tapia is 9-for-16 with an RBI. Christian Yelich is 3-for-11 with a double and six strikeouts. Luis Urias is 2-for-8 with a double, a homer, two RBI, and three strikeouts. Willy Adames is 0-for-8 with a strikeout. Brian Anderson and Rowdy Tellez are both 1-for-6, Anderson with three strikeouts and Tellez with two. Victor Caratini is 1-for-5. William Contreras is 1-for-3 with a strikeout. Jesse Winker is 1-for-2 with a walk. Owen Miller<\/a><\/strong> is 0-for-2 with a strikeout and hit-by-pitch, while Joey Wiemer is 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.<\/p>\n

Reliever Comparisons<\/h3>\n

The Brewers enter this series with the highest ranked relief corps in both the NL and the majors, while the Diamondbacks are fifth in the NL and 11th in the majors. (Active roster only)<\/p>\n

Brewers<\/h4>\n

The Brewers have eight relievers currently active. All pitchers are right-handed unless followed by (L). For reference, the league-wide NL save percentage is 65%.<\/p>\n

Long relief<\/h5>\n