D-backs Send Gallen to Secure Series Win vs. Braves

The Diamondbacks (35-24) biggest test of the season comes today. After splitting the first two games of the series, they have an opportunity to pick up a series win against the first place Atlanta Braves (34-24). A win today would be a statement to the baseball world that this team is a bonafide contender. They couldn't have picked a better pitcher to send to the mound for a potential statement game than their ace, Zac Gallen.

Lineups

The D-backs will need to contain Ronald Acuña Jr. today. In the first game of the series they were able to keep him off the bases, but in the second game had that MVP level of impact.

The D-backs have struggled to capitalize on run-scoring opportunities since the start of May, but they will need to reverse that trend today. Arizona is 1-for-14 in this series with runners in scoring position, which came back to rear its ugly head last night as they struck out looking twice with the bases loaded in the se

Pitching Matchups

Zac Gallen is having another All-Star caliber season on the mound. At Chase Field, he is especially stingy with a 0.66 ERA (three earned runs in 41 innings) and a 0.73 WHIP. Last time out he kept the Rockies scoreless for six innings, looking particularly dominant in the final three innings where he struck out six, in a 5-1 win. Gallen is averaging six innings a start with a 2.72 ERA and a 5.13 strikeout to walk ratio.

Once one of the game's best young pitchers, Michael Soroka had struggled with injuries the past three seasons. A string of right achilles injuries kept Soroka shelved for all of the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but appeared to be making a comeback before a hamstring issue occurred in Spring Training. The Braves optioned him to Triple-A to begin the season, making eight starts in Gwinnett before being added back to the Braves rotation on May 29th. In his first major league start since the 2020 season, Soroka allowed four runs in six innings in a 7-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.