Diamondbacks Try to Salvage a Split Behind Zach Davies

The Diamondbacks will try to salvage a split of the opening four game series against the Dodgers today. Game time is 1:10 P.M. PST/MST.

Television: AZ: BSAZX LAD: SNLA

Radio: AZ: 98.7 FM KHOV LAD: KTNQ 570

The D-backs have been outscored by the Dodgers 19-5 in their first three games. They lost the opener 8-2, and last night were hammered 10-1. In between they won 2-1 on a late homer by Kyle Lewis. In all three of the games the starting pitcher failed to get past the fifth inning. Zac Gallen went 4 2/3 on opening night, giving up five runs. Merrill Kelly threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday night, but had to be removed early due to pitch count concerns. Kelly was not able to get fully stretched out during spring training due to World Baseball Classic participation. Madison Bumgarner lasted just four innings last night, giving up five runs in the first inning.

Just three games into the season, and the bullpen is already stressed. They've thrown 12 2/3 innings and faced 29 batters, which is the second most in MLB in both categories. Long man Drey Jameson had to throw four innings and 66 pitches and is not available for at least a couple more days.

Zach Davies gets the ball today and will have a lot of pressure on him to at least complete five and hopefully even six innings. The odds of that happening may not be in the team's favor. He only threw 7 2/3 innings in Cactus League games and like Gallen and Bumgarner, got in much of his work on the back fields trying to get stretched out for the season. That strategy has not seemed to work out as none of the previous starters for Arizona has looked completely ready to get into the sixth inning.

Last year Davies completed six innings or more just five times in 27 starts, pitching into the sixth an additional five times but removed mid inning. With his 2-5 record, he set a record for fewest decisions by a starter with at least 24 starts or more in a season. On the plus side, his ERA was a respectable 4.09, which is not bad for a 4th or 5th starter. He gave up three runs or fewer in 20 of his 27 starts, and was the victim of some bad luck to end up with so few decisions. The team brought him back on a one year deal with an option to provide some depth as they did not want to be overly dependent on rookie starting pitchers should there be an injury.

After today's game, the team will travel down the I-5 to face the San Diego Padres juggernaut lineup on Monday and Tuesday. Opening the season with six straight games and no off day in between against very tough lineups is exposing the Diamondbacks pitching dilemmas right out of the gate.

The Dodgers will counter with Noah Syndergaard. Last year he was 10-10 with a 3.94 ERA splitting time between the Angels and the Phillies. No longer the flame thrower he was in his younger days, the 30-year-old right-hander missed all of 2020 and most of 2021 due to Tommy John Surgery. When he returned his velocity had dropped from 98-99 pre-surgery to about 93-94 last year. That resulted in his strikeouts per nine innings going from 9.7 through his first six years to just 6.3 last year.

Syndergaard now utilizes a five-pitch arsenal, using his sinker, slider and changeup almost equally while mixing in some four seamers and curveballs.

LINEUPS

The D-backs are back again with their left-handed speed lineup. They have not been able to take advantage of their youth and speed so far in these first three games. You can't steal first base, and the team has drawn just one walk so far in the series. As a result, they have yet to attempt even a stolen base in this young season. This is not what was envisioned for a supposed young athletic team poised to take advantage of MLB's new rules.

Jose Herrera gets his first start of the season, as Gabriel Moreno had caught each of the first three games. The only hitter in the lineup that has ever faced Syndergaard is Ketel Marte, and he has just one at bat against him.

Last night's Dodger Hero Trayce Thompson, who hit three homers against three different pitchers and drove in eight runs, is batting 6th. He is 3-8 with two homers in his career against Davies. Will Smith is 5-12 with two homers against Davies as well.

A bit of late-breaking news before the game, as manager Torey Lovullo revealed that Madison Bumgarner was sent back to Phoenix to be evaluated after complaining of arm fatigue last night. The veteran left-hander's fastball was down 2 MPH compared to his 2022 average and was talking with head trainer Ryan DiPanfilo after the second inning. Bumgarner believes this will not affect his next start against the Dodgers on Thursday.

Madison Bumgarner has been sent back to Arizona to be evaluated by the club’s medical team after saying he was fatigued in last night’s start, manager Torey Lovullo said.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 2, 2023

Lovullo clarified that he was sent back for tests on his arm. Bumgarner was feeling “arm fatigue,” the manager said.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 2, 2023