Diamondbacks Try to Salvage Split Vs. Phillies

The Diamondbacks will be looking to salvage a split in their four game series against the Phillies. Game time is 12:40, Arizona Time, 3:40 EST. The D-backs took the opener of the, but have dropped the last two games. With a 41-27 record they still maintain a three game lead over the slumping Dodgers in the NL West and a five game lead over the surging Giants. The Phillies meanwhile have gone 9-2 in their last 11 games to climb back to .500 at 34-34. They are just 2.0 games back in the NL wild card race, but 8.0 games back of the Braves and in 3rd place in the NL East.

Pitching Matchup

Aaron Nola has been one of the top starters in MLB over the last five years, usually in the CY Young discussion and twice finishing in the top five. 2023 has been an up and down struggle for him however. In his most recent start he took the loss, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings. All season long he has alternated good starts with bad starts, resulting in his 5-5 record. The Phillies are 6-8 in games he's started.

There is no obvious degradation in his five pitch arsenal of 4-Seam fastball, Sinker, Cutter, Changeup and his trade mark Curveball. But his strike outs are down from 10.3/9 to 8.6, and he's allowed 14 homers, (1.4/9)

Ryne Nelson is a rookie trying to establish consistency. He is coming off one of his best outings when he threw 5.2 scoreless innings against Detroit, picking up a win. He faced the Phillies on May 23rd and that was also one of his best games this year. He allowed one run in six innings in a no decision.

Nelson has one of the lowest strikeout rates among starting pitchers in MLB, and has a very large platoon split. Against right hand batters he's allowed a .253 average and .670 OPS. But left hand batters have crushed him to the tune of .330 average and .996 OPS. Fastball location and inconsistency with the curve and change up have been the main issues. He is a rookie however and trying to figure it out. With past success against the Phillies and coming off a good outing another good game will go a long way to helping him gain some solid footing.

Lineups

J.T. Realmuto is getting a rare day off after catching three straight nights. The Phillies have loaded up with six left handed bats in an attempt to take advantage of Nelson's splits.

Ketel Marte is back in the starting lineup, as are Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno. Jake McCarthy had a homer, a triple, and five RBI in three trips to the plate against Nola on August 30th of last year.