Zac Gallen and Spencer Strider Face off in Series Finale

The Diamondbacks and Braves play the finale of a three game set at Truist Park in Atlanta today at 9:20 A.M. MST, 12:20 P.M. EST. TV Channel and streaming options information can be seen HERE.

The D-backs took for the first two game of the series, winning the opener 16-13 in a thrilling slugfest. In the second game Ryne Nelson shut down the powerful Braves lineup, giving up just two runs in seven innings in a 5-3 D-backs victory.

Pitching Matchup

Fans that are able to watch this early game could be treated to a potential pitching duel today as two of the top pitchers in the National League will face each other in Zac Gallen and Spencer Strider.

Gallen's first start after the all star game was not a good one, as he struggled with walks and command, allowing three runs in five innings and walking three batters. He kept his team in the game but took the loss as the Blue Jays won 5-2. In his last start against the Braves Gallen had a no decision in a 8-5 loss, going six innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits.

Since starting the season 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his first six starts, over his next 14 games Gallen is 7-3, with a 3.57 ERA and 3.40 FIP. He has a large gap in his home and road ERA, with a 1.48 ERA at Chase Field but an unsightly 5.11 ERA on the road. His six worst starts have all been on the road as well. The MLB average starting pitcher ERA split is 4.35 at home, 4.54 on the road.

Gallen uses four pitches, a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and changeup. The fastball averages 93.6 MPH, down slightly from last year's 94.1. That velocity is only in the 35th percentile but he has a high spin rate in the 71st percentile. He gets plenty of movement and generally locates with precision, setting up his secondary pitches. His best secondary has been the changeup, which he uses the least and mostly against left-hand batters. The cutter has been his worst pitch, as he sometimes has issues locating it. When he gets too much plate with the pitch he gets hit hard. His curve has been his most frequently used secondary, but that pitch surprisingly has negative run values.

Being mentally tough may be Gallen's strongest asset. He's usually able to bear down and get outs when he gets in trouble, as evidenced by his .194 B.A against with runners in scoring position.

Strider is essentially a two pitch pitcher, with a fastball that averages 97.2 MPH and can hit 100, and one of the most devastating sliders in the game. He'll throw an occasional changeup too, but it's all about the four seam/slider combo. The radar gun readings on the fastball grab much of the attention, but it's the 56% whiff rate on the slider that allows him to rack up so many strikeouts. Not only does he lead all of MLB in K/9, (14.3) but should he maintain that rate it would set the all time major league record for the category.

Like Gallen, Strider has also not been quite as dominant as he was in April. He started the year 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his first five starts. Over his next 14 outings he was 8-3 with a 4.35 ERA, but a much lower FIP of 3.24. Unlike Gallen he has been better on the road than at home. (4.30 Home ERA, 2.94 Road ERA)

Strider doesn't walk that many batters, despite throwing so hard, but he can be homer prone at times. He faced the D-backs on June 3rd, picking up the win going six innings and giving up two runs while striking out seven. He is coming off a loss to the White Sox on July 15th however, in which he gave up five runs in six inning despite striking out 10.

Lineups

With a day game after night, Carson Kelly is back behind the plate. After starting the year 0-for-14 in his first four games back he's gone 10-for-38, .265 in his next dozen games. He has just one double and one homer however and has caught just 2-18, 11% of base stealers. Dominic Canzone gets another start at DH, and Alek Thomas gets the day off.

Ozzie Albies was a problem for Zac Gallen the last time the two met, going 3-3 with a homer.