Tommy Henry to Begin Braves Series Against Spencer Strider

The D-backs will have a challenge ahead of them in the form of Atlanta's ace today.

March 30, 2024; Phoenix, Ariz; U.S.; Diamondbacks Tommy Henry (47) pitches against the Rockies / Patrick Breen / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Diamondbacks are on the road for the first time in 2024, this time facing the NL juggernaut Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. First pitch is at 4:20 PM MST.

Arizona had looked to avoid the Braves' high-velocity right-handed ace in Spencer Strider, but, due to inclement weather, Atlanta's matchup with the Chicago White Sox was postponed until later in the season, allowing Strider to get the start in game one of the D-backs series.

Strider, ever the strikeout machine, has racked up 27 strikeouts in his three career starts against the D-backs. That said, Arizona has still been able to touch up the young right-hander, forcing a 4.96 ERA in those starts. The most recent meeting saw Strider picking up 13 strikeouts over six innings, although the D-backs crushed two home runs and scored four against the Braves' ace.

Today's game will be the biggest pitching mismatch in favor of a D-backs opponent thus far, as young left-hander Tommy Henry will get the start for Arizona. This will be Henry's first start against Atlanta, but his 2024 season debut was one of his rougher career outings. Henry allowed six hits, two walks and five runs in just four-plus innings against a low-tier opponent in the Colorado Rockies. Although he looked sharp in his first couple innings, his control began to deteriorate quickly and he currently holds a one-start sample of an 11.25 ERA.

D-backs @ Braves lineups / Alex D'Agostino

The D-backs will face a tough lineup from the Braves, with sluggers littering the order. Atlanta's top four is particularly deadly, but this team can do damage from pretty much anywhere in the order, regardless of the opposing pitcher. Henry will have a tough challenge ahead of him, with seven of the nine Braves hitters being either right-handed bats or switch-hitters.

The D-backs lineup features little surprise in the top half of the order, with Ketel Marte leading off ahead of Corbin Carroll, and Joc Pederson being the left-handed DH to combat Strider. Jake McCarthy will get the start in center field, but the most noteworthy lineup anomaly comes at the shortstop position.

With the D-backs staring down a positional dilemma, Arizona is choosing to remove Blaze Alexander against a tough right-handed in favor of left-handed hitting infielder Jace Peterson. This will be Peterson's first regular season start at shortstop for Arizona. Peterson had been in the mix of the backup shortstop battle in Spring Training, but was never considered a frontrunner for the role. The lefty bat is a career one-for-one with a single against Strider.

The D-backs will have their work cut out for them against a team that won 104 games last season. 2023 gave us a beauty of a season series between these two teams, ending with a split 3-3 between two series. Nearly every contest between the two 2023 NL playoff teams came down to the wire, with multiple instant classics. If last season is anything to go off of, we're in for a high-energy set of games, regardless of the outcome.