The Diamondbacks were demolished in the opening game against the Detroit Tigers. However, as the saying goes, momentum is only as good as the next starting pitcher. For the Diamondbacks, their next starting pitcher is the ace of their staff, Zac Gallen.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The key hallmark of an ace is a pitcher, who following a loss can put the team on his back with a quality start and stop a losing streak from growing. Gallen has followed up four losses this season and here are the numbers: 2-1, 22 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 23 strikeouts, and six walks.
He’s gone at least five innings in all four starts, allowing no more than three runs and left with a lead in three. The Diamondbacks have gone 2-2 in those starts, with both losses featuring a Scott McGough sixth-inning meltdown against the Rockies on April 8 and the Mariners on April 26.
Gallen started against Detroit on June 11 last season, allowing five runs on 10 hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Arizona came back to win that game 7-5, which finished off a three-game sweep of the Tigers at the time.
Opposing Zac Gallen is the right-hander Jack Flaherty. Flaherty appears to have found new life in Detroit, as his velocity has ticked up one MPH with excellent strikeout (32.5%) and walk (3.1%) rates. He’s been the perfect No. 2 to follow up Tarik Skubal, pitching to a 3.88 ERA and averaging more than six innings per start this season. Flaherty has a 4.71 ERA in five starts against Arizona, three coming in the 2023 season.
Starting Lineups
Game Notes
Diamondbacks
- Second baseman Ketel Marte extended his hitting streak to 16 games late in Friday’s contest, tying the longest hitting streak of his career.
- Designated hitter Joc Pederson has had the most success against Jack Flaherty, hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a double, two home runs, and a 1.257 OPS in 15 PA. Pederson has been on a home run binge of late, smoking four home runs in the last 14 days.
- Corbin Carroll’s slumping bat continues to be a problem with the Diamondbacks lineup. Carroll is hitting .100 in his last six games, and .178 in his last 12. He’s hitting .188 on the season with a .248 slugging percentage, the latter ranking dead last amongst qualified hitters according to the Diamondbacks Stats and Info X account.
[More Bad]#Dbacks OF Corbin Carroll (0 for 4, 2 K last night), has the 7th worst batting average in MLB (.188) amongst qualified hitters and [unfortunately] the worst slugging percentage in all of MLB at .248.
— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) May 18, 2024
Tigers
- Right fielder Kerry Carpenter went 3-for-3 at the plate against Zac Gallen last year.
- Carson Kelly will make his first start behind the plate against the Diamondbacks since they released him last August. Kelly is hitting .215 with a home run and a .588 OPS. This will be his 21st start behind the plate for Detroit for the 2024 season.
- With Kirk Gibson (2010-2014) working on the television broadcast and A.J. Hinch (2009-2010) currently managing the Tigers, three of the last four managers in Diamondbacks history will be at Chase Field for this weekend series. Meanwhile Chip Hale is currently leading the University of Arizona baseball program in a game against Oregon State that will decide who wins the final Pac-12 season title.
Bullpen Situation
Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks will be without Matt Bowman and Logan Allen for a couple of days, as the two had to piece together five innings Friday on 47 and 35 pitches respectively. The rest of the bullpen is rested and capable of picking up right after Zac Gallen.
Tigers
Joey Wentz pitched two innings in relief, throwing 22 pitches. He has not thrown on back-to-back days for the Tigers this season. Will Vest pitched a scoreless seventh, needing only eight pitches to complete the inning. The Tigers bullpen is in excellent shape entering the second game of the series.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
