The Diamondbacks (4-3) are going to Atlanta on their first road trip of the 2024 season to face the Braves (3-2) in a three-game series. Coming off a tough series loss to the New York Yankees, The D-Backs look to pivot against the team with the best record (104-58) in the MLB last season.
Diamondbacks Offense
The D-backs offense was simply unstoppable in the opening series against the Colorado Rockies, but during the three-game series against the Yankees, they came back to Earth. After winning NL Player of the Week, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 0 for 13 in the series. The 2023 Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll is off to a slow start in 2024 and has struggled to make quality contact with the ball, but there is little to worry about with a player like him. Geraldo Perdomo, the starting shortstop for the Diamondbacks, is now listed as day-to-day due to a knee ailment. Blaze Alexander will likely have to start most of the games at shortstop if he misses any time. Alexander has been displaying a veteran-like approach at the plate and hit his first major league home run on Wednesday. Ketel Marte has been the team’s most consistent bat, dating back to last year’s postseason when he built a post-season record-breaking eighteen-game hitting streak.
Braves Offense
The 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. has been relatively quiet through the first week of play, but a hitter like him can do damage at any given moment. Ozzie Albies has been the offense’s leader, with six runs scored and seven RBIs. The former Mariner Jarred Kelenic has found his stride with his new club. He has a .545 BA and a 1.252 OPS. Marcell Ozuna leads the team in home runs, with three of his five hits resulting in homers.
Probable Starters
Friday 4/5 4:20 P.M. MST: Tommy Henry (ARI) 0-1, 11.25 ERA vs. Spencer Strider (ATL) 0-0, 3.60 ERA
Tommy Henry got roughed up in his first outing against the Colorado Rockies. Through the first inning, Henry looked great, but the left-hander started to leek oil in the second inning as he struggled with the command of his pitches and got hit around, lasting only four innings. He gave up five runs and six hits, walked two batters, and struck out five. It will be Henry’s first time pitching against the Braves, and with a line-up as scary as theirs, Henry needs to be ready for a battle.
Due to a rainout in Chicago, the D-backs will have to face Spencer Strider in game one of the series. With 281 strikeouts in 187 innings, Strider led the league and finished with a 20-5 record and a 3.81 ERA in 2023. He finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting and was named an All-Star that season. Against the Phillies in his first appearance of the season, he went five innings, gave up two runs on three hits, and struck out eight in a no-decision. Strider has faced the D-backs thrice in his career and is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA.
Saturday 4/6 4:20 P.M. MST: Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) 1-0, 1.80 ERA vs. Max Fried (ATL) 0-0, 40.50 ERA
This past Sunday, Pfaadt pitched well against the Rockies, lasting five innings while striking out six and allowing only a single run on five hits. After a dominant showing in last year’s playoffs, Pfaadt has emerged as one of the most promising young players for the Snakes this season and is ready for any challenge he will face.
In a 43-pitch first inning against the Phillies, Max Fried gave up three runs on two hits and three walks while only recording two outs. Though the lefty only made 14 starts in 2023, he is recognized as one of the league’s greatest pitchers when healthy. Due to hamstring, arm, and finger problems, he had three different stays on the injured list that ended his season. The D-backs have a right-hand dominant line-up, so he must bring his best stuff this outing.
Sunday 4/7 10:35 A.M. MST: Ryne Nelson (ARI) 0-1, 13.50 ERA vs. Chris Sale (ATL) 0-0, 3.38 ERA
Ryne Nelson struggled with command in his first outing of the season on Monday against the Yankees. His velocity was up to 98mph on the fastball, but it wasn’t near the strike zone most of the time. He lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks after a 31-pitch first inning. Nelson was excellent in Spring Training and won the 5th rotation spot when Eduardo Rodriguez went to the IL before the season started. Hopefully, he can bounce back in the matinee in Truist Park.
