Diamondbacks Make Trip to Atlanta to Battle the Braves

The perennial NL East leaders are a strong team once again, presenting a big challenge for Arizona.

Apr 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Blaze Alexander hits his / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Diamondbacks are in Atlanta to face the Braves for a three-game series this weekend. Arizona is coming off a 4-3 homestand to open the season. They took three of four from the Rockies, but lost two of three to the Yankees, including a 6-5 extra inning heartbreaker on Wednesday. The Braves are 3-2, taking two of three from the Phillies and then splitting two games with the White Sox. They were rained out Wednesday.

Braves Off-season Review

The Braves off-season was mostly about bolstering their pitching staff. They signed Reynaldo Lopez to a 3 year, $30 million contract and converted him back into a starter. They traded for Chris Sale, with the Red Sox picking up $17 million of Sale's contract, and then signed him to two year, $38 million extension. The Braves also traded with the White Sox for left-hand reliever Aaron Bummer, and gave contract extensions to relievers Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez. Their big position player add was to acquire change of scenery candidate Jared Kelenic from the Mariners.

Pitching Matchups

Friday 4:20 P.M. MST: Tommy Henry (LHP) 0-1, 11.25 ERA vs. Spencer Strider (RHP) 0-0, 3.60 ERA

Henry had a rough first outing against the Rockies filling in for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez. He started off well, but struggled with command starting in the second inning and then got knocked around. Lasting just four innings, he gave up five runs on six hits, two walks and a homer while striking out five. Henry is only expected to last in the rotation for as long as it takes for Rodriguez to get back sometime in late April. Henry has never faced the Braves before.

As a result of the rainout, the D-backs will now have to face Strider in game one of the series. Strider went 20-5 last year with a 3.81 ERA and led the league with 281 strikeouts in 187 innings. That season earned him an All Star appearance and a 4th place finish for the NL Cy Young. In his first outing this year he had a no decision against the Phillies, going five innings and giving up two runs on three hits, while striking out eight.

Strider is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three career starts against the D-backs. Two of those starts came last year. He beat the D-backs on June 3rd, going six innings and giving up two runs in a 5-2 Braves win at Chase Field. On July 20th in Atlanta he gave up four runs despite striking out 13 in a 7-5 Braves win.

Saturday 4:20 P.M. MST: Brandon Pfaadt (RHP) 1-0, 1.80 ERA vs. Max Fried (LHP) 0-0, 40.50 ERA

Pfaadt had a strong start this past Sunday against the Rockies, going five innings and giving up just one run on five hits and striking out six. He didn't walk a batter, but hit two batters in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out. He wiggled off the hook to complete a successful outing however.

Fried only recorded two outs in a 43-pitch first inning against the Phillies in which he gave up three runs on two hits and three walks. Considered one of the best pitchers in the league when healthy, Fried only made 14 starts in 2023. Three separate injured list stints due to finger, arm, and hamstring issues limited his season. The left-hander throws six different pitches, but his velocity was down in his first outing.

Sunday 10:35 A.M. MST: Ryne Nelson (RHP) 0-1, 13.50 ERA vs. Chris Sale (LHP) 0-0, 3.38 ERA

Nelson won the fifth starter's spot out of camp, but is likely to be replaced in the rotation after Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez join the D-backs rotation. He had a very rough start against the Yankees on Monday, struggling with command from outset. He had a 31-pitch first inning and lasted just 2.2 innings in total, giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks.

Sale pitched well in his first outing against the Phillies, getting a no-decision in an eventual Braves loss. He went 5.1 innings giving up just two runs on five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. It's still primarily a three pitch mix for Sale, with a four seamer, a slider and changeup. The fastball was up a tick from last year, back in the mid 90's for his first outing. When everything is working right for Sale, his slider is one of the most unhittable pitches in all of baseball. The issue for Sale has been health, as he's made just 32 starts since 2019.

Braves Batting

Kelenic has gotten off to a hot start with his new team, but Ozzie Albies has been doing the most damage, leading the team with six runs and seven RBI. Marcel Ozuna only has five hits, but three of them are homers. The 2023 MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. was relatively quiet through the first week of the season.

D-backs Batting

Diamondbacks Batting / Jack Sommers

The Diamondbacks starting shortstop Geraldo Perdomo is day to day with a knee injury as of this writing. If he misses any time, Blaze Alexander, the team's hottest hitter, is likely to get most of the starts at shortstop. Alexander hit his first major league home run on Wednesday and has been showing a mature approach at the plate. Ketel Marte has picked up where he left off last postseason, spraying hits all around the yard.

2023 Rookie of the year Corbin Carroll is slumping to start the season, struggling with his swing and quality contact. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. won NL Player of the Week with a hot series against the Rockies but cooled considerably against the Yankees.