Everything You Need to Know About Diamondbacks Vs. Yankees Series

The red-hot AL East leaders come to town for the first time since 2019

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, March 31, 2023 / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees visit Chase Field to play the Diamondbacks for a three-game interleague series starting Monday night.  This will be the fifth time the Yankees have come to Chase Field during the regular season, most recently in 2019.

Standings

Both teams are in first place in their respective divisions. The Yankees are 4-0, and just swept the Houston Astros in Houston to start the season.  They outscored the Astros 21-11 during the series.  The Diamondbacks took three of four from the Rockies to open the season, outscoring them by 32-14. That included an Opening Day record of 14 runs in the third inning.

Head-to-Head History

The D-backs are 10-15 all time in the regular season against the Yankees, but 7-6 at Chase Field. The two teams met in a thrilling seven-game World Series in 2001 in which the Diamondbacks came out victorious, walking off Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 3-2.

Off-season Moves

The Yankees biggest move over the off-season was a trade with the San Diego Padres to acquire superstar right-fielder Juan Soto on December 7th.  Two days earlier they also made a rare trade with the Boston Red Sox, getting outfielder Alex Verdugo. On January 17th the Yankees signed free agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman.

The Diamondbacks were extremely active this off-season, trading for Eugenio Suarez (3B), and signing free agents Eduardo Rodríguez (RHP), Jordan Montgomery (LHP), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF) Joc Pederson (DH/OF), and Randall Grichuk (OF/DH).  The Diamondbacks payroll stands at approximately $170-175 million depending on the source, easily a franchise record.  The Yankees payroll is reported to be $302 million, according to Roster Resource.

Injured List

The Yankees have eight players on the injured list according to Spotrac, the biggest name being perennial Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole, who is on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury.  D.J. LeMahieu is also out with a foot injury, and reliever Tommy Kahnle has a shoulder injury.

The Diamondbacks have four players on the IL. Rodríguez is out with a left lat strain and expected to return sometime in mid-April.  Closer Paul Sewald has a Grade 2 oblique strain, and is not expected back before mid-May.  Randall Grichuk began the season on the IL while  still recovering from ankle surgery in January to remove bone spurs. He is on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Reno and is expected to return to the roster either for the Atlanta Braves series this upcoming weekend, or the Rockies series in Colorado early next week.  Drey Jameson is out for the year recovering from Tommy John Surgery. 

Newly signed Jordan Montgomery is healthy, but will pitch in Reno to get his pitch count ramped up. The team is targeting an April 19th Diamondbacks debut for the big left-hander. The Diamondbacks may have suffered another injury, with Alek Thomas coming out of Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. The elite defensive center fielder is getting imaging Monday morning to determine the extent of the injury.

Game 1 Monday, April 1, 6:40 P.M. Luis Gil, (RHP) vs. Ryne Nelson, (RHP)

Gil captured the Yankees No. 5 starter spot late in Spring Training. The 25-year-old missed all but one start in 2023 due to Tommy John Surgery. He's made seven career starts, posting a 3.78 ERA in 33.1 innings. His velocity readings in Spring Training show that he's regained all of his velocity, averaging 97 MPH on his fastball. He also throws a slider and a changeup.

Nelson appeared to have won the fifth starter's spot out of camp, based on how he was lined up to start the 5th game of the year. The recent signing of Jordan Montgomery and the imminent return of Rodríguez from the injured list could make Nelson's stint in the rotation a short one. He was 8-8 last year with a 5.31 ERA in 144 innings.

Game 2, Tuesday April 2nd, 6:40 P.M. Nestor Cortes Jr. (LHP) vs. Zac Gallen (RHP)

Cortes was the Yankees Opening Day starter by default, due to the Cole injury. He had a rough, injury-marred season in 2023. Making just 12 starts, he went 5-2 despite posting a 4.97 ERA. On Opening Day, he gave up four runs on four hits and two walks in five innings.

Zac Gallen is coming off a 3rd place finish in the 2023 Cy Young race. He threw over 240 innings last year regular season and Postseason combined for the NL Champions. On Opening Day he went five innings, giving up just one run on three hits. He was the recipient of 16 runs of support in the D-backs rout of the Rockies. The record 14-run third inning took 44 minutes to complete, perhaps leading to some diminished velocity and stuff on his fastball, which was down 2-MPH from 2023.

Game 3, Wednesday April 3rd, Carlos Rodon (LHP) vs. Merrill Kelly (RHP)

Following a strong 2022 season for the Giants, Rodon was signed by the Yankees prior to the 2023 season. He also had an injury-marred season, making just 14 starts and going 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA. Now healthy, he was effective early in his first start of the year. He went 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on five hits and three walks, while striking out four.

Merrill Kelly was masterful in his first outing, going 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on a solo homer, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out eight in a win against the Rockies.

Bullpens

Clay Holmes saved three of the four Yankees victories in Houston. He hasn't allowed a run yet despite giving up five hits and hitting a batter. Kevin Ginkel worked scoreless the ninth innings on Friday and Sunday, but neither was in a save opportunity. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

Who's Hot, Who's Not ?

Soto is 9-17, .529 with a double, a homer, and four RBI. Yankee Third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera is 7-16, .438 with a double, two homers, and six RBI. Aaron Judge is just 2-16, .125 with one RBI.

Gurriel is 8-17, .471 with two doubles, three homers and 10 RBI. Christian Walker is 5-16, .313 with a double, two homers, and five RBI. Eugenio Suárez is 6-14, .429 with a homer and four RBI. Corbin Carrol, (3-13, .231, 0 XBH) and Gabriel Moreno (2-12, .167) have yet to get going. But Carroll has drawn six walks and scored four runs, and Moreno has made his two hits count, driving in four.