Diamondbacks at Padres August 17th Game Preview

Zac Gallen continues his Cy Young caliber season in a must-win game for the D-backs as they take on San Diego to start a four-game series
Diamondbacks at Padres August 17th Game Preview
Diamondbacks at Padres August 17th Game Preview /

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in San Diego after a successful three-game series against the Rockies in which they took two of three games. This is a crucial four-game series versus the Padres as both teams look to gain ground in the Wild Card race. The D-backs are currently 1.5 games behind the Cubs for the third spot while the Padres are 4.5 games back. This is Arizona's second visit to Petco Park this season and first since April 3rd and 4th. It was a quick two-game series that they split, though if you recall, the team was ahead in the bottom of the ninth before the Padres walked off on Scott McGough.

Arizona comes in on a roll winning four of their last five games and looking to re-establish themselves after their miserable nine-game losing streak. San Diego had lost seven of their last eight entering Tuesday but then rattled off two big wins over the Orioles. They know they're fighting for their playoff lives and are doing everything they can to win. The two teams did just face each other last weekend in Arizona with the D-backs taking two out of three.

The Padres are a far more formidable team at home versus on the road. At home, the Friars are 32-29 versus a 26-34 road record. They average 4.54 runs at home and hold the season series right now against the Diamondbacks with a 5-4 record. That could be crucial as the tiebreaker record against each other could come into play should they both tie for a Wild Card spot. The D-backs on the other hand have been a far better road team than a home team. At least that was the case until their nine-game losing streak that nearly was entirely on the road. So far, they are 31-29 on the road and average 5.1 runs per game. They are going to need the offense to carry their hot streak from Coors Field to Petco Park to win this series.

The Diamondbacks made a roster move today, optioning Luis Frias for Justin Martinez. This was expected as Frias struggled mightily in Colorado and the entire bullpen was exhausted. Frias had been doing good but in Colorado, he had zero command of any of his pitches. It could've been due to the elevation, but he also had options remaining. In comes Martinez, the flamethrowing reliever who has had many issues with command. However, Since going back to Reno in late July, he's had a lot better command.

In 9 innings, he has 12 walks and 14 strikeouts but has only walked a batter three times over his last five innings. Martinez will look to keep that going in the MLB and improve upon his ghastly 18.90 ERA over just 3.1 innings. He's given up seven runs, walked five, and struck out four. He's mostly here to just provide some velocity and a fresh arm tonight out in the tired bullpen.

Pitching Matchup

Zac Gallen, 12-5, 3.24 ERA, 165 strikeouts in 155.2 IP, is on the mound tonight. The Arizona Diamondbacks have their ace and All-Star to start the four-game series. The potential CY Young pitcher is coming off one of his best outings of the season last Saturday versus these very same Padres. He twirled six innings of shut-out ball with eight strikeouts and one walk. After encountering severe home run issues, Gallen hasn't given up a home run over his last two outings spanning 13 innings in which he's only given up two runs and struck out 16.

He's had a rough go of getting wins of late with only one decision in his favor since July 7th, but he's yet to miss a start this season. Gallen's having a truly dominant season. Gallen is third in pitching WAR (3.5), fourth in ERA (3.24), tied for first in wins, WHIP (1.066), and is second in FIP with a 3.07. He's fourth in Adjusted ERA+ (132), third in strikeouts and innings pitched, 10th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.54), and in hits allowed per nine innings (7.747). 

In his career versus the Padres, Gallen is 3-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 11 games and 62 innings. He's thrown 65 strikeouts to only 26 walks and given up 50 hits. At Petco Park, he's thrown 20.2 innings and has a 3.48 ERA with 23 strikeouts, 12 walks, and 19 hits given up. Thus, it shouldn't be a surprise that the San Diego hitters know him well. Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, and Fernado Tatis Jr. all have faced Gallen at least 15 times each hitting at least .273 against him. However, Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, and Ha-Seong Kim each have at least 14 at-bats and none of them have hit better than .214.

Rich Hill, 7-12, 5.17 ERA, 112 strikeouts in 125.1 innings is on the mound for the Padres tonight. Hill started the season with the Pirates, but he was traded at the trade deadline to the Padres. He's only made two starts with San Diego and has gone 0-2 with just 6.1 innings. Over that span, he gave up 11 hits, nine runs, two walks, struck out eight, and allowed three home runs which equate to a miserable 12.79 ERA.

However, this will be the third time the Diamondbacks will have faced him this year. His last start was against the Snakes on Saturday, so this is a rematch between him and Gallen, and he allowed seven hits, three runs, a walk and struck out four over just 3.1 innings. Back on July 7th, with the Pirates, Hill went just four innings and gave up seven hits, five runs, walked four, and struck out three. Suffice it to say, he hasn't done great versus the D-backs so far.

Corbin Carroll has two hits in five at-bats, Ketel Marte is hitting .286 over 14 at-bats,  and Christian Walker, Tommy Pham, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. all have a home run and at least two RBI against Hill.

Lineups

Dbacks lineup on August 17th, 2023
Jake Oliver

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is out of the lineup due to a left hip contusion. He was removed yesterday from the game and is day-to-day with it. That's unfortunate because he's done well against Rich Hill. The same is true for Ketel Marte who is also out due to just load management and getting a rest day. Christian Walker will look to stay hot and continue his home run streak. He's hit four over the last three games and was pivotal in the win yesterday. Buddy Kennedy gets another day versus a left-handed pitcher as does Kyle Lewis who had two hits yesterday. Tommy Pham is set up to continue his recent streak of hitting for doubles.

The Padres are sending out a lineup that is usual for them. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado are going to try to stay hot. This is a similar lineup that Gallen faced on Saturday, so hopefully, it will be a good matchup for him once again.

Bullpens

The Diamondbacks have a beleaguered and tired bullpen. Eight of their pitchers have pitched over the last three days, which makes sense considering they have had two bullpen games in a row mostly, even though Slade Cecconi started yesterday, he only went four innings. One has to think Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel, Manager Torey Lovullo's two best weapons, are shut down today having pitched four of the last five days. Kyle Nelson, Miguel Castro, Joe Mantiply, Luis Frias, and Tyler Gilbert all have pitched two of the last three days. The lone refreshed arm in the bullpen is Scott McGough who pitched just once in the last three days.

The San Diego Padres have a well-rested bullpen. They only used one pitcher, Luis Garcia, more than once over the last three days. All of their weapons like Josh Hader, Scott Barlow, Nick Martinez, and others are available and ready to go.


Published
Jake Oliver
JAKE OLIVER

Jake Oliver is a Baseball Reporter for Arizona Diamondbacks On SI. He is the site's prospects writer and an editor. He is the former site expert of Venom Strikes and has been featured on numerous websites and podcasts. Jake has been a reporter for four years. He holds a degree from Paradise Valley Community College and lives in Arizona. Follow him on X for breaking news and more coverage @DarthDbacks