The Diamondbacks’ first half of a shortened 2020: By the numbers
Aug 25, 2020, 10:26 AM
Manager Torey Lovullo #17 and David Peralta #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks congratulate Kole Calhoun #56 after a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 24, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2020 season, just like that, is half over.
The 60-game schedule this year — which came to be because of the coronavirus pandemic but also a stalemate between the players union and the league — is flying by. Last year, the Diamondbacks played their 30th game on April 30 and had another 132 to play between May 1 and Sept. 29. This year, it’s a sprint to the finish.
We picked out some trends and some eye-popping stats to take away from the D-backs through 30 games. It wasn’t easy; the D-backs’ 2020 season is probably best characterized between a flip-flopping from bad baseball to good, and back to bad again.
Here’s the 2020 season so far, by the numbers:
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BACK AND FORTH
The Diamondbacks went 3-8 to start the season, went on a 10-3 run that included a six-game winning streak, and then have since lost six in a row. With a record of 13-17, it seems like the D-backs have been more bad than good, but lofty expectations entering the season may leave a feeling that the D-backs still just need to “figure it out.”
PITCHING WOES
The D-backs’ team ERA is 5.16, which is sixth-worst in the major leagues. Their starting pitching ERA is 5.28, 24th in MLB, and their relievers are 20th with a 5.01 ERA. Stefan Crichton (1.23), Zac Gallen (2.25), Taylor Clarke (2.33), Merrill Kelly (2.59) have impressed with sub-3 ERAs, but many others have struggled mightily: Luke Weaver (7.77), Andrew Chafin (8.10), Robbie Ray (8.33), Kevin Ginkel (9.00), Madison Bumgarner (9.35) and Hector Rondon (11.57) all have huge ERAs.
D-backs pitchers have also issued 122 walks, the second-most in MLB behind the Astros’ 123 entering Tuesday.
STOLEN PROPERTY
Arizona’s opponents are averaging the third-most stolen bases per game in MLB behind only the Dodgers and Angels, per Team Rankings.
CY GALLEN
A bright spot in the D-backs’ pitching staff has certainly been Gallen, whose 2.25 ERA is 13th in MLB. He ranks ninth in the National League, while Atlanta’s Max Fried leads the way with a 1.32 mark in six starts.
MOVIN’ ON UP
The Diamondbacks’ hitting has gotten better.
Arizona’s offense was batting just .204 after eight games in July, which was fifth-worst in MLB. Since then, the D-backs have hit .255, the 10th-best team batting average in MLB in the month of August. They are, however, tied for the fewest home runs (24) among teams that have played at least 25 games this season.
KOLE “THE MACHINE” CALHOUN
Kole Calhoun’s eight home runs lead the team by a wide margin. No one else has more than three. He is tied for 16th in MLB in home runs with Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado and J.T. Realmuto.
His .842 OPS is tied for first on the team with Starling Marte.
