The D-backs since the All-Star break: By the numbers
Aug 7, 2017, 5:00 PM | Updated: Aug 8, 2017, 11:28 am
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker delivers against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of baseball game on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
(AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
The Diamondbacks have patched together a 10-12 record following the All-Star break.
A combination of injuries, specifically to pitcher Robbie Ray, and slumping bats have contributed to the down-turn, but Arizona remains in the thick of the National League Wild Card race.
Things will need to improve for the upcoming homestand and beyond.
The D-backs face the playoff contenders in the Dodgers, Cubs and Astros at home before again facing Houston on the road. Before Arizona begins that tough stretch starting Tuesday at home against Los Angeles, here’s a look back at the post-All-Star break stretch, by the numbers.
0
Reliever Jake Barrett appeared in two games prior to the All-Star break, going 1.2 frames and allowing one run. Since, he’s gone 11 innings, striking out 12 and not allowing a run.
.197
While his on-base percentage has improved slightly, third baseman Jake Lamb’s average has fallen from .279 before the All-Star break to .197 after it.
.248
The D-backs rank just 22nd with a .248 average when runners are in scoring position, which actually is a tick better than their overall batting average after the All-Star break of .242. However, compared to their sixth-best batting .279 batting average with runners in scoring position before the All-Star break, the team is no where near that same production. Overall, Arizona was batting .259 heading into the break, which ranked 12th-best in the majors.
1
Paul Goldschmidt ranks first in MLB with an on-base percentage of .480. He’s walked 18 times, is batting .368 and has 22 RBI, five homers, two doubles and a triple in 76 at-bats.
3.42
Taijuan Walker leads the D-backs’ starting pitchers with a 3.42 ERA in four starts following the All-Star break. Unfortunately, he’s managed to go 0-1 over that span, and the team lost all four games.
4.01
That’s the Diamondbacks’ team ERA in 22 post-All-Star games. Arizona has allowed opponents to hit .255 against them compared to .235 with a 3.41 ERA in 89 games before the All-Star break.
11.1
Arizona ranks first in MLB with a walk rate of 11.1 percent, which has made up for a slumping batting average of .242 (22nd) to put more men on base. It’s helped: Arizona ranks ninth after the All-Star break with an on-base percentage of .337.
64.3
While the D-backs are seeing balls well, they also aren’t swinging much at strikes with the fourth-lowest in-zone swing percentage of 64.3 percent and the third-lowest contact percentage of pitches in the zone at 83 percent.
