Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2022 season at All-Star break: By the numbers
Jul 19, 2022, 1:12 PM
Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks, right, is congratulated by David Peralta #6 after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres July 15, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached the All-Star break.
It has been a 2022 season that looked like it was going to exceed expectations. Arizona was at one point 18-15, and even after a bit of a skid, was still 31-35 in mid-June and a .500 season wasn’t crazy to suggest.
Since that June 19 win over the Minnesota Twins, though, Arizona has gone 9-17 and sits in the bottom-third of the National League standings where most expected it to be.
Here’s a review of the season at the 92-game point, by the numbers:
69.5
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Vegas knows all. The D-backs’ over/under win total at the sportsbooks was 69.5, per Vegas Insider.
With Arizona at a 40-52 record, both FiveThirtyEight and Fangraphs project the D-backs to finish 69-93. Going to be a close call for those of you still holding onto your ticket.
15
The D-backs’ consistent starting pitching has been their biggest strength this season. Arizona has four starters with at least 15 games started and an ERA under 4.00. It is the only team in the National League that can make that claim, with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees as the only qualifiers in the American League, per Baseball-Reference.
676
On the other side, Arizona’s offense has been its biggest weakness. The D-backs’ 676 hits rank 29th in MLB. While Arizona’s 326 walks are tied for fifth and 105 homers are tied for 11th, the D-backs’ OPS (on-base plus slugging) is tied for 24th.
19
D-backs ace Zac Gallen hasn’t quite been elite this year but he’s still having another pretty darn good season. Gallen’s 1.078 WHIP in 93.2 innings pitched is one of only 19 in the majors when using those two numbers as qualifiers, per Baseball-Reference.
3.26
His rotation mate Merrill Kelly is having a career year. Kelly’s 3.26 ERA is over a full point lower than his 4.42 mark in 32 starts for 2019 and the 4.44 ERA last year across 27 starts. His 2.3 WAR (wins above replacement) should crush his previous best of 2.4 last year as well.
377
Earlier this season, Torey Lovullo won his franchise-record 354th game as the D-backs’ manager. That total is now at 377 and will continue to climb.
52
It’s time for the Alek Thomas section! Thomas has a chance to put together one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history for an organization that has rarely featured prolific rookie seasons.
With 70 games left, Thomas in 62 games has 52 hits. If he racks up 48 more, he will become the seventh rookie D-back to reach 100 hits. Thomas would join Mark Reynolds (102, 2007), Yasmany Tomas (111, ’15), Ender Inciarte (116, ’14), Gerardo Parra (132, ’09), Chad Tracy (137, ’04) and Travis Lee (151, ’98), per Baseball-Reference.
20
Thomas is at 10 doubles, and if he, erm, doubles up that number (sorry), only four other rookie D-backs have reached 20. That’s Reynolds and Lee at 20, plus Parra’s 21 and Tracy’s 29 (!).
22
Christian Walker’s 22 home runs lead the team by 10 and he’s tied for ninth in MLB. Walker is seven off his career high of 29, and if he holds a similar-ish pace, he could become the 10th D-back to reach at least 35. The last to do it was Eduardo Escobar in 2019.
