Diamondbacks series preview: They can mash, but can they pitch?

The Diamondbacks are an inverse of the Royals.

The Diamondbacks followed up their unexpected 2023 pennant by falling just short of a playoff spot, tying the Mets for a Wild Card spot with 89 wins but losing the tie-breaker. This year they have been around .500 for much of the year, rebounding from a tough May with a solid June. More recently they have begun to slide again, losing six of eight to fall under .500.

The Diamondbacks are the opposite of the Royals in that they can really hit, but have struggled with pitching.

Kansas City Royals (41-47) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (43-44) at Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

Royals: 3.30 runs scored/game (30th in MLB), 3.68 runs allowed/game (3rd)

Diamondbacks: 5.18 runs scored/game (3rd), 5.14 runs allowed/game (26th)

Who’s hot: Ketel Marte is hitting .324/.411/.667 since the start of June and has homered in 8 of his last 13 games.

Who’s not: Utility player Tim Tawa is just 3-for-his-last-37 (.081).

Loves home cooking: Josh Naylor is hitting .345/.395/.527 at home. Eugenio Suárez has hit 18 of his 27 home runs at home.

Against Royals pitchers: Eugenio Suárez is 15-for-36 (.417) with two homers against Michael Wacha. Josh Naylor is 0-for-10 against Michael Lorenzen

Eduardo Rodriguez

• Career against the Royals: 4-2, 4.09 ERA in 10 starts
• Salvador Perez is 2-for-16 (.125) with a home run against him in his career
• 1.98 ERA in five starts in June.
• 91.8 mph fastball, cutter, sinker, hittable change up (.348 opponents average)

Ryne Nelson

• Career against the Royals: 0-1, 6.55 ERA in 2 starts
• 1.61 ERA in his last four starts, all Diamondbacks wins.
• Bobby Witt Jr. is 3-for-5 (.600) with a walk against him in his career
• Relies heavily on an effective 95.5 mph fastball, with a slider, cutter, and curve.

Zac Gallen

• Career against the Royals: 1-0, 3.06 ERA in three starts
• Has allowed the most earned runs in baseball (63) and has the highest ERA (5.45) among qualified starters.
• Second-highest hard-hit rate (36.9) among starters.
• Throws a 93 mph fastball, knuckle curve, changeup, slider, and cutter.

• The Arizona bullpen has a 5.26 ERA (28th in MLB) with 17 blown saves (3rd-most).
• Closer Shelby Miller has converted 10 of 15 save opportunities.
• Jalen Beeks has a 9.00 ERA in 13 innings at home this year.
• Lefties are hitting .281/.369/.439 against Ryan Thompson.