The Arizona Diamondbacks (69-53, T-2nd NL West) kick off a nine-game road trip on Friday, launching a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (59-61, 4th AL East). Arizona recently triumphed over the Colorado Rockies 11-4 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep. The Diamondbacks have secured six consecutive victories and 10 wins in their last 11 games, positioning them just 2½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings. Conversely, Tampa Bay suffered a narrow defeat against the Houston Astros, losing 2-1 and getting swept in the series. The Rays have faltered lately, dropping five of their last six games and trailing the New York Yankees by 12 games in the American League East. The Diamondbacks will be without four pitchers and position players Gabriel Moreno and Christian Walker, with Ketel Marte listed as questionable. Tampa Bay will also miss two pitchers, along with position players Richard Palacios and Wander Franco.
Diamondbacks: Hitting Power and Pitching Challenges
Arizona ranks among the league’s elite in multiple hitting categories. They lead the majors in runs scored (644), hold the second spot in batting average (.261) and on-base percentage (.333), and sit fourth in slugging percentage (.434). Ketel Marte, who is questionable for this matchup, tops the team with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs. Christian Walker, who ranks second in both categories with 23 home runs and 71 RBIs, will also be absent. With a notable balance, Arizona has 10 players contributing between 21 and 81 RBIs. They have accumulated 213 doubles, 31 triples, and 147 home runs, totaling 391 extra-base hits over 122 games.
On the mound, Arizona struggles, ranking 14th in Quality Starts with 44. They sit 25th in ERA (4.44), 26th in WHIP (1.34), and 28th in opponents’ batting average (.259). Zac Gallen leads the team with nine wins and has the best ERA among starters at 3.69, while Brandon Pfaadt excels in strikeouts with 135. Scheduled to pitch on Friday, Ryne Nelson has an 8-6 record this season, an ERA of 4.51, and 95 strikeouts.
Tampa Bay: Offense Struggling, Pitching Holding Steady
Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles are evident, as they stand 20th in on-base percentage (.308), 26th in batting average (.231), 27th in slugging percentage (.369), and 28th in runs scored (464). Jose Siri and Brandon Lowe share the team lead in home runs with 14 each, while Yandy Diaz leads in RBIs with 52. Recent addition Christopher Morel has managed only two home runs in 13 games since joining the Rays. Collectively, the team has recorded 192 doubles, 14 triples, and 110 home runs, amassing 316 extra-base hits in 120 games.
On the pitching front, Tampa Bay ranks 9th in WHIP (1.23) and 16th in ERA (3.99). They allow a batting average of .242 against opponents, placing them 18th, and have recorded 34 Quality Starts, ranking them 26th. Garrett Cleavinger leads the team with seven wins, while Zack Littell tops the strikeout leaderboard with 116 and has the lowest ERA among starters at 3.89. Ryan Pepiot is anticipated to return from the 15-day injured list to start on Friday for the Rays, carrying a 6-5 record, a 3.92 ERA, and 94 strikeouts this season.
Betting Insights for Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay has enjoyed a favorable record against Arizona recently, winning five of the last seven matchups. The Rays have also claimed victory in eight of their last ten games against teams from the National League West. With Ketel Marte’s status uncertain and Christian Walker sidelined, the Diamondbacks find themselves at a disadvantage. Ryne Nelson’s recent performance has been average, yielding six runs over 17.1 innings across his last three outings. Meanwhile, Ryan Pepiot, although returning from injury, previously demonstrated strong performance, allowing only six runs in 24.1 innings over a five-game stretch, including wins against notable teams like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and the New York Yankees.
