Two pitchers looking for something positive to happen in May will oppose each other on Tuesday night when the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks continue a three-game series in Phoenix.
The Diamondbacks jumped on Giants starter Robbie Ray for 10 runs (nine earned) in 4 1/3 innings of a 12-2 romp in Monday’s series opener, the first meeting of the National League West rivals this year.
Arizona matched its season highs of 12 runs and 16 hits in the type of offensive output that’s been missing from the outings of Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.40 ERA), Tuesday’s scheduled starter.
The right-hander has gone winless in his last six starts since April 8 but has pitched well in all three of his May outings, allowing just five runs and 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks have totaled just six runs in those games.
Nelson has never lost to the Giants, going 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA in eight games, including seven starts.
The 28-year-old likely will see the Giants without shortstop Willy Adames, who homered on Monday before leaving the game early after taking a grounder off his right thumb.
Giants manager Tony Vitello labeled the exit precautionary but added that Adames probably would need a day off to fully diagnose the seriousness of the injury.
“It nicked his thumb — when I say nicked, it’s a baseball and whatever the velocity was,” Vitello said after the game. “Ideally it doesn’t happen, but it’s as good (of) news as can happen.”
Adames had been starting to heat up at the plate. His average sat at .218 before he had six hits in three games against the Athletics to end last week. His homer (and walk in just two plate appearances) raised his average to .238 on Monday.
After having been one of the top pitchers in the National League entering May, Giants right-hander Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.49 ERA) has lost all three of his starts this month, allowing nine runs in 13 2/3 innings.
Roupp, who received votes in the NL Pitcher of the Month selection in March/April, entered May on a four-game winning streak with a 5-1 record and 2.55 ERA. He has not won since April 26.
The 27-year-old has faced the Diamondbacks three times in his career, going 0-0 with a 4.66 ERA.
Arizona’s assault on Ray in the series opener included Corbin Carroll’s fifth triple of the season. He leads the majors in triples one season after launching 17, four more than any other player.
“I’m just honored to have a front-row seat to what he does every year on a baseball field,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters leading into the series.
Carroll was hitting .272 — 13 points below his 2023 All-Star season — before smacking two home runs in Colorado on Sunday and delivering a single along with his triple Monday. His average has risen to .284.
“Sometimes this game is hard,” Lovullo continued, “and you just have to take the good with the bad.”
Roupp has gotten Carroll to ground out in all three previous duels.
–Field Level Media
