Pitching matchups for Diamondbacks-Royals series in Kansas City
Diamondbacks at Royals
When: 5:10 p.m., Wednesday.
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (9-2, 2.78) vs. Royals RHP Brady Singer (6-4, 3.27).
TV/Radio: Bally Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).
Gallen has not allowed a run in 21 1/3 innings over his past three starts, most recently firing 7 1/3 innings of four-hit ball against the Giants in San Francisco. He set career highs that day in innings pitched and strikeouts (12). … Gallen has averaged a career-high 94 mph on his fastball this season, allowing just a .186 average and .320 slugging off that pitch. His curveball has been his most dominant pitch, holding hitters to a .160 average and .240 slug. … He had one of his worst outings of the season against the Royals on May 24, giving up six runs in 5 1/3 innings at Chase Field. … Singer, a first-round pick by the Royals in 2018, has pitched well in his second full season in the majors (third if you count the pandemic shortened 2020 season). He has been especially good of late, with a 2.10 ERA over his past eight starts, a stretch in which he has held opposing hitters to a .217/.294/.289 line. … He missed the Diamondbacks earlier this season and has never faced them in his career.
Coming up
Friday: At Chicago, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (2-2, 3.57) vs. White Sox RHP Johnny Cueto (6-5, 2.58).
Saturday: At Chicago, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.87) vs. White Sox TBA.
Sunday: At Chicago, 11:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (2-4, 3.86) vs. White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (12-5, 2.09).
Fri – LHP Tommy Henry (2-2, 3.57)
Sat – RHP Merrill Kelly (10-5, 2.87)
Sun – RHP Zach Davies (2-4, 3.86)
Diamondbacks at Royals
When: 5:10 p.m., Tuesday.
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (2-4, 3.99) vs. Royals RHP Jonathan Heasley (1-7, 5.61).
TV/Radio: Bally Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).
Davies gave up one run in five innings against the Giants in San Francisco last week, his third consecutive start in which he logged exactly five innings in about 80 pitches. … In four starts since returning from the injured list, he has a 4.24 ERA. … He has had trouble in his career against Royals C Salvador Perez, who is 3 for 6 with three solo homers off Davies. … Heasley gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the White Sox in his most recent start. … He faced the Diamondbacks on May 24, allowing three runs in five innings. He issued six walks and struck out five. … Heasley has solid velocity (93.9 mph) and grades out well in terms of the spin he gets on his fastball and curveball, but he does not appear to fool many hitters. He has allowed a .593 slugging on his fastball and has given up a lot of hard contact on his curveball, as well, according to batted-ball data.
Up next
Kansas City Royals: The Royals lost in the World Series in 2014, won it in 2015, then finished at 81-81 in 2016. They have finished under .500 each of the past five season and are on track for a sixth this year. At their current pace they will fall just shy of 100 losses. They have welcomed some promising young players to the majors this year, including SS Bobby Witt Jr., DH Vinnie Pasquantino and C/OF MJ Melendez, all of whom have shown flashes of being productive everyday players. They traded away a pair of veterans prior to the deadline, shipping OF Andrew Benintendi to the New York Yankees and 2B Whit Merrifield to the Toronto Blue Jays. They also traded 3B Emmanuel Rivera to the Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Luke Weaver, who has allowed seven runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings (five appearances) since the deal.
Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pitching matchups for Diamondbacks-Royals series in Kansas City
