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Phillies Opposition Roadblock: Arizona Diamondbacks

By Mike Azzalina

Jun 22, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrates his double during the eighth inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won the game 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrates his double during the eighth inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won the game 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 20, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The Pitcher: Zack Greinke

This week does not provide a very difficult scenario. Zack Greinke is one of the top arms in baseball and has been for quite some time. The right-hander has dominated the Phillies before and will look to do the same in the wraparound series finale on Monday.

This season has been another strong one for the 13-year veteran. He has an 8-4 record with a very respectable 3.14 ERA and WHIP of 1.05 after 15 starts.

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Teams are scuffling to a .228 average against him and he is yet to reach 20 walks in almost 100 innings pitched. Greinke has reached six or more innings in ten of his starts, keeping the opposition to three or fewer runs in eleven.

Howie Kendrick and Odubel Herrera (a combined 7-25) are the only active Phillies with multiple hits against the righty. Freddy Galvis and Maikel Franco are 2-20 with nine strikeouts when facing Greinke. In ten appearances against them, Greinke has completely dominated the Phils. He has struck out nearly a batter per inning in 60 frames and holds a 2.54 ERA in games against Philly.

At home this season, he is a perfect 6-0 in his eight starts. In those 52 innings pitched, Greinke has struck out 69 batters, walked only nine, and has a 2.77 ERA. He has allowed 27 homers in 31 starts at Chase Field though. A look at Greinke’s splits shows that he does become stronger as the game moves along and is not phased by facing hitters multiple times.

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It may be because he has a mix of six tough pitches. He uses two different fastballs, a slider, and a changeup in a huge mix. All four of those pitches have been used nearly 200 times this season. He has accrued almost half of his punchouts by using his slider. His fastball and that slider are very difficult pitches to hit, seeing the .180 and .214 average against.

Get this. We may even see an eephus pitch.

Whether we do or not, Greinke is going to be very difficult on Monday.

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