As we enter our third Saturday of the young 2023 season, we have yet another great day of springtime baseball. One matchup that stands out is between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Miami Marlins. The Diamondbacks enter play on Saturday at 8-6, while the Marlins take a 7-7 record into this one. Miami enters this one as a slight favorite, but let's break it all down below.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are rolling right now. They enter Saturday as winners of 5 out of their last 7 games, an impressive feat for a team that went 14 games below .500 last season. They have not had an easy schedule by any stretch either, during their recent hot streak, 3 of their wins came against the perennial contenders, the Los Angeles Dodgers, while the other 2 came against the NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers. They have already played the Dodgers 8 times this season, winning 5 of those matchups. During this recent hot streak, the Diamondbacks' bats have been leading the way. In their 5 wins over their last 7, they have been averaging just under 8 runs per game.
Oh Lourdes have mercy!@yunitogurriel's 1st dinger with the #Dbacks! pic.twitter.com/DWH6KreI4H
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 12, 2023
Taking the mound for Arizona on Saturday to face the Marlins is the rookie right hander, Ryne Nelson. Nelson entered the 2023 season with high expectations as one of the Diamondbacks' top 10 prospects. In limited time in the majors last season, Nelson showed why he was worthy of such high praise, posting a 1.47 ERA across his three starts in the big leagues. So far this season, Nelson has planted himself firmly in the rotation and looks to keep building on his early career success. While he hasn't quite captured the magic from last season yet, he has done what he's needed to, earning a win his last time out with a quality start against the Dodgers.