The Braves host the Diamondbacks for three games beginning Tuesday night.
Arizona, now without icon Paul Goldschmidt, is 7-9 on the young season. Here’s what to know about the new-look Snakes:
1. Arizona starter Robbie Ray has allowed three hits or fewer in his first three starts of the season. Across his past 10 outings, lefties have hit .029 (1-for-34) against him with 15 strikeouts and three walks.
Ray, Tuesday’s starter, hasn’t fared as well against the Braves in a small sample size. He’s 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA (7 ERs in 15-1/3 innings) in three starts. He’s stuck out 13 and walked 12 in that time.
2. The Diamondbacks are 13-8 in their past 21 games against the National League East. They took two of three from the Braves last season at SunTrust Park, but the Braves won three of four in Arizona. That series included the memorable Dansby Swanson game-ending dart at home plate.
3. This season's Diamondbacks have played no shortage of close games. They've played eight one-run affairs, most in the bigs (3-5). Six of their past eight contests have come down to a run.
4. Their wins largely have been attributed to the long ball: They rank fifth in the National League in home runs, with 26. Their 69 extra-base hits rank third in the majors behind the Mariners (82) and Dodgers (71).
5. David Peralta, whom many Braves fans clamored for in the offseason, has doubled nine times, tied for most in the majors. His 25 hits are tied for third-most, while his average (.373) is fifth. He's hit safely in 15 of 16 games.
