Joe Mantiply to start in series opener against Dodgers

To kick off their three-game series against the Dodgers in LA, the Diamondbacks have opted for a bullpen game in the opener, starting Joe Mantiply instead of Ryne Nelson, per the team.

This will be Mantiply’s second start of the season and the fifth of his career. In their last encounter with Los Angeles in mid-May, the D-backs employed a similar strategy, with Mantiply starting the series opener. He pitched a scoreless inning before being relieved. Slade Cecconi then took over, pitching five innings but allowing six earned runs, resulting in a 6-4 loss for Arizona.

Why have Mantiply start against the Dodgers only to pitch the first inning?

It comes down to matchups. Mantiply is a left-hander, while Nelson is a righty. Manager Torey Lovullo prefers having Mantiply face the Dodgers’ formidable top three batters, which typically include Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani (a lefty), and Freddie Freeman (also a lefty).

However, the Dodgers will be without Mookie Betts, who is currently on the 10-day IL. Instead, catcher Will Smith, a righty, will bat second, with Ohtani leading off.

As for Ryne Nelson, who was initially expected to start the series opener, it’s been a challenging season for the 26-year-old. Across 14 starts, he has posted a 5.69 ERA, including allowing six earned runs in 3.2 innings during his last start against the Twins on June 26th.

Ironically, Nelson’s best start of the season came against the Dodgers on May 22nd, when he pitched five shutout innings in a 5-0 Diamondbacks’ win.

The first pitch for the Diamondbacks‘ series opener against the Dodgers is scheduled for 7:10 PM in downtown LA. The D-backs, currently two games below .500, have 13 games left before the All-Star break and are just outside an NL Wild Card spot.