Diamondbacks Host Cardinals in Crucial Series Opener

Nelson Faces Gray as Arizona Aims to Extend Strong Home Run

The Arizona Diamondbacks prepare to host the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field, seeking to build on their recent success. The pitching matchup features right-hander Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks against the Cardinals’ Sonny Gray.

Pitcher Showdowns and Recent Form

**Ryne Nelson** enters this contest looking to rebound after a challenging outing against the Los Angeles Angels, where he surrendered four runs in four innings. He threw 87 pitches and allowed seven hits, walking four while striking out just one. However, prior to that performance, **Nelson** had been stellar over his previous five starts, boasting a 1.53 ERA, with the Diamondbacks winning all those games. Opposing hitters are struggling against his fastball, managing only a .197 batting average.

**Sonny Gray** on the other side, conceded three runs in six innings during his last encounter with the Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium in May. His most recent start was cut short to just three innings due to a lengthy rain delay against the Atlanta Braves. **Gray** relies heavily on his breaking pitches for strikeouts, with his sweeper generating a 41.4% whiff rate and his curveball a 31% rate.

Upcoming Pitching Matchups on Tap

Looking ahead, the series continues with **Merrill Kelly** (8-5, 3.34) on the mound for the Diamondbacks against the Cardinals’ **Miles Mikolas** (5-6, 4.94) on Sunday, July 20th, at 1:10 p.m. Following this, the Diamondbacks will face the Astros. **Zac Gallen** (7-10, 5.40) is scheduled to pitch on Monday, July 21st, at 6:40 p.m., with the Astros’ starter yet to be announced. The series concludes on Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:40 p.m., with **Eduardo Rodriguez** (3-6, 5.94) expected to start for Arizona against another TBA from the Astros.

Historically, Chase Field has been a strong venue for the Diamondbacks, with their team ERA standing at 3.97 at home this season, ranking them in the top half of the league. This home advantage could be crucial as they face the Cardinals.

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White Sox Ban Fan Indefinitely for Abusive Comments Toward Ketel Marte

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White Sox Ban Fan Indefinitely for Abusive Comments Toward Ketel Marte

The Chicago White Sox have taken swift action, banning a fan “indefinitely” from attending games at Rate Field after the individual directed abusive comments toward Arizona diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during a game on Tuesday, June 24 MLB. The disturbing incident led to Marte breaking down in tears and sparked outrage among players and officials alike.

Fan Ejected and Banned After Insulting Marte

the fan was ejected from the game after making comments directed at Marte referencing his mother, who tragically died in a car accident in 2017. The incident occurred during Marte’s at-bat in the top of the seventh inning of the Diamondbacks’ 4-1 victory over the White sox ESPN.

Major League Baseball released a statement commending the White Sox for their immediate response in removing the fan.Further action was taken as MLB and the White Sox collaborated to extend the ban to all major league ballparks indefinitely.

Did You Know? MLB attendance in 2024 averaged around 29,000 fans per game, highlighting the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful surroundings for both players and spectators.

Players React to Fan Abuse

The fan’s behaviour drew strong reactions from Diamondbacks players, with shortstop geraldo Perdomo calling on Major League Baseball to enhance protections for players against constant abuse from fans.Perdomo expressed his hope that MLB would take meaningful action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

White Sox manager Will Venable apologized to Marte and the Diamondbacks organization, emphasizing that the fan’s actions were not representative of White Sox fans. Diamondbacks manager torey Lovullo supported the White Sox’s decision to ban the fan, recounting his own interaction with the individual during the game.

Pro Tip: Reporting abusive behavior at sporting events can help create a safer and more enjoyable environment for everyone. Most stadiums have procedures in place for addressing fan misconduct.

The Human Side of the Game

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly highlighted the importance of remembering that players are “normal people” with families and personal lives. He noted the disconnect between the behavior some fans exhibit in the stands and how they might act in everyday interactions.

Key Details of the Incident
Event	Description
Incident Date	June 24, 2025
Location	Rate Field, Chicago
Teams	Arizona diamondbacks vs. Chicago White Sox
Action Taken	Fan banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks

MLB’s Stance on Fan Conduct

MLB has a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behavior directed toward players,staff,or other fans. The league emphasizes the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment at all ballparks.

The incident involving Ketel Marte serves as a reminder of the impact that fan behavior can have on players and the broader baseball community. Teams and the league are committed to addressing such issues and ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved.

Merrill Kelly

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Game time, pitching matchups and more