Felix Hernandez Isn't the Only One, But Ryne Nelson's 8-Run Implosion Is Exactly Why You Can't Trust Arizona Right Now

Alright, M's fans, you gotta hear about what's brewing down in Arizona, and why it just screams "inconsistent" with a capital I. The Diamondbacks are kicking off a home stand tonight against the Angels, and their starting pitcher, Ryne Nelson, is basically a flip of a coin. We're talking about a guy who literally gave up EIGHT earned runs without even recording an out one time, then turns around and pitches like an ace at home. Remember when the D-backs faced our Mariners back in May? Maybe this is why they've been all over the place since.

The Whiffle Ball, Then the Masterpiece

Nelson's overall numbers are not pretty, let's be real. He's sitting at a 2-5 record with a bloated 5.19 ERA on the season. His home starts, where he'll be tonight, are just as rough at 1-2 with a 5.35 ERA over seven games. So, why would anyone trust this guy? Well, the plot thickens. His WHIP is actually a solid 1.23, which analytics nerds will tell you points to some bad luck. And here's the real kicker: his last four home starts? Every single one has been a quality start. That's a 2.20 ERA across 28.2 innings, meaning he's going deep and keeping runs off the board. Wild, right?

The Day He Got Rocked Like a Rowboat in a Hurricane

So how do you get numbers so Jekyll and Hyde? It all comes down to two absolute disasters at Chase Field back in April. On April 19 against the Blue Jays, Nelson got absolutely shelled. He recorded just ONE out and gave up EIGHT earned runs. The first seven Toronto batters got hits, and the first eight reached base! That's one for the record books, making him only the second D-backs pitcher EVER to allow eight runs with one or fewer outs. Sound familiar? Even our own King Felix Hernandez had a start like that once in his career. A week later, on April 26, the Padres tagged him for six earned runs in five innings. Apparently, there were whispers about him tipping pitches early on, and while that seems fixed at home, he just got rocked in Miami his last time out. The D-backs themselves aren't exactly setting the world on fire either. They're 5-11 since their season-high of seven games over .500, even after winning two of their last three on a six-game road trip. And get this, their only hope, former NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, who was supposed to be back after the All-Star break from Tommy John surgery, now has his whole season in jeopardy after a setback. Yikes. So while they're at home facing a "stink"-y Angels team tonight at 9:40 p.m. ET, it's a good reminder that even teams that faced our M's can be a total mixed bag. Keep that green and blue spirit high, 12s, because consistency is king!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.