Jonathan Niese LHP, 6-4, 3.44

Dan Haren RHP, 7-8, 4.60

Win tonight, and as promised, the Tankapalooza standings will be retired - at least, until the next time the team loses three games in a row.

1. Chris Young CF
2. Augie Ojeda SS
3. Justin Upton RF
4. Miguel Montero C
5. Mark Reynolds 3B
6. Rusty Ryal 1B
7. Tony Abreu 2B
8. Cole Gillespie LF
9. Dan Haren RHP

With a leftie taking the mound for the Mets, Captain Kirk goes to his alternate line-up, but at least sees enough sense to keep Abreu in his more "normal" position of second-base. As well as Kelly Johnson, Stephen Drew and Gerardo Parra are also enjoying the bench. So much for seeing whether Parra can hit lefties, and Gillespie is not exactly lighting them up - 6-for-29 with thirteen strikeouts. Johnson has also handled them well, with a .931 OPS in almost a hundred PAs, so one wonders whether these starts for Abreu indicate trade potential for Johnson?

It's the first time we've even reached the final game of a series, with the chance of a sweep, since June 6th against the Rockies. Our only actual sweep was a mere two-game set against the Giants at Chase, on May 19-20th, so if we can beat the Mets again tonight, that would be some small cause for pleasure. I think the last time the D-backs swept a three-game series was against Houston all the way back at the end of August last season. Which by my math is 125 games ago, during which time we have gone 47-78. Yeah, a sweep would be worth celebrating, so here's to Azreous getting to write about one in his recap tonight.