|
|
Ok. Who predicted that, three weeks into the season, Dan Haren would have the highest ERA of any of our starters? That Kris Benson has the lowest? That Kelly Johnson owns the best OPS in the National League? That Haren would have as many hits as Rusty Ryal and Augie Ojeda combined? That our pitchers overall possess a better OPS than our left-fielders? [.652/.589] Yes, there has been a lot of strangeness going on statistically for the Diamondbacks in 2010. Of course, much of it is simply small sample-size, but still...
Anyway, Haren aims to right his pitching season this evening, but will need to do so in Coors Field. Well, at least it should help his hitting. Line-ups and stuff after the jump.
- Kelly Johnson 2B
- Stephen Drew SS
- Justin Upton RF
- Mark Reynolds 3B
- Adam LaRoche 1B
- Chris Young CF
- Cole Gillespie LF
- Chris Snyder C
- Dan Haren RHP
Today starts the 11-day road-trip to Colorado, Chicago and Houston, the longest of the year - it's also part of a streak of 20 games in 20 days, which is also tied for the longest without an off-day [there's another such streak from July 27-August 15]. By the time we next get to catch our breath, we should have a better idea who this team is. The one which played dead on the last road-trip? Or the one which took 2-of-3 from the reigning NL champions, sending starters #3-5 out there?
This is one the D-backs would normally expect to win. Hammel has a career ERA+ of 86 in almost 400 innings, compared to Haren's mark of 122. But Haren has proved curiously vulnerable this season, despite a 2-1 record; that ERA is troubling, especially since the first half of the season is supposed to be his best time. Still, given we face Ubaldo Jimenez and his 0.95 ERA tomorrow, I tend to think that our chances of taking this series are largely dependent on victory in Coors today.
Good to see Upton back in the line-up. Doesn't seem that the injury which forced him from the game yesterday was too troubling. Gillespie gets the start in LF over Gerardo Parra, even though it's a right-hander on the mound for the Rockies. Snyder back behind the plate too. Should be about for most of this one. Which is probably a good thing, since I'm recapping it.
Reminder that tonight's baseball game will be aired on FoxSportsArizonaPLUS. Click here for the Channel Finder to see where to watch the game in your area.