Game #5: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers

Patrick Corbin LHP, 0-0, N/A

Mike Fiers RHP, 0-0, N/A

D-backs line-up:

1. Gerardo Parra, CF
2. Martin Prado, LF
   
3. Aaron Hill, 2B
4. Miguel Montero, C
5. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
6. Jason Kubel, RF
7. Eric Chavez, 3B
8. Cliff Pennington, SS
9. Patrick Corbin, P

Yes, you read that outfield alignment correctly. Prado; Parra; Kubel. It's not entirely unprecedented: Kubel started one game in right last year, against the Pirates, and had a fair degree of experience there with the.Twins. But it's uncommon enough since he became a Diamondback to make me feel...nervous. Obviously, it's because the aim is to stack the line-up with as many left-handed hitters as possible, in particular getting Chavez a start at third (guess his elbow must be feeling better after the HBP on Wed.), by moving Prado to the outfield. The odd thing is, opposing pitcher Fiers has shown almost no platoon split thus far. His OPS vs. LHB is .698, compared to .695 vs. RHB.

It's largely terra incognito for both clubs in this game. We did see Fiers last last June and the results weren't pretty, as he blanked Arizona for six innings, allowing only two runs while striking out ten, though walked three. Miguel Montero is the sole current Diamondback with a hit against him. Corbin has never faced the Brewers as a starter, with a walk to Aramis Ramirez - who, one suspect won't be playing today, due to his knee (an MRI is scheduled for today) - the sole PA for anyone from Milwaukee. You might remember that game: Milwaukee won it on a pair of walk-off errors, making our victory last night look like the Mona Lisa in comparison.

Despite the lat time we saw Fiers, be good to scratch out another win today. Winning series on the road is key to success: the four NL teams last year, who were more than 10 games above .500 away from home, all made the post-season. The Brewers have been tough in Miller Park though, with the 4th-best home record last season, and the best one in 2012. We've only won two series here since 2002, and since we're facing Gallardo tomorrow, I'm not all that optimistic, even with Kennedy on the mound. Do it today, and tomorrow becomes house money.

This game is the mlb.tv free game of the day. Not sure if blackout restrictions apply to that: be handy if they didn't, since I'll be at work, but am recapping this in lieu of Clefo, who's off at a vintage baseball tournament in Bisbee today and tomorrow. Look forward to hearing more about it, based on this Tweet:

Listening to former Twins pitcher Jim "Mudcat" Grant talk about Satchel Page here at the Copper City Classic. Pretty damn awesome

— Charlie Gebow (@CLEFOAINTACRIME) April 6, 2013