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Diamondbacks Line-up
- Gerardo Parra, RF
- Martin Prado, 2B
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Eric Chavez, 3B
- Miguel Montero, C
- Jason Kubel, LF
- A.J. Pollock, CF
- Didi Gregorius, SS
- Patrick Corbin, P
Ian Kennedy completes his 10-game suspension for having the temerity to do to Greinke, what Greinke did to Montero, and will get his shot at ending the winless streak by Diamondbacks' starting pitchers, which has now reached epic proportions. But what's weird is, our margin at the top of the National League West is exactly the same, 2 1/2 games, as it was when our last starter won, all the way back when Wade Miley did it on June 5. It still isn't the longest winless starting streak in team history - more on that tonight - but I'd be curious when was the last time a first-place team went 20 games without a starting win, and remained in first.
J.J. Putz has, as expected, been re-activated from the disabled list, with Zeke Spruill being sent down to Reno to make room. Apparently, Gibson said that if there is a save situation this evening, it will go to Putz rather than Heath Bell. I think I am okay with that, but would probably be a great deal happier if any such save situation were of the three-run variety, just to allow a little more wiggle-room. In honor of the occasion, however, I think we should look into hiring this guy, the next time Putz comes in at Chase Field.
Though, admittedly, the last thing we need at the present time is anything generating more heat in Arizona. The predicted high in Phoenix today is 122, which would tie the all-time record. Put another way, it'll be the same distance from the boiling point of water as the freezing point. I would strongly recommend that you stay inside, drink lots of fluids and watch the Diamondbacks game instead. Seems like a pretty good idea to me.
No Aaron Hill in the line-up today, with Prado occupying second-base and we give Chavez his first start at third since coming back off the DL. Gibson says that Chavez will be used as a backup for Goldschmidt at first if necessary, but that Kubel has also been taking ground-balls over there, to give the team some flexibility. Which, I think, roughly translates from the Gibbyese as, "Do not make any plans for a day off in the foreseeable future, Paul." It'd be nice for him and the rest of the offense to show up: a large part of the winless streak is that we've only reached tacos twice in those 20 games. That, and the appearance of good Kennedy, go a long way to ending that run this afternoon.