Game #42: Diamondbacks vs. Nationals

Stephen Strasburg RHP, 3-2, 3.42

Bronson Arroyo RHP, 3-2, 4.89

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. Gerardo Parra - RF
2. Martin Prado - 3B
   
3. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
4. Miguel Montero - C
5. Aaron Hill - 2B
6. Cody Ross, LF
   
7. A.J. Pollock - CF
8. Chris Owings - SS
9. Bronson Arroyo - P

Updating a stat from yesterday's preview, no team since the 1928 Boston Braves has now had fewer home wins in its first 41 games than this year's Diamondbacks. And if you though yesterday's team, the 1932 New York Giants, had a crappy early schedule, those 1928 Braves played only six of those 41 at home. They had one game in Boston from April 27 through to the start of June. They went 5-14 in their first 19 home games, so by that mark, also did better than we have done at home.

I can't say I'm feeling too optimistic about this evening's match-up, but that might be a combination of shell shock from Arroyo's first couple of starts, and nostalgia for the era when Strasburg was A Thing, much as Bryce Harper after him, and as Y*s**l P**g is now. The fact that all things pass, gives me hope for a future where the Puig will receive the widespread apathy he so richly deserves. Guess who won't be going to see the proposed Hollywood movie based on his life. Strasburg has faced the D-backs four times, and done pretty well - 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA. We saw him twice last year, with exactly the same line each time: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB and 4 K.

After the horrendous struggles early on, noted above, Arroyo suddenly seemed to find his groove, pitching seven shutout innings in San Diego and seven-plus in Milwaukee. However, will that transfer back to Chase? He hasn't won here yet, and his seasonal ERA is a nasty, nasty 8.36, compared to below three on the road. I guess we'll see tonight whether he truly has got himself back on track, or if it was just a case of Arroyo needing to get of Phoenix to find success.