Game #45: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw LHP, 2-0, 1.74

Chase Anderson RHP, 1-0, 1.69

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. A.J. Pollock - CF
2. Chris Owings - SS
3. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
4. Cody Ross - RF
5. Martin Prado - 3B
6. Alfredo Marte - RF
7. Cliff Pennington - 2B
8. Tuffy Gosewisch - C
   
9. Chase Anderson - P

The Diamondbacks send an undefeated starting pitcher to the mound this afternoon, and he also has the better 2014 ERA, so we clearly have the edge in this match-up, amIrite? [Pauses for tumbleweeds to roll across the SnakePit] Yeah, it would take a particularly... well, let's say "optimistic" fan genuinely to believe that. For what we actually have, is a guy with one career appearance above Double-A, facing the most expensive roster in baseball. Oh, and he's going up against the pitcher who, over the past three seasons, has won two Cy Young awards and was runner-up the other time.

Curiously, though, I don't mind that. My expectations for this one are so completely tempered, I basically don't have any. The odds appear so completely stacked against Arizona, that I have already achieved a Zen-like state of content with whatever the outcome may be. If it's another blow-out loss, it'll hardly be a surprise. If Anderson keeps the game close, that'll be pretty impressive. And if, somehow, the Diamondbacks pull off a victory, that would be epic. It is true that Kershaw has lost his last four starts at Chase, with a 4.15 ERA over that time; be nice if he were also to lose against Chase....

Some changes for the D-backs, a couple voluntarily, but Aaron Hill was also a late scratch from the line-up, due to a sore shoulder. Pennington takes over for him. Ross also replaces Ender Inciarte, with Marte coming in to replace Gerardo Parra, and Gosewisch getting the poison-pill of a start against Kershaw. Looks like mostly platoon stuff at work for those other moves.