Game #113: Diamondbacks vs. Royals

Danny Duffy LHP, 5-10, 2.42

Wade Miley LHP, 5-10, 2.42

Norichika Aoki - RF	Ender Inciarte - CF
Omar Infante - 2B	Jordan Pacheco - 1B
Salvador Perez - C	Aaron Hill - 2B
Billy Butler - 1B	Mark Trumbo - LF
Alex Gordon - LF	Miguel Montero - C
Lorenzo Cain - CF	Alfredo Marte - RF
Mike Moustakas - 3B	Andy Marte - 3B
Alcides Escobar - SS	Nick Ahmed - SS
Danny Duffy - LHP	Wade Miley - LHP

The last time the Royals played the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Billy Buckner won the series opener 1-0 in 10 innings, but we then got murdered over the following two games, being outscored in them by a total margin of 6-20. However, this is the first time we've ever faced the Royals when they have been over .500 to start the series. The closest previous case was in June 2003 when the two sides faced off in Kansas City, with the Royals exactly at .500. They took two of three, though the series took almost three months to complete, as the middle game was rained out and had to made up in September.

We've won the last four times Wade Miley has started for the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, though he has only been involved in the decision once, when he faced the Cubs on July 19. I think I'm probably a bit more concerned about the offense: I think we will struggle to score runs in the absence of Paul Goldschmidt, though at least we should be getting A.J. Pollock back before too much longer, with his rehab now having taken him to Reno. Still, it'll be hard to replace Goldschmidt's production in the heart of the line-up. With Pacheco there, and the Marte brothers (ok, not really) replacing Prado and Parra, it's a very different looking batting order these days.