Game #65 Preview: 6/17, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Angels

Hector Santiago LHP, 4-3, 2.59

Chase Anderson RHP, 2-1, 2.82

Erick Aybar - SS	A.J. Pollock - CF
Kole Calhoun - RF	David Peralta - LF
Mike Trout - CF	Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
Albert Pujols - 1B	Yasmany Tomas - RF
David Freese - 3B	Aaron Hill - 3B
Matt Joyce - LF	Chris Owings - 2B
Johnny Giavotella - 2B	Welington Castillo - C
Chris Iannetta - C	Nick Ahmed - SS
Hector Santiago - LHP	Chase Anderson - RHP

After the latest in a long line of failed attempts - seven in a row now - to get back to the .500 mark, the D-backs return home, for a relatively quick five-game homestand, against the Angels and Padres. All told, the road-trip which just finished ended up not a bad one: Arizona went 4-4, though that record included a sweep in each direction, balancing each other out. There's no doubt our starting pitching has been the key to a strong rebound after the dismal series in LA: last cycle through our rotation, our starters have  a 1.07 ERA, having given up only four earned runs in 33.2 innings of work, along with a .155 batting average against.

It was Anderson who started the current run of great performances, and it's to Anderson we turn tonight, as we seek to improve our home record, which is once again where this team has really struggled. Our road record, at 16-17, is better than the National League average (14-18), and is also ahead of the division-leading Dodgers and Mets. But our home record, of 15-16, is better than only the Padres, Rockies and Brewers. It's virtually impossible to make the post-season if you don't win at home, and even reaching a .500 record is perilously tough, if you need to win more on the road than in your own park. 4-1 this homestand would get up above .500: tough, but plausible.