Game #70 Preview: 6/23, Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies

Chase Anderson RHP, 3-1, 2.84

Kyle Kendrick RHP, 2-8, 5.95

A.J. Pollock - CF	Charlie Blackmon - CF
Jake Lamb - 3B	DJ LeMahieu - 2B
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B	Troy Tulowitzki - SS
David Peralta - LF	Nolan Arenado - 3B
Aaron Hill - 2B	Ben Paulsen - LF
Danny Dorn - RF	Wilin Rosario - 1B
Welington Castillo - C	Nick Hundley - C
Nick Ahmed - SS	Brandon Barnes - RF
Chase Anderson - RHP	Kyle Kendrick - RHP

Yeah, I know. The Diamondbacks make their 10th assault on Mt. .500 this evening at Coors - though, commentators please note, we are not 0-for-the season, as I heard over the weekend. We won when we were 0-1, 1-2 and 4-5, so our actual record is 3-9. It's only 0-since the last time we were at .500, which was April 24. Quite remarkable itself though, given the number of chances, but I'm feeling good about tonight's game, as for the second consecutive time, we find ourselves facing a starter with a woeful 2-8 record. I therefore predict we'll score seven runs in the second again. Who's with me?

This time, we also don't have the uncertainty of a Jeremy Hellickson start, though it should be noted, the Rockies are the only team to have beaten Anderson this season. They handled him very effectively when he pitched against them at Chase on April 27, tagging him for eight hits, two walks and five earned runs in 5.1 innings. Since then, however, Anderson had been undefeated in nine starts, putting up a 2.25 ERA in that time. Just as significantly, it has been all downhill for Colorado since: they lost their next eleven games after that one, and are 19-31 overall since beating Anderson. So, we couldn't ask for a much better alignment of stars.

However, we will have to do it without Yasmany Tomas, who was a late scratch from the line-up, apparently having had difficulty adjusting to the altitude in Denver. I'm not sure whether that's a euphemism for having partaken of the local culture, shall we say: "I'm not tired and emotional, I'm just having difficulty adjusting to the altitude." Dorn takes over in right field for him. Also of note, catcher Oscar Hernandez is starting for the Reno Aces tonight on his rehab assignment, so doesn't seem like it will be too long before he is ready to return to the roster. Saltalamacchia on his way out, potentially?