:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46948906/oscar2.0.0.jpg)
 |
Aaron Nola
|
 |
Chase Anderson
|
| Cesar Hernandez - 2B | Ender Inciarte - RF |
| Andres Blanco - 3B | A.J. Pollock - CF |
| Odubel Herrera - CF | Paul Goldschmidt - 1B |
| Ryan Howard - 1B | Jake Lamb - 3B |
| Jeff Francoeur - RF | Welington Castillo - C |
| Cody Asche - LF | Aaron Hill - 2B |
| Freddy Galvis - SS | Jamie Romak - LF |
| Cameron Rupp - C | Nick Ahmed - SS |
| Aaron Nola - RHP | Chase Anderson - RHP |
With the series already in the bag, after a pair of startling blowouts by the combined margin of 26-4, the Diamondbacks will go for the sweep this afternoon, both at and behind Chase. Anderson's first start after coming back from the DL was excellent, as he tossed seven shutout innings against the Reds, but if the Diamondbacks offense is even half s good as it has been over the past couple of says, he should have a good chunk of wiggle-room for his performance. The last occasion on which our record was even, Arizona then lost six straight, but if we can finish off the sweep, we'll be above .500 for the first time since April 22.
No Franco in the Phillies line-up. I'm pleased to report X-rays on his wrist proved negative, so he is officially day-to-day with a contusion. Philadelphia, like Arizona, has the day off tomorrow as well, so hopefully he'll be back in the line-up soon. Goldschmidt was apparently hit in retaliation by the Reds later in the game, after which both benches were warned, but that should be that. I'm not expecting any significant carry over from either team, though I guess I somehow overlooked certain ESPN pundit's articles denouncing the Phillies for their action. Or "business as usual," if you prefer, since it continues to appear only newsworthy if we hit somebody maybe-on-purpose.
Interesting line-up today, with both David Peralta and Yasmany Tomas sitting this one out, and Jamie Romak making his first start as a Diamondback. Hopefully the offense will continue to roll: remember how, a little while ago, they had scored fewer runs than any team in the National League since the All-Star break? Now, they have scored MORE runs than any team in the National League since the All-Star break, having overhauled the Phillies as a result of last night's blow-out. Another fun fact: with 50 games left to play, we need to win just nine times to have a better record than in 2014. Be nice if that figure was eight by the end of the afternoon.