Arizona Diamondbacks Game Preview, #4: Magic 8-ball of De La Rosa

John Lackey RHP, 0-0, N/A

Rubby De La Rosa RHP, 0-0, N/A

Dexter Fowler - CF	Jean Segura - 2B
Jason Heyward - RF	Nick Ahmed - SS
Ben Zobrist - 2B	Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
Anthony Rizzo - 1B	David Peralta - RF
Kris Bryant - 3B	Welington Castillo - C
Kyle Schwarber - LF	Jake Lamb - 3B
Miguel Montero - C	Yasmany Tomas - LF
Addison Russell - SS	Chris Owings - CF
John Lackey - RHP	Rubby De La Rosa - RHP

I am tempted for this preview to consist entirely of the phrase, "Let's see" and leave it at that. Because after the first three contests, it appears the key to the game for our starting pitchers is "Maybe try and give up fewer than three home-runs, if possible?" I'm not overly optimistic that Rubby will be the answer, unless he manages to execute that super-secret approach he was supposedly refining in spring training. I say "super-secret," because the left-handers he was facing didn't appear to get the memo, as they hit .362 off him in the Cactus League. We can only hope he does better tonight. No, really: that's all we can do.

Since it's Throwback Thursday, maybe he'll channel the spirit of one of the left-handers who were on the 1999 roster, which is being honored in particular this evening at Chase Field. The question is, which one? There were three left-handed starting pitchers and three relievers used by the team this year: we'll be fine if he is possessed by Randy Johnson, but skating on thinner ice if we end up with Omar Daal. Though that said, Daal was actually pretty good, going 16-9 with a 3.65 ERA for the Diamondbacks. Think we'd all be quite happy to settle for the same from De La Rosa this season!

Bit of a different line-up, with Ahmed's strong performance over the series against Colorado, being rewarded with promotion from the ninth to the second spot in the line-up. The pitcher goes back to batting last, and Owings is now in the eighth position. Also, be aware that tonight's game will be shown on Fox Sports Arizona PLUS, due to the Suns and Coyote playing simultaneously to the Diamondbacks. Here's a convenient channel finder for that, which should get you in the right direction. [Never mind] Just be sure to have a nice cold one to hand for National Beer Day. Or several. Because you may need them!