Preview, #54: 5/29 vs. Reds

Paul Goldschmidt is not in the Diamondbacks’ starting line-up tonight, for only the second time this season. The previous such occasion came against the Nationals in Washington on April 28, a game the Diamondbacks ended up winning 4-3. Though even there, Goldy ended up pinch-hitting in the eighth inning: we’ll see if this “day off” ends up being a true day off, or if he’s called into action. It’ll probably depend on the game situation: I’m hoping the offensive surge we saw last night from the D-backs, with a season-high 12 runs, is maintained this evening, and Paul can settled back in the dugout with his feet up. Elsewhere, Alex Avila starts in place of John Ryan Murphy, Guess how Twitter reacted? :)

Hopefully, on the other hand, the D-backs’ pitchers will not concede 16 hits, because that’s not typically a recipe for success... Over the past decade in MLB, teams allowing exactly 16 hits are 51-509 in regulation. Indeed, in franchise history, there have only been four such wins where Arizona allowed more. Our record is a startling nineteen - any guesses as to in which ballpark that took place? No prizes if you said Coors Field. Sept 22, 2013 saw Patrick Corbin and six relievers allow 19 hits and four walks, including five hits and four runs in the ninth. Yet Arizona still beat Colorado 13-9, as the Diamondbacks got the same number of knocks and five walks. It’s the only MLB game since 2008 where both sides had 19+ hits.

I’d feel more comfortable if it wasn’t Zack Godley on the mound. Godley’s starts have been a struggle of late - more “in spite of” than “because of” - but the last one, in Milwaukee, was the first time the wheels completely fell off. He walked six batters while retiring only ten, and over his last six starts he has 21 BB in only 32.1 innings, helping lead to opponents getting on-base at a .390 clip. While his immediate spot in the rotation is secure, there will be spots needing to be freed up for the returns of Shelby Miller and Robbie Ray. Matt Koch and Clay Buchholz are still the most likely losers. But if Godley has many more outings like last time, his name is going to end up in that conversation.