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It’s weird to be almost at the half-way point of the season, and this is the first time Arizona will have faced San Francisco. This should help the D-backs. The rest of the division has been getting fat on the Giants, going 5-9 against them so far, though they did play the Dodgers relatively tough, winning three of seven. But with the D-backs facing them here and back in Phoenix next weekend, split by a four-game series against the Rockies, I’m hoping to see Arizona go at least 6-4 over those ten contests. And ideally a bit better than that. It’ll be a good test, going two complete times around the rotation, so we can find out if, for example, the new, improved Luke Weaver is a real thing.
The Giants currently have the second-worst record in the National League. At 11-16, they are only ahead of the Pirates (and if you managed to be behind them... “Well done”, is about all I’d have to say for you). They have actually done better in interleague play, going 6-7, and actually taking three in a row from the Angels in their last match-ups before coming into this series. Much like Arizona’s did, the offense has suddenly woken up, scoring 25 runs in those three victories. They’re also old hands at the new “extra innings with a runner on second” thing, having played three of them already, going 1-2. The D-backs are still looking for their first taste of that.
The Yankees, Red Sox and Cardinals are the other teams who have yet to play any extra-inning games this year. The last-named does at least make sense, as they have only had 14 contests, barely half of the 26 played by Arizona to date. This actually ties a franchise record for the deepest we’ve gone in a season without an extra-inning game. In 2017, we didn’t play one until #27, so unless this one goes extras, it’ll be a new mark. Or maybe we can make it through the whole season without one? No National League has avoided extras for their first 60 games in recorded history. The only to reach 50, were the 1927 Phillies (57 games) and the 1960 Cardinals (55) - and both did play a shortened contest in that time.
Pre-game audio from Torey Lovullo
Andrew Chafin was diagnosed with a strain of left pointer finger down by knuckle. He is wearing a splint for a week. He’ll be re-evaluated at that point. Cannot throw in the meantime, no time table for return
Madison Bumgarner will throw a sim game at Chase field on Sunday. The target is 70 pitches. Still no time table for return to rotation. Will evaluate after Sunday’s sim game.
Peering into the future, if he is able to return to rotation after that sim game the earliest would be 5 days later on Friday, August 28th, Jackie Robinson Day, against the Giants at Chase Field.
Starling Marte gets a routine day to sit, as Torey rotates through the starters giving time off.