Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #97: 7/14 vs. Blue Jays

The Diamondbacks might be forgiven for not wanting the All-Star break to arrive. There’s a good case to be made that they have been playing their best baseball of the season over the past couple of weeks, and they don’t want to lose that momentum. Today’s game feels like it’s playing with house money, the series already being in the bag. That gives them an unbeaten streak of five series, with four wins and the split against Atlanta, and a record of 10-4 over their last fourteen contests. But winning today would also put them a season high three games over .500, give Arizona a season-high five-game winning streak, and be their first sweep since taking three in Cincinnati from May 7-9.

Considering the injury issues they’ve had, especially in the starting rotation, I would have to be checking “fairly satisfied” on my first half customer survey form. There are a good number of last year’s postseason teams who are struggling harder than the D-backs, not least the World Series champion Rangers, and so still being very much in the wild-card race is acceptable. It feels like Arizona are in a good place to make a push in the second half, as they get a number of personnel back, and providing they don’t suffer further significant injuries, I’m hopeful. But let’s see if the team can finish the first block of game well, then go enjoy a well-earned rest (Ketel Marte and Torey Lovullo excepted!) before resuming play.

Oh, and stick around afterward, for the MLB Draft takes place later on. We will be having a live thread for that, as we wait for the D-backs to make their pick, all the way down in 29th place!

Justin’s edits below, hope it’s ok with you Jim!: