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Preview, #38: 5/9 vs. Braves

Hello, Chase Field. Did you miss us?

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Today's Lineups

BRAVES DIAMONDBACKS
Ozzie Albies - 2B Jarrod Dyson - CF
Josh Donaldson - 3B Eduardo Escobar - 3B
Freddie Freeman - 1B David Peralta - LF
Ronald Acuna - LF Adam Jones - RF
Nick Markakis - RF Christian Walker - 1B
Dansby Swanson - SS Wilmer Flores - 2B
Brian McCann - C Nick Ahmed - SS
Ender Inciarte - CF Carson Kelly - C
Mike Soroka - RHP Luke Weaver - RHP

After a road-trip which seemed a lot longer than it was - but I guess, between Coors Field and a 13-inning game on (inevitably) getaway day in Tampa, time becomes an illusion - it’s back to Chase for the Diamondbacks and a ten-game homestand. They have four against these Braves, then three against the Pirates and finish off with their first series of the year versus the San Francisco Giants. So far, the D-backs have played rather better on the road, where they are 14-9, than at home (7-7). But with Pittsburgh possessing the best current record of these three opponents, at that at only 17-16, these are three series which Arizona will be feeling they should win.

There was a roster move today, with Taylor Clarke being optioned to Reno, and replaced by Jon Duplantier. However, this does not necessarily mean that Duplantier will be taking Clarke’s spot in the rotation, which would be due up on Sunday. For more on this and other bits and pieces, here’s a series of informative Tweets from our SnakePit correspondent on the ground, Jack Sommers:

We’ll see how the rotation situation develops as we go through this series. As mentioned, there’s a chance that we may see Zack Godley back on the mound. To back our Jack up, the other Jack, Magruder, calls that “possible/probable.” Which would make this one of the shorter stints in the bullpen.

Tonight though, it’s Luke Weaver on the mound, who has been shaping into form nicely. He has not allowed more than one walk in any of his last five starts, with a K:BB over that time of 37:4 in 29 innings. If Weaver matches that control tonight, he’ll join Zack Greinke, who began last season with six such outings. No-one has had a longer streak for the D-backs since Josh Collmenter had 10 consecutive starts, overlapping the 2014-15 season. But the all-time franchise mark belongs to Brian Anderson, who reached 11 straight in our inaugural season of 1998. Though neither of those men had the strikeout numbers Weaver has been posting of late.