The Arizona Diamondbacks enter their series against the Colorado Rockies this weekend with some momentum, having finished off a tough road trip with a pair of victories over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, something we all know is a near-impossible task.
Arizona's trip didn't start off so well, dropping four out of six to the Yankees and Rockies. Still, the D-Backs' five losses on the trip came by a combined seven runs, enabling the Snakes to have a nice run differential -- plus-18 runs -- entering the homestand.
The D-Backs have received some solid pitching -- both from the starting rotation and the bullpen -- on their way to a 3.33 staff ERA, good for fourth in the National League. Second-year hurlers Patrick Corbin (1.71 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) and Wade Miley (2.77 ERA, rotation-leading 3.29 K/BB ratio) have been the best of the starting bunch. Former Rockie Matt Reynolds (unscored upon in 11.1 innings) and Josh Collmenter, whose unorthodox delivery didn't work out of the starting rotation but has benefited him greatly out of the bullpen, have anchored the relief corps.
The D-Backs' offense has been surprisingly pedestrian, garnering an OPS+ of just 93 to this point in the season. However, one guy in particular is anything but that...
Goldschmidt leads Arizona with five homers, including a bomb in Thursday's series-opener against Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa which ricocheted off the top of the left-field foul pole. His 18 runs batted in, 13 walks and 168 OPS+ are also best among the D-Backs' full-time players.
Off to a shockingly slow start is catcher Miguel Montero, whose depressing slash line of .194/.295/.264 in 88 plate appearances has earned him some presumably unwanted time on the bench as of late.
Since it helped reverse the curse at the end of last season, I'm going to go ahead and add that the Rockies are 41 games under .500 all-time at Chase Field. Just sayin'.
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Probable pitchers
Game 2: Friday, April 26 at 7:40 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Juan Nicasio (2-0, 5.31 ERA) vs. Brandon McCarthy (0-2, 7.06 ERA)
Game 3: Saturday, April 27 at 6:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Jeff Francis (1-2, 8.44) vs. Wade Miley (2-0, 2.77)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 at 2:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Jon Garland (2-1, 4.68) vs. Patrick Corbin (2-0, 1.71)
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