Game no. 81 preview: David Hale vs. Patrick Corbin

The Rockies face the Diamondbacks in the third of a four game series. The game is set to start at 8:10 MT.

The Rockies send David Hale to the mound. Hale makes his eight start of the season for the Rockies. He's been hit hard lately, particularly in his last three games. In three starts since June 18, Hale has pitched 16 2/3 innings and given up 15 runs on 27 hits. One of those starts was agains the Diamondbacks, who tagged Hale for five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Prior to the season, Hale was a good bet to be either a long reliever or an emergency starter, but due to injury and ineffectiveness he's been thrust into the rotation on a regular basis. His time in that role might be running short, especially if he gives up another five runs, as he's done in each of his last three outings.

Lefty Patrick Corbin will pitch his first MLB game since September 27, 2013. In that season, Corbin was among the National League's best starters. He posted a 3.41 ERA and a 113 ERA+ in 32 starts and over 200 innings. Tommy John surgery knocked Corbin out before the 2014 season got underway. Corbin will be the third pitcher in the last four days to make his return from Tommy John surgery, joining Matt Moore and Jose Fernandez.

Corbin deploys a three pitch mix that includes a two-seam sinking fastball, which he throws most of the time, a four-seam fastball, and a slider. In 2013, both of his fastballs averaged about 93 mph, so that's the number to look for to determine whether or not Corbin is returning with the same velocity he had before. Corbin's swing-and-miss pitch is his slider. In 2013, he threw that about 20 percent of the time.

Walt Weiss will trot out a righty heavy lineup against Corbin, which means no Carlos Gonzalez.

In case you're wondering, I've long since exhaled with regard to DJ LeMahieu. He's hitting second again, but it's been clear for sometime now he shouldn't be anywhere near the top of the lineup. After posting an improbably excellent .406/.446/.522 triple slash in April, it fell to a more normal for him but still not bad .283/.340/.380 line in May. In June, however, it plummeted to a dismal .252/.312/.330 line. Measured by wRC+, LeMahieu is the 123 most productive hitter in baseball out of 163 qualified batters—and that includes his April. It was fun while it lasted, but it sure looks like it's time to recalibrate.

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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>

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<th align="left">COLORADO ROCKIES</th>

<th align="left">ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</th>

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<tr><td class="td-last td-name">Charlie Blackmon - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">A.J. Pollock - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">DJ LeMahieu - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Troy Tulowitzki - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Paul Goldschmidt - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Nolan Arenado - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Yasmany Tomas - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Wilin Rosario - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jake Lamb - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Drew Stubbs - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jarrod Saltalamacchia - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Nick Hundley - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Chris Owings - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Brandon Barnes - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nick Ahmed - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">David Hale - RHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Patrick Corbin - LHP</td></tr></tbody>

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