D-backs vs. Padres Discussion
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Today’s Lineups
PADRESDIAMONDBACKSFernando Tatis – RFCorbin Carroll – RFJake Cronenworth – 2BGeraldo Perdomo – SSManny Machado – DHMax Kepler – LFTy France – 1BKetel Marte – 2BJackson Merrill – CFNolan Arenado – 3BLuis Rengifo – LFAdrian Del Castillo – DHLuis Campusano – CTim Tawa – 1BXander Bogaerts – SSJames McCann – CSung-Mun Song – 3BRyan Waldschmidt – CFMichael King – RHPBrandon Pfaadt – RHPAfter a brief break, it’s time for the next Most Important Series of the Season™. We welcome the Padres to Chase Field for the first time this season – though it’s not the first home series against them. That conundrum is explained by the fact that the home series in April took place in Mexico City. It was an offense-minded event, the teams combining to score 29 runs across the two games, each winning once, and was an interesting cultural exercise. But it kinda sucks that it counted as a “home” series for Arizona, when this set of four is the only time we actually get to host San Diego this year. With head-t0-head now the first tiebreaker, that could end up mattering.
Certainly, everything still to play for between the two teams, with the season score currently tied, at 3-3, with seven games left to play. The Diamondbacks have a slight edge after splitting the four games in Petco last month. If everybody “hold serve” the rest of the way, then they’d win 7-6. But I’ve a feeling it might not be that easy. While the D-backs are currently tied with the Phillies for the second/third wild-card spots, the Padres are lurking, just one game back. So, anything less than a split would see Arizona drop behind San Diego, and depending on what Philadelphia do (they’re hosting Washington), potentially out of a playoff spot entirely.
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It might end up being a pitcher’s duel tonight. Both starters went in the July series, and got wins in their respective starts. Brandon Pfaadt gave the D-backs five scoreless innings, combining with two relievers on an eight-hit shutout, as they took the opener, 8-0. But two days later, Michael King was almost as good, allowing one run over six innings, as the Padres cruised to a 10-4 victory. We’ll see who prevails tonight, as we come down from the breathless excitement of the trade deadline [sorry, there’s no sarcasm font available when you’re writing a Gameday Thread…]