The baseball marathon continues, with Taylor Widener on the mound.
D-backs line-up
Between the resumption of the suspended game, the regularly scheduled game going extra innings, and now this earliest start time of the season this morning, it seems like the Diamondbacks fans have done nothing but eat, sleep and watch baseball of late. The team does have a chance to do something quite rare today: victory would give them three wins secured in less than 24 hours. That can’t be common. It would presumably involve a similar situation, with a suspended game completed, and an early game the next day. Even a regular double-header would probably require more time. I’m not sure how I’d go about looking that up, so let’s just call it “very rare” and move on.
Also very rare: a starting line-up which, like the Reds’ today, has three “Tylers” in it. In fact, it is reportedly just the second time it has happened in baseball history. The other being eight days ago, with the same three Tylers. They say if you go to a baseball game, you always might see something you’ve never seen before. Of course, it might also be something which you never knew you’d never seen before. And reaching the appropriate level of caring about it, might also require a bit of effort. But, hey, baseball! The Duamondbacks are on a season-high three-game winning streak, and victory here would guarantee them at least a .500 road-trip, before they even reach the last stop. Have to like that.
No pre-game audio today. Jack may still be asleep. I can’t say I blame him – indeed, if it hadn’t for Mrs. SnakePit having to be up early for a work meeting, there’d probably be no preview at all! [Edit: here we are!]
Torey Lovullo notes
- David Peralta has a good match-up today against Jeff Hoffman. Head to head he’s 6 for 12 with a double and a homer. Over the last 4 seasons, David has also hit fly ball pitchers very well and Hoffman is a flyball pitcher
- Dave McKay still recovering, has been going out for walks. Still trying to gain stamina and strength, and walk taking deep breaths without pain.
- Ketel Marte had 4 at bats against Joakim Soria. The next steps for him are to ramp up running intensity, but Torey indicated that won’t be rushed.
- Joakim Soria will pitch at least one or two more times to live hitters before being activated.