Flawless Pitching
With their lineup slumping, the Arizona Diamondbacks have needed nearly flawless starting pitching to have any chance at a victory. No one in baseball has come closer to providing that of late than Dan Haren.
Haren will try to compensate for any further Diamondbacks struggles at the plate in the decisive game of a three-game series against the last-place Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Arizona -150 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 7.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 85% of bets for this game have been placed on Arizona –150 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Arizona (45-46) managed three hits in a 5-0 loss to Washington on Wednesday night, dropping it into a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West. The Diamondbacks have lost 15 of their last 23, averaging 3.08 runs during that stretch.
The last time Arizona scored more than three runs was in a 6-5 win over Milwaukee last Thursday.
"It’s pretty frustrating," said Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, whose team didn’t get a runner past first base Wednesday. "All our guys are frustrated."
Despite its problems at the plate, Arizona came within a victory of its first three-game winning streak in nearly two months. The Diamondbacks scored five runs over their previous two contests, but gave up only two.
Arizona may need another outstanding pitching performance as it tries to at least keep pace with Los Angeles, and Haren (8-5, 2.83 ERA) may be the ideal candidate to deliver one. The right-hander is 3-1 in seven starts since the start of June, posting a major league-best 1.50 ERA among starters in that span.
Haren, though, has gotten six total runs to work with in his last three starts. He took the loss in his last outing despite giving up two runs and striking out seven in seven innings of a 5-1 defeat to San Diego on Friday night. The loss was his first since May 27.
Haren faced Washington on June 1, allowing four hits and striking out five in seven innings to earn a 5-0 victory. He’s 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance all-time against the Nationals franchise.
Arizona may not have Justin Upton in the lineup after the right fielder was scratched Wednesday with a strained rib cage muscle. Upton, hitting .242 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs, is day-to-day.
Upton was replaced in the batting order by Chad Tracy, who played first base. Conor Jackson shifted from left field to right.
Arizona will be facing Washington’s Jason Bergmann (1-6, 4.15), who has lost five straight decisions since beating the New York Mets on May 15. Bergman, though, has a 1.73 ERA in his last four starts.
The right-hander gave up three runs – two earned – and six hits in six innings as Washington lost 3-0 to Cincinnati on Friday. He hasn’t pitched well against Arizona, going 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in four starts.
The Nationals got a strong start from John Lannan on Wednesday to help them end a six-game skid in the middle game of this series.
"It’s great to end the losing streak," Lannan said.
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