Game #83: Diamondbacks @ Padres

A win tonight, and the Diamondbacks will not occupy fifth place in the NL West, for the first time since last year.

Josh Collmenter RHP, 6-4, 3.87

Eric Stults LHP, 2-10, 5.49

Diamondbacks Lineup

1. Ender Inciarte - CF
2. Aaron Hill - 2B
3. Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
4. Martin Prado - 3B
5. Miguel Montero - C
6. Cody Ross - LF
7. Gerardo Parra - RF
8. Didi Gregorius - SS
   
9. Josh Collmenter - P

The quality pitching this series just keeps on coming. After McCarthy last night, we get to see the other 10-game loser in the major leagues tonight, in Stults. And unlike McCarthy, he can't really complain too much, since his FIP is also north of five. This will happen when you only strike out five batters per nine innings, even if you get to play in Petco, which nicely suppresses your home-run tally. Of course, Stults has been the victim of some severely inept run support, averaging 2.52 runs. But that's about part for the course with the 2014 Padres. Here's to us making him the first 11-game loser tonight.

No Chris Owings again. The word is that his left shoulder is still inflamed and playing him up, and he's not likely to take part in tomorrow's contest either. Indeed, he's going to be sent back to Phoenix on Monday's off-day for examination, which is never a good sign. That's why we have Gregorius in there against a left-handed starter, though this does also get Ross his weekly start. Don't look now, but Ross is hitting .324 in June. Admittedly, it's a June where he has only had 37 plate appearances, which has got to be close to a career low for a month when he has not been hurt and missed playing times.

And, yes! If we win tonight, we'll be in a tie with the Padres for fourth place! With the Rockies' loss this afternoon, we'll also be just one game behind them for third place! Mediocrity beckons! I'm so excited! Hey, you generate your enthusiasm wherever you can find it, I reckon.