Diamondbacks-Rockies-Preview: Cellar Dwellers

Josh Collmenter looks for victory number 10 tonight against the Rockies. Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Beginning tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks will host a three game series against the division rival Colorado Rockies. The D’backs at 55-78 and the Rockies at 53-80, have two of the worst records in baseball. Both teams’ star players, Paul Goldschmidt for Arizona and Troy Tulowitzki for Colorado, are done for the season. It is safe to say both teams have no chance at the playoffs. It is a good thing Chase Field has two promotions this weekend: Classic TV night this evening and Bob Brenly bobblehead night tomorrow. However, it is still Major League baseball and therefore, fun and entertaining to watch.

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The opener pits the Snakes’ Josh Collmenter against the Rox’s Christian Bergman. Collmenter is coming off one of his best outings of the season. He pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed an unearned run on four hits while striking out eight as the D’backs defeated the San Diego Padres 5-1. Bergman spent two months on the disabled list earlier this season because of a fractured hand. He registered his first Major League victory in his last outing, a 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins. On Saturday, Vidal Nuno will be begging to get his first Arizona victory. Maybe the 10th start is the charm. He has allowed only four earned runs over his last two starts (14 1/3 innings) only to watch as either his offense or his bullpen give him no support. Tyler Matzek, another rookie, starts for the Rockies. He took the loss against the Snakes on August 8th when he gave up three earned runs in five innings as Arizona prevailed 5-3. The finale will feature Chase Anderson for the D’backs and Jorge De La Rosa for the Rockies. Anderson seems to have hit the rookie wall. He has given up ten earned runs in only seven innings over his last two starts. De La Rosa is proving that 2013 was not a fluke. He is 13-9 with a 4.19 ERA after going 16-6 with a 3.49 ERA last year.

Colorado first baseman Justin Morneau was claimed of waivers earlier this week by the Milwaukee Brewers. However, the two clubs could not agree on a deal so Morneau will be spending his weekend in Phoneix. Arizona’s outfielder Ender Inciarte is 7 for 18 over his last four games including a three RBI game on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Third baseman Nolan Arenado resumed his brilliance for the Rockies after a six week stay on the disabled list. He was named National League Player of the Week for August 18th-24th. Catcher Miguel Montero has 67 RBI’s, two behind Goldschmidt’s team-leading total. Collmenter leads the Diamondbacks in wins with 9 and ERA at 4.05.

This weekend’s games is the final meeting at Chase Field between these two teams in 2014.  The D’backs visit Coors Field for the final series of the season between the clubs, a four game set beginning on September 18th.