Mets-Diamondbacks Game 1 Preview: The Experiment
By Joseph Jacquez
Apr 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It hasn’t been pretty this season. After being swept by the archival Dodgers, the Diamondbacks are now 4-11 on the season which is the worst record in the majors. The Snakes are six games back in the National League West. The team made some moves over the past week and one of those features in tonight’s game: Josh Collmenter or the tomahawk as he is known makes his return to the starting rotation. He is undefeated in his last seven starts. Collmenter is very deceptive, has a high arm delivery which most hitters are not used to seeing, and he really commands all of his pitchers. Hopefully Collmenter can give the Dbacks some innings and right the ship for the worst starting rotation in baseball. The Dbacks have lost the most ball games of any teams this season and its interesting to look how are record breaks down. The Dbacks are 1-7 when trailing after the third inning and have been outscored in every inning expect the ninth. The third has been mean to the Snakes; Of the 12 times the Dbacks have let the opposition score in the opening third of the game, only on three occasions has it been a single run, the other nine, they’ve put up a crooked number. Hopefully that changes tonight with Josh on the mound. Here is all the info you need to know about tonight’s game:
Up Next:
What: Mets@Diamondbacks
When: 6:40pm
Where: Chase Field
TV/Radio: FSAZ +/KTAR FM (92.3)
Matchup: RHP Zach Wheeler (0-2 5.73 era) vs. RHP Josh Collmenter (0-0 2.25 era)
Need to Know: Collmenter steps into the rotation in place of Randall Delgado, who struggled to go past four innings in his first two starts. Collmenter last started a game in 2012, but he had a six-inning relief appearance last year….If he plans to keep the Mets at bay he will have to deal with the middle of the lineup: David Wright and Curtis Granderson….Wright has hit two homers in his career off Collmenter…He is 1-1 with a 4.50 era in his career against New York…Wheeler’s return to Atlanta in his second start, got away quickly last Wednesday when he gave up four runs in five innings. He’ll look to change things against a D-backs team that mustered only one run off him in 6 1/3 innings of a start last August….Wheeler has great stuff and commands his stuff but both righties and lefties are hitting well against him.
Dbacks Lineup:
- Gerardo Parra – RF
- Aaron Hill – 2B
- Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
- Miguel Montero – C
- Martin Prado – 3B
- Mark Trumbo – LF
- Chris Owings – SS
- A.J. Pollock CF
- Josh Collmenter – P
Probable starters for the next two games:
Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-0, 4.82) vs. Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-0, 4.09).
Wednesday: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-2, 7.78) vs. Mets RHP Dillon Gee (0-0, 5.03).