D’back fans’ have at least one Andrew Chafin start to look forward to. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Six games, six chances for the Arizona Diamondbacks to avoid 100 losses. Maybe they get to win number 63 Tuesday night when rookie Andrew Chafin makes his third Major League start. It is one of the few remaining reasons why there will be any interest left in the D’backs after they have seemingly collapsed after getting swept in Colorado.
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Chafin has allowed two runs in 11 innings so far. He threw five shutout frames on August 13th and then allowed two runs in six innings last Wednesday vs. the Giants. He has also impressed both teammates and manager Kirk Gibson to work through issues when he doesn’t have his best stuff, according to Zach Buchanan at azcentral. Says reliever Will Harris:
"“He’s a really good competitor,” Harris said. “He has days where maybe he doesn’t have his best stuff. You know he’s not going to give in; he’s not going to feel sorry for himself. He’s going to try and figure it out.”"
It’s hard to say if Chafin will be in the rotation next season. I am sure he will have to battle it out in Spring Training with a host of other candidates, one of whom is expected to be top prospect Archie Bradley. However, Chafin has shown in his limited run that Major League hitters do not scare him. What the D’backs’ really need is someone who can throw 200 innings. Outside of Wade Miley, this team doesn’t have anyone at the moment capable of doing that. But that’s a topic for another day.
I think since he pitches on Tuesday, Chafin should be the one who pitches the last game of the season on Sunday. Arizona should give the home fans who have suffered so much this season a glimpse of better days in 2015.