Arizona Diamondbacks: 5 Players to Watch 7/6-7/12

Jul 3, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) looks on prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

It is hard to believe that the 2015 season is already half over. We are on the doorstep of the All-Star Break and the Arizona Diamondbacks are a surprising 40-42, on the outskirts of playoff contention. After losing 98 games last year and sporting one of the youngest rosters in baseball, the D’backs’ season so far has to be labeled a success.

The week ahead features two off-days. After being idle Monday, the D’backs travel to Texas to face the Rangers Tuesday and Wednesday. After another day off on Thursday,  the final three games of the “first half” have the D’backs coming further East to New York to play the pitching rich, hitting poor Mets. Shameless self-promotion alert: I will be featured on a Mets’ podcast this coming Thursday at 4:30 PM MST. You can find it at www.metsmusings.com and I will be talking with host Gary McDonald to discuss the Mets-D’backs series.

Here are the five Diamondbacks to watch during the week ahead.