Series preview: Diamondbacks eye third place

By Matthew Rzodkiewicz

Jun 23, 2016

Jun 21, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Michael Bourn (1) celebrates the win with Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (13) at the end of the ninth inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

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Players to Watch

For the Diamondbacks, keep an eye out for Archie Bradley and Shelby Miller in this series. If they can follow up on their dominant start and string together some good outings, they have a chance turning this season around. Jake Lamb and Paul Goldschmidt continue to rake for the D-Backs, each hitting two dingers

and batting .409 and .400 in their last seven games, respectively. Peter O’Brien, awarded from the Yankees in the Martin Prado trade, is also quietly earning his keep. He has already hit four homers in his short 2016-campaign, slugging .486 in A.J. Pollock and David Peralta’s absence. O’Brien, in a hitter-friendly ballpark, could definitely be an X-factor in this series.

As for Colorado, it’s hard to choose one slugger to keep an eye on. Nolan Arenado, D.J. LeMahieu, Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, and Trevor Story are all outrageously fun to watch—and all have a compelling case to make the All-Star game in San Diego. That being said, look out for Tyler Anderson. The Rockies spent a lot of time and resources grooming this kid, so lets see if he can live up to the hype against the snakes.