Before the game, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson announced that bullpen long man, Josh Collmenter, has been moved to the 15 day disabled list. According to a team press release, the issue deals with some sort of stomach ailment pertaining to ulcers.
Gibby noted that after he got off the plane last night, Collmenter was not feeling too well and has been placed on the DL because of it. Brad Bergesen has been recalled from AAA Reno to help fill Collmenter's role while he is out.
I caught up with Henry Blanco before the game to talk to him about his torn UCL in his left thumb. He had surgery on it yesterday here in Phoenix. "Everything went well," Blanco said of the surgery. "We've just got to wait the six weeks and see what happens after that."
On whether he expects to be back before the end of the regular season, Blanco seemed optimistic. "I'm going to try and do the best I can to see what I can do in six weeks and [we will] see what's going to happen after that."
Tonight's game vs. the Nationals also marks the debut for Chris Johnson at Chase Field. Johnson has been spectacular since coming over to the D-backs in a trade with the Astros. During the month of August, Johnson has not yet been able to play at home and has still managed to get 9 hits with 4 home runs and 10 RBI's in 30 at-bats.
In the hitter friendly Chase Field, those numbers should only get better. Johnson seemed to acknowledge that when I spoke with him before the game. "It's a really good place to hit, it's got a great batter's eye. It'll definitely take some getting used to being that it's my home park now. But I'm excited. It's just like going on the road for me right now and trying to get comfortable at the plate. It shouldn't be too hard because this is a pretty good place to hit."
As far as Willie Bloomquist goes, the disabled list has been something that has been discussed Gibson said, but that for right now, he will just be day-to-day. "He's actually way better today [Friday] than he was yesterday. He's probably being held out of activity more on our behalf right now. He's had an MRI and everything looks fine."
Gibby also noted that Parra is likely to play in center field for the first two games of the series while Chris Young will sub in for the final game before the team hits the road once again.
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Nationals:
Stephen Lombardozzi (2B)
Bryce Harper (CF)
Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
Adam LaRoche (1B)
Michael Morse (LF)
Jayson Werth (RF)
Danny Espinosa (SS)
Kurt Suzuki (C)
Stephen Strasburg (P)
Diamondbacks:
Stephen Drew (SS)
Aaron Hill (2B)
Jason Kubel (LF)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
Justin Upton (RF)
Miguel Montero (C)
Chris Johnson (3B)
Gerardo Parra (CF)
Trevor Cahill (P)
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