The Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to avoid being swept at home for the third time this season, as they take on the Washington Nationals this afternoon. The Nationals are undoubtedly the hottest team in baseball right now, riding an eight game win streak, and currently holding the best record in baseball at 71-43. They have had the D-backs number this season, as they have won four straight against them, and hold a 4-1 edge heading into today's game.
Patrick Corbin, who recently turned 23 last month, will be making his first career appearance against the Washington Nationals. In his last outing, he posted a career-high seven strikeouts in six innings, but did not figure in the win. Corbin was recalled from Triple-A Reno August 1, making it the third time he has been brought up to the Diamondbacks this season. When asked about the biggest difference between his first stint in the rotation and how he has looked in his last two outings, Manager Kirk Gibson said, "He knows what he has to do with his pitches, you can't nibble. You've got to command the strike zone, and he's found his breaking ball. He's always been athletic." Gibson also said that the more experience he has at the major league level, the better he will understand the league and his catcher's. Corbin is also understanding that, "You have to make adjustments to survive," at this level. Corbin is 3-4 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts and 12 appearances for the Diamondbacks.
Corbin and the Diamondbacks will be facing lefty Ross Detwiler of the Nationals. In his last meeting against the Diamondbacks, Detwiler outpitched Ian Kennedy to earn a 2-1 victory on May 3. Detwiler did not earn a decision in his most recent outing August 7, as the Nationals defeated the Astros 3-2 in 12 innings. Detwiler is 5-4 on the season, with a 3.21 ERA in 17 starts.
When asked about last night's loss, Kirk Gibson said, "We beat ourselves", although he added, "They're a good team." You just can't make mistakes against good teams or they will beat you 19 out of 20 times. Gibson said, "We've got to be better today," and that's the only way the Diamondbacks will avoid the sweep.
The Diamondbacks have played 29 games in the last 30 days since the All-Star break, and Gibson said, "The schedule is probably getting us a little bit right now, we just got to hang on." Entering today's game, the Diamondbacks are five games behind the Giants and four games behind the Dodgers.
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Nationals:
Danny Espinosa (SS)
Bryce Harper (CF)
Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
Michael Morse (RF)
Adam LaRoche (1B)
Tyler Moore (LF)
Kurt Suzuki (C)
Steve Lombardozzi (2B)
Ross Detwiler (P)
Diamondbacks:
Chris Young (CF)
Aaron Hill (2B)
Jason Kubel (LF)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
Justin Upton (RF)
Miguel Montero (C)
Chris Johnson (3B)
John McDonald (SS)
Patrick Corbin (P)