Bobby Freeman loves his job as Arizona Diamondbacks organist
Bobby Freeman has been the Arizona Diamondbacks organist since the team started. No one loves their job more than he does.
Former Diamondback Christian Walker returns to Chase Field with the Astros.The Diamondbacks then embark on a nine-game road trip, starting with the Pirates.
The first full week of the post-All-Star break Major League Baseball schedule has the Arizona Diamondbacks at home for three games against the Houston Astros July 21-23, then the start of a nine-game road trip with three games in Pittsburgh July 25-27.
The Diamondbacks conclude a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, July 20, before continuing the six-game homestand against the Astros.
Houston leads the American League West and had four players in the July 15 All-Star Game, though none of them played in the game.
Closer Josh Hader just didn’t get the call from the bullpen. Infielder Isaac Paredes had a family matter to attend to, infielder Jeremy Peña is dealing with a rib injury. Starting pitcher Hunter Brown pitched last Sunday, so he could not pitch in the All-Star Game.
Peña hit .322 prior to the break. Brown and Framber Valdez combined for 19 wins in the first part of the season. Hader was 25 for 26 in save opportunities at the break.
The Astros have made the postseason in each of the past eight seasons and have two World Series titles. But that team that won it all in 2022 is largely broken up, with José Altuve the mainstay who still plays for Houston.
The series marks the return of former longtime Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, who left Arizona in free agency last offseason and signed with the Astros.
Walker was a fan favorite and should get a warm welcome back to Chase Field. He slashed .286/.374/.660 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs in 90 games before the All-Star break.
The Pirates, who took two of three games from the Diamondbacks in late May at Chase Field, are struggling and are well out of the race for an NL wild card. But they have one of the dynamic pitchers in the game, All-Star starter Paul Skenes, who could pitch against Arizona at PNC Park during the weekend.