Let’s play four in Phoenix.
For the third straight game, Walt Weiss has penciled in the same lineup. (And for the second straight series, the Braves social team has used “New series on deck” as the accompanying copy…)
I’m mostly interested who, if anyone, plans to step up offensively. Reigning ROY or not, Baldwin can’t do it all on his own. Looking at the birthday boy Austin Riley, in particular. I’ve heard a trip around the bases is a nice way to turn 29.
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Being home has been good to the Diamondbacks, who will send Ryne Nelson to the mound tonight. They responded to being swept by the Dodgers with their own sweep of the Tigers. In that series, they had a Michael Soroka immaculate inning (see you Saturday, old friend), Zac Gallen outdueling Tarik Skubal, and rookie Jose Fernandez homering twice in his debut. Fernandez won’t be at first base tonight, though – that will be Carlos Santana, who was signed to a 1-year deal in February.
Here’s the rest of the lineup for AZ:
Yes, you’re seeing that right. Nolan Arenado is a Diamondback now and is batting sixth.
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As we noted in the preview, our lefties Matt Olson and Michael Harris II homered off Ryne Nelson when he last faced the Braves in July 2024. Fingers crossed some of the Arizona heat will help the Braves’ hard-hit outs leave the yard.