The Arizona Diamondbacks cruised to a 9-1 victory last night over the Texas Rangers at Chase Field. The D-backs sit just 1/2 a game back of the San Diego Padres for the last NL wild card spot and the Friars are feeling the heat. With last night’s win, the Snakes have now won 5 of their last 6. In tonight’s second game of their 3-game set Arizona is expected to send Brandon Pfaadt to the rubber and he has been solid. Pfaadt is 7-2 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Rangers who sit 3 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for the last AL wild card spot have lost their last 3 games and are expected to send Kumar Rocker to the hill. He is not the answer. Rocker is 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and was lit up in his last turn against the Tampa Bay Rays yielding 9 hits and 6 runs over 5 frames resulting in a 7-6 loss. Arizona boasts a 42-31 record at Chase Field and has the edge in runs scored, run differential, batting average and hits.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS