Nicole: Kevin, the Diamondbacks just got punched in the mouth by the Giants, and now they've got to turn around and do it again tomorrow. Can they avoid dropping two straight to the worst team in the division?
Kevin: Nicole, that's the question. But here's the thing: the D-backs are still 71-64, sitting third in the NL West, and this is a golden chance to get right against a team they've owned at home. Let's break it down.
Nicole: Welcome back to Beatline, the podcast where we talk Diamondbacks baseball all season long. I'm your host Nicole, and as always, the sharpest baseball mind in the game, Kevin, is right here with me.
Kevin: Happy to be here, Nicole. And to the Snake Pit, you know we've got you covered. Today we're previewing the series finale against the Giants, and we've got three big things to hit.
Nicole: First, we're breaking down the pitching matchup and what the D-backs need from their starter. Then we're digging into the offensive struggles and the bullpen concerns, plus a major injury update. And finally, we're giving you our keys to the series and a bold prediction.
Nicole: Stick with us, because this one's gonna be good.
Nicole: Alright Kevin, let's start with the big picture. The D-backs dropped the series opener last night, 6-1 to the Giants. Drew Gilbert homered, Landen Roupp pitched five solid innings, and the Giants snapped a four-game home losing streak against Arizona. What did you see from that game?
Kevin: Honestly, it was a flat effort. The offense couldn't get anything going, and the pitching wasn't sharp enough to keep them in it. But the good news is, it's just one game. They've got a chance to even the series tomorrow night.
Nicole: And what do we know about the pitching probables for tomorrow? I know the D-backs haven't announced a starter yet, but who do you expect to get the ball?
Kevin: Given the rotation, I'd expect either Merrill Kelly or Brandon Pfaadt to take the mound. Kelly has been the veteran anchor, and Pfaadt has shown flashes. Whoever it is, they need to give the D-backs length because the bullpen has been taxed lately.
Nicole: The Giants are 55-79, fourth in the NL West, so this is a team the D-backs should beat. But they just lost to them. What's the key for the starter to keep the Giants' offense in check?
Kevin: First, they've got to keep the ball down. The Giants have some power, and if you leave pitches up, they'll make you pay. Second, they need to attack the strike zone early. The Giants have a lot of young hitters who will chase, so getting ahead in counts is crucial.
Nicole: You mentioned the bullpen being taxed. Let's get into that. The bullpen has been a concern all season. Who's available and who can they trust right now?
Kevin: Well, Kevin Ginkel has been solid, and Justin Martinez has electric stuff, but he can be wild. Jonathan Loaisiga has experience, but he's been inconsistent. The issue is, after a rough start last night, they had to go to the pen early, so that could affect availability tomorrow.
Nicole: So it sounds like the starter is going to be huge. If they can go six or seven innings, that takes pressure off the bullpen. But if they get knocked out early, it could be a long night.
Kevin: Exactly. And that's why this game is so important. A win here would keep them in the wild-card hunt, but a loss would be a missed opportunity against a team they should beat.
Nicole: Let's shift to the offense. The D-backs scored just one run last night. That's been a recurring theme lately. What's going on with the bats?
Kevin: It's a mix of bad luck and poor approaches. They're not stringing together hits, and they're not driving in runners in scoring position. Guys like Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar need to step up. Lawlar homered in the Cubs series, but they need more consistency from the top of the order.
Nicole: Speaking of Lawlar, he's been a bright spot. But what about the middle of the order? Nolan Arenado is day-to-day, and that's a huge concern. What's the latest on him?
Kevin: He's day-to-day, which is good news, but if he can't go, that's a big hole in the lineup. They need his bat and his defense at third. The good news is they have some depth, but it's not the same.
Nicole: And we've got a lot of injuries right now. Ketel Marte is on the 10-day IL, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the 10-day IL, and Tommy Troy is also on the 10-day IL. That's a lot of firepower missing.
Kevin: It is, but that's where guys like Max Kepler and Lars Nootbaar have to step up. They were brought in for depth, and now they need to produce. Kepler has been solid, but they need more from everyone.
Nicole: The Giants have some injuries too, like Jung Hoo Lee day-to-day and Marcelo Mayer on the IL. So it's not like they're facing a fully healthy team. But they still beat us last night.
Kevin: Right, and that's what makes it frustrating. The Giants are a team that's been struggling all season, but they showed up last night. The D-backs need to show more fight.
Nicole: What about the defense? Any concerns there?
Kevin: Defense has been okay, but they can't afford any lapses. With the pitching staff struggling, they need to make the routine plays. A couple of errors could be the difference in a tight game.
Nicole: Alright, so the offense needs to wake up, the bullpen needs to hold, and the defense needs to be sharp. What are the keys to this game?
Nicole: Kevin, let's get into the keys to the series. We're down 0-1, so tomorrow is a must-win to avoid the sweep. What do the D-backs need to do to even things up?
Kevin: First, they need to get ahead early. If they can score first, it puts pressure on the Giants' starter. Second, they need quality at-bats. They can't be swinging at bad pitches and getting themselves out. Finally, the bullpen needs to be sharp. If they can get a lead, they need to close it out.
Nicole: And what about the mental side? After a tough loss, how do they bounce back?
Kevin: They've got to have a short memory. It's one game, and they can't let it snowball. The veterans need to keep the clubhouse loose, and the young guys need to feed off that energy. If they come out with the right mindset, they'll be fine.
Nicole: Now, we made some predictions before this series. Kevin, you said the D-backs would take two of three, and Jordan Lawlar would hit two home runs. Nicole, you predicted a sweep with a walk-off win. We're already off on the sweep. How are you feeling about your predictions now?
Nicole: I'm not going to lie, Kevin, I'm a little worried. But I still believe in this team. I'll stick with the walk-off, but I might adjust the sweep to just a series win.
Kevin: That's fair. For me, Lawlar is still due. He's been swinging the bat well, and I think he goes deep tomorrow. As for the series, I still like the D-backs to take two of three, but they need to win tomorrow first.
Nicole: Alright, so what's your bold prediction for tomorrow's game?
Kevin: I'm going to say the D-backs win 5-2, with Lawlar hitting a home run and the bullpen slamming the door. And I'll predict that the offense finally breaks out with at least 10 hits.
Nicole: I like it. I'm going to say 6-4 D-backs, with a back-and-forth game that comes down to the ninth. And I'll predict that Corbin Carroll steals two bases and scores the go-ahead run.
Nicole: So there you have it, folks. We'll see if these predictions hold up. But before we go, let's recap what we've talked about today.
Nicole: We broke down the pitching matchup, the offensive struggles, and the bullpen concerns. We talked about the injuries and what the D-backs need to do to bounce back. And we made our predictions for tomorrow's game.
Kevin: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to Beatline and leave us a rating and review. Share it with your fellow D-backs fans, because we're all in this together.
Nicole: And as always, go D-backs! We'll see you tomorrow for the rubber match. Until then, this is Nicole and Kevin signing off.
Kevin: Go Snakes!