Labor Day brought an odd one to Kansas City: an 11:10 a.m. first pitch for the Diamondbacks and Royals, an early start that feels especially out of place for Arizona.
The morning timing made this a different kind of game day, and it comes with a rough track record for the D-backs. Arizona is just 9-18 all-time on Labor Day, with no game in 2001, and has only one win in six tries this decade. The last morning game in SnakePit history was back in 2000, when Atlanta came to town for a 10:05 a.m. start.
Arizona is also going with another bullpen game. Jose Cabrera is listed as the starter, but he’s set to work as the bulk pitcher, with Derek Law opening. The D-backs should have plenty of arms available behind them, with five pitchers who haven’t worked in five days or more and two more on three days’ rest.
There’s no Corbin Carroll in the lineup, as he’s simply getting the day off. On the other side of that, Geraldo Perdomo is back after taking the friendly fire incident yesterday. The rest of the Arizona lineup features Ketel Marte, Gabriel Moreno, Nolan Arenado, Lourdes Gurriel, Ildemaro Vargas, Tim Tawa, Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Waldschmidt.
Kansas City counters with Carter Jensen behind the plate, Bobby Witt at short, Vinnie Pasquantino at first, Salvador Perez as the designated hitter, Michael Massey at second, Nick Loftin at third, John Rave in right, Matthew Lugo in left, and Kyle Isbel in center, with Noah Cameron listed as the Royals’ left-handed starter.
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Diamondbacks Face A Brutal Late Wild Card Test Against San Diego
The late National League Wild Card race is still hanging around Arizona, but the view from ESPNs MLB experts is not especially encouraging for the Diamondbacks. In their latest round of predictions, the panel backed San Diego to claim the final playoff spot, a nod to a Padres roster that still looks stronger in the places that usually matter most when October is on the line.
Jorge Castillo pointed to the Padres offense and bullpen as the edge, even with San Diego going through its own rough patch at the plate and carrying questions in the rotation. With Mason Miller giving the back end a late-inning lift and Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado still anchoring the lineup, the Padres have enough recognizable firepower to make Arizonas margin for error feel awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]