Let’s go to Phoenix and play four games.
Walter Weiss used the same lineup for the third straight game. (For the second series in a row, the Braves social team is using “New Series on Deck” as an accompanying copy…)
I’m most interested in who, if anyone, plans to step up the offense. Whether he becomes Roy’s king or not, Baldwin can’t do it all alone. Especially look at birthday boy Austin Riley. I heard traveling around the base is a great way to celebrate your 29th birthday.
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Being back home is good for the Diamondbacks, who will get Ryan Nelson on the mound tonight. They responded to being swept by the Dodgers by sweeping the Tigers. In that series, they had a perfect inning from Michael Soroka (old friend, see you on Saturday), Zac Gallen struck out Tarik Skubal, and rookie Jose Fernandez hit two homers in his debut. Fernandez won’t be at first base tonight, though – that’ll be Carlos Santana, who signed a one-year deal in February.
Here’s the rest of AZ’s lineup:
Yes, you read that right. Nolan Arenado is now a Diamondback, batting sixth.
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As we noted in the preview, our lefty Matt Olson and Michael Harris II hit a home run off Ryan Nelson the last time they faced the Braves in July 2024. Fingers crossed some heat in Arizona will help the Warriors’ hard-hitting perimeter get off the court.