Reds vs. Diamondbacks: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

Injuries threaten to upend the D-backs season.

Chances are Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is not going to blame injuries for his team’s slow start, but there’s no denying the Diamondbacks are playing at less than full strength. The D-backs squad that takes the field in Cincinnati will be missing four integral parts of their roster.

Centerfielder Ketel Marte, the club’s best player, remains sidelined with a right hamstring injury. Even though he’s eligible to be activated, he’s just now hitting off a tee and doing some light running. As a result, it’s implausible he’ll play this series.

Marte’s replacement in centerfield, Tim Locastro, will join him on the shelf due to a jammed finger. To add salt to Locastro’s wound, he injured himself when he was caught stealing against the Washington Nationals. It snapped an MLB record of 29 successful stolen base attempts to begin a career.

First baseman Christian Walker also took his place on the IL on April 12th due to a strained oblique. As Reds Country knows all too well, oblique injuries can be wildly unpredictable. Finally, veteran reliever and free-agent acquisition Joakim Soria appeared in just one game before succumbing to a calf injury; however, his return, much to the delight of the D-backs, seems imminent.

Entering play today, the Diamondbacks are a below-average team across the board. Their offensive slash line of .223/.311/.388 sits below the .233/.315/.393 NL average. Currently, second baseman Eduardo Escobar leads the club with six homers and 11 RBIs.

Surrendering the long ball has been an issue for Arizona hurlers. The 24 homers they’ve surrendered equals the total of gopher balls given up by Reds pitching for the most in the senior circuit. The 5.19 runs allowed per game are tied for the second-worst mark in the league as well.

The starting rotation has been the biggest issue for D-backs pitching coach Matt Herges.  Diamondback starters have allowed 25 bases on balls and 90 hits in just 81.1 innings. Needless to say, the basepaths have been busy early and often against Arizona pitching.