D-backs Starting Lineup & Game Preview: Lamb Rises, Marte Returns, Walker on the Hill

The Diamondbacks have won three games in a row and come into tonight looking to make if four. They’re going up against rookie Chris Stratton, who’s making the second start of his major-league career. In his first start he gave up five runs on six hits and five walks. If he has trouble with his control early, look for the D-backs to take advantage and work his pitch count up.

After two games batting seventh in the order, Jake Lamb is back up near the top, batting third. There’s no question that Jake hasn’t been quite as sharp as he was in the first half of the season. So far in the second half he’s slashing .200/.372/.450 with just three home runs and a 104 wRC+. I can’t help but wonder if he’d be better off batting from fourth in the lineup, which is where he hit from primarily during the first half.

Consider this, Lamb played in 85 games during the first half of the season. In 77 of those games (90.6%) he hit from fourth in the order. He was All-Star selection and slashed .279/.376/.546 with 20 home runs and a 128 wRC+. So far in the second half, Lamb has bat fourth only three of the 18 games he’s played in (16.6%).

Preceeding Lamb, and batting leadoff, is David Peralta. He’s followed by A.J. Pollock batting second. Following Lamb is red-hot Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez. He’s followed by Daniel Descalso, who’s playing second base, and Ketel Marte at shortstop. Marte is playing in his first game since returning from bereavement leave.

Jeff Mathis, who’s riding a 16-game streak where he’s reached base safely, is behind the dish catching for Taijuan Walker.

Here’s tonight’s #Dbacks starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/ckTbNAetIU

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 5, 2017