Series Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks (34-29) @ Florida Marlins, June 10-13, Games 59-62

NL East Standings

Stadium: Sun Life Stadium
Five-year Run PF*: 1.01
Five-year HR PF*: 0.97
Stadium Dimensions:
Left Field: 330 ft.
Left-Center: 361
Center Field: 404
Right-Center: 361
Right Field: 345

*Five-year regressed park factors provided by Patriot here

Projected Pitching Matchups

June 10: Anibal Sanchez vs. Joe Saunders
June 11: Javier Vazquez vs. Ian Kennedy
June 12: Brad Hand vs. Daniel Hudson
June 13: Ricky Nolasco vs. Zack Duke 

ZiPS In-Season Projections

Projected Lineup

Notes

– Here’s your pitching matchup of interest in the Marlins / D’backs series:

Just a few weeks ago, we were all quite certain that the end was near for Javier Vazquez, but it took a strong performance in the last few games to even allow him to look as good as he does now in terms of strikeouts and walks. Here at Marlin Maniac, I am constantly on Javier Vazquez Velocity Watch, and you fellow Maniacs should be as well. Ever since he started hitting 89 mph consistently, he has been as good as we could have expected. Despite a 4.70 ERA, he has struck out 23 percent of his batters faced in the last four starts while walking just four men (a 4.1 percent mark).

– Last time the Fish and D’backs played, Arizona took two of three over at Chase Field, with the Marlins’ lone win coming with Anibal Sanchez on the mound. Sanchez looks to help break the Marlins’ current losing streak, and he pitches in the game that provides the team the best chance to win. Opposing him on the rubber is Joe Saunders, who is nothing special.

– Were it not for my first test of the semester this upcoming Tuesday, you would know that I would be on watch for Brad Hand’s second start. He had a lot of success against the Atlanta Braves, and hopefully he can keep it up.

Bold Prediction: Marlins win two of four games.