Diamondbacks Seek First Postseason Berth Since 2017

The Diamondbacks find themselves a strong position to clinch their first postseason berth since 2017. Their magic number is down to just 1 game, with a win or losses by both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds punching in Arizona's ticket for October baseball. As is the case for every important game in the season the D-backs ace, Zac Gallen, takes the mound with the team needing a win.

Should they clinch their first postseason berth in six years, it would also allow them to maneuver their starting rotation in a more favorable way for the Wild Card series. Merrill Kelly could then be set up to start Game 1 of the series, whether it's against the Milwaukee Brewers or Philadelphia Phillies.

However this task won't be easy, as they face a Houston Astros team who are also fighting for their playoff lives. The Astros are still in the American League West division race, thanks to a tiebreaker over the first place Texas Rangers, while holding a one-game lead over the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot. Seattle holds the tiebreaker with a 9-4 record against Houston, adding another layer of complexity. With the Astros' playoff pedigree over the past six seasons, the D-backs need to expect a team that will come at them with a level of intensity they may have never seen before this season.

Pitching Matchups

As stated above, it comes as no surprise that Gallen is starting perhaps the biggest game at Chase Field since the Wild Card playoff game in 2017. The D-backs right-hander has struggled a bit down the stretch, but has a pair of scoreless starts during the month of September. Gallen will need to have his A-game once again facing a Houston lineup that is Top 5 in baseball in batting average (.259), on-base percentage (.332), OPS (.770), and wRC+ (112).

Gallen features a fastball, 92-96 MPH, that has a lot of carry along with a curveball, cutter, and a changeup. Fastball command and having a feel for his curveball will be the key for the D-backs ace to produce another quality start and propel his team into the postseason.

J.P. France was originally slated to start this game but has been scratched due to a family emergency, so José Urquidy will start instead. Urquidy has battled injuries this year, pitching to a 5.84 ERA in 15 games (nine starts) with bad peripherals. Urquidy utilizes a four-seamer, changeup, sweeper, curveball, and sinker. The main pitch the D-backs have to be wary of is the changeup, which is what the Astros right-hander goes to when he needs an out.

Lineups

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returns to the lineup after being scratched from the starting lineup in yesterday's loss to the Chicago White Sox. Gurriel has been battling left shoulder soreness.

Bullpen

The Diamondbacks just came off a bullpen game, in which Bryce Jarvis threw 38 pitches in a loss to the Chicago White Sox yesterday. Kyle Nelson is the only reliever who threw more than 15 pitches, as his 26 may make him unavailable for the game. Luis Frías is the only reliever who threw back-to-back days, but his appearance on Wednesday consisted of a one-pitch out. Otherwise it's all hands on deck for the relief corps as they try to close out a postseason spot.