D-backs Start Fresh in Chicago vs. White Sox Seeking Win

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a must-win situation against the Chicago White Sox today. They are coming off a series against the Yankees that they should've won, including yesterday's bullpen disaster that gave up the lead. However it's a new day and a fresh start for the team. All was not lost as even though they lost the game and series, the D-backs are still holding a Wild Card spot. While they and the Cubs have the same record, 82-74, the D-backs hold the tiebreaker. This puts them in the second NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs are in the third spot. The Miami Marlins, who hold tiebreakers with both the D-backs and Cubs, are nipping at their heels. They are just one game back of both the Cubs and Diamondbacks.

One thing is certain, the D-backs can't afford to take many more losses. The Cubs are facing the Atlanta Braves and then the Milwaukee Brewers. The Miami Marlins are facing the New York Mets and then the Pittsburgh Pirates. The D-backs have the White Sox and AL Wild Card contending Houston Astros. If they don't go 4-2 this week, there's a possible chance they miss out on the Wild Card. A sweep of the White Sox would go a massive way toward beefing up their playoff chances.

Baseball Reference still gives the D-backs an 80.2% chance of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team. FanGraphs gives Arizona a 78.4% chance to make the National League playoffs.

The White Sox have been long eliminated with a record of 60-96. They are undergoing a lot of changes including at General Manager. Their new GM Chris Getz just hired former Arizona Diamondbacks Director of Player Development, Josh Barfield, to serve as his new Assistant General Manager.

The D-backs are in for another weather-filled series in Chicago. Rain is forecasted for both tonight's game and Wednesday's game. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to overcome the weather.

Pitching Matchup

Zach Davies has had a tough season dealing with multiple injuries and some rough play. His season numbers aren't pretty. He has struck out just 7.8 batters per nine innings while walking 4.3 batters per nine. Davies has given up nine home runs in just 17 starts.

However, his FIP indicates that his ERA isn't true to how he's been pitching. Perhaps he's the victim of some unlucky plays or errors. His ERA in September is 6.35 but his FIP is a much-better 3.85. He started four games in September and the team has won each of them. He's thrown more than four innings just once though which has left the team scrambling to cover innings. He has just 17 innings over four starts, barely above an average of four per start. Davies has given up 19 hits, 12 runs, and nine walks, but has struck out 18 batters. He's also just given up one home run.

Davies has struggled a lot more on the road than at home. He has pitched in five games on the road and thrown just 23.1 innings. In that time, he's given up 21 runs, 13 walks, and has struck out just 20 batters. He will have to overcome his road struggles to give the D-backs a win today.

José Ureña has struggled in the 2023 season too. He has played for two teams this year, the Rockies and the White Sox. With the Rockies, he lasted just five starts before being let go. He gave up 22 runs in 18.1 innings with Colorado. He's been much better with Chicago though with just eight runs given up in his 16.1 innings pitched. He has walked just two and struck out 15. It's a tale of two teams for the 31-year-old veteran pitcher. He has made three starts with Chicago and pitched at least six innings in two of them. His most recent start was a strong performance against the Washington Nationals when he went six innings and gave up just one run against four strikeouts.

Ureña has pitched just once at home as a member of the White Sox. In the start against the Twins, he gave up six runs, seven hits, and three home runs, and struck out eight batters in 6.1 innings. He is homer-prone as he has given up 12 home runs in just 34.2 innings.

Lineups

Some of the D-backs hitters have some history with Ureña. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has a hit in a single at-bat. Ketel Marte is 4-for-7 (.571). Jace Peterson is 3-for-6. Walker has a home run and two RBI in eight at-bats. However, Tommy Pham is 1-for-11 against him. Corbin Carroll is just two extra-base hits away from tying Chris Young for most extra-base hits in their rookie season.

Meanwhile, the White Sox hitters have faced Davies plenty of times. Benintendi has two hits in five at-bats including a home run. Jimenez has a home run and four RBI in just two at-bats. Trayce Thompson is 3-for-10 with two home runs and four RBI. Andrew Vaughn has two hits in four at-bats including a home run. Tim Anderson has a home run in two at-bats. Davies is in for a tough night against a team that has hit off him well in history.