The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to battle rookie arms and inconsistent veterans against the Athletics.
Fresh off a historic comeback, the Arizona Diamondbacks will look to keep their momentum alive against the Athletics.
Now just half a game back from a Wild Card spot, the 51-48 Diamondbacks have a prime opportunity to rack up some wins against an Athletics team that is 15 games under .500.
Zac Gallen's placement on the Injured List has left Arizona with a to-be-determined starter on Tuesday, July 21.
Merrill Kelly is scheduled to make his second start of the second half, and it'll be Mitch Bratt taking the mound for the series opener.
Monday, July 20
Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 6.08 ERA) vs. Mitch Bratt (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Bratt hasn't recorded a decision in either of his two starts this season. The rookie hasn't managed to go deeper than three innings, and D-backs fans should expect more of the same to begin this series. He's thrown 112 pitches in the big leagues thus far, recording just three strikeouts to five walks. In total, he's allowed four earned runs on five hits.
Jeffrey Springs is set to go toe-to-toe with the rookie as one of two left-handed starting pitchers the Diamondbacks will see in this series. Springs, 33, has allowed six earned runs in four of his last five starts.
Tuesday, July 21
Jack Perkins (2-5, 6.87 ERA) vs. TBD
The Diamondbacks are keeping their game two starter close to the chest, but they know this is their lone chance to face a right-handed starter in the series. Perkins is coming off a 0.5 WAR rookie season, a number that sits at -0.7 with double the sample size here in 2026. He's already given up 10 earned runs in the month of July and hasn't gone deeper than 5.0 innings in a game this season.
Wednesday, July 22
Gage Jump (3-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Merrill Kelly (7-8, 5.20 ERA)
Kelly's first start after the All-Star break saw him give up a solo homer in 5.0 innings of work. He only allowed four hits, and while he gave up three runs, only one of which was earned. Interestingly, his start on Friday, July 17 was the first time he didn't record a decision in a game since Sunday, May 31.
Arizona will face a left-handed rookie in the series finale, one that sports a stellar 1.3 WAR and 1.32 WHIP. Gage Jump is trending in the wrong direction though as he's picked up a loss in each of his four starts. After starting the year 3-1, he's given up 14 earned runs in his last four starts.
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