Washington @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2010 ) Washington 3, Arizona 1
Joe Saunders wasn’t necessarily thrilled when he heard the news that he had been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. After all, he was about to leave the only organization he had known since being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels.
A fresh start might just be what the doctor ordered for a struggling Saunders, who looked sharp in his Arizona debut.
Now Saunders will make his second start in search of his first win with his new club when the Diamondbacks host the Washington Nationals for the second of a four-game set on Tuesday at Chase Field.
Saunders (6-10, 4.51 ERA), who was an All-Star in 2008 and won 16 games last season, wasn’t in his best form prior to being dealt in exchange for Dan Haren last week.
The 29-year-old left-hander was just 6-10 with a 4.62 ERA with the Angels on the campaign. But he went seven strong innings against Philadelphia on Thursday by allowing two runs in a no-decision.
For his career, Saunders has been strong when facing the National League, boasting a record of 6-3 in 11 career starts. He has never faced the Nationals.
Saunders will try to get Arizona back on track after the team has lost nine of 11 overall, including Monday’s 3-1 setback that featured an RBI groundout from Gerardo Parra for the lone offense.
Taking the ball for the Nationals will be Scott Olsen (3-2, 3.67 ERA), who is making his second start since being activated from the disabled list with tightness in his throwing shoulder. He looked good in his return, allowing two earned runs in six innings of a win over Atlanta.
Olsen will try to turn his luck around against Arizona, a team which he has not fared well against at all in his career. In four starts, the left-hander is 0-2 and has given up 21 runs in 21.1 innings.
As a team, the Diamondbacks are hitting .368 against him, with Adam LaRoche (6-for-13 with three homers) having the most success off Olsen.
Washington slugger Adam Dunn, who surprisingly wasn’t traded at the deadline, has homered in two straight - including his 26th blast of the season in Monday’s triumph.
The team did make one big trade, sending closer Matt Capps to Minnesota, creating a vacancy at the backend of the bullpen. Manager Jim Riggleman has said he would use a committee moving forward with Sean Burnett working the ninth Monday for his first save of the year.