MLB Game Preview - Philadelphia at Arizona
Tue Aug 6, 2019 9:40 PM EDT

CHW
5
DET
3
F
MIL
4
PIT
3
F
NYY
9
BAL
4
F
MIA
0
NYM
5
F
LAA
4
CIN
8
F
CHW
6
DET
10
F
KC
6
BOS
2
F
TOR
6
TB
7
F(10)
OAK
11
CHC
4
F
ATL
12
MIN
7
F
COL
6
HOU
11
F
PHI
4
ARI
8
F
WSH
5
SF
3
F
SD
9
SEA
4
F
STL
1
LAD
3
F
TEX
CLE
PPD
Arizona collegian Leake to make D-backs debut vs. Phils
Tue Aug 6, 2019 4:53 AM

Ten years after pitching for the Arizona State Sun Devils, Mike Leake will pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Leake, the eighth pick of the 2009 draft, will make his Diamondbacks' debut on Tuesday night after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners at last week's trade deadline. Leake (9-8, 4.27 ERA) will go against Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta (8-8, 4.44) in the middle game of a three-game series in Phoenix.

"It's a little surreal," Leake told reporters about his return to the Phoenix area. "Playing for my hometown team is a dream for me. So it's nice to be here and have that opportunity."

Leake, 31, had a near no-hitter on July 19, giving up a leadoff single in the ninth but finishing a 10-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Angels. The Diamondbacks like his "consistency, pitchability, strike-throwing and durability," according to general manager Mike Hazen.

Plus, the team needed a veteran starter after trading Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros at the deadline.

"My velocity is down a little bit right now, so I've had to learn how to pitch a little bit more this year," Leake said. "I think the ability to pay attention to the hitters and adjust to what they're doing in the game -- how they're adjusting analytically with the launch angle stuff -- it's definitely making me have to work a little harder. It's fun. It's part of the game."

In 11 career starts against Philadelphia, Leake is 3-3 with a 5.05 ERA, although his last outing against the Phillies was in 2017.

Leake will have to deal with slugger Bryce Harper, who entered Monday night's game hitting .222 with three home runs in 20 games since the All-Star break. The lefty was quieter in his stance at the plate, changing the angle of how he held the bat, keeping it mostly upright.

Harper went 2-for-5, including reaching on a check-swing single. He came up empty on his hardest-hit ball -- a sharp drive to the warning track in left-center field in the first inning.

Arrieta, dealing with a bone spur in his pitching elbow, has failed to complete six innings in each of his past five starts, maxing out at 88 pitches in that span. He is 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Phillies outfielder Corey Dickerson, acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, was out of the starting lineup Monday night as he recovers from a groin injury. He pinch hit in the eighth inning, striking out, but figures to get the call Tuesday.

"We felt like the best decision for the Phillies long term and for Corey Dickerson's health was to give him the blow," manager Gabe Kapler said on MLB.com. "He's very close to being full strength. This is more getting him to full strength and not managing through an injury."

Philadelphia's 7-3 victory Friday night moved the Phillies into a tie with the Washington Nationals for the two wild-card spots in the National League, a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Diamondbacks dropped 3 1/2 games back after taking two of three from Washington in a weekend series.

"I was feeling really good about how we could come out and execute," said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. "But we didn't."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Philadelphia            
Arizona            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Jake Arrieta - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Arizona
Mike Leake - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Philadelphia

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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