Diamondbacks Preview Opening Day Lineup Monday versus A's

Ryne Nelson also continues his quest to capture the 5th starter's role.

The Diamondbacks host the Oakland A's today at Salt River Fields, game time is 1:10 P.M. There is an audio Webcast from the A's broadcast team for this game available on MLB.TV

Lineups

D-backs vs. A's Lineups: March 11, 2024 / Michael McDermott

The Diamondbacks are giving a sneak peek at what is likely to be their potential Opening Day lineup. Positionally, all nine projected starters are in the lineup today. The batting order is notable for the fact that Gabriel Moreno is batting third. Moreno was elevated to the third spot in the order during the postseason last year, and it appears that's what Torey Lovullo is thinking about doing going into the season. 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is in the lineup. There was some concern yesterday when he dropped the bat awkwardly after a swing. He was hit on the hand with a pitch on Friday and removed from the game. He was diagnosed with a  left hand contusion, but it wasn't enough to keep him out of the lineup yesterday or today.

Pitching Matchups

Ryne Nelson is making his fourth start of Spring Training. In eight innings so far he's given up three runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out 12.  While the increase in strikeouts and swing-and-miss in general is a very positive sign for Nelson, his work with his secondary stuff remains a work in progress.  The key for Nelson will be the location and shape of his hard slider, change up, and occasional curveball. In order to maximize his mid to upper 90's fastball he needs to be sharp with the breaking stuff so he doesn't become too predictable.

Nelson should be going at least four innings, or get in four "up-downs" as he continues to get stretched out.  Tommy Henry came into camp in the pole position for the 5th starter's role, but has been hit hard in his last two outings.  While the rotation spot is still Henry's to lose, a strong outing from Nelson today coupled with one more rough outing from Henry next time out could vault Nelson ahead in the competition.   

Relievers Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, Miguel Castro, and Ryan Thompson are also expected to pitch today.   Sewald has been battling velocity loss this spring while trying to develop a new changeup into a "plus pitch".  Ginkel began camp slowly due to elbow soreness, but seems to be fully recovered and will be pitching in his second Cactus League game.

The A's starter today is  top pitching prospect Joe Boyle, who averages 98 MPH with his four-seam fastball.  He also throws a slider and a curveball. Last year he was called up to get three starts. In 16 innings he posted a 1.69 ERA, giving up  just eights and struck out 15  while walking five. He's pitching well in Spring Training as well, striking out eight batters in 8.1 innings while walking three and giving up just three hits and two runs. He'll present a tough challenge for the D-backs starting lineup.