The Diamondbacks are literally wrapping up the first leg of an absolutely brutal 10-game road trip today, July 26, with young lefty Kohl Drake scheduled to make his second career major league start out in Washington, D.C. This is no small thing for a rookie in the middle of a season-defining stretch.
Young Arm, Big Trip
Manager Torey Lovullo wasn’t holding back on July 22, saying it looks “very good” that Drake’s gonna stick around in the big leagues for at least another start after his seriously solid major league debut just two days earlier on July 21. That’s a massive confidence boost for a rookie, especially when you’re in the middle of a trek like this!
After they wrap things up in D.C., these guys still have six more games on this insane road trip. First up, it’s three straight in Pittsburgh from July 27-29. Then, they gotta pack up again and head to Cleveland for another three battles, July 31 through August 2. Seriously, a 10-game road swing? That’s a grind that tests absolutely everyone, especially a young arm trying to find his footing.
Wild Card Battles and Returning Stars
First, let’s talk about those Pirates. On July 22, they were neck-deep in the National League wild-card race, right alongside the D-Backs and a bunch of other squads. Sure, they’re way back in their own NL Central division, but don’t sleep on them! They already took two out of three games from Arizona back in May, right there at Chase Field. This Pittsburgh series is NOT going to be easy, and every game matters when you’re scraping for that wild-card spot.
And then there’s Cleveland. Man, they are absolutely rolling! The Guardians were sitting tied atop the American League Central with the Chicago White Sox on July 22. And get this: they just got star infielder José Ramírez back! He was activated from the 10-day injured list on July 22 after being sidelined with a hamate fracture since mid-June. That’s huge for their lineup. Plus, their rookie Chase DeLauter has been having a solid season, and their starting rotation, even with former D-back Slade Cecconi, has somehow stayed completely intact all year. That’s a seriously tough challenge for any team, let alone one at the end of a marathon road trip.
This monster road trip is literally the ultimate gut-check for the Diamondbacks, and it’s especially critical for Kohl Drake. Can this young phenom keep proving he belongs while facing some legit wild-card contenders and division leaders? The stakes are sky-high! You absolutely gotta tune in for those Pittsburgh games kicking off July 27-29, and then the Cleveland series from July 31-Aug. 2. Every pitch is going to matter!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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