The Arizona Diamondbacks open up a 10-game home stand tonight as they give the ball to Josh Collmenter, hosting the first of a three-game series with lefty Jeff Locke and the Pittsburgh Pirates. After Wednesday's loss to the Giants in San Fran, the Bucs find themselves two games behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee. This series opener may prove tougher than it looks on paper as Collmenter has done his best work at home this season. The righty has posted a 6-2 record with a 2.94 ERA in 10 starts. Both of these pitchers were shelled their last time out, Locke giving up six runs and 10 hits to the Rockies and Collmenter being hit hard by the Phillies. This may not be an ideal matchup for Locke as he has struggled vs. the D'Backs in his short career and more specifically, against D'Backs slugger Paul Goldschmidt. Locke has posted an 0-1 record with a 6.92 ERA in those appearances and Goldschmidt is 4-for-6 against him. Interesting note that the Bucs are just 1-6 in Locke's last seven starts when following a Pirates loss and 0-4 in his last four starts as a road favorite. The Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Collmenter's last six home starts and we are expecting another good performance tonight as the home dog. The Sharps say...
3 UNITS - ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (+107)