Pitching matchups for D-backs’ opening series against Rockies

Opening Day has arrived, as the Arizona Diamondbacks welcome the Colorado Rockies into Chase Field for a three-game series to open the 2018 season.

The two clubs last met in the 2017 National League Wild Card Game, where the D-backs defeated the Rockies 11-8, ending their season.

To prepare for the highly-anticipated rematch, we took a look at the matchup on the mound for each game of the series.

Thursday: Patrick Corbin vs. Jon Gray

In his seventh season in the majors, Patrick Corbin will make his first Opening Day start when he takes the mound against Rockies ace Jon Gray.

Corbin was slated to start on Opening Day in 2014, but Tommy John surgery kept him out for more than a season.

The left-hander started a career-high 32 games last season for the D-backs, throwing 189.2 innings with a 4.03 ERA and 1.418 WHIP. He struck out 178 hitters to go with 61 walks.

Gray returns to the mound at Chase Field looking to redeem himself of his underwhelming performance against the D-backs in the NL Wild Card Game. Gray pitched just 1.1 innings in that game, giving up four runs and seven hits in the Rockies’ 11-8 loss to end their season.

In 20 starts last season, Gray threw 110.2 innings with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. In two regular season starts at Chase Field, the right-hander struck out 20 batters in 13.1 innings.

Friday: Robbie Ray vs. Tyler Anderson

Robbie Ray will take the mound Friday in the second game of the series against Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson.

Ray was under consideration to get the nod on Opening Day after Zack Greinke was ruled out with tightness in his right groin, but Lovullo said his and Corbin’s schedule worked out for the four-year veteran to start Friday.

In 28 starts last season for the D-backs, Ray threw 162 innings with a 2.89 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He also struck out 218 hitters and gave up 71 walks.

Anderson had a strong finish to the 2017 season after returning from knee surgery. In four September games — three of which were starts — he was 3-1 with a 1.19 ERA.

Anderson started in 15 games overall over the course of the regular season, throwing 86 innings with an ERA of 4.81 and a 1.30 WHIP. He struck out 180 batters along with 54 walks.

Saturday: Zack Greinke vs. German Marquez

A little more than two weeks ago, Greinke was the presumed Opening Day starter.

But after he exited a spring training start after just one inning with tightness in his right groin, his preparation for the regular season was delayed.

Greinke threw six innings in the D-backs’ exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians Monday at Chase Field, striking out four hitters and not allowing any walks.

While he isn’t getting the start on Opening Day, Greinke will look to rebound from his performance in the NL Wild Card Game last season against the Rockies. In 2.3 innings, he gave up four runs and six hits for a 9.82 ERA.

The right-hander started 32 games for the D-backs last season, throwing 202.1 innings with a 3.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.

Marquez is coming off of an underwhelming spring in which he was 2-1 with a 9.82 ERA.

In 32 starts last season for Colorado, the right-hander threw 162.0 innings with a 4.39 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. He struck out 162 hitters and walked 55 on the way to a 12-8 record.

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