Matthew Emmons-USA Today Sports
As Opening Day is coming up around the corner the Arizona Diamondbacks and teams all over the league will be making final cuts, naming their Opening Day lineups. For the Diamondbacks, this decision was not made until they finished their last game of spring training.
Here’s what the starting lineup should look like on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Gerardo Parra, right field
Martin Prado, third base
Aaron Hill, second base
Miguel Montero, catcher
Paul Goldschmidt, first base
Jason Kubel, left field
A.J. Pollock, center field
Cliff Pennington, shortstop
Pitcher — Ian Kennedy
The lineup is different than most people believed it would be, and this is due to the amount of injuries they suffered to key players during the spring. They are missing their leadoff hitter and starting center fielder in Adam Eaton, plus they don’t have Cody Ross in right field due to a calf injury. The lineup is subject to change during the season depending on what pitcher the Diamondbacks are facing on a given day.
The Diamondbacks did not make many additions to their starting lineup in the offseason with the exception of signing Ross. The starting center fielder Pollock has been a prospect with the club for the past couple of seasons, but he finally has an opportunity to get significant playing time because of the injuries the Diamondbacks have suffered.
Arizona could have the best lineup in the National League once Eaton and Ross return from their injuries. Eaton has the ability to get on base in a variety of ways that can change the outcome of a game. The team are not expected to do much this season, and that is what makes them so dangerous.
Chris is the Diamondbacks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter. Like Chris on Facebook. Add him to your network on Google.
