Diamondbacks 'in a good 位置／汚点／見つけ出す,' start second half at Blue Jays
The Arizona Diamondbacks were one of the biggest surprise teams in what is 非公式に 見解（をとる）d as the first half of the season.
The Diamondbacks, who 港／避難所't made the プレーオフs since 2017, will get 支援する to work に引き続いて the All-星／主役にする break on Friday night when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game 始める，決める.
Arizona led the 国家の League West for a large 部分 of the first half and stands two 百分率 points behind the Los Angeles ペテン師. However, the Diamondbacks lost five of their final seven games 事前の to the All-星／主役にする break.
Arizona has matched its 勝利，勝つ total of two seasons ago, when it 底（に届く）d out with a 52-110 記録，記録的な／記録する. The Diamondbacks are 22 勝利，勝つs away from equaling last season's total.
"I'm proud of our guys," Arizona 経営者／支配人 Torey Lovullo told reporters. "I'm proud of what we've done. We're in a good 位置／汚点／見つけ出す."
The Diamondbacks' rise has been 燃料d by All-星／主役にする outfielder Corbin Carroll, who is batting .289 with 18 ホームランs, 48 打点s and 26 steals in 86 games. Carroll is a shoo-in for NL 新人 of the Year 栄誉（を受ける）s and is receiving について言及する as an 最高殊勲選手 候補者.
The Blue Jays are part of the American League wild-card chase and would like to see their former 最高殊勲選手 走者-up heat up at the plate.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby on Monday and was an All-星／主役にする for the third time but hasn't been a big 軍隊 this season. He's hitting .274 with 13 ホームランs and 58 打点s in 88 games.
Two years ago, he was 走者-up to Shohei Ohtani in the 最高殊勲選手 race with the Angels' 星／主役にする able to 勝利，勝つ the award 予定 to his strong pitching in 新規加入 to the hitting prowess. Guerrero tied for the 2021 major league lead with 48 ホームランs and led the AL in on-base 百分率 ( .401), slugging (.601) and OPS (1.002).
But this season, Guerrero has a .344 on-base 百分率 while slugging a measly .443. He has only 32 extra-base 攻撃する，衝突するs compared to finishing with 67 last season and 収集するing 78 in 2021.
As the Blue Jays wait for Guerrero to warm up, they stand in third place in the AL East, a distant seven games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
Toronto won five of its last six games before the break, and All-星／主役にする shortstop Bo Bichette said the club is の近くに to putting it all together.
"I think we've had times, moments where we've played 井戸／弁護士席," Bichette told reporters. "And so I think that's still coming in. We just have to keep working."
Not yet known is whether All-星／主役にする closer Jordan Romano will be 利用できる for Friday's opener. He 出発／死d Tuesday's All-星／主役にする Game with 支援する tightness.
Romano is tied for the major league lead with 26 saves.
The Blue Jays also 港／避難所't 発表するd a starter for the series opener.
権利-hander Jose Berrios (8-6, 3.50 ERA) is certainly under 激しい consideration as he hasn't pitched since July 6, when he blanked the Chicago White Sox on one 攻撃する，衝突する over seven innings in a no-決定／判定勝ち（する）.
In his 孤独な career start against Arizona, Berrios 許すd two 攻撃する，衝突するs over seven shutout innings in a 5-0 勝利，勝つ on Aug. 19, 2017, when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins.
Fellow 権利-handers Chris Bassitt (8-5, 4.19) and Kevin Gausman (7-5, 3.03) are lesser 可能性s. Bassitt pitched on Sunday and Gausman pitched Saturday. Gausman pulled out of the All-星／主役にする Game 予定 to the タイミング of his 遠出.
Arizona 発表するd that 権利-hander Ryne Nelson (5-5, 5.19) will start the opener with All-星／主役にする Game starter Zac Gallen (11-3, 3.0 4) pitching Saturday.
Nelson, 25, was 攻撃する，衝突する hard by the New York Mets on July 6 in his final start before the break. He gave up seven runs and nine 攻撃する，衝突するs in three innings while taking the loss.
Nelson hasn't 直面するd the Blue Jays in his 21-game career.
--Field Level マスコミ
