Diamondbacks-Brewers preview
MILWAUKEE -- Braden Shipley, the Arizona Diamondback's top prospect, will make his major league debut Monday when he takes the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The 15th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Shipley started 19 games for Triple-A Reno this season, posting an 8-5 record and 3.70 ERA while striking out 77 and walking only 22 in 119 1/3 innings of work. "He's really pitched well in Reno," Arizona manager Chip Hale told MLB.com. "When you talk to (Reno manager) Phil Nevin, there's been a couple ... farmhands have come through and really have controlled the offenses in Reno's ballpark, and Braden's one of those guys. We're excited about it." In 81 career minor league appearances -- 80 starts -- Shipley is 24-27 with a 3.79 ERA. "His pitches play in the big leagues," said Hale. "His fastball, if it's down, is very good. He's got an above-average change-up and breaking ball. He has a chance to compete. We just have to work with him and realize there are going to be some butterflies tomorrow and have him enjoy it." Arizona has lost 17 of last 21 games but snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday with a 9-8 victory over the Reds in Cincinnati. The Diamondbacks hit four home runs in that contests, including a pair from Yasmany Tomas. "Our guys did not quit," Hale said. "Which they hadn't done that the last two days. They just were able to really hang in there in their at-bats. Obviously, Tomas with the two home runs were huge." Milwaukee will try to bounce back from a frustrating loss to the Cubs Sunday. The Brewers jumped out to an early 4-0 against Jon Lester but stranded 12 runners on the day and allowed five runs in the seventh inning to drop the series with their NL Central rivals. To get back on track, they'll turn to former Diamondback Chase Anderson, himself looking to get corrected. Anderson is 0-4 with a 9.13 ERA in his last six starts and has failed to work more than 4 1/3 innings in his last five outings. Anderson lasted just four innings his last time out, allowing three rubs in six hits and a pair of walks while striking out two in a 9-5 victory at Pittsburgh. "I thought the second inning he got stuck a little bit, he got out of it and then the next two innings were pretty good," said manager Craig Counsell. "He was up to 85, 86 pitches and going through the meat of their order again. We'd like to get him a little more efficient with his pitches, but I thought he rebounded from that second inning, which was important." Monday will mark Anderson's first career start against Arizona, which selected him in the ninth round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He spent two seasons with the Diamondbacks, going 15-13 with a 4.18 ERA before being traded to Milwaukee in January along with Aaron Hill and prospect Isan Diaz for Jean Segura. |