The lineup card tacked on the clubhouse bulletin board has a few twists, but one thing that comes as no surprise is Dan Uggla's missing name. Alfredo Amezaga is starting at second for Uggla, who struck out in his three at bats last night, made two errors, and botched a potential inning-ending double play in the sixth that cost the Marlins two runs.
Fredi Gonzalez has Amezaga batting second and is going with Matt Treanor behind the plate. Luis Gonzalez also remains in the lineup and, more significantly, in right field. Jeremy Hermida rides the bench for a second straight day.
But what's really strange is that Mike Jacobs isn't playing. Yes, yes. He is in some horrible slump. But he is also 6 for 8 lifetime, with two home runs, against D-Backs starter Doug Davis. Cantu, who has never faced Davis, is at first. Wes Helms (0 for 3 against Davis) is at third. Don't really have an explanation for this, and Gonzalez blew off the usual pre-game ritual with reporters. So that's that.
Let's see if the Marlins can do better than three hits, which was all they could produce last night against the ghost of Jorge Julio (Diamondbacks starter Yusmeiro Petit) and the Arizona bullpen. Then again, the Marlins are sending out Ricky Nolasco, who gave the bullpen the night off in San Francisco to start the road trip on Tuesday.
Marlins: SS Hanley Ramirez, 2B Alfredo Amezaga, 1B Jorge Cantu, LF Josh Willingham, CF Cody Ross, 3B Wes Helms, RF Luis Gonzalez, C Matt Treanor, P Ricky Nolasco.
Diamondbacks: SS Stephen Drew, CF Chris Young, LF Conor Jackson, RF Adam Dunn, 1B Tony Clark, 3B Mark Reynolds, C Chris Snyder, 2B Augie Ojeda, P Doug Davis.
Umps: HP Paul Nauert, 1B Mike Winters, 2B James Hoye, 3B Brian O'Nora