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Haren making his case for All-Star start

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

07/05/09 12:36 AM ET

DENVER -- On a day he likely will be named to the National League All-Star team, D-backs starter Dan Haren will take the mound in the series finale against the Rockies.

The question seems to be not whether he will simply make the team, but rather if he will be named to start for the NL, like he did for the American League in 2007.

A glance of the NL leaderboard among pitchers shows him near or at the top nearly everywhere. He is first in ERA, innings pitched, hits per nine innings, fewest walks and hits per inning pitched and strikeouts/walks.

"I think he should get strong consideration," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said when asked if Haren should start.

The one thing Haren does not have a lot of is wins, which is more a factor of how poorly his teammates have played behind him.

"Haren shouldn't be punished for our team failures or struggles this year," Hinch said. "He doesn't have the glossy win-loss record, but I don't know if there's been anybody that's been better than him this year in every aspect of pitching outside of wins and losses."

"When I go out there, I get 110 pitches a game and I put as much into it as I can to every pitch," Haren said.

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Dan Haren (7-5, 2.19 ERA)
Haren dominated the Reds is his last start on Tuesday. He pitched seven innings and only allowed one run on four hits while striking out nine. Haren also helped his own cause at the plate. He hit the first homer of his career and also doubled in the D-backs' 6-2 victory. He lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.19 in the victory. Against the Rockies this season, Haren is 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts.

COL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-7, 3.75 ERA)
Jimenez had yet another solid outing in the Rockies' 4-2, 13-inning loss to the Dodgers on Monday night. He yielded one hit in the first four innings and went seven innings total, with two runs on five hits and four strikeouts. A few small execution issues tripped him, such as a poor pitchout and a balk that moved runners before he gave up a two-run single. Facing the D-backs should bring good memories. Jimenez threw seven scoreless innings against Arizona in his first start of the season, a 3-0 Rockies victory on April 7.

Tidbits
Outfielder Justin Upton and infielder Mark Reynolds are also candidates to make the NL All-Star team. ... In order to make room for Saturday starter Yusmeiro Petit on the roster, the D-backs optioned infielder Ryan Roberts to Triple-A Reno. Roberts went on a tear in late May and had his average all the way up to .369 on June 2. However, in his next 40 at-bats, he managed just three hits. While praising Roberts' approach to the game, Hinch said the demotion would give Roberts a chance to get regular at-bats and get his swing back. At the same time, the move allows the D-backs to go back to carrying an extra pitcher. The team now has 12 position players and 13 pitchers.

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Up next
• Monday: Diamondbacks (Jon Garland, 4-8, 4.81) vs. Padres (Walter Silva, 0-2, 8.86), 6:40 p.m. MST
• Tuesday: Diamondbacks (Doug Davis, 3-8, 3.15) vs. Padres (Kevin Correia, 5-6, 4.58), 6:40 p.m. MST
• Wednesday: Diamondbacks (Max Scherzer, 5-6, 3.73) vs. Padres (Chad Gaudin, 4-7, 5.35), 12:40 p.m. MST

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.