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D-backs' troubles providing chances

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/25/09 3:36 AM ET

HOUSTON -- If there's a bright side to the struggles the D-backs have gone through this season, it's that they have gotten an extended look at some of their younger players

A player such as outfielder Gerardo Parra figured to get a chance at some point this year, but others such as Trent Oeltjen and Rusty Ryal were not even on the 40-man roster when the season started. Alex Romero has gotten far more playing time in the outfield than anticipated. Ryan Roberts, too, has gotten a long look at second thanks to the trade of Felipe Lopez to Milwaukee in mid-July.

"It's a golden opportunity for guys to make a name for themselves," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said. "These guys can all play their way into contention for 2010, yet none of them are guaranteed."

The circumstances that have provided the chances -- injuries to Eric Byrnes, Justin Upton and Conor Jackson, to name a few -- are not ideal.

"I think we're getting a look at more guys than we anticipated," Hinch said. "And even more guys than you would want in the world of how many injuries we've had to endured."

The window for guys to take advantage of the chances will begin closing as the injured players, as well as Chris Young, begin returning. Upton will start his rehab assignment Monday with Class A Visalia and could return before the D-backs return home next weekend.

"As we get healthy on the position-player side, it does threaten these other guys," Hinch said.

Young, who was sent down To Triple-A Reno for performance-related issues earlier this month, has left the D-backs short of right-handed hitters, and the club certainly misses his defense in center field.

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Dan Haren (12-8, 2.74 ERA)
Haren allowed three home runs during his last start, an 8-1 debacle against the Phillies. He has allowed at least one homer in six consecutive outings and 22 homers this year, surpassing last year's total of 19. Since his ERA dipped below 2.00 on July 18, the 28-year-old righty has gone 2-3 with a 5.75 ERA, allowing 42 hits, nine homers and 23 earned runs in 36 innings. "Something I hadn't been doing earlier is making mistakes, Haren said. "It seems like every mistake I make now, I'm paying for it."

SF: RHP Matt Cain (12-4, 2.43 ERA)
Cain won his first two starts following the All-Star break but has gone winless in five starts since, despite compiling a respectable 2.97 ERA in that span. Cain has proven somewhat susceptible to the long ball, yielding five home runs in his last four starts. He's 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts this season against the D-backs, receiving no decision against them on April 26 despite allowing one run in seven innings, then earning the win in the Giants' 9-4 triumph on June 9 while lasting 6 1/3 innings and yielding all of Arizona's runs.

Tidbits
As for whether Young or Byrnes rejoins the team first, Hinch said it would likely depend on who is performing better in Triple-A. Byrnes was scheduled to take Sunday off, but Hinch said he heard from Byrnes early in the day lobbying to play again. ... Shortstop Stephen Drew is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday in time for the first game of a three-game series with the Giants in San Francisco. ... Parra has seen a lot of playing time in center with Young in Triple-A. "He's had some growing pains, but he's definitely serviceable out there," Hinch said.

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Up next
• Wednesday: Diamondbacks (Doug Davis, 7-11, 3.77) at Giants (Jonathan Sanchez, 6-10, 4.30), 7:15 p.m. MST
• Thursday: Diamondbacks (Yusmeiro Petit, 2-8, 6.06) at Giants (Joe Martinez, 3-1, 5.73), 7:15 p.m. MST
• Friday: Diamondbacks (Max Scherzer, 7-8, 4.12) vs. Astros (TBD), 6:40 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.