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Diamondbacks have a tough road ahead

May 20, 2008 - 12:44 PM Arizona (28-16) at Florida (24-19) 7:10 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) - Thanks in part to an early-season schedule loaded with home games, the Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten off to a quick start. However, the next month figures to test their mettle as a complete team.

The Diamondbacks begin a long stretch of road games on Tuesday when they kick off a three-game set against the Florida Marlins.

Arizona has set a blistering pace to start the season, as its 19-8 mark at Chase Field has helped it establish the best record in the majors. Starting Tuesday though, 26 of the team's next 38 games are on the road.

Diamondbacks' starter Micah Owings (5-1, 3.81 ERA) put an end to a mini-slump with his last outing on Wednesday. The righthander allowed five hits and struck out five over six scoreless frames in a 4-3 win over Colorado, ending a stretch where he went 0-1 with a 7.13 ERA in his previous three starts.

Owings also brings a solid bat to the plate whenever he starts as well, as he is batting .357 (10-for-28), the second-best mark for a starting pitcher who has recorded more than eight at-bats this season.

Mark Hendrickson (5-2, 3.91 ERA) will have the difficult task of slowing down Arizona - the National League's second-most prolific offense - as he takes the mound for the opener.

The lefthander lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings in last Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Cincinnati after he surrendered four runs and issued a season-high five walks over five innings.