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PHOENIX -- Two days into the winter meetings, Arizona and Atlanta made a trade that was billed as a win-now for win-later deal.Nine months later, both teams are stuck in the win-later mode.It is hardly what the Diamondbacks expected as they prepare to play host to Atlanta in a four-game series that begins Monday at Chase Field.When the Diamondbacks acquired right-hander Shelby Miller from Atlanta for Ender Inciarte, Aaron Blair and 2015 No. 1 draft pick shortstop Dansby Swanson, they believed they were adding the final piece to the rotation that could lead them into contention in the pitching-rich National League West. A week before, they had signed Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million deal, and putting those two in front of a quality offense for 66 starts a year seemed like a good plan.But Miller scuffled so much that he was optioned to the minor leagues after the All-Star break, and a host of injuries has dropped the Diamondbacks (51-73) into last place in the NL West, the same spot that Atlanta (45-79) occupies in the NL East. Atlanta has the worst record in the majors.Show of hands.Who thought Swanson would be in the majors at this point of the season and Miller would not?It has been that kind of year in Arizona.Atlanta knew what it was getting into this season when it opted to trade Andrelton Simmons and Cameron Maybin in the offseason and release Michael Bourn (now the Diamondbacks starting center fielder) to create opportunities for younger players.While Atlanta added veteran outfielder Matt Kemp at the trade deadline, it is attempting to build behind a starting rotation that includes zero players in their age-26 season or above.Neither staff has pitched well. Arizonas starters have the highest ERA in the NL at 5.10, and Atlanta is 12th at 4.76. Atlanta has 49 quality starts, one more than Arizona. Only the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Angels have fewer in the majors.The Diamondbacks will start right-hander Zack Godley against right-hander Mike Foltynewicz in the series opener Monday. Arizona swept a three-game series in Arlanta the first week of May.Godley, one of several who has been asked to fill Millers spot in the rotation, is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his last three appearances, although the first two were in relief. He pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings in a 13-5 victory over the Mets on Wednesday when he returned to the rotation in place of Patrick Corbin.They outplayed us today and beat us, Arizona manager Chip Hale said after a 9-1 loss at San Diego on Sunday. They made the plays. We have to do a better job of minimizing and giving our hitters a chance to come back.Atlanta broke a seven-game losing streak with a 7-6, 10-inning victory over Washington on Sunday and has lost nine of 11. It has given up 82 runs in those 11 games while losing five of seven to Washington.Atlanta played Sunday without first baseman Freddie Freeman, who took a cortisone shot in the middle finger of his right hand after Saturdays game. Freeman is slashing .287/.382/.471 with a career-high 24 homers in 122 games.Its been hurting since spring training, Freeman said. Ive been grinding it out. I got a shot during the All-Star break as well. It just kind of finally wore off. Its pretty painful every single day, but it got to a point yesterday where I swung a bat in the cage before the game and it kind of blew up on me again. Im going to try and go (Monday).Swanson, who grew up in the Atlanta area, was promoted last week and is 4-for-16 with double and a walk in four games. Atlanta officially passed the baton when it traded Erick Aybar to Detroit at the end of last week.Arizona lost three of four in San Diego over the weekend, failing to build on a three-game sweep of the Mets earlier in the week.The Diamondbacks have been active on the bases in August, tying a franchise record for the month with 30 stolen bases in 19 games. They had 19 steals in six games against the Mets and had five against the Padres on Friday. 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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The words that tumbled out of Iowa State coach Matt Campbell this week may just as well have come from Kansas counterpart David Beaty, whose woebegone teams face each other Saturday.I continue to challenge the senior class and I continue to challenge the team, Campbell said, because this senior class does have a chance to put their stamp on this thing and theyve got a chance to come back here some day and say, `You know what? We changed this. We laid the foundation.The Cyclones and Jayhawks, both winless in the Big 12 and each 1-8 overall, are in the midst of massive rebuilding jobs under young, charismatic coaches. And while Campbell is in his first year and Beaty in his second, it is clear that they both have a long way to go.Still, that doesnt mean they are already looking ahead to brighter days.Were really fortunate because (the seniors) steadied the ship. That group has not allowed this program to say, `Hey, listen, were just going to go by the wayside and play for next year, Campbell said. I told our kids, I told our coaches, Im not playing for next year. Im playing for right now.The Cyclones have at least come close to breakthrough wins this season. They blew a big lead and lost by a field goal to then-No. 13 Baylor. They lost by a touchdown a week later to Oklahoma State. They rallied down the stretch in a 31-26 loss to Kansas State. And they made life tough on then-No. 14 Oklahoma in a 34-24 loss that raised plenty of eyebrows.Two of them belonged to Beaty, who has the utmost respect for Campbells rebuilding effort.They are a lot better than 1-8. They are the best 1-8 team in the country, he said. Maybe one of the best 1-8 teams you really have seen.The Jayhawks have had their share of close calls, too. They blew a 23-14 second-half lead against TCU, and were competitive into the second half against Oklahoma State.But theyve also been repeatedly blown out, leading some to wonder whether Beaty is up to the task.I have a lot of questions a lot of times about how ourr guys continue to move forward, he said, and how they are so resilient, and the answer is just quite simply in our seniors and their character.dddddddddddd They have done a really nice job. They deserve a great finish here to end their senior year.As the Jayhawks prepare for their home finale, here are some things to note:Big 12 DROUGHTThe last time the Jayhawks won a Big 12 game was 2014, when they beat Iowa State with Clint Bowen as interim coach. They have lost their 18 conference games.AS FOR THE CYCLONESIowa State has only won two league games the past two-plus seasons, and one of them was last year against the Jayhawks. That was a big reason why Paul Rhoads was fired after the season and Campbell was plucked away from Toledo to rebuild the program.Unfortunately the last few years it comes down to this game, whos going to be at the bottom of the Big 12, Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning said. We dont go into the game thinking that. We go into the game thinking, `One game at a time, one week at a time.QUARTERBACKS A-PLENTYIowa State and Kansas have both used plenty of guys under center. The Cyclones have mixed the running ability of Lanning with the big arm of Jacob Park, while the Jayhawks have used Ryan Willis, Montell Cozart and this past weekend, freshman Carter Stanley.Neither coach was willing to identify a starter this week. Expect several to play.INJURY UPDATESKansas expects to have offensive lineman Joe Gibson back from a neck injury, while Cozart and safety Mike Lee have passed through the schools concussion protocol and should be available.RUNNING IT UPThe Cyclones plan to rotate freshmen running backs David Montgomery and Kene Nwangwu along with veteran Mike Warren, who has been the starter all season.Its a good situation in my mind, Campbell said. Its hard to have one guy carrying the football all the time. I think its a great situation for us. ' ' '