May 5, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius (1) turns a double play ahead of the slide by San Diego Padres right fielder Will Venable (25) during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers (13-17) are streaking in a bad way, and have now lost four straight games. They were just swept by the San Francisco Giants in a series that concluded on Sunday. The Dodgers have not started off the season well, and it appeared they were getting healthy when Hanley Ramirez returned. Then, he injured his hamstring while running the bases in his fourth game this season, and is now on the D.L.

The D’Backs (16-15) did not have a good series against the San Diego Padres, and have now lost five of their past six games. The offense was inconsistent once again, and they struggled to produce when they had runners in scoring position. The bright spots for the offense is that A.J. Pollock continues to impress and Didi Gregorius has provided a spark that the offense has desperately needed.

This is second series of the season between D’Backs and Dodgers. Arizona is 2-1 against them this season, and went 12-6 in the 2012 season.

Game 1 (Monday): Trevor Cahill (1-3, 2.84 ERA) vs. Chris Capuano (0-1, 9.64 ERA)

Trevor Cahill has been pitching better, especially in his last two starts against the opposition. The reason that Cahill has looked like a completely different pitcher is the command of his sinker. Another reason he has pitched well is that, he cut down on his walks, and trusting in his abilities as a pitcher.

Chris Capuano will be making first start since going on the D.L., and the Dodgers need him to pitch well in this start. They have suffered too many injuries to their starting rotation, and need him to perform well while other members of the rotation get healthy.

Game 2 (Tuesday): Brandon McCarthy (0-3, 7.22 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett (0-4, 5.24 ERA)

Brandon McCarthy pitched well in last start against the Giants, but the bullpen threw away any chance he had at earning his first victory this season. McCarthy is allowing too many hits to the opposition, and also his pitches are catching too much of the strike zone. McCarthy has made one career start against the Dodgers, and pitched well by throwing seven scoreless innings.

Josh Beckett is also looking for his first victory of the season, but his issue has been with giving up too many HR’s this season. He has also struggled, when there have been men on base. The positive for him is that he pitched very well the last time he faced Arizona.

Game 3 (Wednesday): Wade Miley (2-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 1.66 ERA)

Wade Miley seems to going through a rough patch with his command, but I am confident he will return to how he pitched in the beginning of the season. The main problem for him through this stretch is that he is not locating his fastball, and he also is using his slider less.

Clayton Kershaw is pitching the best baseball of his career, and he has to with the injuries to the Dodgers rotation. The reason for his recent success is that he is using his curveball more often to the opposition. The struggles that the Diamondbacks have had on offense, could lead to him having a huge game for the Dodgers.

 Noah Dougherty –

NL West: 1. Giants, 2. Dodgers, 3. Diamondbacks, 4. Padres, 5. Rockies

NL Division Winners: Braves (best record), Reds, Giants

Wild Cards: Nationals and Dodgers

World Series: Angels over Reds in six games

MVP: Matt Kemp

Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

Rookie of the Year: Adam Eaton

Justin Upton was a popular pick for our writers. I wonder why? Image: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NL West: 1. Diamondbacks, 2. Giants, 3. Dodgers, 4. Padres, 5. Rockies

NL Division Winners: Braves, Pirates, Diamondbacks

Wild Cards: Giants and Nationals

World Series: Angels over Braves in five games

MVP: Justin Upton

Cy Young: Ian Kennedy

Rookie of the Year: Gerrit Cole

Chris Lacey –

NL West: 1. Giants, 2. Diamondbacks, 3. Padres, 4. Dodgers, 5. Rockies

NL Division Winners: Nationals, Reds, Giants

Wild Cards: Diamondbacks and Cardinals

World Series: Diamondbacks over Tigers in six games

MVP: Adam Eaton

Cy Young: Wade Miley

Rookie of the Year: Adam Eaton

Tom Lynch:

NL West: 1. Giants, 2. Diamondbacks, 3. Dodgers, 4. Padres, 5. Rockies

NL Division Winners: Phillies, Cardinals, Giants

Wild Cards: Reds, Brewers

World Series: Reds over Rays

MVP: Joey Votto

Cy Young: Cole Hamels

Rookie of the Year: Julio Teheran

J. Levi Burnfin:

NL West: 1. Diamondbacks, 2. Dodgers, 3. Giants, 4. Padres, 5. Rockies

NL Division Winners: Nationals, Cardinals, Diamondbacks

Wild Cards: Braves, Reds

World Series: Braves over Rays in six games

MVP: Justin Upton

Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg

Rookie of the Year: Shelby Miller

What are your predictions? Your guess is as good (probably better) as ours!

“We had a terrible homestand, we scored 13 runs in our last six games…Everyone’s searching, and the more you search the tougher it gets at times…Guys are frustrated.”

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson (23) looks out over the railing against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Image: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

This about sums up the thoughts of all fans after the Diamondbacks finished their 10 game homestand with a deflating 2-8 record. But are these the quotes of fans around the park? Nope, these are the words from manager Kirk Gibson who is surely disappointed, discouraged, and maybe even a little panicky. The uninspiring play of the young Dbacks club all but mathematically eliminated them from playoff contention. They now sit 9.5 games back in the division and 7.5 back from the final wild card spot with thirty-one games remaining.

Record Notes: The Dbacks suffered their second consecutive sweep with their loss Wednesday to the Reds- the first time this season they’ve been swept in back to back series. They have now suffered losing streaks of at least five games on four occasions this season. Their current six game skid matches their season high losing streak from June 30- July 5^th. It is the first time since 2004 that the Dbacks finished a ten game homestand 2-8.

*Their overall record has slipped to 64-67 and they now sport a losing record at Chase Field at 33-34.

*With their 3-2 loss on Monday the club dropped their record to 10-20 in one run games. Only the Blue Jays have fared worse in such games at 9-20. This is an area where the Dbacks were very fortunate to be on the winning end last season and even if the Dbacks were just .500 in these games it would put them over the .500 mark and within striking distance of a playoff spot.

GOOD: If you were to look at the three left handed rookies’ final line you would say they fared pretty well against the high octane Reds offense as each of them gave up three or fewer earned runs and two of the three lasted into the seventh. And they did really; they put their team in a position to win each game assuming the offense could plate more than two runs a game- which they couldn’t. However, each starter had his own hiccup at some point that tarnished an otherwise great start.

*On Monday Tyler Skaggs rushed a throw to first on a ‘come-backer’ that Goldschmidt misplayed allowing a two out run and he would surrender the go ahead and eventual game winning homerun to the pitcher Bronson Arroyo in the sixth.

*On Tuesday Wade Miley ran into trouble in the first and second accumulating 54 pitches while surrendering all three of his earned runs. The second inning included a 15 pitch walk to Scott Rolen and a bases loaded wild pitch that scored a run. But Miley battled and shut down the Reds the rest of the way completing seven innings of work.

*Wednesday’s game sent Patrick Corbin to the hill who put up goose-eggs through six innings. After retiring Joey Votto to start the seventh things unraveled as the rookie gave up two homeruns and the lead in the blink of an eye. It was Corbin’s 8^th and 9^th homeruns allowed in just 75.1 innings pitched.

*Brad Ziegler continued his stretch of quality appearances with 1 1/3 innings pitched without allowing a run against the Reds. He’s now held his opponents scoreless in eleven of his last twelve appearances allowing just two earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.

BAD: RISP. Admittedly, this team isn’t really getting many opportunities to drive in runs with runners in scoring position, but they sure aren’t taking advantage of these chances when they arise. The team finished just 2 for 12 against the Reds and is now 4 for their last 27 during their six game losing streak.

*Bullpen. The bullpen didn’t offer much relief in this series as they surrendered five runs in 7 2/3 innings including two homeruns given up by Matt Albers on Wednesday as the Reds tacked on three runs in the eighth.

UGLY: Team offense. As stated above, the offense has mustered up just thirteen runs in their last six games.

Here are a few of the lines from this series and recent games:

Young: 1-8 2 K’s in leadoff spot
Hill: 1-11 2 Runs
Kubel 1-9; 4 for his last 33(.121) 3 RBI
Goldie: 1-8;  3 for his last 26 (.115) 1 RBI
Montero: 2-12 1 RBI; 2 for his last 19(.105) 0 runs, 1 RBI
Johnson: 0-5 3 K’s; 4 for his 25 (.160) 0 Runs, 2 RBI

These six hitters combined to go 6 for 53 (.113). Not exactly the production you’d hope to be getting from the ‘core’ of your lineup as you attempt to make the playoffs.

*Defense. The team recorded an error in each of their three games including the crucial error with two outs at first that allowed a run to score.

NOTES: As rosters expand to 40 players from 25 on September 1st, the Dbacks hope to activate relievers Josh Collmenter and Takashi Saito and infielder Willie Bloomquist from the DL. If Fast Willie can come back to the lineup and be as productive as he was prior to the back issues, it could be a big boost for the team.

*Jake Elmore recorded his first career RBI during the Reds series on his second career double. The rookie also

The Dbacks head out on the road tonight for a four game set against the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw starting against Ian Kennedy.

*This series will kick off a stretch of twenty-four consecutive games against N.L. West teams starting tonight, including ten straight on the road. This includes six against the Dodgers and six against the Giants. Hey, stranger things have happened, right?

Now bring on the Dodgers!!

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