Apr. 28, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin (46) throws a pitch during the first inning against Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Image Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports Images

The Colorado Rockies (24-20) just played a great series this past weekend against the San Francisco Giants, and now find themselves just one game back from leading the NL West division. They took advantage of a struggling Giants team that was playing sloppy defense and their pitching was below average at best.

Arizona (25-19) just finished a series with the Miami Marlins where they won two out of three games, and the starting pitching is the main reason they have been playing some of their best baseball this season. The starters for the Diamondbacks have the 4th best ERA in the NL at 3.47.

This is the third time that Arizona will face Rockies this season. Arizona is 4-3 against Colorado this season.

Game 1 (Monday): Patrick Corbin (6-0, 1.52 ERA) vs. Jon Garland (3-4, 4.89 ERA)

The best story this season has been the performance of young lefty Patrick Corbin. He has been the model of consistency in each start this season, as he has thrown at least six innings and has not allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts this season. He also has the 3rd best ERA in all of baseball behind only Matt Harvey and Clayton Kershaw.

Garland has thrown the ball great in his last three starts, but has only one win to show for it. He has the most experience of any starter in the Rockies rotation, and this has helped the younger members of their rotation. Though, he has had success in his past three starts he has only went five innings in those starts.

Game 2 (Tuesday): Ian Kennedy (2-3, 4.88 ERA) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.07 ERA)

Kennedy earned a win in his last start against the Atlanta Braves, and this was first victory since Opening Day. Kennedy is 0-1, with 4.50 ERA against the Rockies this year. Kennedy has had success this season when he has been able to pound the strike zone with his fastball. The troubles for him occur when his command is less than stellar.

Chacin will hope to rebound after his last start, where he squandered a six-run lead given to him by Colorado. The biggest reason why he struggled was that he lost his aggressiveness and command of all his pitches.

Game 3 (Wednesday): Trevor Cahill ( 3-4, 2.48 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (5-3, 3.58 ERA)

Cahill has been great over his past five starts, compiling a  1.36 ERA to go with a 3-1 record. The only concern is that command has been inconsistent as he’s walked 16 batters in that span.

De La Rosa has at times pitched terrific for Colorado this year, and then there are other times where he has had problems locating his pitches.

The Rockies won two-of-three in a hard-fought series in Colorado, with all three games decided by less than two runs, two by only one run. The D’backs will be looking to exact some revenge at home.

 Game 1 (Thursday):

Matchup – Trevor Cahill (0-3, 3.60 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (2-1, 2.82 ERA)

These two faced off on April 20 with De La Rosa coming out on top. De La Rosa threw six shutout innings, striking out four and only allowing two hits. Cahill was solid in seven innings, allowing four runs, three earned, striking out three. De La Rosa got the win for the Rockies. Cahill will be trying for his first win of the season with a more complete effort tonight.

Game 2 (Friday):

Matchup – Brandon McCarthy (0-2, 7.06 ERA) vs. Juan Nicasio (2-0, 5.31 ERA)

These is yet another rematch of starters as McCarthy and Nicasio met on Sunday as the D’backs salvaged the final game in the series with a win. McCarthy had his best outing of a rough start to the season, going six innings, allowing four runs with two strike outs. However, three of the runs were in a fluky third that included four-straight soft singles. Nicasio lasted only 4.1 innings before being knocked out on a pair of runs in the fifth. He walked three and struck out three in the short outing.

 Game 3 (Saturday):

Matchup – Wade Miley (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. Jeff Francis (1-2, 8.44 ERA)

Miley would be the D’backs’ best starter so far this season if it wasn’t for the guy on the bump Sunday for the D’backs. Still, Miley has had no signs of a regression many thought would be coming after his 2012 campaign. He’s been fairly dominant in four starts, striking out 23 in 26 innings and only allowing seven walks. His last outing was perhaps his most dominant, striking out seven, walking none, in 6.2 innings against the Giants. He would have had the win if not for blown save later in the game. If there’s been one downfall for Miley so far, it’s that he has yet to complete seven innings in any start so far. Francis has been rocked in his last three games. His only solid outing was six-inning start against the Padres on April 5, Francis’ first of the season. Outside of that, he has yet to complete five innings, giving up seven runs in 1.2 innings against the Giants, eight in 4.1 against the Mets and four in four innings against the Braves in his last start.

Game 4 (Sunday):

Matchup – Patrick Corbin (2-0, 1.71 ERA) vs. Jon Garland (2-1, 4.68 ERA)

Corbin has been absolutely lights out so far this season. His velocity is up and his slider has been the most consistent and most dangerous its been in Corbin’s short career, as vetted here. Corbin was perhaps his most dominant in his last start, tossing 7.1 innings, only allowing two runs on seven strike outs and no walks against the Giants on Tuesday. Corbin hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any start he’s had and hasn’t thrown less than six innings. Garland was throwing pretty well before a six-earned outing in six innings on Tuesday against the Braves. However, Garland was probably asking to get hit hard since he hasn’t struck out more than four in any outing, accumulating only 11 strike outs in 25 innings so far this season.

The D’backs are 1-2 against the Rockies this season and were 10-8 against them in 2012.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are just one team in the NL West that has looked to improve itself in the off-season.  All the others have made moves to try to do the same.  Even after winning the division, there is always room for improvement.  Here is a look at the biggest additions and losses for each NL West team through this weekend.  I would suspect that some teams, even the Dbacks, are not done making moves yet.  We shall see.

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