Arizona Diamondbacks Weekly Review: 8/17-8/23

The Arizona Diamondbacks played seven games this week as they attempted to get back to .500. How did the Diamondbacks fare against the Pirates and Reds?

Much like the goal has been for much of the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks entered the week with the goal of getting to .500 if not over it for the first time since April.

The Diamondbacks would win a surprising first game on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates, before dropping two close ones. With the Diamondbacks finding themselves a few games under .500 yet again, the team headed to Cincinnati to take on the struggling Reds.

The offense would come alive and so would the pitching as the Diamondbacks swept the Reds, and pushed their record to 62-61, the first time the team has been over .500, since they were 8-7.

Week Record: 5-2

Winning percentage: .714

Runs Scored: 39

Runs Allowed: 28

Game by Game Results:

Monday: Diamondbacks 4 Pirates 1

Tuesday: Diamondbacks 8 Pirates 9

Wednesday: Diamondbacks 1 Pirates 4

Series recap vs. Pirates, Click Here.

Thursday: Diamondbacks 5 Reds 4

Friday: Diamondbacks 6 Reds 3

Saturday: Diamondbacks 11 Reds 7

Sunday: Diamondbacks 4 Reds 0

Series recap vs. Reds, Click Here.

Offensive Player of the Week: A.J. Pollock

Week Totals: .483/.516/.759 6 games, 31 Plate Appearances, 14 hits, 1 hr 8 rbi’s

A.J. Pollock is probably the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He is now batting .324 and is not far from the National League batting title if he can stay on the tear that he is on. He’s been so good, that some people have him on their MVP boards.

While he won’t be in the conversation that Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper are in, if he could garner any votes, it would go a long way toward establishing his presence as a superstar in this game. Imagine how good the Diamondbacks can feel about the team going forward with two players that are MVP-worthy.

This week, Pollock was leading the charge again against the Pirates and Reds. He helped engineer a comeback at the plate against Pittsburgh in a loss that would go 15 innings, and he hit everything the Reds threw at him in the three games he played against them.

If he stays hot, he might just pass Paul Goldschmidt in batting average.

Starting Pitcher of the Week: Rubby De La Rosa

Friday night against the Reds, Rubby De La Rosa put together a strong outing as the Diamondbacks defeated the Reds by the score of 6-3.

In 7 innings, De La Rosa give up two runs on seven hits and walked one. He struck out six and faced 29 batters. It was not a perfect start, but it was a good start and just the start the team needed as they really got the jump on the Reds by winning the first two games of the series.

A series split could have given the Reds momentum and it could have shifted a different way. It was equal parts offense and pitching, and led by De La Rosa, who came up clutch in a big moment.

De La Rosa is now 11-5 on the season and he has lowered his ERA to 4.32. When De La Rosa is on, he is going seven or eight innings a game, much like he was early on in April and May.

Reliever of the Week: Andrew Chafin

Week Totals: 3 games 3.2 innings 2 H 1 BB 0 ER

Andrew Chafin continues to develop as an effective lefty out of the pen for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his last 19 appearances, he has held the other team scoreless through 20.2 innings.

The record for consecutive scoreless innings by a Diamondbacks rookie, is Josh Collmenter with 24. If Chafin can get through the next couple of weeks unscathed, he will likely become the new record holder.

Tuesday night, in Pittsburgh, Chafin went two scoreless innings and held the Pirates scoreless in a crucial outing that helped keep the team in the game during a 15 inning marathon.

Thursday night, in the series opener against the Reds, Chafin gave up 1 hit and struck out two in an inning of work. Saturday night, he was credited with the hold as he faced four batters in two-thirds of an inning.

He continues to become an effective member of the bullpen, and should he see his role continue to increase.

Team Grades:

Offense: A+

Starting Pitching: B-

Relief Pitching: B+

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