With the victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks are officially headed to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in the NLDS.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have edged the Dodgers all season long and now the two will face off in a much anticipated National League Divisional Series.
It’s no question that the Dodgers were a juggernaut at certain points this season, but they hit a snag and got swept by the Diamondbacks twice.
The series will start on Friday with the first two games being played at Dodger Stadium, while Game 3 will be played at Chase Field on Monday. If the series continues to Game 4, that will also take place at Chase Field. But, if the series needs a Game 5, that will take place back in Los Angeles.
Here’s how the Diamondbacks have stacked up against the Dodgers in 2017.
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Season Series (19 games)
W/L: D-backs 11-8
Record by Ballpark: Chase Field (6-3), Dodger Stadium (5-5-)
Runs scored: D-backs (99), Dodgers (71)
Batting Average: D-backs (.250), Dodgers (.229)
HR: D-backs (32), Dodgers (18)
K: D-backs (191), Dodgers (175)
ERA: D-backs (3.61), Dodgers (5.15)
These stats are heavily weighted in the Diamondbacks favor, with the exception of strikeouts.
The Diamondbacks struck out considerably more against the Dodgers than vice versa, which is concerning considering the fact that the team didn’t face Clayton Kershaw in the last two series.
D-backs Bats vs. Dodgers Pitching
David Peralta: 63 at-bats, .333 average, 0 HR, 4 RBI
Ketel Marte: 32 at-bats, .375 average, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Paul Goldschmidt: 59 at-bats, .288 average, 4 HR, 13 RBI
J.D. Martinez: 34 at-bats, .294 average, 5 HR, 8 RBI
Jake Lamb: 61 at-bats, .262 average, 6 HR, 14 RBI
A.J. Pollock: 65 at-bats, .277 average, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Chris Iannetta: 36 at-bats, .306 average, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Lamb has the lowest average among these seven players listed, but he has also done the most damage with six home runs and 14 RBI’s.
The starting catcher will likely be Iannetta, because Jeff Mathis has yet to earn a hit against the Dodgers in 2017 in 16 at-bats.
Previously, the Diamondbacks have had high scoring games against the Dodgers. October is a different playing field, but with 11 runs on 17 hits in the Wild Card game, the Diamondbacks are riding a lot of confidence into the NLDS.
Dodgers bats vs. D-backs pitching
Cody Bellinger: 39 at-bats, .179 average, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Yasmani Grandal: 50 at-bats, .340 average, 2 HR , 7 RBI
Curtis Granderson: 26 at-bats, .154 average, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Joc Pederson: 36 at-bats, .167 average, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Yasiel Puig: 56 at-bats, .214 average, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Corey Seager: 50 at-bats, .300 average, 1 HR, 8 RBI
Chris Taylor: 52 at-bats, .346 average, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Justin Turner: 69 at-bats, .304 average, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Chase Utley: 24 at-bats, .042 average, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Logan Forsythe: 41 at-bats, .293 average, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Kike Hernandez: 33 at-bats, .182 average, 2 HR, 5 RBI
A few more Dodgers listed here, because their roster has so much depth. However, I think it’s safe to say that the Diamondbacks won’t be facing Utley in the NLDS.
Grandal, Taylor and Turner are the most dangerous in the lineup with high batting averages as well as a significant numbers of home runs and RBI’s.
Dodgers Starter
Clayton Kershaw has already been named the Dodgers starter for Game 1. This is problematic for the Diamondbacks. Only three Diamondbacks have hits against him in the 2017 season and that’s Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and Chris Iannetta.
This is yet another reason while Iannetta will start over Mathis. Ahmed is out, but Owings could make an appearance on the roster. However, Kershaw was hurt for a portion of the second half of the season, so most of the Diamondbacks got six or less at-bats against him on the season.
But, on the other side, Kershaw doesn’t have the best record in the postseason. In 15 starts, the Dodgers ace is 4-7 with four no-decisions. He also has one save from a relief appearance in 2016.
Kershaw gave up a combined eight earned runs in his two starts in the NLDS in 2016.
D-backs Starter
After Robbie Ray pitched in relief of Zack Greinke in the NL Wild Card game, it removed his availability to start the NLDS.
In Thursday’s press conference, manager Torey Lovullo announced that Taijuan Walker will start Game 1 against the Dodgers.
It is reported that the Diamondbacks are leaning towards Robbie Ray in Game 2, Zack Greinke in Game 3, Patrick Corbin if necessary in Game 4 and Ray again in a potential Game 5 matchup.
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