Diamondbacks are in Hollywood to help the Giants win the Division
By Jake Oliver
Diamondbacks are in Hollywood to hurt the Dodgers’ odds of winning the division
After playing in Seattle over the weekend, the team is in Los Angeles to take on the Los Angele Dodgers. Yuck. The Dbacks are on a high note after taking 2/3 from playoff-contending Seattle Mariners. Now, the Diamondbacks seek to do the same to the Dodgers. They are battling the Giants (go Giants!) for first place in the NL West. Let’s hope the Giants can win the division and end the Doyers’ reign over first place in the NL West.
The Dbacks are 47-96. They need to win 5 of their last 19 games to avoid the worst record in team history. They have been eliminated from the playoffs for weeks. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are 2.5 games behind the Giants for first in the NL West division. The Doyers are 91-53. They hold the top wildcard position that is basically all there’s. It would take an unforeseen collapse to lose it.
Yet, the Dbacks can help ensure that the Dodgers season comes down to a 1-game playoff in which anything can happen. The team can hopefully make Los Angeles’ deficit go from 2.5 to 3.5 or 4.5 even. That would be great. The snakes are 3-7 in their last ten games, whereas the Dodgers are 6-4. Let’s go Dbacks!
Monday, 09/13 7:10 PM AZ time, AZ: Zac Gallen LA: Clayton Kershaw
The Milkman is here to deliver a win. Zac’s been great of late. In his 4 starts since August 21st, Zac has a record and stat line of 1-2, 2.19 ERA, 2.88 FIP, .187 Opponent batting average allowed, 17 hits, 7 walks, and 27 K’s in 24.2 innings of work. He’s worked into the 5th or later in each of them.
He seems to be getting back on track after dealing with multiple injuries throughout the season. He’s been able to make every start since July 17th. He’s only faced LA once this season and that was back on July 30th when he went 6 innings and allowed only 2 runs while walking 1 and striking out 8. Overall, he is 2-9, 98.0 innings, 41 walks, 114 K’s, 4.32 ERA, and a 4.23 FIP.
Mookie Betts and Trea Turner have had success with each of them having a .500 batting average against Gallen. Mookie has a home run off him as well. On the other hand, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, Corey Seager, and Will Smith have combined in 54 at-bats to hit .148 with only 1 HR and 2 RBIs.
light. Related Story. Who did the Dbacks promote for September?
What about the Dodgers pitcher? Well, that’s none other than Clayton Kershaw. He is making his first start and appearance since July 3rd after having to heal from sprained elbow ligaments. He had been having his usual great season until that point. It will be interesting to see how he does after such a long lay-off. His season stats are 9-7, 106.1 innings, 85 hits, 19 walks, 127 K’s, 3.39 ERA, and a 2.98 FIP.
He has a long history of playing against the Dbacks. He’s only faced the Dbacks once this year. That was back on May 19th when he went 6 innings and allowed 2 runs with 1 walk and 8 K’s. That doesn’t mean that Kershaw doesn’t have a weakness. One of his weaknesses is Christian Walker who has hit .368 in his career off him. Walker has 4 HRs and 7 RBI’s off him. The other Dbacks players have combined to hit .170 over 100 at-bats against Kershaw. Let’s hope they can change that tonight.