PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 07: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers at Chase Field on September 07, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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.
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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.
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 04: Luke Weaver #24 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on during batting practice prior to the MLB game against the Seattle Mariners at Chase Field on September 4, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) /
Diamondbacks: Luke Weaver Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin 7:10 PM AZ time, 09/13
Tuesday night brings the Rebels facing the Empire. Rather, it’s Luke Weaver vs Tony Gonsolin. Luke only came back from the injured list on Sept. 1st. He had missed a lot of time due to a shoulder injury. Those two starts have been good though. In those two starts, he’s gone 1-1, 11 innings, and has 2 walks to 7 K’s with a 3.27 ERA and 3.62 FIP. He is still getting his arm/feet under him but he’s pitching well. He’s re-establishing the Luke Weaver from 2019 who can be a legit starting pitcher in the MLB.
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Overall, Luke has a stat line of 3-4, 51 innings pitched, 15 walks, 45 K’s, 7 HRs allowed (few too many), and a 4.24 ERA to a 4.12 FIP. He’s not faced the Dodgers yet this year. However, the team has faced him before. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Trea Turner have combined to get 14 hits out of 24 at-bats with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. Otherwise, the Dodgers hitters have been rather bland against Luke. Specifically, Mookie Betts has only 1 hit in 11 at-bats against Luke. Let’s hope that keeps up.
On the mound for LA is Tony Gonsolin. Tony’s been a bullpen/starter for them by switching back and forth on an as-needed basis. He has only been up in the MLB this year since June 9th. Tony’s faced the Dbacks three times this year going 3.2 innings, 4.0 innings, and 1.2 innings respectively. He only gave up 1, 2, 1 runs respectively in those appearances. The Dbacks know how to hit him and get on base. They just haven’t been able to get the “big” inning.
Coincidentally, as good as Walker is against Kershaw, he’s 0-8 against Tony. No worries though. Ketel Marte and Carson Kelly have 5 hits in 7 at-bats against Tony with an HR and 2 RBI’s. David Peralta has only 1 hit in 9 at-bats, while Rojas is 1-6 lifetime. I have faith both those numbers improve.
Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
Wednesday, Sept 15th, 7:10 PM AZ time, Dbacks: TBD LA: Julio Urias
The Diamondbacks have yet to decide who will be starting Wednesday. It’s a late-night getaway game for the team as they have Thursday off. It will be imperative to win that game for a happy day-off and flight! As such, I’m hoping that Merrill Kelly will be ready to come off the Injured List to pitch that day after defeating Covid.
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As for the Dodgers, they are sending out young-buck Julio Urias. Julio’s been going back and forth between the bullpen and starting rotation in his career. Yet, this year, he’s been in the rotation the whole season. After 28 starts, he is 17-3 and has 163.1 innings with 135 hits allowed, 33 walks, 175 K’s, and a 2.98 ERA to 3.27 FIP.
Julio has plenty of experience against the Dbacks. He’s 2-0 against the Diamondbacks with 11.2 innings pitched and only 1 run allowed against 0 walks and 15 K’s. May the Dbacks fix those numbers this Wednesday. Once again, Carson Kelly and Ketel Marte have dominated Julio. Combined they are 7/17 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs. The rest of the lineup is woeful. May they improve those numbers.
The Diamondbacks are in Los Angeles for the final time this year. The next time they face the Dodgers is in Arizona in a few weeks. Hopefully, the Dbacks end their time this year in Hollywood with a successful series. One can hope, right?
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