After a six-game homestand, the Dodgers will begin a six-game road trip, all against against division opponents. First up will be the Arizona Diamondbacks, who the Dodgers previously swept last month.
In a year in when the National League West Division has three of the best teams in the majors, the Diamondbacks surely don’t fall into that category. They currently have the worst record in the league at 20-50 and are riding a 14-game losing streak. Arizona currently has the worst record in history for an NL team throughout 70 games since the 1969 Expos.
They’ve also lost 23 road games in a row and are riding a stretch in which they are 6-37. For the NL West, it seems as if the Diamondbacks are the punching bag of the division.
The Dodgers come in with a record of 41-27 and are two and a half games back of the Giants for the division lead. Anything less than a sweep against Arizona for the Dodgers might be underachieving. Obviously, any team can beat another during the stretch of a long season, but the Diamondbacks right now are at quite a low.
Starting on the mound this weekend for the Dodgers will be all right handers in Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin. Arizona will send left hander Caleb Smith to the mound against Bauer on Friday and righty Matt Peacock to the hill Saturday. No starter has been announced for Sunday.
Slowly the Dodgers are trying to get healthy during a huge injury carousel. Shortstop Corey Seager, according to manager Dave Roberts, can possibly begin a rehab stint at some point next week. However, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy still remain on the injured list.
After this series, the Dodgers will visit the Padres before beginning another home stand to close out the month against the Cubs and the Giants. It is quite important that the Dodgers take care of business in Arizona as they will then face three consecutive opponents who are in the NL playoff mix, with two of those obviously being division foes.
Beginning the series is Bauer. As previously stated, so far he’s 6-5 and has a 2.64 ERA. In his last start, he was roughed a bit against the Texas Rangers, gaving up nine hits and six runs, four of those earned. Bauer will look to bounce back against Arizona, the team that originally drafted him out of UCLA.
Following Bauer will be Buehler, who’s been great this season posting a 6-0 record and a 2.38 ERA, while Gonsolin will close out the series. Gonsolin has a 3.38 ERA but has struggled with command since returning to the active roster.
Friday also marks the seven-year anniversary of Clayton Kershaw’s no hitter against the Colorado Rockies, only possibly being a Hanley Ramirez error away from a perfect game. Of course, we also all have to remember the great play by now Marlin Miguel Rojas and the scoop at first base by Adrian Gonzalez to secure the gem.
So Friday will see the team with the second-best record in the National League take on the team with the league’s worst record.
First pitch for Friday’s opener in Arizona is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.
As I mentioned yesterday, facing a team on a 14 game losing streak is a recipe for disaster. If not disaster, certainly not a recipe for a sweep.
Bauer is the poster child for spin rates and may or may not be guilty of doctoring the ball, but we don’t have a clue what our other pitchers might have been doing even if they’ve been letting Bauer do all the screaming. That could affect a lot of performances over the next few weeks.
In any case, if I was in Vegas this weekend I would not be betting on a Dodger sweep. I hope I’m wrong.
Our 40 million dollar man is one game over .500, very hittable in his last few outings. Fortunately, D-Back pitching has been much worse. Now it is up to the depleted Dodgers to smack them in the mouth some more. Their pen is horrible. Their might be one player on their roster who would be playing for the Dodgers, maybe two, but I would not bet on it.
Who are those guys Bear? Maybe we could snag them at the deadline. The D’backs will certainly be listening to offers.
Marte is one of them.
Marte is definitely one. I would also think they might like a bat like Peralta. He has done a lot of damage to the Dodgers over the years.
I’m a big fan of both Peralta and Marte.
I don’t see AF going after Peralta though since we have Beaty and ZMac who can both play left field plus other positions. I don’t think Andrew would give up prospects for him and I also think another team would offer more since he has another year of control left after this year. He’ll definitely be traded but I don’t think it will be to us.
Marte is a whole different story. He could really bring the D’backs a haul if they decide to move him. He’s an excellent hitter, plays second base and outfield and has also played some shortstop. And he has 3 years of control after this year at an average salary of about 9 mil. That is what I call an asset. Their GM should have all kinds of offers for him and although it would be painful, they definitely need to trade him. What should we offer for him? Think of starting next year with Belli and Muncy back healthy and if Seager leaves you could play Marte at second with Lux at short. If Busch is ready the following year, you move Marte to the outfield. I’m in!
All of that is true. But the Serpientes are not trading Marte to the Dodgers. He’s signed to an affordable contract for 3 more years.
This is true
No, they will probably not get either one of them, but they are the only two I would trade for. You have to feel good for Souza. Picking himself up out of the dirt and hitting a laser beam over the fence in left on the next pitch. He showed pure joy in the dugout. No speed on the bases, equals 3 DP’s. The should have scored a lot earlier than they did. Smith’s with the bases juiced was the worst of the 3.
Well, it was a pretty tight game for the longest time. Bauer pitched out of a lot of trouble.