Players To Watch: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Rubby De La Rosa (and Jeremy Hellickson)

Jun 3, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (12) throws in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

I know that Rubby De La Rosa and Jeremy Hellickson are different players with their own strengths and weaknesses, but I’m putting them in the same boat in this post because of one particular weakness: they give up a lot of home runs.

According to Fangraphs, De La Rosa sports home run rate of 1.57 home runs per 9 innings, good enough for ninth most in baseball among qualified starters. Only one starter has a worse rate and has been serviceable, and that’s James Shields.

Hellickson’s home run rate is at 1.29 HR/9, which is still in the bottom 30 in baseball. Why is home run rate so important? Because the Dodgers live and die by the long ball. Almost HALF of their runs scored this season were via the home run, a seemingly difficult pace to maintain but one that they’ve done well with so far.

They lead the National League in home runs (by a lot) with 74 and average a home run every 25.4 at-bats, second in baseball only to the free-swinging Houston Astros. De La Rosa and Hellickson will have to keep the ball down if they want to help contribute to some Diamondbacks victories this series.