Dodgers Roll into Phoenix to Face Diamondbacks
By Kody Acevedo
Jun 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) is out at second as Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) completes the double play on a throw to first in the third inning during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
After losing four-of-six games on the road this week to fellow NL West rivals the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, the Arizona Diamondbacks (36-39) return to Chase Field to host the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (43-34) in a three-game series beginning Monday night.
At one point this week, the D-backs lost three games in a row and were in danger of being swept by the Padres, a team the D-backs beat twice last weekend in Phoenix.
However, the D-backs recovered and avoided being swept in San Diego with a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon.
No doubt the D-backs will look for some of that momentum to continue with Los Angeles in town as they attempt to chip away at the Dodgers’ lead.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, just completed a series win over the Miami Marlins in Florida. Prior to that, they were able to snag two game from the Chicago Cubs and split a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
The Dodgers currently have a six-game lead over the D-backs in the NL West standings. Here is a quick look at the division as we get closer to the All-Star Break:
1. Dodgers — (43-34)
2. Giants — (42-35) — 1 game back
3. Diamondbacks — (36-39) — 6 games back
4. Padres — (37-41) — 6.5 games back
5. Rockies — (33-42) — 9 games back
By avoiding the sweep in San Diego this past weekend, the D-backs were able to hang on to third place by half a game. If they want to gain some ground, they’ll have to bring it this week against the Dodgers.
But the Dodgers have had the upper-hand against the D-backs so far this season. In the nine games they’ve played in 2015, the Dodgers have won seven. In fact, the D-backs haven’t beaten Los Angeles since early April.
We’ll see how things play out. This could either be a real setback or a great moral boost for the team as we approach the half-way point of the season.
With that, let’s take a look at the pitching match-ups for this series: