The Week In The West: Dodgers and Diamondbacks gaining steam

Week 11 began with Colorado leaving home for Philadelphia after a painful sweep at the hands of Arizona. By the end of the week, they boarded a plane back to Colorado with yet another heart-wrenching defeat.

The Rockies fell behind Arizona by another 1.5 games and sit 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot behind five other clubs.

It seems that the next seven days cannot possibly be any more difficult for Rockies fans, so let’s examine the standings, the week that was and preview the week ahead.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 1st Place (39-32, – GB)

Series Record: 14-6-3

Last 10 Games: 7-3

This Week: PIT (3), NYM (4); 4-3

If the Diamondbacks didn’t have enough of a fire underneath them after sweeping the Rockies at Coors Field last weekend, their plunk-fest with the Pirates on Monday night helped further re-energize the club. Arizona won the battle, scoring nine unanswered runs to win 9-5 on Monday night against Pittsburgh. Coupled with Tuesday’s 13-8 win, this spirited victory helped Arizona continue a win streak that would run up to five games.

In Tuesday’s slugfest with the Pirates that saw 21 combined runs from the two teams, the bullpen threw five innings and surrendered just two earned runs.

The D-Backs took advantage of a struggling Mets team that were in the midst of a 3-17 stretch when they lost game two of this series. Somehow, the D-Backs lost the next two games, the worst loss being a four-run blown save by closer Brad Boxberger.

After an 8-19 record in May, Arizona has been 11-5 in June thus far.

Since being acquired on June 6, Jon Jay is hitting .306/.444/.472 and has been vital to Arizona’s success in the leadoff spot with A.J. Pollock still out due to a fractured thumb.

Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta stayed hot this week. Goldy has put up an astounding 1.5 WAR and 1.442 OPS during the past two weeks, aided by a .529 BABIP.

Peralta has amassed 0.8 WAR and a 1.140 OPS during a 12-game span entering Sunday. His 14th homer of the season on Thursday night already matches his season total from 2017.

Zack Greinke blew a two-run lead at home on Wednesday and has been mediocre in two consecutive starts dating back to his June 8th start in Colorado.

Zack Godley looked sharp again on Friday night and has allowed just four runs in 12.1 innings over his last two starts. With Robbie Ray and Shelby Miller in the midst of rehab starts, the D-Backs will have a tough decision soon about who to remove from their rotation.

The Week Ahead: @LAA (2), @PIT (4)

After the benches cleared in game one of the Jay Bell Series, things seemed to settle down between Arizona and Pittsburgh; however, the two teams will face off for four games at PNC Bank Park this week.

The Pirates will throw four straight righties against Arizona, who have fared much better against left-handed starters (17-9).

Los Angeles Dodgers: 2nd Place (37-33, 1.5 GB)

Series Record: 10-7-6

Last 10 Games: 7-3

This Week: TEX (2), SF (3); 4-1

Los Angeles swept the two-game series against Texas and both teams engaged in some light-brawling after Matt Kemp’s “slide”—circa 2013—on catcher Robinson Chirinos.

The Dodgers had a chance to sweep the Giants, too, but couldn’t win on Father’s Day in rookie Caleb Ferguson’s second start of the week.

Los Angeles earned wins against Hamels, Holland and Bumgarner this week to improve their record against lefties to 17-7, best in the NL West and second best in the entire National League.

After finishing May with a 9-4 record, the Blues have begun June with an 11-3 record and have not lost a series since playing Miami on May 15-17.

On Tuesday against everyone’s favorite pitcher, Bartolo Colon, the Dodgers combined for 12 runs on 16 hits verse Texas. Seven of Los Angeles’ starters had multiple hits and all but two recorded an RBI.

Cody Bellinger got a chance to hit cleanup on Sunday after batting 7th in the batting order the previous week due to ongoing maturity issues. Over his past 10 games entering Sunday, he has a slash line of .323/.488/.839, putting up 0.9 WAR in the process.

Justin Turner played just two games the week prior due to wrist soreness. This week, the 32-year-old third baseman had hits in all four games, going 5-for-16 with a homer.

Utility player Max Muncy began the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has 13 home runs to his name with Los Angeles after not making his debut with the major league team until April 17th.  

NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Walker Buehler hit the disabled list on Tuesday just before Kenta Maeda came off the DL on Wednesday. Maeda looked decent over five innings against Texas and kept the Dodgers in the game, which they would win in the 11th inning with a walk-off victory.

Ross Stripling continued his push for an All-Star bid this year with 6.1 innings and two earned runs in his lone start, keeping his ERA under 2.00 at 1.76.

The Week Ahead: @CHC (3), @NYM (3)

Dodgers will be fortunate to face three lefties this upcoming week.

On Tuesday, Rich Hill is scheduled to come off the DL. It is unclear if he’ll go back on the DL Tuesday night after 15 pitches due to his recurring blister issues.

San Francisco Giants: 3rd Place (35-37, 4.5 GB)

Series Record: 7-10-4

Last 10 Games: 4-6

This Week: @MIA (4), @LAD (3); 2-5

After a promising 7-2 start in June with series victories against playoff contenders Philadelphia, Arizona and Washington, the Giants wilted on the road with a 2-5 week.

San Francisco had some difficulty scoring runs on Tuesday after having lost Monday’s ballgame to the 23-win Marlins. The Giants scored one in the first on zero hits, thanks to two walks, a wild pitch and a weak ground ball. In the remaining eight innings, their lone runner to reach second base was picked off, helping secure the Marlins’ Trevor Rogers first career victory.

The Giants needed 16-innings to pull out a victory in the finale of their four-game series with the Marlins after losing three straight against the second worst team in the NL.

It was another busy week of transactions on the 25-man roster for San Francisco.

Evan Longoria hit the disabled list after getting hit by a pitch on his fifth metacarpal, a.k.a. pinky finger; he’s expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Brandon Crawford will miss a few games as he’s expecting the birth of his fourth child this week. Kelby Tomlinson should replace the leading vote-getter for NL shortstop in the All-Star Game.

Brandon Belt was activated from the DL after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.

Chris Stratton tossed a quality start on Tuesday night and earned the win on Sunday against Los Angeles by throwing six innings and allowing just four baserunners.

In two starts this week, Madison Bumgarner pitched 11.1 innings and gave up seven earned runs, surrendering three homers.

Jeff Samardzija threw three innings at Triple-A during his rehab start. He gave up one hit, zero walks and zero runs with four strikeouts. Though the goal for this outing was 60 pitches, the righty from Notre Dame threw just 43.

The Week Ahead: MIA (3), SD (4)

The series against the Padres marks the start of a 13-game stretch against NL West opponents for the Giants. Andrew Suarez makes two starts at home this week; he has a 3.55 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP in 4 starts at AT&T Park.

The Giants have seven straight games against teams with losing records and have a 19-11 record at home.

Colorado Rockies: 4th Place (34-37, 5.0 GB)

Series Record: 9-11-3

Last 10 Games: 2-8

This Week: @PHI (3), @TEX (3); 2-4

The Rockies left behind a frustrating weekend at Coors Field only to have to face Phillies ace Aaron Nola, who pitched masterfully over 6.2 innings, striking out 10 batters and walking none.

The week started somewhat promisingly with a nearly come-from-behind-victory on Tuesday night and a Wednesday win before losing the rubber match on Thursday.

Colorado visited Texas, who’s had their own issues at home—a .361 winning percentage at Globe Life Park—and lost in crushing fashion on Sunday after having leads of 5-1, 10-6, and 12-9.

Tom Murphy got the long-awaited call to the majors this season after laying waste to Triple-A pitching in Albuquerque. His impact was immediate, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, as well as helping Jon Gray navigate through six innings after struggling with a 3-run first inning.

Nolan Arenado got a rest day on Thursday, then busted out with three extra-base hits and three runs batted in on Friday.

Ian Desmond hit two home runs on Friday night to give him 14 on the season; he’s has hit .282/.378/.667 over his past 45 plate appearances.

Chad Bettis surrendered 5 earned runs in the first inning against Texas on Friday night, then threw 4.2 innings of shutout baseball to give Colorado just their second victory in the last eight games.

After Freeland saw his ERA and WHIP rise in each of his last 4 starts, he threw 6 scoreless innings. In a low-scoring affair against Texas on Saturday night, manager Bud Black was forced to leave in the Colorado native, who gave up two earned runs in the seventh, allowing Texas to tie the score.

Harrison Musgrave entered Saturday’s game with a 2.79 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, and proceeded to give up 3 earned runs after failing to retire a batter. In his first 9 innings in the majors, Musgrave gave up just 1 run; in his last 10.1 innings, he’s given up 8 earned runs.

Sunday’s loss and blown save by Wade Davis cap another disappointing week for the bullpen and the team, as a whole. Closers will blow saves here-and-there, but Davis’s fourth comes at an awful time in the season.

The Week Ahead: NYM (4), MIA (3)

The Mets and Marlins will each throw two lefties in their series with the Rockies.

German Marquez and his 7.71 ERA with 1.90 WHIP at Coors Field this season will get two starts this week.

San Diego Padres: 5th Place (34-40, 6.5 GB)

Series Record: 9-12-2

Last 10 Games: 5-5

This Week: @STL (3), @ATL (4); 3-4

The Padres won five straight series when they took 2-of-3 from the Cardinals to start the week.

San Diego had a chance to split the series with Atlanta in the fourth game, but ran into Julio Teheran, who was activated from the DL to start this game. Teheran threw six hitless innings against San Diego and gave up 3 walks while striking out 11.

Though the Padres lost 3-of-4 to the Braves to end the week, the cumulative score of the series was even at 12-12.

For the third time in four series, the Padres lost the first game of a 3-game set before winning the last two to take the series.

Padres scored 3 earned runs against probable NL All-Star Miles Mikolas, who entered the game with a 2.27 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.

On their bullpen day, five relievers combined to contain a Cardinals team that was eight games over .500 entering the game.

Jordan Lyles pitched like he was facing his old team against the Braves, hurling seven innings and giving up one earned run on five hits and zero walks, while striking out six.

Clayton Richard has been fantastic in his last eight starts. During this span, he’s 5-2 with seven quality starts and a 2.88 ERA (56.1 IP, 18 ER).

In the month of June, Freddy Galvis leads all Padres players with 13 RBI. He’s also tops on the team in WAR (0.4), ahead of Cory Spangenberg and A.J. Ellis, who’s only played 6 games this month.

The Week Ahead: OAK (2), @SF (4)

The brief two-game homestand against the Athletics marks the only time the Padres will be home during a 22-day stretch between June 7-28.

The Padres won’t travel east of the Mississippi River until July 20th when they visit Philadelphia after the All-Star break.

San Diego gets four games against rival San Francisco this week. They are tied with Colorado at 13-18 for the worst record in the division against teams in the NL West.