On June 22nd, the D-Backs were 41-33 and led the last-place Dodgers by 9.5 games. Of all the teams in the division, Los Angeles seemed to be the least likely to be in first place on July 25th. But they are.
You see, the Dodgers are 22-6 in their last 28 games. The D-Backs? 12-16. With the Dodgers playing their best baseball of the season and the D-Backs playing their worst, it was not long before Arizona saw their streak of 54 consecutive days in first place snapped–all this in just over a month. So, what’s next?
One fact is a given: the Dodgers won’t continue to hit so incredibly well. Their offense is good, but not that good. Since the all-star break, the Dodgers have gone 6-1, hitting .319 over that stretch while scoring 49 runs. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, have gone 3-4, scoring 27 runs, 10 of which came in one game. The D-Backs lack of runs has not merely been due to a lack of hits, but a lack of the big hit. Since the all-star break, Arizona has hit .213 with runners in scoring position. During the D-Backs’ offensive scuffles, there a few players in particular who haven’t been wasting any time getting on base for L.A–namely Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig, for example, who combine to hit .381 in 336 AB’s.
And that was just the Dodgers’ offense. Now, it’s time to talk pitching. The Dodgers are one of a mere handful of teams in the majors with 4 starting pitchers with ERA’s under 4.00. The D-Backs have just two such arms, one of which has pitched less than half the season. Unfortunately, not one of those sub-four ERA Dodger pitchers are flukes. Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, and Nolasco have proven to form one of the most dominant pitching staffs in all of baseball. Notice that I excluded Capuano. If the Dodgers were to have a true problem (which they don’t), Capuano would be that problem. His 5.03 ERA isn’t so hot. But then again, for a number five pitcher, Capuano isn’t so cold–especially with how the Dodgers’ offense has turned out.
So, will the Dodgers ever start slumping again? Yes. Will they lose the division? …We’ll be right back after this word from our sponsor.
Image Credit: USA Today
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