A Nationwide League Division Collection conflict between the groups outlined the 2023 season for each the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The NL West rivals will measurement one another up once more on Friday night time when the Diamondbacks host the Dodgers within the opener of a four-game Labor Day weekend sequence in Phoenix.
Proper-hander Zac Gallen (10-6, 3.65 ERA) is slated to start out for the Diamondbacks in opposition to Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 3.72).
The Diamondbacks misplaced the rubber match of a three-game sequence Thursday afternoon with a 3-2 setback to the visiting New York Mets. The host Dodgers earned a sequence win that night time by beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 within the finale of a three-game set.
Whereas Thursday’s outcomes ensured the Diamondbacks could not surpass the Dodgers this weekend — Los Angeles leads the NL West by 4 video games — Arizona remained a sport forward of San Diego within the race for the league’s prime wild-card spot by advantage of the Padres’ 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Diamondbacks’ Cinderella march to the World Collection final fall was highlighted by a three-game NLDS sweep of the Dodgers, who posted a 100-62 document and gained the NL West by 16 video games over second-place Arizona.
“This group is hungry, and so they wish to exit and play a whole baseball sport,” supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned after the Diamondbacks misplaced their first house sequence since they dropped two of three in opposition to the Minnesota Twins from June 26-28. “So we respect each opponent, we all know (it is) the L.A. Dodgers which might be coming in right here, and we wish to do our job one of the best ways we will.”
A second straight win over the Orioles concluded a profitable homestand for the Dodgers, who’re 8-2 of their final 10 video games regardless of first baseman Freddie Freeman lacking the final three video games on account of a hairline fracture of his proper center finger. Freeman was 3-of-23 final week in opposition to the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.
Faring properly in opposition to the Orioles, Mariners and Rays — all of whom are competing for American League playoff berths — offered a much-needed enhance of confidence for the Dodgers. Los Angeles was 6-1-1 in sequence this month however misplaced a sequence to the Philadelphia Phillies from Aug. 5-7 and cut up a four-game set with the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers from Aug. 12-15.
“Nice homestand — actually good baseball enjoying in opposition to groups which might be in pennant races,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “I do not assume it was a litmus take a look at or something, however it’s nonetheless good to go on the market and discover methods to win baseball video games.”
For Arizona, Gallen earned the win in his most up-to-date begin final Saturday after permitting two hits over six scoreless innings because the Diamondbacks beat the Boston Pink Sox 4-1.
Gallen is 1-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 12 regular-season begins in opposition to the Dodgers however earned the win in Recreation 2 of the NLDS final Oct. 9, when he gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in Arizona’s 4-2 victory.
Kershaw did not issue into the choice final Saturday after surrendering 5 runs over 5 innings because the Dodgers fell to the Rays 9-8 in 10 innings.
Kershaw is 22-12 with a 2.73 ERA in 44 regular-season begins in opposition to the Diamondbacks however is 1-1 with a 13.50 ERA in two postseason begins in opposition to the NL West rival.
Kershaw took the loss in Recreation 1 of the NLDS final Oct. 7 after giving up six runs on six hits whereas recording only one out in Arizona’s 11-2 win.
–Area Degree Media
