PHOENIX — Finally, 38 games into the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks get to play their first National League West series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks (19-18) had never started a season without a single NL West matchup in the first month since their 1998 debut. The last time they didn’t start their season against a division foe was back in 2013.
Additionally, they had not gone this far into a season without seeing the Dodgers since 2021.
In 2023, eight of Arizona’s first 10 games came against their rivals in blue.
After a quirky first month-plus with three East Coast road trips, the D-backs play 13 straight NL West games.
They start with four against L.A., then three in San Francisco, three against the Colorado Rockies and three more at Dodger Stadium. The D-backs won’t see the San Diego Padres until June.
The Diamondbacks have played the Dodgers tightly head-to-head over the past couple of seasons, finishing 6-7 last year and 8-8 in 2023, including a triumphant NLDS sweep.
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Christian Walker turned into the Incredible Hulk against the Dodgers during his D-backs tenure — notably with five home runs in three games at Chavez Ravine during their Fourth of July series — so the D-backs will have to make up for that lost production.
This year, the Dodgers (25-12) are off to a great start as expected given the roster investments. They began 8-0, leveled out a bit and then won eight of their last 10 games. Their 25-12 record is the best in Major League Baseball, albeit only 1.5 games up on the Padres and the surprisingly surging Giants.
Los Angeles is third in MLB in runs scored (203), while Arizona ranks fifth (186).
The Diamondbacks have been flirting with .500 at 19-18, having lost five of their last six series, as they continue to search for consistency on all fronts. The starting pitching has started to come around to a degree, although the lineup is in a bit of a funk excluding an 11-run outburst in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Perhaps this matchup could bring the best out of them, as it did early in 2023 when they announced their presence as a team to watch out for.
Diamondbacks-Dodgers preview
Pitching probables
Thursday: RHP Brandon Pfaadt (3.79 ERA) vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (0.90 ERA)
Friday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5.92 ERA) vs. RHP Roki Sasaki (3.86 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Corbin Burnes (3.58 ERA) vs. RHP Dustin May (4.36 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Zac Gallen (4.37 ERA) vs. TBA
Gallen is riding the hot hand, having thrown 13 innings with two earned runs in his last two starts. Burnes is expected to jump back in the rotation after missing a start with right shoulder inflammation.
Burnes has a 2.08 ERA in his last three games but explained shoulder fatigue has been dogging him late in outings. He gave up one run in five innings against the Dodgers last year.
Pfaadt, who has been Arizona’s most consistent starter this year, will look to rebound after allowing six runs on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Yamamoto is on an early Cy Young track, leading all qualified starters in ERA. He has given up one earned run in his last five starts combined. He is making his third career start against Arizona.
The Diamondbacks on Friday will get their first look at Sasaki, a 23-year-old phenom from Japan whom the Dodgers inked last offseason.
Key injuries
Dodgers – Los Angeles in the past three days lost slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and reliever Evan Phillips to the injured list. Super utility man Tommy Edman remains on the IL, as do an inordinate number of pitchers, including starters Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw, and relievers Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen. The Dodgers have had 11 different pitchers start games this season, which leads the majors. The D-backs have had six, in comparison.
Diamondbacks – The D-backs’ bullpen is operating without its two closers, as Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk are on the IL. Catcher Gabriel Moreno has not started the past two games with left side bruising, but that is considered minor.
Who’s hot?
Dodgers: Freddie Freeman
Freeman has been on a tear over the past two weeks with a 12-game hitting streak. During this stretch, he has hit a ridiculous .478 with 18 RBIs.
This season, he is batting .464 with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani ranks third in MLB with a 1.031 OPS this season, adding 10 home runs and 10 steals.
Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll
Carroll is riding a four-game hitting streak with multiple hits in three of his last four games. He reached base four times in Wednesday’s loss to the Mets with two walks, a single and a home run.
Carroll blasted his 11th home run of the season, which ranks second in the National League behind Kyle Schwarber. Geraldo Perdomo has been on a heater, as well, batting .371 over his last 10 games.
X-factor
Can Ketel Marte get going?
Marte came off the injured list on Friday in Philadelphia after missing nearly a month of action with a hamstring strain and hit a rocket single in his first at-bat. He has not quite gotten going, however, at 2-for-16.
His return to form would add a needed dynamism to the lineup with his ability to crush the ball off both lefties and righties.
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