Preview, #19: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Hopefully, the team will have some momentum left over from last night's eighth inning. That hasn't exactly been the case this season. The two previous times this season where we scored double-digits in a game, the next day we came out and scored 3 and 0 runs. It has been somewhat feast or famine as far as this offense is concerned: we have managed 11 runs more times in 2017 to date, than we have scored five or six runs combined. But last night did certainly help the team's run differential, which is now back to being the best in the National League, as we go into play today. At +20, it's six runs better than anyone else.

Both starting pitchers face their opponents in the Los Angeles series, though on different nights. Both also came away with a no-decision, though Maeda was more fortunate to do so, managing only to get through four innings and being charged with four runs. The Dodgers will want to see him go deeper, especially after last night where they ended up having to use five bullpen arms, who threw a total of 92 pitches, despite retiring just 10 hitters. Meanwhile, Ray settled down nicely, and was charged with one earned run over six innings in the series finale on Monday, striking out ten Dodgers. More of that would also be welcome.

Bit of an interesting line-up for the D-backs. Owings back at short, with Descalso at second, and Herrmann getting his third start of the year behind the plate. It'll be his first time catching Ray this year, his previous two starts having both been for Patrick Corbin. But outside of Herrmann replacing Mathis, it's the same line-up defensively for the Diamondbacks as in Ray's last outing. Getting the same result would be good. It would give the D-backs a seven-game winning streak at Chase Field. We haven't had one of those since rolling off eight wins in a row, in July 2012. After last year, we'll take it.