Preview, #63: 6/5 vs. Dodgers

The Diamondbacks have been outscored 12-1 over the first two games, and held to a total of six hits, batting .098 with an OPS of .298 and a K:BB ratio of 14:1. I think it’s safe to say that the gulf between a very good Dodgers side, and a mediocre Diamondbacks one, has been ruthlessly exposed these two games. I’m not overly optimistic about the team avoiding the sweep. While Jon Duplantier has been solid, posting a 3.18 ERA over his first 17 MLB innings, he remains a pitcher making his second career major-league start, against the team who have the best record in the National League - by 8.5 games over the next-best mark. It’s a tough hill for any pitcher to climb.

I’m probably more concerned about the offense. Though you’d probably be surprised how often the D-backs being held to three or fewer hits in consecutive games has happened. These last two games are the eighth time in franchise history. Hell, it happened twice IN ONE WEEK last May. From May 21-27, Arizona had a streak of six games where they managed to get only 3, 3, 4, 12, 2 and 3 hits. The worst consecutive games dates from 2010 - again, May - when they were one-hit by the Giants in San Francisco on the 28th, then two-hit the following day by the same opponents. That’s the only time the D-backs have had two hits or fewer in consecutive games.

We’ve never three-peated three hits or fewer: I imagine that run last year, where we had 10 hits over three games, is like the worst ever. Strange how the wheel of baseball turns. Less than two weeks ago, we were about to go into San Franscisco, where our offense would also be on a record-setting pace. Just in a nicer way. It’d still be nice to take at least one of these three games, and avoid being swept by the Dodgers at home. The team is going to have to play a damn sight better, in all aspects of the game, if that’s going to happen.