Once expected to be a key National League West series in advance of the calendar shifting to September, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ three-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks has lost some bite.
While the first-place Dodgers enter Friday’s opening contest coming off a three-game series sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, the Diamondbacks have a double-digit deficit in the division and are 6 1/2 games out of the NL’s final wild-card spot.
Arizona dealt third baseman Eugenio Suarez, first baseman Josh Naylor, left-hander Jordan Montgomery and right-handers Merrill Kelly and Shelby Miller before the trade deadline last month.
While the franchise reloaded with several talented prospects, the idea that it was doomed for the remainder of the regular season has not yet come to fruition.
Arizona arrives at Los Angeles with wins in six of its last nine games, including an uplifting 6-4 victory at the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Not only did the Diamondbacks get two RBIs each from the bottom three hitters in their order — Tyler Locklear, Alek Thomas and Ildemaro Vargas — they saw right-hander Taylor Rashi make his major league debut and go three innings while picking up the save.
“Basically, everybody was down in the bullpen,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “On a day when we needed it most, I think (Rashi) blocked all that out and just made pitches and got a massive, massive save for us.”
The Diamondbacks are set to send right-hander Zac Gallen (9-13, 5.13 ERA) to the mound Friday. Gallen, who remained with the club through rumors he might be dealt, is 1-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 14 career appearances (all starts) against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles, which has won four straight games, is set to see left-hander Blake Snell (3-2, 1.97 ERA) return from a short stint on the paternity list for the birth of his second child.
Shoulder inflammation has limited Snell to six starts in his first season with the Dodgers, including four since he has come back from the injured list. He has gone 2-2 with a 1.96 ERA in those outings.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is 5-2 lifetime against the Diamondbacks, with a 1.99 ERA in 10 appearances (all starts).
The Dodgers rode a strong pitching performance from Shohei Ohtani to a 5-1 victory over the Reds on Wednesday. Ohtani had nine strikeouts over five innings, while the bullpen added 10 strikeouts to set a franchise record for a nine-inning game with 19.
“That’s a big number,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It speaks to what our guys can do with the talent that we have, the swing and miss, and so really good performance.”
Dodgers utility man Enrique Hernandez returned from a left elbow injury this week and already has started in two different positions in two games and has driven in a run in each contest. On Wednesday, he was a contributor in a four-run inning that included five singles.
“We’ve always known that if we’re at full strength, as good as our offense is, our pitching is probably even better,” Hernandez said. “We’re getting there. We still have a guy or two that are out. But as far as the rotation, we’re pretty healthy right now. And we feel pretty confident.”