Desert Rat
Veteran
OK, no more screwing around, the biggest series of the year is almost here and will mainly be played in front a national audience; you can watch the NL West leaders try to hang on to their slim lead Friday on ESPN (FSNAZ for Arizona viewers) and Saturday on FOX. The D-backs are coming off an emotional come-from-behind win that had the euphoria of a playoff game by the time it was over. To live and die in LA...
Friday - Haren vs. Lowe
Haren floundered through August and must fix his problems ASAP. History indicates that Septmeber could be worse, in September, he is a career 7-12 with a 4.27 ERA. Likewise, the offense supporting him must rapidly improve, too. Haren's teammates scored only twice in each of his last two games. Lowe dominated the D-backs over six innings in his last start, but has only followed up a win with another win in his next start twice this season. Lowe is 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA against Arizona, with the one loss coming at home.
Saturday - Webb vs. Billingsley
Webb failed to become the first major leaguer to win 20 games in 2008, but he will try for that twentieth win once again, this time in Chavez Ravine. A larger TV audience will follow along this time. His last two starts were bad losses (like there's a good loss?) where he accumulated an ERA of 15.75 in that pair of games. For the season, his ERA is up to 3.19. He defeated the Dodgers in Los Angeles once this year, holding the Dodgers to one run over eight innings. Billingsley's fortunes against Arizona turned completely around last week when he allowed just two runs in seven innings. His ERA against the D-backs in 2008 is 6.00, reduced via his last start.
Sunday - Scherzer vs. Kershaw - edited
While the NFL season kicks into high gear, NASCAR has its last race before their 'postseason', the final meeting of the season in the heated NL West chase for the division will complicate the average sports fan's viewing choices. If you choose baseball, the need-to-know stuff is...Scherzer was a late substitution for Randy Johnson. Johnson is resting a sore shoulder and he will not earn win #300 this year. Scherzer owns the best ERA (2.65) on the staff while pitching 34 innings. He pitched twice in relief against the Dodgers last week, allowing no runs in three total innings of work. Scherzer started three games in May, losing two of them, walking seven and striking out 16, but only allowing five earned runs in 15 innings. Scherzer battled arm fatigue through six relief appearances in the spring, was sent down to Tucson in June and was recalled in late August. Kershaw was sent to the minors at the end of August after a second straight poor performance, losing to the lowly Nats. After the calendar was flipped over, they had him U-turn and start for the big club a few days later. He responded with a seven-inning three-run win against another last place team, San Diego. In the only game Kershaw has ever pitched against Arizona, he pitched six shutout innings, but the Dodger bullpen failed him and he did not receive a decision.
Friday - Haren vs. Lowe
Haren floundered through August and must fix his problems ASAP. History indicates that Septmeber could be worse, in September, he is a career 7-12 with a 4.27 ERA. Likewise, the offense supporting him must rapidly improve, too. Haren's teammates scored only twice in each of his last two games. Lowe dominated the D-backs over six innings in his last start, but has only followed up a win with another win in his next start twice this season. Lowe is 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA against Arizona, with the one loss coming at home.
Saturday - Webb vs. Billingsley
Webb failed to become the first major leaguer to win 20 games in 2008, but he will try for that twentieth win once again, this time in Chavez Ravine. A larger TV audience will follow along this time. His last two starts were bad losses (like there's a good loss?) where he accumulated an ERA of 15.75 in that pair of games. For the season, his ERA is up to 3.19. He defeated the Dodgers in Los Angeles once this year, holding the Dodgers to one run over eight innings. Billingsley's fortunes against Arizona turned completely around last week when he allowed just two runs in seven innings. His ERA against the D-backs in 2008 is 6.00, reduced via his last start.
Sunday - Scherzer vs. Kershaw - edited
While the NFL season kicks into high gear, NASCAR has its last race before their 'postseason', the final meeting of the season in the heated NL West chase for the division will complicate the average sports fan's viewing choices. If you choose baseball, the need-to-know stuff is...Scherzer was a late substitution for Randy Johnson. Johnson is resting a sore shoulder and he will not earn win #300 this year. Scherzer owns the best ERA (2.65) on the staff while pitching 34 innings. He pitched twice in relief against the Dodgers last week, allowing no runs in three total innings of work. Scherzer started three games in May, losing two of them, walking seven and striking out 16, but only allowing five earned runs in 15 innings. Scherzer battled arm fatigue through six relief appearances in the spring, was sent down to Tucson in June and was recalled in late August. Kershaw was sent to the minors at the end of August after a second straight poor performance, losing to the lowly Nats. After the calendar was flipped over, they had him U-turn and start for the big club a few days later. He responded with a seven-inning three-run win against another last place team, San Diego. In the only game Kershaw has ever pitched against Arizona, he pitched six shutout innings, but the Dodger bullpen failed him and he did not receive a decision.
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. GO DBACKS BEAT THE DODGERS
