Desert Rat
Veteran
That was a crazy All-Star Game. Now the focus can be on the second 'half' of the season. What do ya know, the second-place Dodgers are coming to town. By Sunday night, the D-backs could be either four games ahead, two games ahead, tied for first, or two games behind. The only way any of these teams ends the weekend over .500 is if the D-backs sweep and you know who would have the winning record. LA will be without closer Takashi Saito. Now for the obligatory preview to kick off the thread for this important series...
Friday - Kuroda vs. Davis
Kuroda flirted with a perfect game against Atlanta two weeks ago. He has rebounded from a rough June, by going 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in July. If he stays hot, the D-backs could be in for a long night. Davis has allowed three runs in each of his last four starts. Lefthanded hitters are hitting Davis better than righthanders, but his ERA against lefties is much lower than against righthanders. I expect him to allow, what else, three runs!
Saturday - Billingsley vs. Haren
Two of Billingsley's eight losses this year were to the D-backs back in April. Since then, he has corrected and has even gone 5-1 in his last six starts. He struck out 13 Marlins in seven innings last Sunday. Billingsley, who was not selected to the All-Star Game, has struck out almost ten batters per nine innings and is second in the Majors with 128 K's as of the All-Star Break. Haren may fall victim to poor run support again, especially if Billingsley is on his game. The All-Star's ERA in June and July is 1.45 and he has averaged almost one strikeout per inning in that timeframe. We should see a pitcher's duel on Bob Melvin bobblehead night.
Sunday - Lowe vs. Webb
Lowe was the second Dodger pitcher to flirt with throwing a perfecto against Atlanta this month. He will be pitching on ten days rest and has won his last two starts. Lowe had a rotten May, losing four games. He has not pitched a complete game this year, but only needed five innings to defeat the D-backs in an April game. The Major League win leader, Webb, will be pitching in the air-conditioned comfort of Chase Field after a pair of muggy east coast games. Webb will be searching for his tenth carrer victory over the Dodgers and as long as Chad Qualls does not leave the bullpen, his chances of getting it greatly increase. Expect the man with the killer sinker wearing Sunday Sedona Red to be ready to go, even after pitching an emergency inning of relief in the All-Star Game's 14th inning.
Friday - Kuroda vs. Davis
Kuroda flirted with a perfect game against Atlanta two weeks ago. He has rebounded from a rough June, by going 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in July. If he stays hot, the D-backs could be in for a long night. Davis has allowed three runs in each of his last four starts. Lefthanded hitters are hitting Davis better than righthanders, but his ERA against lefties is much lower than against righthanders. I expect him to allow, what else, three runs!
Saturday - Billingsley vs. Haren
Two of Billingsley's eight losses this year were to the D-backs back in April. Since then, he has corrected and has even gone 5-1 in his last six starts. He struck out 13 Marlins in seven innings last Sunday. Billingsley, who was not selected to the All-Star Game, has struck out almost ten batters per nine innings and is second in the Majors with 128 K's as of the All-Star Break. Haren may fall victim to poor run support again, especially if Billingsley is on his game. The All-Star's ERA in June and July is 1.45 and he has averaged almost one strikeout per inning in that timeframe. We should see a pitcher's duel on Bob Melvin bobblehead night.
Sunday - Lowe vs. Webb
Lowe was the second Dodger pitcher to flirt with throwing a perfecto against Atlanta this month. He will be pitching on ten days rest and has won his last two starts. Lowe had a rotten May, losing four games. He has not pitched a complete game this year, but only needed five innings to defeat the D-backs in an April game. The Major League win leader, Webb, will be pitching in the air-conditioned comfort of Chase Field after a pair of muggy east coast games. Webb will be searching for his tenth carrer victory over the Dodgers and as long as Chad Qualls does not leave the bullpen, his chances of getting it greatly increase. Expect the man with the killer sinker wearing Sunday Sedona Red to be ready to go, even after pitching an emergency inning of relief in the All-Star Game's 14th inning.
