At this point it is pretty clear that the second-best team in the NL West is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have one of the best pitchers in the game (Clayton Kershaw) and an MVP candidate (Matt Kemp). The Dodgers are still 12 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West but they've won 10 of their last 13 games including series wins against the Giants and Braves.
In other words, this three-game road trip to Chavez Ravine will be a challenge and a test for the Snakes. Given how the schedule plays out, this is probably the toughest series left on the calendar --- the regular season calendar.
Here's how the pitching probables play out:
- Monday: Joe Saunders (10-12, 3.88) vs. Ted Lilly (9-13, 4.37)
- Tuesday: Ian Kennedy (19-4, 2.90) vs. Chad Billingsley (10-10, 4.30)
- Wednesday: Daniel Hudson (16-9, 3.41) vs. Clayton Kershaw (18-5, 2.36)
It's kind of a shame we don't get to see Kennedy vs. Kershaw. It would have been a very nice playoff preview type situation. Hudson isn't chopped liver though.
All three games start at 7:10 p.m. on Fox Sports Arizona.
There's plenty more great series preview goodness at AZ Snake Pit.
Series Preview #48: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - AZ Snake Pit
The Diamondbacks are going to have to stop winning at some point, and I'd rather it happen now than in the playoffs. The Dodgers have been on a roll of their own, they're at home, and I'm sure they'd love to finish ahead of the Giants in the Division. So, with that in mind, I'll say Dodgers two games to one.