D-backs Seek Season Series Win Over Dodgers

When the Diamondbacks start a three game series in Los Angeles tonight against the Dodgers they will be trying to do something they've not been able to do since 2018. Win the season series. While the Dodgers have a commanding and all but mathematically insurmountable 12-game lead in the NL West, it's still critical for the D-backs to win this series, both for their Wild Card chances and for their psyche if they should get to face the Dodgers in the playoffs at some point.

The Diamondbacks under Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo took the season series in each of their first two years running the team, and were competitive with the Dodgers in 2019. The team's downward spiral from 2020-2022 coincided with a dreadful stretch against their division rival in which they were totally dominated and non competitive, going 10-38 with a -128 run differential.

Entering the 2023 campaign the D-backs were faced with a brutal opening schedule that included eight of their first 10 games against L.A. They more than acquitted themselves, splitting four to open the season at Dodger Stadium and taking three of four at Chase Field the following week. The Dodgers went into Chase on August 8th and 9th and took both games to even the series at 5-5.

Since dropping those two games the Diamondbacks have won five straight series, going 12-4 in the process, clawing their way back into the NL Wild Card race. They enter play today clinging to the third wild card spot with a 1.5 game lead over the Giants and Reds. They trail the Cubs, who they have seven head-to-head games remaining against, by a 0.5 games. The Phillies continue to hold down the number one Wild Card position leading the D-backs by 3.5 games.

Every game is critical at this stage so winning this series against the Dodgers is important for the D-backs hopes to secure a postseason spot. Beyond that there is the confidence factor, in the event the two teams should meet up in the postseason.

With the Dodgers highly likely to end up as either the National League's No. 1 or 2 seed, the earliest possible postseason matchup between the two teams could be the NL division series, depending on how the seedings shake out. The Diamondbacks would love to take the season series, improve their playoff odds, and send notice to the juggernaut of the NL West that it won't be easy to get by them in the postseason. Coming into Los Angeles and winning a couple games would go a long way to establishing that mind set.

That's why Torey Lovullo lined up his best three starters, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt, to take on the Dodgers in this series. They'll be facing rookie sensation Bobby Miller, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, and a pitcher to be determined in the series finale. Make no mistake about it. The D-backs are hungry and the Dodgers know it and will be ready for them. It should be a great series.