D-backs look to extend Wild Card lead in series against Rockies
Sep 1, 2017, 10:21 AM | Updated: 11:41 am
Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond (20) steals second as Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury (27) waits for the throw during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 30, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ series sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers was impressive, but the battle to hold on to the lead in the National League Wild Card is next on the agenda for the snakes.
The team has won its last nine of 10 games and now travels to Colorado to face the Rockies, who have struggled lately, only winning four games in their last 10.
NL Wild Card Standings:
Before the start of play Friday, the D-backs held a 3.5 game lead for the top wild card spot. The Rockies currently hold on to the second spot, but the Milwaukee Brewers are still in striking distance, only 2.5 games back.
| Place | Team | Record | Games Back | Last Game | Up Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
76-58 | +3.5 | 8-1 W vs. LAD | at COL |
| 2 |  |
72-61 | — | 6-2 L vs DET | vs. AZ |
| 3 |  |
70-64 | 2.5 | 6-3 W vs. WAS | vs. WAS |
| 4 |  |
67-66 | 5.0 | 5-2 W at SF | at SF |
| 5 |  |
66-67 | 6.0 | 3-2 L vs. PHI | vs. PHI |
Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: RHP Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) vs. LHP Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.81 ERA, 1.40 WHIP)
Over his last two starts, Walker has been great, going 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA while only giving up one run in 11.2 innings pitched.
Freeland has one start against the D-backs this season, but he took advantage of it, getting the win with a 1.50 ERA.
Game 2: LHP Patrick Corbin (12-11, 3.91 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) vs. RHP Jon Gray (6-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP)
In the month of August, Corbin’s been dealing. He’s strung together four straight wins and an impressive stat line. From Aug. 6 to Aug. 27, Corbin had a 0.99 ERA and held opponents to a .192 average while striking out 39.
Gray has won two of his last three starts, striking out 19 batters and giving up 4 earned runs in the process.
Game 3: RHP Zach Godley (6-7, 3.29 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) vs. RHP Antonio Senzatela (10-5, 4.68 ERA, 1.30 WHIP)
Godley struggled through the middle of August, but he did manage to pull it together, getting the win Tuesday against the Dodgers. In his win against the Rockies earlier in the season, Godley pitched seven innings with a 0.71 WHIP and struck out eight.
Senzatela has been solid this year, going 10-5, but has had some struggles against Arizona. In the Rockies’ 10-3 loss to the D-backs on June 22, Senzatela gave up nine earned runs and only managed to strikeout three. And while he has a 4.68 ERA for the season, he has an 11.57 ERA against the snakes.
