Diamondbacks’ strong May, struggles vs. Dodgers: By the numbers

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a pleasant surprise through the team’s first 52 games, as they sit just two games under .500 after finishing with just 52 wins a season ago. 

While the D-backs have been solid, they struggle mightily against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit atop the National League West.

Let’s take a look at how different the Diamondbacks’ stats are against the Dodgers compared to the rest of their schedule in May.

Record for May

Against the Dodgers: 0-8 

Against the rest of the league: 15-6 

Home runs hit per game in May

Against the Dodgers: 0.8

Against the rest of the league: 1.5

In eight games against the Dodgers, the D-backs were only able to muster seven home runs while displaying their power against the rest of the league. Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker accounted for four out of the seven home runs hit by Arizona against the Dodgers in May.

Hits per game in May

Against the Dodgers: 7

Against the rest of the league: 8.5

The D-backs found themselves hitting the ball at a much higher rate against the rest of the league compared to against Los Angeles. Dodgers sluggers Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combined for 24 hits while the entire Diamondbacks team produced only 61 hits as a team.

RBIs per game in May

Against the Dodgers : 3

Against the rest of the league: 5

Runs were hard to come by for the Diamondbacks against the Dodgers. However, they had no issue driving in runs against the rest of their opponents in May. Freeman himself had 12 RBIs against the Diamondbacks last month, which is exactly half of the amount of RBIs Arizona had against the Dodgers (24). 

Batting average in May

Against the Dodgers: .190

Against the rest of the league: .267

A similar trend with hits. Betts and Freeman combined to hit .375 against the Diamondbacks in May.

Pitchers ERA in May

Against the Dodgers: 7.01

Against the rest of the league: 3.80

The Diamondbacks have had a steady rotation thus far. However, they struggled at an alarming rate versus the Dodgers. The May 26 affair in which the Dodgers clobbered the Diamondbacks 14-1 certainly skewed this particular statistic. However, it seems as though the Dodgers hitters have the Arizona pitchers well figured out. 

Pitchers away record in May

At Dodger Stadium: 0-4

Everywhere else: 6-2

While the D-backs pitchers may have struggled against the Dodgers, Zac Gallen was particularly good for the Diamondbacks in May. He was 2-0 on the road with three earned runs across 11.1 innings.

Home runs allowed per game in May

Against the Dodgers: 1.75

Against the rest of the league: 1.2

In May, D-backs pitchers did a good job of keeping the ball in the park, except when playing the Dodgers. Those long balls accounted for 34% of the home runs given up by Arizona last month. Betts and Will Smith combined to hit five home runs for the Dodgers against Arizona, as they have tormented Diamondbacks pitching all season long.