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The Dodgers arrive in Arizona Friday looking to get the taste of another series loss to the Giants out of the their mouths and firmly into the rear view. It shouldn’t be too hard to do when the roster will get a boost just in time to play the worst team in baseball, the Diamondbacks.
After acquiring Danny Duffy from the Royals and reportedly swinging a trade with the Nationals for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, the Dodgers also expect Corey Seager back at some point over the weekend. Seager hasn’t played since May 15 due to a broken bone in his right hand.
Dodgers/D-backs 2021
| Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Result |
| Mon, May 17 | Dodger Stadium | W, 3-1 |
| Tue, May 18 | Dodger Stadium | W, 9-1 |
| Wed, May 19 | Dodger Stadium | W, 4-2 |
| Thu, May 20 | Dodger Stadium | W, 3-2 |
| Fri, Jun 18 | Chase Field | W, 3-0 |
| Sat, Jun 19 | Chase Field | W, 9-3 |
| Sun, Jun 20 | Chase Field | W, 9-8 |
| Fri, Jul 9 | Dodger Stadium | L, 5-2 |
| Sat, Jul 10 | Dodger Stadium | W, 22-1 |
| Sun, Jul 11 | Dodger Stadium | W, 7-4 |
| Fri, Jul 30 | Chase Field | 6:40 p.m. PT |
| Sat, Jul 31 | Chase Field | 5:10 p.m. |
| Sun, Aug 1 | Chase Field | 1:10 p.m. |
| Mon, Sep 13 | Dodger Stadium | 7:10 p.m. |
| Tue, Sep 14 | Dodger Stadium | 7:10 p.m. |
| Wed, Sep 15 | Dodger Stadium | 7:10 p.m. |
| Fri, Sep 24 | Chase Field | 6:40 p.m. |
| Sat, Sep 25 | Chase Field | 5:10 p.m. |
| Sun, Sep 26 | Chase Field | 1:10 p.m. |
While Duffy and Scherzer will certainly help bolster the pitching staff, neither will pitch in the three-game set at Chase Field. The trade for Scherzer actually leaves a void on Saturday, with scheduled starter Josiah Gray heading to Washington as part of the haul for the Nationals.
The bullpen will likely pick up the slack, sandwiched in between starts from Tony Gonsolin and Julio Urias.
Pitching shouldn’t be a major problem no matter who is on the mound since the Dodgers have provided plenty of runs on offense, feasting on Arizona pitching this year. Winning all but one of the 10 previous contests this season, the Dodgers have scored at least seven runs in half of those games.
The Diamondbacks were already on pace for just over 50 wins in 2021 when they traded away one of their bigger threats on offense Thursday, sending Eduardo Escobar to the Brewers. Couple that with the fact that Ketel Marte, Carson Kelly and Josh Rojas are currently on the injured list and it’s not a pretty picture.
Friday night starter Zac Gallen has yet to face the Dodgers this season after holding them to just two runs in 13 innings over two starts in 2020. Sunday starter Caleb Smith allowed nine runs at Dodger Stadium July 10, getting pulled four batters into the second inning, a game the Dodgers would go on to win 22-1, the most runs ever scored in a game at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers have outscored the D-backs 71-27 this season, but even removing the record-setting blowout Los Angeles has still outscored Arizona 49-26 in the other nine games.
Pitching matchups
- Friday, 6:40 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA): Tony Gonsolin vs. Zac Gallen
- Saturday, 5:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA): TBD vs. Merrill Kelly
- Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA): Julio Urías vs. Caleb Smith