Arizona Diamondbacks +850
Last year, the Diamondbacks were second in the NL with a +153 run differential in a hotly contested NL West Division, while this season the D-backs are +43 at the all-star fracture and wind up a half-game supporting the Dodgers. Arizona’s starting rotation was hit with the injury bug, dropping Taijuan Walker for the season to Tommy John surgery following his third beginning in 2018 and having Robbie Ray proceed on the DL and miss most of May and most of June. The D-backs were without Shelby Miller until late June, but Clay Buchholz was put on the DL soon after his return.
Arizona has had an up-and-down season thus far, using a stretch of 21-8 to begin the season followed by a 5-18 record in its own next 23 games and now a 27-18 series heading into the all-star break. Miller was horrific after his return from the DL, compiling a 0-4 record, 11.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP, and has been put back on the DL with knee pain. Buchholz, who has gone 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 0.96 WHIP since registering in May, will come back to the club in the not too distant future.
Overall, the Diamondbacks offense has been strong all season. It is a matter of if their pitching staff may get healthy again. There’s plenty of“ifs“ with this club with Ray, Miller and Buchholz all with their problems, but if even two of the three can go back to form, Arizona can make a push for the NL pennant.
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