
Third Place: Arizona Diamondbacks: 21-18 (3 games back)
The Diamondbacks dropped in the NL West standings after a 3-3 week last week. The Dodgers leapfrogged them despite a modest 3-game winning streak in the early part of the week. The Diamondbacks fell in a series at home against the Pirates, losing 2 out of the 3 games.
The Dbacks were led by their middle infield as Brandon Drury and Nick Ahmed both hit over .400 and had multiple home runs. Drury had two home runs on 6 RBI, and Ahmed had 3 home runs of his own.
The snakes had an impressive start by their ace and former Dodger, Zack Greinke. Greinke almost had a no-hitter in the team’s lone win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Zack has a 2.79 ERA with a 4-2 record on the season and struck out a season-high 11 batters his last start. Greinke’s strikeout numbers have been high this season, averaging better than a strikeout an inning (58 K’s/51 innings pitched). He has been susceptible to the long ball this season, already giving up seven homers on the year.
The Diamondbacks are going to need everything they can get from their 33-year old ace if they want to compete for the NL West crown or even the NL Wild Card spot. Arizona will take on the New York Mets at home before traveling to San Diego for the weekend.