National League West Notes: Dodgers, Giants, Andrew Cashner, Diamondbacks
The National League West may not be the league’s most competitive division, but there are some surprises, moves on the horizon, and races to focus on.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball. Despite losing
Matt Kemptwice
this season, they
have the best record in the Majors. At 37-21, they have a four game lead on the surprising Giants, but San Francisco’s pitching is heating up. San Francisco has the third best team ERA in baseball at 3.27. They’ve also tossed the fifth most shut-outs this year. The Dodgers will look to hold on to their lead and build on it when Matt Kemp returns, but according to J.P. Hoornstra of the San Bernadino Sun, Kemp is expected to be out at least a month still.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will be getting two key pieces added to their team very soon. Stephen Drew is expected to return from his gruesome ankle injury soon, and Trevor Bauer is inching ever-closer to a Major League promotion.Drew made a rehab start last night for the Reno Aces. He was 1 for 4 in his first live game action. Sports Illustrated has indicated the Diamondbacks and Drew do not know when he will finish his rehab assignment. It will depend on how his ankle responds to game action.
Trevor Bauer, the Diamondbacks top pitching prospect, was promoted to Triple-A last month. He has since gone 2-0 with a 2.52 ERA. With the Dbacks struggling still, they can use all the help they can get. However, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com says Arizona is in no rush to promote Bauer. The team i not pushing to make room on the roster for Bauer, and General Manager Kevin Towers has said it will work itself out.