Arizona Diamondbacks: Zack Grienke, starters taking charge

Right-hander Zack Grienke of the Arizona Diamondbacks is the first pitcher in the this season to reach 16 wins this season.

Heading down the stretch, manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks has to feel good about his starting rotation. Noting a majority of his team’s success this season was attributed to his starters, the result of these pitchers in the last few weeks gives credence to Lovullo’s words.

Given Robbie Ray’s return from concussion protocol with two stellar starts and Patrick Corbin’s 0.30 ERA in his last four starts as headliners, Zack Greinke is easily on this list of valuable assets. While Lovullo told Call to the Pen before Thursday’s game he is not in the comparison business of judging his starters against those teams in the running for a National League wild card spot, he is quick to point to the value of his own staff.

With Corbin and Ray are locked in right now, Greinke’s latest effort against the Los Angeles Dodgers adds to the growing value and worth of the Arizona starters. While others in the rotation continue to make important contributions, Greinke remains the titular head of the staff.

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Numbers, for this season, make the point.

Following Greinke’s 8-1 win over the Dodgers Thursday afternoon at Chase Field before 19,882, the native of Orlando, Fla. become the first 16-game winner in the majors this season. In 16 starts at home in 2017, Greinke is 13-1 with a 2.31 ERA. That equates to 27 earned runs in 105 innings. All of which points to his significance within the clubhouse, and between the white lines, as well as entering a discussion for the Cy Young Award.

Greinke told Call to the Pen after Thursday’s game that conversation is clearly pre-mature.

"“It’s too early for that,” he said. “There are two guys who deserve this. Right now, we’re pushing for a playoff spot, and that’s our thinking.”"

For the record, the two pitchers Greinke cited were Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Max Scherzer of the Nationals.

Once, the supporting cast around Kershaw was considered one the strongest in the game. In recent weeks, Alex Wood, off to a 14-1 start before landing on the disabled list Aug. 22 with shoulder inflammation, Rich Hill, battered by the Diamondbacks in this series and Yu Darvish (2-1, 3.13 in four starts with L.A.) are not as productive as Ray, Greinke and Corbin. In dropping the three games to Arizona this week, L.A. starters Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Hill combined went 0-3 with a 16.03 ERA. They allowed 19 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.

If the starters are putting up important numbers, the offense has regained its productivity. In the Dodgers’ series as he has throughout the season, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt continued to carry this team. In his last 36 games, Goldschmidt is hitting .352 with 11 doubles, 12 homers, 36 RBI and has walked 20 times.

After Thursday’s game, in which he went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two RBI (109 on the season), he told Call to the Pen one reason why the Diamondbacks were able to jump on the L.A. starters for ten first-inning runs in the three games.

"“We hit mistakes,” he said. “Plus, we had some well-placed balls. These games were close and we know the Dodgers are a quality team. Games in this series could have gone either way.”"

Perhaps, but the way Greinke and his mates are executing, they are clearly keeping the Diamondbacks competitive. Now that the offense is scoring runs at a high level and the starters are pitching with conviction, the Diamondbacks look to have handle on a wild card spot, and the second NL wild card spot could be set up for an October showdown in the desert.

Next: Astros add Maybin

The first of two showdown series between the Diamondbacks and Rockies, the two clubs leading the drive for the two National League wild card spots, opens Friday night at Coors Field.

In the series opener, Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.55 ERA) opposes lefty Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.81). On Saturday, Patrick Corbin (12-11, 3.92) takes on right-hander Jon Gray (6-3, 4.18). In the series finale Sunday afternoon, Zack Godley (6-7, 3.29) opposes righty Antonio Senzatela (10-5, 4.68).

Then, it’s on to Dodger Stadium and three with the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks return to Chase Field on Friday Sept. 9 for a seven-game home stand. That includes three with the Padres and an important four-game set with Rockies.

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