Jordan HammThe Arizona Diamondbacks knew the end of July and beginning of August would be one of the most difficult stretches in the season. Since July 27th, the Snkaes have played the St. Louis Cardinals, who are lurking behind the D-backs and Rockies in the wild card race, the NL Central-leading Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, the best team in baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers, and then the Cubs again.
In that span, they have gone 7-9 and have four games against the Houston Astros, who sit at 72 wins and lead the AL West and the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins.
The Diamondbacks were able to go to Chicago and win the series earlier this month, but the Cubs came to Chase Field and took two of the three games in the series this time around.
In six games against the Diamondbacks, the Cubs, who site at 16th in runs scored in the MLB, have scored 41 runs (6.83 runs per game).
Here are some takeways from the series:
Walker Too Long?
Taijuan Walker was impressive through his first five innings pitched on Friday, giving up two runs. He came out in the sixth, at 105 pitches, and gave up back-to-back home runs off of Kyle Schwarber and Alex Avila, giving the Cubs a comfortable 5-2 lead, who eventually won 8-3.
Jake Barrett Struggles
Since getting called up on July 7th, Jake Barrett gave up one run – in his debut – all the way until August 10th, where he gave up three runs (two earned) to the Dodgers. Barrett’s next appearance was Sunday, where he Barrett gave up four earned runs on three home runs to Javy Baez, Ian Happ and Kris Bryant. One of the more consistent arms in the D-backs bullpen has struggled mightily this week.
Took Javier Baez outside and he keeps leaving the yard. ? pic.twitter.com/RaJw3p0vyo
— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) August 13, 2017
Pat Corbin Bounces Back
On August 1st, the Cubs roughed up Patrick Corbin for his worst start of the year, throwing just three innings and giving up seven earned runs. He bounced back just 11 days later, Corbin came back with arguably the best start of his season, throwing 6.2 innings piched, giving up five hits, no runs and striking out eight against this same Cubs lineup. Corbin was the only Diamondback to get a win in this series and has bounced back nicely since that night in Chicago.
Kris of Death
Sprained fingers suck.
That’s exactly what happened to Kris Bryant on July 19th, but you wouldn’t really know it based on how the Chicago Cubs third baseman is playing. Against the D-backs, he went 9/11 with a home run, two runs scored, an RBI, three walks, a hit by pitch and two RBIs. He was also able to score from second on a dropped third strike in the opening inning of the game on Sunday. He has reached safely in ten straight games and had multiple hits in five of those.
.@KrisBryant_23 scores from 2nd on a strikeout!
Wait, what? pic.twitter.com/5wwwOeQn20
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 13, 2017
The D-backs have a two-game series at home against the Astros and then they go to Houston to play two more.
Zack Greinke, Anthony Banda are slated to pitch at Chase Field, and then Taijaun Walker and Pat Corbin are scheduled to take the bump in Houston.
