A look at news and notes around the division, in a week in which the Dodgers were the only team with a winning record.
For the second week in a row, the Dodgers were able to put distance between themselves and the rest of the National League West, thanks to winning five out of six games while no other team in the division had a winning record.
The Diamondbacks lost four out of six, and were dealt another blow last Monday when Corbin Carroll was placed on the injured list with a chip fracture in his left wrist, about a week after he was hit by a pitch from Blue Jays left-hander Justin Bruihl. Carroll’s timeline for return isn’t yet known.
The state of Arizona did approve $500 million of state funding for upgrades to Chase Field last week. Jim McLennan has more at AZ Snake Pit.
The Giants began the week in second place but are now in third place after getting swept at home by the Marlins, then dropping two of three on the road to the lowly White Sox.
Aside from the 5-1 Dodgers, the Padres were the only other non-losing team in the NL West last week, splitting their six games. Reds right-hander Nick Martinez took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against San Diego on Friday in Cincinnati.
Yu Darvish has been out since spring training with elbow inflammation. The Padres right-hander is making progress, but isn’t yet near a return, as Thomas Conroy outlined at Gaslamp Ball.
The Rockies piled up more losses this week, including a sweep by the Dodgers then dropping the first two to the Brewers before winning in extra innings on Sunday.
Colorado also announced that Greg Feasel, the organization’s chief operating officer and 31-year member of the front office, will step aside at the end of the year. In his place will go Walker Monfort, son of team co-owner and CEO Dick Monfort. A week ago, co-owner Charlie Monfort, brother of Dick, told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, “I think we need a new set of eyeballs.”
As Evan Lang at Purple Row noted this week, Dick Monfort acknowledged, “There is a criticism, which is fair, that we are very loyal, insular, and we promote from within.”
Renee Dechert at Rockies Pitch also analyzed the Rockies’ moves and what it might mean going forward.
NL West standings
through June 29
Dodgers 53-32, – – –
Padres 45-38, 7 GB
Giants 45-39, 7½ GB
D-backs 41-42, 11 GB
Rockies, 19-65, 33½ GB
The week ahead
- Dodgers: vs. White Sox, vs. Astros
- Giants: at D-backs (4), at A’s
- Padres: at Phillies, vs. Rangers
- D-backs: vs. Giants (4), Royals
- Rockies: vs. Astros, vs. White Sox
The only series between two NL West teams in the coming week is the Giants and Diamondbacks for four games beginning Monday night at Chase Field in Phoenix. Both teams were swept by the Marlins at home last week.