NL West Round-Up: Dodgers And Giants Appear To Be Cream Of The Crop

[new_royalslider id=”46″] The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a formidable AL Central opponent earlier in the week, then continued to torment the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend. Yasiel Puig missed some time with a thumb injury, but the Dodgers were otherwise healthy and received positive injury news late in the week.

Here’s a look at the news and rumors from around the division:

Arizona Diamondbacks

The story of the Diamondbacks’ season thus far has been their lack of strong pitching. Bronson Arroyo is the lone starting pitcher without a loss and three other starters have yet to win a game, with each having made at least two starts. The Diamondbacks managed to take two of three from the San Francisco Giants in the middle of the week, but were swept by the Dodgers in a weekend three-game home set. The Diamondbacks staff allowed 22 runs to the Dodgers over the three games.

Colorado Rockies

It’s not often a reigning batting champion gets moved in the lineup the following season, but that’s exactly what Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss did with Michael Cuddyer. After hitting in the middle of the order in 2013, Cuddyer is now batting second for the Rockies and is having success. While Weiss initiated the move, the right fielder was on the same page as his manager. Cuddyer is hitting .354 with 10 RBIs this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers split a tough two-game series with the Detroit Tigers that raised some concerns as Kenley Jansen gave up a run in the ninth inning of both games. Jansen righted the ship in Arizona and so too did Adrian Gonzalez. The first baseman entered the series hitting below .200, but turned the corner, going 7-for-13 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. The Dodgers also received news on Sunday that reliever Brian Wilson believes he’s ready to re-join the team on Tuesday, when he can come off the disabled list.

San Diego Padres
Andrew Cashner, who picked up the win over the Dodgers on Opening Night at Petco Park, recorded MLB’s first shutout this season in an 11-strikeout complete game win over the Detroit Tigers. Coinciding with Cashner’s success is the emergence of backup catcher Rene Rivera. Padres manager Bud Black won’t name Rivera as Cashner’s personal catcher, but the six-year player has caught all three of the right-hander’s starts this season.

As for their outfield, the Padres continue to await the return of Aaron Maybin and Carlos Quentin, neither of which are expected back in the near future.

San Francisco Giants
After taking two of three from the Dodgers, the Giants returned home for a midweek series with the Diamondbacks and went 1-2 in the three-game set against the NL West’s worst team record-wise. The Giants finished the week by defeating the Rockies two out of three and have Monday off before they welcome the Dodgers for another three-game series.

Similar to the Dodgers, the Giants will also have a reliever who is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday — Jeremy Affeldt. Giants manager Bruce Bochy has limited ideal options available in order to make room for Affeldt on the roster and may consider carrying an eight-man bullpen.

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Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig’s Thumb Injury, Strained Ligament

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