Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has said it more than once, and he said it again Monday before his club hosted San Francisco: The team with the best pitching will win the National League West.
Based on his team’s recent starting performances – think of Josh Fogg’s two-hitter Friday night in Seattle – Hurdle has cause to feel good about his team’s chances. But by the numbers, the Giants are coming on strong. Through Sunday, the Giants’ team ERA in their past 50 games was a stellar 3.58, best in the NL during that span. More sobering news for the Giants is that their bullpen ranks 12th in the NL with a 4.69 ERA.
Padres (43-39)
Who’s hot: Five-time all-star reliever Trevor Hoffman. The 38-year-old changeup artist has converted 20-of-21 saves while holding opposing batters to a 1.16 ERA.
Who’s not: Lefty reliever Alan Embree, placed on the disabled list after suffering a groin strain Saturday.
What to watch: How the Padres fare on a six-day, six-game East Coast road trip that begins tonight in Philadelphia and continues in Washington. San Diego’s 20-15 road record is the best in the NL West.
Giants (43-40)
Who’s hot: Second baseman Ray Durham, who clubbed homers in four of his past eight games through Sunday.
Who’s not: Reliever Tim Worrell, placed on the disabled list before Saturday’s game in San Diego. He’s suffering from a bulging disc in his neck, the same injury that put him on the disabled list from May 23-June 6.
What to watch: The anemic Giants offense. Through Sunday, San Francisco had hit just .244 and averaged just 3.8 runs per game over its past 25 games.
Rockies (42-40)
Who’s hot: Right fielder Brad Hawpe, at the plate and in the field. He drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the 11th inning Sunday in Colorado’s 4-3 win in Seattle. He has hit .424 in his past nine games to boost his average to .315. Hawpe also recorded his 11th outfield assist Sunday, tying him with Alfonso Soriano for the most in the majors.
Who’s not: Left-handed reliever Ray King, who has given up seven runs in his past 10 outings, raising his ERA from 2.25 to 4.30. But King did earn his second career save Sunday.
What to watch: How the club performs against NL West foes San Francisco and Arizona before next week’s all-star break. The Rockies are 13-18 against the NL West.
Dodgers (42-40)
Who’s hot: Starting pitcher Brad Penny, named to the National League all-star team on the basis of his 9-2 record and 2.94 ERA.
Who’s not: An offense that foundered against the Angels this past weekend. The Dodgers lost 8-2 Saturday and 4-0 Sunday against their Southern California rivals. Sunday, they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, striking out four times. The offensive drought prompted manager Grady Little to call a team meeting.
What to watch: The growth of rookie starter Chad Billingsley, who pitched decent against the Angels on Sunday (six innings, four hits, two earned runs), but watched helplessly as the Angels’ Orlando Cabrera stole home on him.
Diamondbacks (40-43)
Who’s hot: Starting pitcher Brandon Webb (9-3), named to the all-star team Sunday, the same day he threw a four-hitter in Arizona’s 3-1 victory over Oakland.
Who’s not: The bullpen. Late-inning runs allowed, most notably by Luis Vizcaino and Jose Valverde, were a major reason for Arizona’s 3-20 record in June.
What to watch: If the gem Miguel Batista threw in Oakland on Saturday – he didn’t allow a baserunner until the seventh inning – is an aberration or a sign of things to come. Batista (8-5, 4.94) had been struggling to control his off-speed pitches.
