D-backs Drop Three Straight, Lose Series to Braves

The Arizona Diaondbacks have had better weeks.

After losing two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Diamondbacks won only won game in their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves. The Diamondbacks were incredibly close to being swept and were down to their last out in Thursday’s win, but David Peralta and Ketel Marte came up clutch to win the game in extra innings.

Thursday: D-backs win 3-2 (10)
Friday: Braves win 2-1
Saturday: Braves win 6-4
Sunday: Braves win 5-3

5/38

The issue wasn’t that the Diamondbacks couldn’t hit this series, it’s that they couldn’t deliver in those big moments. The Snakes hit .132 with runners in scoring position including 1/9 on Sunday. Now, sometimes the ball just finds the glove, and the Braves made some big plays when the D-backs were on the verge of busting through. But this trend is a concerning one if it sticks around.

Bullpen

Another concering trend has been the bullpen. In this four-game series, they gave up nine earned runs. I don’t know if you can really have all nine attributed to the bullpen as Zack Godley only lastest two innings in Sunday’s “start.” Jon Duplantier took the bulk of the innings, throwing three and giving up as many runs. Even Greg Holland gave up a run in the series, his first of the season. The roles will be switched around a bit now that Archie Bradley isn’t the exclusive eighth inning guy, but they’ll need the bullpen to bounce back if they want to continue their late-game dominance.

Luke Weaver

One bright spot so far this series has been Luke Weaver. Weaver has now rattled off back-to-back seven inning, one earned run allowed starts and has an ERA of 2.98. He started off a bit rough with the Diamondbacks, but has really hit his stride to be the member of the rotation the Diamondbacks hoped for when they traded for him in December.

Bad Juju?

The Diamondbacks hae lost six of their last games, just a week removed from almost pulling off the sweep against the Rockies. Could the late inning collapse on Saunday’s matchup agianst the Rockies set the tone for these rough week? It’s tough to win four straight to then have two separate three-game losing streaks in the span of a week.

The Diamondbacks will remain home and face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series.