D-backs send young Banda against Dodgers' Darvish (Aug 10, 2017)
PHOENIX -- The contrast on the mound could not be much greater.
The rollicking Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to remain unbeaten in their past 18 series when they send newly acquired right-hander Yu Darvish to the mound in the finale of a three-game series against Arizona on Thursday night.
The Diamondbacks will give 23-year-old left-hander Anthony Banda his third major league start as he fills the gap while All-Star left-hander Robbie Ray recovers from being struck in the head by a line drive July 28.
Darvish was Darvish in his Dodgers debut last Friday. He gave up three hits and striking out 10 in seven scoreless innings in his first National League game, beating the New York Mets 6-0. Darvish (7-9, 3.81 ERA overall) was acquired from the Texas Rangers for a package that included top infield prospect Willie Calhoun in the final moments before the July 31 trade deadline.
"That's the guy we expected to get," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But again, it's one start. The stuff is elite, and for Yu just to be comfortable and to be with his teammates and to learn the National League more and to learn our catchers, it is only going to be better. I know that he's excited to be here, and we're excited to have him."
Darvish, 1-0 in two career starts against Arizona, was complimentary of catcher Yasmani Grandal's pitch-framing skills when they worked together for the first time Friday.
"I think if you look at our guys behind the plate and what they can do as far as catching the baseball, throwing, managing a pitching staff, and also in the batter's box, you'd be hard-pressed to find a body of work better than our two guys," Roberts said.
"It is good to see that Yu can appreciate what Yasmani did behind the plate. (Grandal) is good about receiving the baseball. He does a good job."
The Dodgers (80-33) have won 14 of 16 games and 45 of 53. They have won 14 of their past 17 series, splitting the three others. Arizona won the first game of the current series 6-3 on Jake Lamb's grand slam Tuesday, but Los Angeles bounced back for a 3-2 win Wednesday.
The Diamondbacks (64-49) fell a half-game behind the Colorado Rockies for the first NL wild card.
Banda, who has never faced the Dodgers in his young career, got his first major league victory in his most recent start, a 2-1 decision at San Francisco on Friday. He allowed one run in six innings. Banda (1-1, 3.86 ERA) gave up three hits, all infield singles, and struck out seven while walking four. He pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning, when the Giants scored.
"It's downhill fastballs to both sides of the plate," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "Confidence, knowing that he can throw all three pitches at any time. There was a mound presence. There was an ease to his game plan. Adjustments were good. It wasn't a perfect outing, but he made pitches when he had to and got out of situations when he had to."
Former Arizona general manager Kevin Towers acquired Banda from the Milwaukee Brewers in a package for Gerardo Parra at the 2014 trade deadline, and Lovullo is glad to be able to insert Banda in a meaningful situation so early in his career. There is no timetable for Ray's return.
"All these games are extremely important," Lovullo said. "I know these guys are feeling that. We embrace that. Anthony understands that very well. We know he is a young pitcher. To get him up there and pitch in these types of games in a meaningful environment is going to be priceless for his development.
"He understands what it is like to walk into a clubhouse when you are in a pennant race. The fact that we are able to expose him to this is just going to help him get better that much faster."
