/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46663924/usa-today-7910918.0.jpg)
The Arizona Diamondbacks and their fans haven't had a lot to get excited about this season. The last time they were above .500 was on April 24 when they were 8-8. Since then, they've had 11 chances to climb back to .500. Their record in those games? 0-11. At the time of this publication, the Diamondbacks have a 37-41 record and are five games out of a wild card spot. Certainly not out of the race, but also not where they'd like to be. Paul Goldschmidt has been an absolute treat to watch, but this club needs a shot in the arm. Enter Patrick Corbin.
You remember him, don't you? Through 25 starts in 2013, Corbin was 13-3 with a 2.45 ERA, the team was 21-4 in his starts, and he was right in the thick of the Cy Young discussion. Corbin faded over his last seven starts, likely due to the fatigue of working a full Major League season for the first time, then was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery prior to the 2014 season. Now, he has fully recovered from his surgery and is expected to make his season debut this weekend against the Colorado Rockies. If Corbin is able to get back to being the pitcher he was for his first 25 starts in 2013, he might be just what the Diamondbacks need to get themselves back in the hunt. Regardless of what happens though, it's got to be exciting to have a player like Corbin back in the fold. Now, let's take a look around the rest of the NL West.
Arizona Diamondbacks (37-41, 7 GB)
The week that was: Not a fun week for the Diamondbacks. They lost the series finale in Denver against the Rockies, then dropped two out of three on the road against the San Diego Padres and at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Upcoming schedule: Arizona hosts the Rockies for four games this week, then will head to Texas for a quick two game interleague series against the Rangers.
Disabled list: RHP Archie Bradley (15-day, shoulder), LHP Patrick Corbin (60-day, Tommy John surgery), C Tuffy Gosewisch (15-day, torn ACL), 2B Philip Gosselin (15-day, thumb), C Oscar Hernandez (60-day, hand), OF Ender Inciarte (15-day, hamstring), C Gerald laird (60-day, back)
Player of the week: David Peralta
Someone new this week! With Paul Goldschmidt a mere mortal this week, the door was opened for the Diamondbacks left fielder to be player of the week. In his 29 PA, he had a slash line of .304/.448/.696, a 206 wRC+, with a double, a triple, and two home runs.
Colorado Rockies (34-44, 10 GB)
The week that was: The Rockies continued to slowly but surely slide further and further back in the race this week. After winning the series finale at home against the Diamondbacks, the club headed out on the road where they dropped two of three to both the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics.
Upcoming schedule: Colorado opens up a four-game series against the Diamondbacks tonight, then will head home for a quick two-game set with the Los Angeles in front of four games with the Atlanta Braves.
Disabled list: RHP Christian Bergman (15-day, shoulder), RHP Brooks Brown (15-day, shoulder), RHP Tyler Chatwood (60-day, Tommy John surgery), OF Corey Dickerson (15-day, plantar fasciitis), RHP Jordan Lyles (60-day, toe), 1B Justin Morneau (15-day, concussion), RHP Adam Ottavino (60-day, Tommy John surgery)
Players of the week: Nolan Arenado and Jorge De La Rosa
This one was too close to call, so Arenado and De La Rosa share player of the week honors this week. Arenado had an impressive .296/.345/.889 slash line with five home runs in 29 PA this week while De La Rosa allowed just one earned run in his two starts this week, good for a 0.75 ERA.
Los Angeles Dodgers (45-35, 0 GB)
The week that was: It was a nice week for the Dodgers as they put a little distance between themselves and the second-place Giants. After winning their series finale on the road against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers traveled to Miami and Arizona where they took two of three from both the Marlins and Diamondbacks.
Upcoming schedule: This week, the Dodgers get a taste of the NL East as they host the New York Mets for three and the Philadelphia Phillies for four.
Disabled list: RHP Brandon Beachy (60-day, Tommy John surgery), OF Carl Crawford (60-day, oblique), RHP Chris Hatcher (15-day, oblique), RHP Brandon League (60-day, shoulder), RHP Brandon McCarthy (60-day, Tommy John surgery), LHP Paco Rodriguez (15-day, elbow), RHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (60-day, shoulder)
Player of the week: Howie Kendrick
Kendrick was on fire this week, putting up a .500/.545/.679 slash line in 33 PA, a 241 wRC+. He had two doubles, a home run, and drove in eight.
San Diego Padres (37-43, 8 GB)
The week that was: The Padres retooling experiment continues to look worse and worse as they went just 2-4 this week, dropping the finale on the road against the Giants before coming home for the week's lone bright spot when they took two of three from the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, they were then swept in a quick two-game series by the Seattle Mariners while being outscored 12-0.
Upcoming schedule: Up next, the Padres head out for a 10-game road trip to finish out their first half. On this week's docket are four with the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals and three with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Disabled list: C Tim Federowicz (60-day, knee), RHP Josh Johnson (60-day, Tommy John surgery), LHP Cory Luebke (60-day, Tommy John surgery), RHP Brandon Morrow (60-day, shoulder) OF Wil Myers (15-day, wrist), 3B Cory Spangenberg (15-day, knee), RHP Dale Thayer (15-day, rotator cuff)
Player of the week: Matt Kemp
Kemp's disappointing season was improves slightly this week as he slashed .292/.308/.625 in 26 PA, a 154 wRC+. He had two doubles and two home runs as well, raising his wRC+ for the season to a meager 81.
San Francisco Giants (42-37, 2½ GB)
The week that was: The Giants took their series finale from the Padres at home before taking two of three from the Rockies at home as well. They then headed to Miami where they dropped the first two out of three to the Marlins.
Upcoming schedule: After finishing up their series in Miami, the Giants head to the nation's capitol for three with the Washington Nationals. They'll then return home for three with the Mets.
Disabled list: LHP Jeremy Affeldt (15-day, shoulder), OF Nori Aoki (15-day, broken leg), RHP Tim Lincecum (15-day, forearm), RHP Jake Peavy (15-day, back), OF Hunter Pence (15-day, wrist), IF Marco Scutaro (60-day, back)
Player of the week: Buster Posey
Posey continued to stake his claim as the best catcher in baseball as he hit a ridiculous .500/.542/.818 this week in 24 PA, good for a 281 wRC+. Those numbers raised his wRC+ on the season to 146, second to only Stephen Vogt's 151 among big league catchers.