{"id":63145,"date":"2023-10-07T19:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T23:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=63145"},"modified":"2023-10-07T12:19:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T16:19:20","slug":"diamondbacks-dodgers-bullpen-nlds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/10\/07\/diamondbacks-dodgers-bullpen-nlds\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamondbacks and Dodgers Bullpen Are Key Factors in NLDS Matchup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> bullpen has been lights out since the beginning of September. The bullpen did well in Milwaukee, pitching a combined 9 1\/3 scoreless innings with courtesy of Kevin Ginkel<\/a>, Ryan Thompson<\/a> and Paul Sewald<\/a>. However, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup will be a bigger test and a different situation. While they do not fare well against the Dodgers, it’s going to be tough but it doesn’t have to be if Arizona plays their cards right.<\/p>\n

Diamondbacks and Dodgers Bullpen Breakdown<\/h2>\n

Bullpen ERA, FIP, XFIP<\/h3>\n

The Dodgers 4.06 ERA was the 13th-best in all of MLB this year. The Diamondbacks ranked 18th with a 4.22 mark. With FIP and xFIP, which are the fielding independent pitching and expected fielding independent pitching, both teams posted higher marks. The Dodgers’ 4.23 FIP and 4.19 xFIP ranked 15th and 13th respectively. The Diamondbacks, however, had a 4.34 FIP and 4.27 xFIP, ranking 21st and 27th.<\/p>\n

FIP is based on walks, strikeouts and home runs, the things the pitchers have the most control over. Once the ball is in play, the pitcher has no control over what happens to the ball, how defenders react and of course the bloopers and lines. xFIP is one step further that uses expected home runs allowed based on the average home run per fly ball rate. What’s important to note is that both team’s pitching staffs have helped by their defence or improved. That leads to ERA being lower than their FIP numbers altogether.<\/p>\n

Performance Improvements from Arizona<\/h3>\n
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The Diamondbacks\u2019 bullpen shut down the Brewers as six pitchers combined to go 6.1 scoreless innings to beat Corbin Burnes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Snakes are one win from the NLDS. pic.twitter.com\/cGcfCamai3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) October 4, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n