The St. Louis Cardinals just seem to have Randy Johnson’s number.

In two starts against the Redbirds this month, Johnson has thrown just 9.2 innings and given up five home runs for a staggering 9.31 ERA. Considering that the Arizona Diamondbacks are in a tight race with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title, every game matters here in the final week of the season. The D-Backs have only been in the running for an NL West crown as their way into the 2008 postseason, so Johnson’s rough outing dug them a big hole.

In his start Tuesday night to the Cards, Johnson went six innings while giving up seven hits and five earned runs. He struck out just one batter and took his 10th loss of the season in the process. Trade-deadline acquisition Jon Rauch didn’t help matters by giving up four hits and two runs in his only inning of work. Rauch’s numbers since joining the Diamondbacks have been atrocious after posting 17 saves for the Washington Nationals. Rauch has gone 0-6 with a 6.56 ERA since leaving the nation’s capital. Read more »

Power rankings are nearly useless at this point because, in little more than a week, the top eight teams will be clear-cut and entering a race to prove the REAL power rankings. But, with games still to play and pennant races to be won, the projections can come in handy.

Take the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, neither of whom is guaranteed a playoff berth but take sound leads into their last handful of games. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks are just two games over .500 (79-77) and sitting at No. 16 in our rankings, but could still make a surprising push and knock the Dodgers off their playoff perch. Anything can still happen. Read more »

The Arizona Republic is reporting that Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn is on his way to Arizona as part of a four-player deal. The Diamondbacks sent minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two players to be named later to the rebuilding Reds, who have now traded away veteran outfielders Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. for prospects in the last two weeks.

While Buck is a nice addition to a resurgent Cincinnati farm system, Dunn is the only player of significance in fantasy. The move from Cincinnati into the National League West playoff race is likely a lateral one in terms of his overall value. But, for a player whose fantasy merits are derived almost exclusively from the home run ball — he’s tied for major league lead with 32 — it’s tough to see him leave Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin won’t say it, but closer Brandon Lyon’s leash just got a little shorter. The D-backs acquired All-Star closer Jon Rauch from the Washington Nationals for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio to bolster their worn out bullpen. Rauch will be in a setup role upon his arrival, but all that could change if Lyon, who has given up 7 runs in his last 2 appearances, continues to struggle.

It’s important to understand that Lyon’s recent hiccups and Rauch’s arrival in Arizona are two completely independent events. Lyon is still Melvin’s guy, and Rauch is a welcome addition to a bullpen mix that also includes setup men Tony Pena and Chad Qualls. Rauch becomes option No. 2 to work the ninth inning and could be in line for some saves when Lyon is unavailable. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds is back to being his red-hot self, hitting his seventh homer in 15 games as part of a 3-for-4 day in Arizona’s 5-3 loss to the Pirates on Monday. Reynolds, who also homered twice on Sunday, began the season on a tear (.302, 5 HRs, 15 RBIs in his first 11 games), then fell into an extended slump before waking up with a hot streak that began in late May.

Like the rest of his young teammates, Reynolds has had a hard time maintaining his high level of play as the season grinds toward the halfway point. Only the Nationals have scored fewer runs than the Diamondbacks so far in June, and Arizona has won just one of its last six series. Despite Reynolds’ homer on Monday, the Pirates roughed up Diamondbacks starter Randy Johnson and salvaged a split in their four-game series at PNC Park. Read more »

Entering Sunday, Eric Byrnes was a .224 career hitter with the bases loaded, but it was Byrnes that came through with the sacks full to give his Arizona Diamondbacks a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. It was Byrnes’ first career grand slam and second home run in as many days, and perhaps more importantly, a hit that could get the struggling outfielder back on track.

On a day that saw both in baseball headlines, Dan Uggla and Byrnes have headed in opposite directions this May. Uggla hit his 12th home run of the month, while Byrnes was hitting .135 in 74 at bats before breaking through at the expense of Tom Glavine. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb won his ninth consecutive start on Thursday night, working into the eighth inning of Arizona’s 8-5 win over Colorado. Webb took a shutout into the late innings, but was roughed up in the seventh and eighth innings.

It hasn’t taken a top-notch effort every start, as a mix of run support, luck, and his own brilliance has Webb off to the best start by a pitcher since 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. His final line against the Rockies: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks. Read more »

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb continued his torrid start to the 2008 season, going the distance against Philadelphia on Thursday to win his eighth straight start. Webb is the first pitcher since Jon Garland in 2005 to begin the season with eight straight victories and the first NL pitcher to accomplish the feat since Pedro Martinez in 1997.

For the third time in four years, Webb has stormed out of the gates to start the season. He won at least his first six decisions on two occasions prior (2005 and 2006), but followed with three-game losing streaks each time he did. Read more »

Wrote enough about Scherzer a couple of days ago, so here’s a quick list of notes from his first start.

1.) Final line, if you hadn’t seen it: 4IP, 7H, 5R, 2ER, 5Ks, 2 BBs

2.) That fastball is nice, very nice, and he can command it extremely well. Especially like how he can climb the ladder with two strikes. He was a pretty consistent 93-94 with it and peaked around 96.

3.) Slider and change-up need some work. When you can’t throw offspeed pitches for strikes, big league hitters will hurt you, as the Phillies did Scherzer on Monday.

4.) The mechanics appeared smoother as his mindset was to pace himself.

5.) Still better suited for a bullpen role, where he can hone a fastball-slider combination and forget about the change-up. Or vice versa, he’s got about an equally good feel for both pitches.

6.) Will likely be in a bullpen role when Doug Davis returns from the disabled list.

7.) Defense didn’t help him. Orlando Hudson’s Gold Glove D at second was limited by a hamstring injury, and shortstop Stephen Drew booted a groundball to open the floodgates for a four-run Phillies third inning. Read more »

After a dominant relief outing in his Major League debut, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Max Scherzer is heading to the rotation to make his first career start on Monday. If Scherzer is as dirty against the Phillies as he was in his debut, he could stick in the rotation for more than just a spot start. Over the long term, though, look for Scherzer’s rough mechanics to force him back into a relief role.

Arizona sees Scherzer as a future starter, but the club could find itself in a similar situation with him as the New York Yankees were with Joba Chamberlain and the Boston Red Sox with Jonathan Papelbon. Do they keep the most electric arm in their organization at the back end of the bullpen, or do they rock the boat and hope Scherzer can be equally as dominant while eating more innings? Read more »