It appears that it is now the Diamondbacks turn to give self-sabotage a go, having won just 3 of their last 10 and allowing the Dodgers to creep within 1 1/2 games of first place. We may know this weekend the success of those efforts.
Although the two teams face each other this weekend in a crucial 3 game series - and the D'Backs are throwing Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, and Randy Johnson - the Dodgers appear to have a mildly easier schedule. They'll face the Padres 6 times, Giants 6 times, Pirates 4 times, and the Rockies 3 times. The D'Backs draw the Giants 7 times, Rockies 6 times, and the Reds 3 times, but must go to St. Louis for a crucial 4 game series.
The Dodgers no doubt feel blessed to have drawn the hapless Padres 9 times in the final month, but after their performance in Washington last week, a 4-5 record would surprise nobody.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.