Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray is a Dodger buster

It might be too early to accurately state that the Diamondbacks have a streak-stopper – a starting pitcher that they can truly count on to stop the bleeding of a losing streak.

For $206.5 million, you’d like to think Zack Greinke would be that man. And maybe he is, or at least will be.

But the Diamondbacks can at least say they’ve got a Dodger buster in their starting stable. Left-hander Robbie Ray, who will be making his fourth start of the season tonight, has had some very strong performances against Los Angeles during his young career.

In nine previous starts against the Dodgers, he is 3-3 with a 2.80 ERA and his .180 batting average against is the second-lowest all-time by any pitcher vs. the Dodgers (with a minimum of eight starts).

His previous start was also against the Dodgers, and he only allowed one earned run on three hits over six innings with 10 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks, by the way, have won all three of his starts so far this season.

That’s helpful, too, considering they had lost five of their previous eight games after a surprising 7-2 start. A nine-run eruption in the eighth inning Friday night snapped a two-game slide as Arizona crushed the Dodgers 13-5 in front of 27,018. Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb, Yasmany Tomas, Chris Iannetta and Daniel Descalso each had two RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who pounded out 14 hits and also drew eight walks.

So what’s been working so well for Ray this year? According to both the lefty and his manager, it’s been finding success with his secondary pitches that are set up by his fastball command.

“He’s found a rhythm and flow,” says Torey Lovullo.

Last Monday at Dodger Stadium, Ray said it was just “a steady mix of my pitches.”

“I wasn’t falling into any patterns,” he said. “I think that was the biggest thing. I was constantly going with what was working for me, but still mixing it up. I don’t expect anything to change (on Saturday) – just go with what works.”

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The entire rotation has been getting it done overall on most occasions and the way Ray sees it, it’s because all five of the pitchers are so competitive – from Greinke to No. 5 man Shelby Miller.

“Every guy is going out there wanting to out-do the next guy,” he said. “Shelby went out there and had a great game his last time out and you saw what Zack did the next game. It’s kind of like a friendly competition out there.

“We joke around with each other, but we take it serious. This is our job and when one guy goes out there and puts up seven strong innings, the next guy wants to go out there and put up eight.”

The “friendly competition” has also made it to the batting cages, where the starting pitchers – OK, namely Ray – razz each other about their exploits with a bat in game situations.

“I’ve kind of been messing with some guys about their hitting since I’m 3 for 5 (actually 3 for 6),” he said, smiling, “so I’ve been giving the starting staff a little crap for that. They need to pick up the pace a little bit. … It’s all in good fun. We’re not paid to hit, so it’s just something to mess around with.”

Taijuan Walker is the only other starting pitcher with at least one base hit. Ray, it seems, pokes most of his fun at Miller, who is 0 for 5.

“Shelby takes a real good BP,” Ray said, “but I tell him all the time, ‘You don’t take your BP swing into the game. You’ve got to practice how you play.’”

Reach McManaman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.

Saturday’s game

Dodgers at Diamondbacks

When: 5:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.96) vs. Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (1-1, 7.07).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

After a tough start during his last time out, Ray settled in to give up just one earned run to the Dodgers in six innings while striking out 10 and walking four; overall, he’s 3-3 with a 2.80 ERA in nine career starts against Los Angeles. … His .180 average-against is the second lowest all-time vs. the Dodgers (minimum of eight games started). … Ray’s steady start to the season has ranked him among NL leaders in opponent average (second at .161), strikeouts per nine innings (second at 11.78) and strikeouts (tied for sixth with 24). … Maeda has struggled to find an early rhythm; he’s given up four runs in each of his past two appearances – including his last start against the Diamondbacks. … Through three games, however, he’s walked only four batters. … Amid three career starts at Chase Field, Maeda is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA while striking out 17 and walking five.

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (2-1, 3.50) vs. Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 2.12).

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (1-2, 3.28) vs. Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-2, 4.70).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 3.27) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (2-2, 3.04).