With the Dodgers out of the way for now, the Diamondbacks get a much friendlier stretch: three games at home against the Rockies. And if there’s ever been a series that looks like a clean-up job on paper, this is it.
Colorado comes in stuck in its own fight, currently tangled with the Angels, and the road numbers are ugly enough to jump off the page. The Rockies are just 19-40 away from home.
For Arizona, that makes this feel like a series where two wins should be the floor and three would be the goal. If you want to get greedy, sure, you can talk yourself into all three.
Maybe even four of three, if you’re feeling generous to the math.
The lineups set the tone for the matchup, too.
Rockies: Jake McCarthy in center, Cole Carrigg at short, TJ Rumfield at first, Hunter Goodman catching, Mickey Moniak in left, Kyle Karros at third, Willi Castro at second, Troy Johnston at DH, Jordan Beck in right, and Gabriel Hughes on the mound.
Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo at short, Corbin Carroll in right, Gabriel Moreno catching, Ketel Marte at second, Lars Nootbaar at DH, Nolan Arenado at third, Max Kepler in left, Tim Tawa at first, Ryan Waldschmidt in center, and Michael Soroka starting.
There’s also a bigger picture reason this series matters. Arizona just crossed off the Dodgers, which helps clean up the remaining schedule in a meaningful way. When you look at the wild-card race, the D-backs are in a favorable spot compared with several teams around them.
Here’s where the contenders stand, along with their current position and the win percentage of their remaining opponents:
Cubs, +6.0 - .528 (2nd)
Phillies, +0.0 - .518 (7th)
D-backs, +0.0 - .493 (16th)
Padres, -1.0, - .504 (12th)
Marlins, -3.0 - .519 (6th)
Cardinals, -3.5 - .500 (13th)
Arizona’s remaining slate is the softest of the teams in the hunt, and that matters. The Cubs still have six games left with the Brewers, who own the best record in the National League, and six more against the Braves, who are second-best. It’s not hard to picture Chicago slipping back if that stretch goes sideways.
One other wrinkle stands out: the National League is carrying most of the easier schedules. The only NL clubs in the bottom half by strength of remaining schedule are the D-backs at 16th with a .493 opponent win percentage, the Nationals at 19th with .492, and the Dodgers at 23rd with .489. And yes, the Dodgers get the same benefit Arizona does from not having to see the Dodgers again.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Just Made A Bullpen Decision Fans Will Debate
Paul Sewalds run in Arizona ended with the kind of roster move that tends to stir up second-guessing later. The veteran right-hander, who went through a mixed 2026 season, was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks and is now headed to Toronto, where the Blue Jays are taking on the rest of his $1.5 million contract and bringing him into a bullpen that is dealing with multiple injuries.
For Arizona, the move leaves behind the familiar question of whether patience would have been the better play with a reliever who has logged plenty of big-league innings. For Toronto, it is a low-cost chance to add experience and flexibility, with Sewald expected to be used in a setup role rather than handed closing duties right away. [Read more 🡒]
Perdomos Return Gives Diamondbacks Offense A Needed Lift In Playoff Push
Geraldo Perdomo is back in the Diamondbacks lineup after a brief absence because of knee soreness, and his return comes at a time when every productive at-bat matters. Arizona is in the middle of a competitive National League postseason race, and Perdomos value goes beyond the box score because he can keep innings alive and help set the table for the hitters behind him.
For a lineup looking for more consistency, having Perdomo available again gives the Diamondbacks a steadier presence in the middle of the everyday mix. Even without any dramatic change to the roster, his ability to extend rallies and create pressure on opposing pitchers can make a noticeable difference as Arizona tries to stay in the thick of the playoff chase. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Suddenly Need More From One Spot Before This Road Trip
The Diamondbacks are trying to squeeze a little more offense out of a lineup that has not been as sharp as it needs to be, and the timing matters with the Rockies still in front of them before a tougher road stretch begins. Arizona knows it can help itself by taking care of this series first, especially with the schedule about to get less forgiving away from home.
There is also some hope buried in the injury picture, with Justin Martinez among the players the club is watching closely. If his command and control return in time, he could become part of the solution at a moment when Arizona could use more certainty in the late innings and more stability overall as the trip approaches. [Read more 🡒]