The Diamondbacks enter this series with a little scoreboard pressure hanging over them. Philadelphia began play in the second wild-card spot, two games ahead of San Diego and a game in front of Arizona, and all three clubs are at home this weekend against teams sitting below them in the standings.
The Phillies were leading the Cardinals 5-4 at the time of writing, while the Padres were set to host Minnesota. For Arizona, the margin is thin enough that taking at least two of three feels like the minimum to keep pace.
That’s the backdrop as the D-backs and Reds line up for the opener, with Nick Lodolo going for Cincinnati and E. Rodriguez on the mound for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks are also coming off a roster move on the off-day, following a lengthy discussion between Marte and management. The specifics of that conversation have stayed private, and the matter has now been put to rest from the outside looking in.
On the field, the D-backs are hoping Eduardo Rodriguez can keep building on a pair of strong outings after a shaky start against San Diego. He followed that rough one with quality starts against the Dodgers and, most recently, the Braves. Against Atlanta, he gave up two runs over six innings, allowed five hits, and did not issue a walk.
Arizona would also like to avoid a repeat of Rodriguez’s last meeting with Cincinnati. In that June outing, he couldn’t get through the third inning, threw 85 pitches, and recorded only eight outs. The Diamondbacks still won that game, but they’d surely prefer a cleaner night this time and a lot less strain on the bullpen.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Put Cubs Pitching Plan Under Immediate Playoff Pressure
The Cubs arrive in Arizona with a slim cushion in the Wild Card race and very little room for error, which makes this series feel bigger than a mid-September checkpoint. Chicagos offense has carried enough weight to keep it atop the chase, but the next few games will ask that lineup to keep producing against a Diamondbacks staff that can change the mood of a series quickly, especially when the matchups lean toward pitchability and command.
Arizonas rotation gives this set a familiar postseason edge, with Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt among the arms Chicago will have to sort through while also dealing with the broader pressure of the standings. The Cubs have some power and depth in the lineup, but their ability to keep the offense moving against those starters could decide whether they hold their position or leave the door open in a race that already feels tight. [Read more 🡒]