​After a series split with the Padres that pushed the Diamondbacks below .500 and followed by parting ways with a former first-round pick, Arizona doesn’t get a breather. They jump straight into a series against the Dodgers, which includes dueling two of the league’s best pitchers. It will be a test to gauge how much resiliency this year’s club possesses, especially with one of its last chances to prove it should be a buyer at the trade deadline.
Eduardo Rodriguez continues his push to be this year’s “Best pitcher not named Shohei Ohtani.” Since the start of May, he’s allowed more than two runs only twice, the team has secured nine wins in his twelve starts, and his ERA has plummeted into the low twos. The caveat remains his FIP, which sits almost two runs higher than his ERA at 4.00. That gap hints at potential regression, but the Diamondbacks will ride this wave as long as it lasts, or until the deadline—whichever comes first.
And speaking of the devil, Shohei Ohtani is on the horizon. There isn’t much to add to the deck about him that hasn’t already been said. He’s arguably the greatest to ever lace them up, delivering value on a deferred contract that still feels surreal. He’s an extraordinary hitter and a pitcher who can range from good to elite depending on the season. For this game, however, he’s perched on the very good side of pitching, and I’m not looking forward to watching him face the slumping Diamondbacks’ lineup.
Pfaadt made his triumphant return to the rotation and has impressed in his first two outings back. He’s logged five-plus innings in each start, conceding one run in the opener and shutting out the Padres in the second. He’s had his ups and downs throughout his career, but if he’s hitting an upswing now, it’s coming at a moment the Diamondbacks need it most. This time out, he’ll face a stiffer test, having pitched against the Giants and Padres—both clubs with among the weaker offenses in baseball—in his first two starts of the week.
Yamamoto has also been excellent for the Dodgers this season, though perhaps not in the same overwhelming way as Ohtani. That’s perfectly fine, as every ace doesn’t need to be the top of the chart. Like Rodriguez, his FIP sits higher than his ERA, though this gap is roughly about a run instead of nearly two. That discrepancy could create an opening for Arizona, but it remains a tall order given the Diamondbacks’ ongoing offensive struggles.
Gallen is in a rough spell, and I’m not going to let the fact that he pitched four respectable innings after letting a game get away in his last start persuade me otherwise. No matter how optimistic Bert and Bob might be, the trend line isn’t favorable.
Finally, the Diamondbacks contend with a more traditional starter in Sheehan. He’s been inconsistent lately, with permitted runs ranging from a single tally to six across his most recent outings. Interestingly, the Dodgers have dropped four of the last five games he’s started, which introduces a potential chink in their armor. His last two turns have been solid, and he’s looking to build on that momentum while the Dodgers hope to stabilize their rotation.
In all, this series shape is a crucible for Arizona. It tests the bullpen’s depth, the lineup’s ability to string together timely hits, and the coaching staff’s willingness to push the envelope with a club still searching for a clear identity. It’s a snapshot of a team balancing between rebuilding and contending, a narrow path that becomes narrower with every tough opponent. Whether the Diamondbacks can rally and demonstrate that they belong in the buyer conversation as the deadline approaches remains to be seen, but the coming games will set the tone for the rest of their season.