After enduring a crushing road trip that resulted in six losses out of eight games, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves one game under .500 and desperately seeking answers.
The struggling team returns to Phoenix Tuesday evening to kick off a six-game stretch at home, starting with the first of three matchups against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arizona’s troubles started even before their recent road swing, dropping three of four contests on their home field. Their away games began with a split against San Diego in Mexico City, followed by dropping two of three to Milwaukee and getting completely shut out in a three-game series against Chicago.
The team’s final four road defeats were particularly painful, getting outscored by a devastating 29-10 margin. Milwaukee alone tagged them for 13 runs in two separate losses, with only a 6-2 win breaking up the carnage.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo didn’t mince words when describing the recent performance to media members. “Bad,” Perdomo said. “Really bad. Win two out of eight? That’s not us. It was really bad. It was a disaster.”
The current slide is especially concerning given Arizona’s promising 13-8 beginning to the season.
Since that strong start, the team has managed just three victories in 12 contests, surrendering double-digit runs four times while being held to two runs or fewer on four separate occasions.
Manager Torey Lovullo remains confident his squad will bounce back quickly.
“I stand before you guys every single day and tell you that we’re working hard and things are going to turn, and we’re going to have good days. And I’m going to continue to believe in that,” Lovullo stated. “Because I see how hard these guys work, and I think they just get frustrated when they don’t have results. We’ve got to get the tide to turn a little bit. … I’ll expect their absolute best on Tuesday.”
First baseman Ildemaro Vargas has been a bright spot during the team’s struggles, earning National League Player of the Month honors for March and April.
The 34-year-old veteran saw his impressive 27-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday. The switch-hitting player currently tops the National League with a .382 batting average and paces Arizona with six home runs and 21 RBIs.
The Pirates arrive in Phoenix fresh off a series sweep of Cincinnati at home. Pittsburgh exploded for 26 runs in their first two victories before capturing Sunday’s finale by a 1-0 score.
Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin provided the game-winner with a clutch two-out double in the eighth inning.
Griffin expressed regret about the timing of his heroics. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft had thrown 7⅔ shutout frames before departing, meaning reliever Gregory Soto got credit for the victory instead.
“He deserved it,” Griffin said regarding Ashcraft. “I wish we could have gotten it for him a little earlier, but he pitched his tail off and we tried to back him up the best we can.”
The 20-year-old Griffin, who celebrated his birthday on April 24, is hitting .262 with two homers and 16 RBIs across 29 major league games since his call-up. Pittsburgh selected him ninth overall in the 2024 draft.
Oneil Cruz paces the Pirates’ offense with nine home runs and 28 RBIs.
Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona after receiving a no-decision versus Milwaukee last Wednesday. He surrendered two runs and five hits across 4⅔ innings in the Diamondbacks’ 6-2 victory.
The 33-year-old Rodriguez holds a 1-1 record with a 4.41 ERA in three previous starts against Pittsburgh. Brandon Lowe has connected for three homers in 20 at-bats against Rodriguez while striking out 11 times, and Bryan Reynolds has managed three hits in six attempts.
Pittsburgh will counter with rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-3, 4.97), who has surrendered nine runs over nine innings while losing his last two starts.
In his most recent outing, Chandler allowed three runs and three hits over five innings during a 5-4 loss to St. Louis.
The 23-year-old Chandler has no previous experience against Arizona or any of their current hitters.
