Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals

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ARI	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	8	0
WSH	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0

Eduardo Rodriguez takes the ball for Arizona at 6:45 PM ET, and he's been nothing like the pitcher who signed that $80 million deal two years ago. Carson Palmquist gets the start for Washington, a rookie lefty still working through his first real stretch as a big-league starter.

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Total

Diamondbacks(54-49)

WWWLW

3

-1.5+138-117o9.5+102

Nationals(52-51)

WLWWL

2

+1.5-141+115u9.5-102

Best BetDiamondbacks -124

Pregame

Rodriguez has turned into a legitimate ace this year, and that's a mismatch against a rookie lefty carrying an ERA over 8. The price still asks you to lay a bit of juice, but the talent gap on the mound is real, and Arizona's the side that wins this game more often than not.

Both clubs are banged up in ways that matter here. Ketel Marte was scratched Thursday with back stiffness, and Corbin Carroll is nursing a hyperextended elbow after playing almost every game Arizona's had this season, thinning out a lineup that's carried the Diamondbacks all year. Washington, meanwhile, is working without four rotation arms on the injured list, leaning on call-ups like Palmquist to soak up innings.

Eduardo Rodriguez

(10-4)·2.71 ERA

Jul 19 vs Cardinals

ND

2.2IP

5ER

3K

2BB

68P

07/24 Lineup

Carson Palmquist

(0-2)·7.71 ERA

Jul 21 @ Rockies

ND

1.2IP

4ER

2K

1BB

36P

07/24 Lineup

None of that has stopped Arizona from playing like a team that wants in on the race. They've won 4 of their last 5, and GM Mike Hazen says the front office wants to buy before next week's trade deadline, even if the record hasn't fully earned it yet. It's not hard to see why the market likes the Diamondbacks once you watch Rodriguez pitch.

Rodriguez's turnaround is the best story in the desert this year. He showed up to camp lighter, scrapped his old fastball-heavy approach for a changeup-first attack, and the results are an ERA in the 2s and his first career All-Star nod. Palmquist doesn't have that kind of track record yet — his ERA is still ugly, and his last outing didn't even make it through 2 innings.

Arizona Diamondbacks

(54-49)

Jul 23W@ Cardinals10-6

Jul 22Wvs Athletics15-5

Jul 22Wvs Athletics6-5

Jul 21Lvs Athletics2-5

Jul 19Wvs Cardinals8-7

Washington Nationals

(52-51)

Jul 22W@ Rockies8-0

Jul 22L@ Rockies7-8

Jul 21W@ Rockies7-3

Jul 19W@ Athletics5-2

Jul 19L@ Athletics1-15

Washington isn't just running out the clock, either. James Wood and CJ Abrams have kept this offense dangerous even in a season defined by a front-office shakeup last year, and the Nationals have found a way to win 3 of their last 5, including a pair of lopsided routs of Colorado.

Arizona Diamondbacks

(14)

• Day-To-DayKetel Marte (2B) — Marte was scratched from Thursday's lineup in St. Louis due to back stiffness, Steve Zinsmeister of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.07/23
• 10-Day-ILLourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF) — Gurriel isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against St. Louis.07/18
• 10-Day-ILJordan Lawlar (LF) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Lawlar (hamstring) has been cleared for all baseball activities other than full-speed running, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.07/18
• 10-Day-ILTommy Troy (LF) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Troy (shoulder) is expected to remain out for roughly 3-to-4 weeks, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.07/17
• 15-Day-ILDrey Jameson (RP) — The Diamondbacks recalled Jameson from Triple-A Reno on Saturday.07/22
• 15-Day-ILZac Gallen (SP) — Gallen (elbow) met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for a recommended course of action and was scheduled to be back in Arizona on Tuesday to resume his rehab, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.07/21
• 15-Day-ILMichael Soroka (SP) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Soroka (glute) is in line to return from the injured list sometime around early August, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.07/17
• 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez (RP) — Martinez (elbow) threw pitches to rehabbing outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) in a live batting practice session Saturday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.07/20
• 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk (RP) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that MRI results on Puk's left shoulder revealed that his shoulder capsule hasn't fully healed, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILRyne Nelson (SP) — Nelson (elbow) will begin a throwing program Saturday or Sunday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank (RP) — Saalfrank (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes (SP) — Burnes (elbow) began a throwing program July 10 and felt good following the session, MLB.com reports.07/13
• 60-Day-ILCristian Mena (RP) — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that Mena underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILBlake Walston (SP) — Walston (elbow) paused his rehab program earlier in the season, but he was expected to start building back up around the middle of May, MLB.com reports.06/01

Washington Nationals

(10)

• 10-Day-ILDrew Millas (C) — Milias went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.07/15
• 15-Day-ILPJ Poulin (RP) — Poulin will serve as the opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Yankees, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/19
• 15-Day-ILBrad Lord (RP) — The Nationals placed Lord on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left side tightness.07/09
• 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) struck out three and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks across 3.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with High-A Wilmington.07/20
• 60-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) struck out five and allowed one hit and no walks over 4.2 scoreless innings Sunday in a rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg.07/20
• 60-Day-ILRichard Lovelady (RP) — Lovelady (triceps) began a throwing program shortly after landing on the injured list June 29 and had thrown off flat ground out to 60 feet as recently as July 3, MLB.com reports.07/19
• 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — The Nationals transferred Parker (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.07/02
• 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
• 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
• 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08

How much Arizona misses Marte and Carroll tonight will go a long way toward deciding this one. Both are considered day-to-day, but neither's a lock to play, and a Diamondbacks lineup that's used to steamrolling teams could look very different without them.