Two teams enduring a transition neither expected nor wanted will meet on Saturday as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies in the second contest of a three-game series in Phoenix.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (4-7, 5.53 ERA) will take the mound for the Diamondbacks, who are looking to win the series after recording a 6-1 victory on Friday.
The Rockies will counter with right-hander Bradley Blalock (1-3, 7.68).
Both teams have made major personnel changes since they last met in late June, and those moves have shown up particularly at the corner infield spots.
The Diamondbacks have used the time after the July 31 trade deadline to take a long look at second-year infielder Blaze Alexander, who has started all seven games at third base since Eugenio Suarez was traded to Seattle.
Alexander doubled, homered and drove in four runs Friday. He has hit safely in six of seven games in August, going 8-for-25 with four extra-base hits while showing a strong arm.
“He’s tooled up,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Tyler Locklear has started every game at first base since being acquired at the deadline.
Changes notwithstanding, Lovullo’s expectations remain high.
“This group is very capable,” Lovullo said. “They are aware. They are smart. And they know what is at stake.”
The Rockies unveiled a new corner infield pairing Friday, when prospects Warming Bernabel started at first and Kyle Karros opened at third.
Bernabel doubled and scored on Karros’ single Friday. Bernabel, who recently was the National League Player of the Week, is 17-for-48 with three homers in 12 games.
Karros, who was promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque before Friday’s game, had a single in his first major league plate appearance. He was playing in front of his father Eric, a 14-year major league veteran.
Kyle Karros batted .301 across three minor league levels this season.
“Absolutely, he’ll start getting comfortable every day, and we’ll see where it goes,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He’s got a runway to play.”
Bernabel and Karros are among 12 players to make their major league debut this season for the Rockies, who traded third baseman Ryan McMahon at the deadline.
Blalock is one of nine pitchers who have started at least six games for the Rockies. Starters German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland are 9-37 on a staff that entered Friday with a major league-high 6.02 ERA, part of the reason the Rockies (30-85) are challenging the major league record for fewest wins in a season.
“We’ve got to do our job as starters — pitching in the sixth, pitching in the seventh, giving that bullpen that break that they need,” Freeland said. “We need to make the adjustment so we’re not farming out our bullpen constantly with transactions.”
Blalock had a no-decision in his one career start against Arizona in 2024.
Rodriguez has not lived up to the Diamondbacks’ expectations since signing a four-year, $80 million contract that takes him through the 2027 season with an option for 2028.
Rodriguez struck out a season-high 11 in beating the Rockies 9-4 last September. He is 2-0 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against them.
–Field Level Media
