After a 5-1 loss to the A's, the D-backs' skid hits six games. Can starter Eduardo Rodriguez save Arizona on Aug. 3 and end the team's brutal slump?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a tough time to be a Diamondbacks fan. After a brutal 5-1 loss to the Athletics on Friday to open the series, the team's losing streak has now swelled to six games. With a dismal 1-9 record in their last ten contests, the Snakes are in desperate need of a spark, a win, anything to stop the bleeding. Today, that pressure falls squarely on the shoulders of starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
The Diamondbacks' team ERA has ballooned to 4.60, ranking a lowly 25th in all of Major League Baseball.
Friday's series opener was a microcosm of the D-backs' recent woes. Starter Anthony DeSclafani couldn't escape the first inning, surrendering four runs, including a two-run shot to Shea Langeliers, before the offense could even get settled. The bats were silenced, managing just a single late run. The lone bright spot was designated hitter Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who went 3-for-4, but one hot bat can't carry an entire lineup. The loss dropped Arizona to 51-59 on the season, and the frustration is palpable.
The front office isn't sitting on its hands. Following the trade deadline, the team made a flurry of moves hoping to find a spark. The bullpen gets a potential boost with the return of lefty Jalen Beeks from the IL and the recall of Kyle Nelson, who is working his way back from thoracic outlet surgery. On the position player side, fans got their first look at first baseman Tyler Locklear on Friday. Locklear, acquired in the Eugenio Suárez trade, represents a new piece for the future. Infielder Connor Kaiser also joins the club from Triple-A Reno, as the team continues to search for a winning combination.
Today's series finale in Oakland feels like a must-win, and the D-backs are handing the ball to Eduardo Rodriguez (3-7, 5.63 ERA). It's been an inconsistent season for the veteran lefty, but the team needs him to be the stopper they signed him to be. He'll face off against A's rookie Jack Perkins (0-1, 2.75 ERA), who has been solid in his young career. If the D-backs are going to avoid a sweep and end this miserable streak, they need a quality start from Rodriguez to take the pressure off an offense that has gone cold.
Today is more than just another game; it's a chance to stop the freefall, regain some confidence, and prove this team still has fight left in it. A win behind a solid E-Rod start could be the turning point the Diamondbacks desperately need. A loss, and the questions about this team's direction will only grow louder as the season slips away.
