Diamondbacks Surge Ahead of Giants in Tense Wild-Card Race

The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a significant victory against the San Francisco Giants, winning 8-1 on Monday. This triumph allowed the Diamondbacks to leapfrog the Giants in the National League wild-card standings, moving to a record of 76-75, while San Francisco fell to 75-75. With this win, Arizona is now just 1.5 games behind the New York Mets (77-73) for the final playoff position.

Taking the mound for the Diamondbacks is left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who is coming off one of his strongest performances of the season. Last week, he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Giants in San Francisco. Rodriguez aims to replicate that success on Tuesday as the teams meet for the second game of a three-game series in Phoenix. Arizona has now won three consecutive games, while the Giants have lost their last three.

Rodriguez holds a record of 8-8 with a 4.98 ERA for the season. Notably, he has won three straight starts for the first time this year and boasts a 5-1 record with a 3.63 ERA over his last eight outings. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo praised Rodriguez’s composure on the mound, stating, “He goes out there and executes. Takes a deep breath and does what he does best.” He added that the success Rodriguez enjoys stems from his ability to locate pitches accurately and adjust as needed.

Rodriguez’s performance aligns with expectations set when the Diamondbacks signed him to a four-year, $80 million contract prior to the 2024 season. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a relaxed mindset, saying, “If you put pressure on yourself, that’s when you end up making errors or losing the game. Right now, we’re just going out there and having fun.”

In their previous encounter, the Giants managed only two hits against Rodriguez, both singles by Casey Schmitt and Matt Chapman. Interestingly, Chapman has performed well against Rodriguez, hitting 8-for-21 (.381) with a home run. In contrast, Willy Adames has struggled, going hitless in 15 plate appearances against him.

For the Giants, the starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game is expected to be Tristan Beck, making his first start of the year. Beck holds a record of 1-0 with a 4.88 ERA. He faced the Diamondbacks on September 8, allowing one run on two hits in two innings.

Adding to their roster, the Giants promoted Bryce Eldridge from Triple-A Sacramento after first baseman Dominic Smith sustained a right hamstring strain on Friday, which could sideline him for the remainder of the season. Eldridge, a first-round draft pick in 2023, hit 18 home runs in 66 games with Sacramento and has totaled 25 homers across three minor league levels this season.

Eldridge expressed his intention to contribute to the team’s playoff aspirations, stating, “These guys are in a playoff push, and obviously they think I can make an impact on that.” In his major league debut, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout while serving as the designated hitter. Giants manager Bob Melvin encouraged Eldridge to stay true to his strengths, advising him to “Go up there and hit.”

As the Diamondbacks and Giants continue their series, the stakes remain high in the race for the National League wild-card spot. Fans can expect an exciting matchup as both teams strive to secure their postseason hopes.