Nicole: You are listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. If you’re an Arizona Diamondbacks fan, you know exactly why we’re here today. We just got crushed in San Francisco, and now we have to look at a massive injury list before welcoming the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s not pretty, but it is real baseball.
Kevin: That’s right, Nicole. The D-backs drop the finale of that doubleheader series, falling 7-2 to the Giants. Bryce Eldridge was out of his mind with four hits and four RBIs for San Francisco. But today, we aren’t dwelling on yesterday’s loss. We’re looking ahead to the Phillies arriving in Phoenix this weekend.
Nicole: We’ve got three things coming up. First, who is starting for Arizona against the Phillies? Second, we’re going deep into that terrifying injury report—Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and more are all out. And third, how does a team with this many holes even try to compete with a powerhouse like Philadelphia?
Kevin: It’s a tough ask. We talked about the Giants series last week, and while I predicted Jordan Lawlar would hit two homers and Nicole wanted a sweep, reality set in. The offense struggled, the bullpen was taxed, and now we’re dealing with significant absences. Let’s get into the pitching matchup first.
Nicole: Okay, let’s talk rotation. The D-backs are sitting at 73-65, second in the NL West. They just split a doubleheader with the Giants, losing the second game 7-2 after winning the first 10-6 thanks to Lars Nootbaar’s leadoff homer. Now, they host the Phillies. Who is on the mound for Arizona?
Kevin: Well, Nicole, when we look at the available arms, the depth chart is thinned out significantly. We see names like Mitch Bratt, Jose Cabrera, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Brandon Pfaadt listed as starters. But given the recent workload against San Francisco, we have to wonder who gets the call. Did any of those pitchers throw high pitch counts in the doubleheader?
Nicole: I don’t have the exact pitch counts for every arm from that doubleheader, but we know the Giants won the finale 7-2. That usually means the starter didn’t go deep or the bullpen had to bail them out multiple times. With Ryne Nelson on the 60-day IL, Blake Walston also down there, and JT Brubaker on the 15-day IL, the rotation options are limited.
Kevin: Exactly. So if you’re the manager, you’re likely leaning on Merrill Kelly or Eduardo Rodriguez if they are healthy and fresh. Or maybe you bring up one of the younger arms like Mitch Bratt to eat innings. The key here is managing the rest of the staff. You can’t burn out your guys against a team like the Phillies.
Nicole: Right, because if you lose these next few games, that second-place standing in the NL West starts to look precarious. The Giants are struggling at 55-80, but the Phillies? They’re always dangerous. Who do you think is the probable starter for Arizona, Kevin?
Kevin: Without a confirmed official announcement in our data, I’d say the team will prioritize experience. If Eduardo Rodriguez is cleared, he makes sense. If not, Brandon Pfaadt has been solid. But honestly, Nicole, the question isn’t just who starts. It’s whether the back-end of the rotation can survive five innings against a lineup that hits for power.
Nicole: Wait, hold on. Are you saying the Phillies’ lineup is the bigger concern than the D-backs’ injuries? Because we have a lot of guys missing. Let’s pivot to that. This injury report is brutal.
Kevin: It is. Look at the list. Ketel Marte is on the 10-day IL. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the 10-day IL. Matt Gage and Blake Walston are on the 60-day IL. Victor Bericoto, Jesus Rodriguez, Tommy Troy—all on the 10-day IL. And Ryne Nelson on the 60-day IL. That is nine players missing from the active roster right now.
Nicole: Nine players! That’s nearly half the roster. How do you construct a lineup when your middle infield and outfield are decimated? Marcelo Mayer is also on the 10-day IL. Where does that leave Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar?
Kevin: Carroll and Lawlar become the engine. They’re your primary run creators. With Marte and Gurriel out, the burden shifts entirely to the top of the order. You need Lawlar to drive in runs and Carroll to create chaos on the bases. If they sit out, the whole offensive identity changes.
Nicole: So, sticking around for the second half of the show where we break down the hitters and the keys to victory? Don't go anywhere.
Kevin: Welcome back. So, Nicole, with the lineup shorthanded, we have to look at who is actually playing. We have Nolan Arenado at third base. He’s still the defensive anchor and a consistent run producer. Then you have Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop. And Gabriel Moreno behind the plate.
Nicole: And Max Kepler in left, Corbin Carroll in right, and Jordan Lawlar in center. But wait, what about Lars Nootbaar? He was huge against the Giants last night, hitting a leadoff homer and getting three hits. Is he DHing today?
Kevin: Nootbaar is listed as a DH in our roster data. Given his hot streak, you absolutely want him in the box. Against the Phillies, you need that left-handed bat. But without Ketel Marte, the platoon advantages change. You might see Tim Tawa or Ildemaro Vargas at first base instead of someone else.
Nicole: Tim Tawa? I haven’t heard much about him lately. Does he provide the power needed against Philadelphia? And what about the bench? We have Jorge Barrosa and Ryan Waldschmidt in the outfield mix. Are they ready for big league pressure?
Kevin: Waldschmidt brings some pop, but Barrosa is more of a speed-and-contact guy. The issue is consistency. When you have guys like Marte and Gurriel out, you’re relying on fill-ins to produce. The Phillies have a strong pitching staff, so fill-ins might struggle to get good pitches to hit.
Nicole: Let’s talk about that bullpen. We have Jonathan Loaisiga, Derek Law, Taylor Clarke, Brandyn Garcia, Gerardo Carrillo, Justin Martinez, Juan Morillo, Dennis Santana, and Kevin Ginkel. That’s a lot of arms. But with the doubleheader last weekend, are they tired?
Kevin: That’s the real danger. Doubleheaders tax bullpens. If the starters didn’t go deep, the relievers ate a lot of innings. Jonathan Loaisiga and Kevin Ginkel are your late-inning guys. If they’re fatigued, the Phillies could exploit that in the seventh or eighth inning. You have to be careful not to overuse them.
Nicole: So, the strategy is to get the starter through six, then pray the bullpen holds up? That seems risky against a team like Philly. Do you think the D-backs should try to blow the game open early with their offense?
Kevin: Ideally, yes. But scoring ten runs against the Phillies is hard. They’re a elite team. The D-backs need to score three or four, keep it close, and hope the bullpen can shut the door. It’s a different approach than when you have full strength. You play small ball. Steal bases. Move runners over.
Nicole: Speaking of stealing bases, Corbin Carroll did that last week. But with the injuries, do you think they’ll rely more on speed to manufacture runs? Like we discussed before, Carroll stealing bases was part of our prediction for the Giants series.
Kevin: Absolutely. Speed is a great equalizer when you lack power depth. If Jordan Lawlar and Corbin Carroll can get on base and move each other around, they put pressure on the defense. It forces errors. It forces bad throws. It’s the best way to win when you’re missing stars like Marte.
Nicole: Alright, we’re heading into the final segment. We’ve talked pitching, we’ve talked injuries, and we’ve talked offense. What are the keys to the series? And give us a bold prediction. Last time, Kevin, you said Jordan Lawlar would hit two home runs against the Giants. He didn’t quite do that. What’s your take now?
Kevin: Fair point, Nicole. I got burned by the Giants series predictions. So, for the Phillies series, my key is bullpen management. If the D-backs can save their top relievers for the ninth inning and use the middle men effectively, they have a chance. Offensively, it’s about patience. Wait for mistakes from the Phillies’ starters.
Nicole: And your prediction? I’m going to guess you’re being conservative this time. I still believe in this team’s heart. I think they bounce back. Maybe not a sweep, but a split. What do you think? Do the D-backs win one of these games?
Kevin: I think they win one. A tight game. Maybe 4-3. Jordan Lawlar drives in the winning run. Not a homer, just a clutch single. That’s my prediction. One win, one loss. They respect the Phillies too much to sweep, but they’re too proud to lose both.
Nicole: I’ll take that. I think they steal the series, but I’m not as confident as I was last week. The injuries are just too much. My prediction? They lose the opener, win the second, and lose the third. It’s a grind. But hey, that’s baseball.
Kevin: Grind it out. That’s what the D-backs need to do. Keep your head up, trust the process, and hope for some health returns soon.
Nicole: Thanks for tuning in to the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this preview, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share this episode with another D-backs fan who needs to hear this reality check. Go D-backs!