Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfeat (32) pitches at Chase Field on July 27, 2024 in Phoenix. After back-to-back wins over No. 1 teams, the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks will open a three-game series Monday night in Phoenix against the last-place Colorado Rockies.
Arizona has a league-best 27-11 record since June 28 and has won eight straight series. Its last two series wins may have been the most impressive.
The Diamondbacks entered Cleveland first and swept the Guardians, who entered the series with the best record in the majors. Arizona then returns home, shaking off Thursday’s loss to Philadelphia and entering its final three games against the National League-leading Phillies.
Entering June, the Diamondbacks were a season-low seven games below .500, but are now at a season-high 13 games or better and tied with the San Diego Padres for the top wild-card spot in the National League.
Arizona has played eight games in the NL West since July 2, closing the gap on the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers to 3 1/2 games.
“We have a really good energy, we obviously have great talent, and we’re playing for each other right now,” Diamondbacks infielder Kevin Newman said. “It’s contagious.”
Arizona came out strong against the Phillies, scoring 30 runs on 53 hits in four games. The Diamondbacks lead the majors with 5.24 points per game.
That average could skyrocket against a Rockies team with a league-worst 5.57 ERA.
Colorado is tied with Miami for the worst record in the NL, but like Arizona, the Rockies are coming off a series win over their NFC East rival.
Head coach Bud Black’s team has won two of three games in Denver against the Atlanta Braves, including a dramatic 9-8 comeback win in Sunday’s rubber game.
Colorado scored seven times in the eighth inning to erase a six-run deficit. Charlie Blackmon had a two-run hit in the rally and ended the series going 5-for-10 with three RBIs.
Blackmon’s .258 average and .731 OPS this season are respectable for a 38-year-old, but Blackmon said the 14-year veteran’s true value lies in how he carries himself.
“Charlie does a lot of things day in and day out. He stays focused and keeps fighting. He doesn’t back down until the end of the game. He doesn’t let up. That sends a great message to our team,” Black said.
The Rockies are 2-5 against the Diamondbacks this season, but the teams last met from April 8-10.
Colorado plans to put Cal Quantrill (7-8, 4.56 ERA) on the mound Monday against right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (6-6, 3.92).
Quantrill has not played past the fifth inning in either of his past two starts. He allowed a season-high seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on July 30, and allowed 4 1/3 runs in 4 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres on August 4. Lost 3 points.
The sixth-year veteran is 1-3 with a 6.19 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona (six starts). He made two starts against the Diamondbacks earlier this season.
Pfutter limited Cleveland to two runs in 6 1/3 innings in Wednesday’s 7-3 win in his most recent start.
Pfeat faced the Rockies twice in his career, with a 1-1 record and a 4.15 ERA. The second-year pro allowed one run in five innings in Arizona’s 5-1 win over Colorado State on March 31.
The Diamondbacks should have All-Star second baseman Kurt Marte back on Monday after missing Sunday’s game with a left ankle injury. Marte’s 30 home runs and .933 OPS both ranked in the top 10 in the majors.
–Scene-level media
