The Rockies open a 4-game set at Chase Field on Thursday, and the matchup on paper is rough. Arizona has taken 4 of its last 5, sits at 25-23, and gets to send out the best version of Eduardo Rodriguez they've had since signing him. Colorado, meanwhile, is throwing Zach Agnos — a reliever with a 5.59 ERA who was actually optioned to Triple-A earlier this month before the rotation needs sucked him back into a start.
E-Rod is the story. He carried a 2.25 ERA into his last outing, ran it up to 2.53 after Colorado tagged him for 2 in the first on May 16, and still owns a 4-1 record with multiple 7+ inning starts on his ledger. He went 8.1 against the Mets on May 10 and almost finished his first career complete game. The Rockies actually beat him 4-2 last week, so there's a tiny blueprint — but doing it again with this lineup is a different ask.
Colorado's pitching staff is the league's punching bag in May, and the injury list explains a lot of it. Chase Dollander is shut down 2-to-3 weeks with elbow trouble, Ryan Feltner is still rehabbing, and Victor Vodnik is on the 15-day. That's how you end up bullpen-gaming Zach Agnos in Phoenix on a Thursday. Brenton Doyle is also day-to-day with an oblique contusion after the Rangers loss, so even the lineup is patched together.
- Day-To-DayBrenton Doyle CF — The Rockies announced that Doyle is considered day-to-day after suffering a left oblique contusion during Tuesday's 10-0 loss to the Rangers, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo RP — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCase Williams SP — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJared Thomas CF — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJordan Beck LF — Beck went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Saturday against Atlanta.
- 15-Day-ILChase Dollander SP — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said Wednesday that Dollander (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for the next 2-to-3 weeks, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILVictor Vodnik RP — Vodnik (1-2) picked up the win in Friday's 9-7 extra-innings victory over the Phillies, walking one and striking out two over two scoreless, no-hit innings.
- 15-Day-ILRyan Feltner SP — Feltner (elbow) struck out four and allowed three hits and no walks over 3.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Hartford.
- Day-To-DayKyle Amendt RP — Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 10-Day-ILJames McCann C — Manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that McCann (quad) will likely be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Santana 1B — Santana suffered a setback with his right adductor strain Sunday while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk RP — Puk (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes SP — Burnes (elbow) is expected to begin throwing live batting practice Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Lawlar LF — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Lawlar has resumed light baseball activities after a CT scan showed his fractured right wrist is healing well, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILPavin Smith 1B — Smith (elbow ) has begun a throwing program, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez RP — Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Arizona isn't fully healthy either — Corbin Burnes is still working back from elbow surgery and just got cleared for live BP, A.J. Puk threw a 20-pitch live session this week, and catcher James McCann is looking at 4-to-6 weeks with a quad. But the Diamondbacks have enough at the plate to make a stitched-together Rockies staff pay, especially with Corbin Carroll heating up (he homered twice in the rubber game of the last series).
The vibes here are pretty clear. Arizona at home, ace lefty on the bump, against a Rockies team that hasn't been able to string anything together and is sending a Triple-A shuttle arm to absorb innings. Colorado has shown they can grab one off Rodriguez, but asking the bullpen to cover from inning 1 against this lineup is a tall order. Lean Snakes, set expectations accordingly if you bleed purple.