Diamondbacks Face Rockies With Slim Wild Card Hopes on the Line

Arizona opens a three-game series in Colorado on Tuesday needing a sweep to keep its faint NL Wild Card chances alive.

The Arizona Diamondbacks begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, sitting at 82 wins with six games left on their schedule. Their path to the third NL Wild Card spot is narrow but not closed: they would need to sweep both the Rockies and the San Diego Padres in their final six games, while either the Philadelphia Phillies or the Padres would have to collapse down the stretch.

Manager Torey Lovullo pointed to the standings after Sunday's game, saying the team knows where it sits and that all it can do is play its best on Tuesday in Colorado.

Arizona's announced starters for the series are Michael Soroka, Merrill Kelly, and Eduardo Rodriguez. Soroka gave up one earned run over five innings in his last outing, while Kelly allowed three earned runs in 4.2 innings against Miami. Rodriguez struggled against the Yankees, surrendering seven earned runs in 5.1 innings, five of them in the first inning.

Colorado counters with Kyle Freeland and Mason Adams, with Wednesday's starter not yet announced. Freeland allowed one earned run in five innings last time out; Adams gave up six earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Padres.

A player to watch is former Diamondback Jake McCarthy, now with the Rockies. He has posted a 113 OPS+ with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs this season, and his numbers are far stronger at Coors Field, where his OPS is .904 this year, than at Chase Field, where it is .310. Games are scheduled for 5:40 PM MST on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 12:10 PM MST on Thursday.