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Inside The Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks Have No Better Chance to Break Ugly Slump

Mired in a team-wide slump, Arizona will once again turn to their veteran left-hander to right the ship against a struggling opponent.
Jun 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jun 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series at Chase Field starting Monday night, June 29.

The D-backs were swept in Tampa Bay and fell to 41-42 on the season. They're 3.0 games out of the third NL Wild Card spot with five teams in front of them. They'll be hoping to get right against the Giants, whom they're 6-0 against this season.

The Giants are 35-48, but are coming off a 2-1 series victory against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, and have won four of their last six games.

The D-backs are 24-17 at home, while their NL West rival Giants are 17-26 on the road. Both teams' offenses have been sputtering, with each scoring just 21 runs in their last seven games, or 3.0 per game.

Starting Pitching Matchups

Monday, June 29, 6:40 p.m. MST

Jun 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches
Jun 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

RHP Tyler Mahle, 1-7, 5.49 ERA vs LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 6-2, 2.27 ERA

Time and time again the D-backs have needed Rodriguez to come through and stop a skid, and this outing is no exception. The D-backs are 12-4 in his 16 starts. Rodriguez ranks fourth in the National League in ERA, and has managed to work around base traffic and get out of jams all season.

These same two pitchers faced off on May 20 in San Francisco. Rodriguez went six innings allowing two runs in a win. Mahle took the loss, giving up three runs in five. The D-backs held on to win that game 7-5.

Tuesday, June 30, 6:40 p.m. MST

Arizona Diamondbacks Brandon Pfaadt throws a pitch vs L.A. Dodgers at Chase Field Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

RHP Landen Roupp, 5-7, 4.07 ERA vs RHP Brandon Pfaadt, 0-1, 5.92 ERA

The D-backs beat Roupp and the Giants 6-2 on May 25. Roupp gave up four runs, two earned. Roupp had a blowup start against the Brewers in his next outing, giving up eight runs. But he's been much better since. He's gone six innings and given up two runs in each of his last two starts.

Brandon Pfaadt has not yet been officially named the starter for this game. He is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Reno to rejoin the rotation, however. Pfaadt had lost his rotation spot and was demoted to the bullpen, where he had mixed effectiveness .

He was optioned to Reno to get stretched out to start again, but had only gotten up to 3.2 innings as of June 20. A rainout in St. Louis cost him a chance to get back in the rotation, and following a bullpen session late last week, he is now in line to start Tuesday night. He will likely be on a pitch count of no more than 65.

Wednesday, July 1, 6:40 p.m.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen looks towards home plate before delivering a pitch vs Colorado Rockies May 23, 2026
May 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) prepares to pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images

RHP Trevor McDonald 2-6, 4.94 ERA vs RHP Zac Gallen, 3-7, 6.15 ERA

McDonald held the D-backs scoreless for five innings on May 27 before Arizona finally got to him for two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh. The D-backs won that game 3-2. That was one of his better starts this year. He is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in June.

Zac Gallen will be looking to find some swing-and-miss and softer contact against the weak-hitting Giants. The embattled pitcher has the highest ERA among qualified pitchers in MLB and is in a mystifying decline that has defied explanation or rectification.

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Jack Sommers
JACK SOMMERS

Jack Sommers is a credentialed beat writer for Arizona Diamondbacks ON SI. He's also the co-host of the Snakes Territory Podcast and Youtube channel. Formerly a baseball operations department analyst for the D-backs, Jack also covered the team for MLB.com, The Associated Press, and SB Nation. Follow Jack on Twitter @shoewizard59

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