The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Eduardo Rodriguez will start Saturday in Game 2 against the San Diego Padres, as the team is now on the outside looking in for one of two remaining NL Wild Card berths.
The southpaw starter coughed up three home runs to the San Francisco Giants on Monday, while also striking out eight batters in a 6-3 loss. He only survived 4.2 innings and walked three on 103 pitches.
Through nine starts, Rodriguez has earned a 5.56 ERA and crossed the sixth-inning threshold in just one of those appearances, an 11-strikeout outing against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 18.
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With the Atlanta Braves shutting out the Kansas City Royals 3-0 and a New York Mets loss, Arizona is locked in a three-way tie for the final two Wild Card positions. The D-backs lose both tiebreakers with the two other playoff hopefuls, however.
Ryne Nelson will be available for bullpen work after being activated off the 15-day injured list on Thursday. As a large portion of the D-backs’ relievers made appearances in a 5-3 loss Friday, with Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel each working an inning, Nelson could provide much needed length for a must-win game.
The Padres named right-hander Randy Vasquez (4-7, 5.18 ERA) as their Game 2 starter.
How to follow Game 2 of D-backs-Padres
Catch all of Saturday’s action from Chase Field on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 and ArizonaSports.com. First pitch is slated for 5:10 p.m.