The Saturday, May 17, 2025, National League West showdown between the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field serves as a stark contrast between two franchises on dramatically different paths. The Diamondbacks come into the matchup with a respectable 23–21 record and are firmly in the mix in the NL West, while the Rockies are buried in the division cellar with a 7–36 mark and the worst record in Major League Baseball. For Arizona, this is a golden opportunity to secure a crucial divisional win and build momentum against an opponent that has struggled mightily in nearly every phase of the game. The Diamondbacks’ offense has been a consistent strength, entering the matchup with a team batting average of .253, an impressive .335 on-base percentage, and a .445 slugging percentage, numbers that rank them among the best in the National League. Key contributors like Corbin Carroll and Eugenio Suárez have led the charge, with Carroll getting on base and applying pressure with his speed while Suárez delivers power and timely RBIs in the heart of the order. On the mound, Arizona features a solid rotation headlined by Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes, and although neither is expected to start this particular game, the staff as a whole holds a 4.43 ERA—solid but beatable. However, against a Rockies team that has struggled to a league-worst 5.77 ERA and has given up 138 walks and 48 home runs, Arizona’s offense is in a prime position to exploit Colorado’s pitching vulnerabilities.

The Rockies, on the other hand, continue to search for answers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they rank near the bottom in all major statistical categories, hitting just .214 with a .282 OBP and .349 SLG, lacking both contact and power. While players like Hunter Goodman and Ryan McMahon have provided occasional sparks, the lineup as a whole has failed to consistently apply pressure on opposing pitchers. Defensively, they’ve been shaky as well, with missed opportunities and costly errors frequently extending innings and leading to blowout losses. The pitching staff has been equally ineffective, allowing too many base runners and struggling to keep the ball in the park. Manager Bud Black faces a difficult task trying to motivate a young, inexperienced roster that has already fallen significantly out of contention before the season’s halfway point. Saturday’s game will likely come down to whether Arizona’s offense can continue to pile up runs early and give their bullpen some breathing room, while the Rockies will be desperate to stay competitive by limiting early damage and hoping for rare offensive production. Given the gap in talent, execution, and confidence between the two teams, the Diamondbacks enter as heavy favorites, and a clean, focused performance could yield a comfortable win. Still, baseball remains unpredictable, and the Rockies will aim to play spoiler, but to do so, they’ll need their most complete effort of the season against a division rival that sees them as a prime opportunity to climb the standings.