The Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their three-game series on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Chase Field with both clubs headed in opposite directions and playing with very different levels of urgency. Arizona enters the game with a 26–27 record and is looking to climb back to .500 by securing a series win after dominating the Pirates 11–1 in the previous game. The Diamondbacks snapped out of a recent five-game skid with that emphatic victory, showcasing the depth of their offense and flashing the kind of potential that made them a playoff contender just a season ago. Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll have led the way for Arizona all season, combining speed, power, and consistency in the heart of the lineup, while complementary pieces like Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno have provided timely production. The Diamondbacks’ offense currently ranks seventh in team batting average and has shown the ability to put up runs in bunches when their lineup clicks. On the mound, Arizona’s starting pitching has been hit-or-miss, but the bullpen has remained a stabilizing force late in games, allowing them to close out tight matchups when given a lead. Their defensive play has also been a bright spot, limiting errors and helping support a pitching staff that leans on ground balls and defensive positioning. For Pittsburgh, the outlook continues to worsen as they enter the finale with a 19–36 record, having lost six of their last ten and suffering from one of the least productive offenses in all of baseball.

The Pirates began the season with modest optimism, but injuries, inconsistency at the plate, and unreliable pitching have derailed their momentum. While players like Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds have had moments of individual brilliance, they haven’t received consistent support from the rest of the lineup, which continues to rank near the bottom of the league in key categories like batting average, OPS, and runs scored. Pittsburgh’s starting rotation has struggled to pitch deep into games, and the bullpen has been overused and exposed, particularly on the road where the Pirates have a dismal 8–17 ATS record. Defensively, the team has made too many mental and physical errors that compound in close games, turning winnable situations into mounting deficits. From a betting standpoint, the Diamondbacks have been favorites in 32 games this season and won 17 (53.1%), while the Pirates have only managed 13 wins in 37 games as underdogs (35.1%), underscoring the disparity in performance and expectations. Wednesday’s contest gives Arizona a prime opportunity to finish the homestand on a high note, keep pace in the NL West, and take advantage of a team clearly in rebuilding mode and struggling to find its footing. For the Pirates, the game represents a chance to show some fight, avoid the sweep, and perhaps spark some much-needed confidence heading into the next series. All signs point to Arizona having the upper hand, but baseball’s unpredictability means Pittsburgh can’t be completely counted out—though it would take a near-perfect performance in all phases to flip the script.