For the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday’s clash with the Red Sox at Chase Field is a chance to reassert themselves as a dangerous spoiler and fringe Wild Card threat, as they sit at 70–71 and know that every win from here forward could determine whether they stay alive in the National League race or slip into October irrelevance, and the responsibility of giving them a chance falls to veteran left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez, whose 6–8 record and 5.40 ERA reflect an up-and-down season but whose experience gives him the tools to neutralize a potent Boston lineup if he finds early command. Rodríguez’s success hinges on staying ahead in counts and using his changeup and slider to keep right-handed hitters like Trevor Story and Jarren Duran off balance, because when forced to throw fastballs over the plate, his results have cratered; for Arizona to win, he must give them six innings of stability and avoid the crooked inning that has derailed his outings. Offensively, the Diamondbacks lean on a balanced approach rather than sheer power, with Corbin Carroll’s speed and ability to set the table at the top of the order, Ketel Marte’s steady bat control in the middle, and Geraldo Perdomo’s situational hitting forming the core of a lineup that pressures defenses with contact and baserunning, a style perfectly suited to Chase Field’s spacious outfield where gaps can be exploited.

The D-backs’ identity has long been tied to manufacturing runs with patience and aggression, and if Carroll and Marte can get on base ahead of sluggers like Christian Walker or Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona can build innings that test Boston’s rookie starter Payton Tolle and force manager Alex Cora to turn to his bullpen earlier than planned. Defensively, the Diamondbacks have cleaned up much of their inconsistency, and their athleticism in the field allows them to cover the extra ground at Chase, something they’ll need against a Red Sox lineup that extends at-bats and forces balls in play. The bullpen has also been more defined recently, with roles clearer late in games, and while not overpowering, the group has been solid at protecting narrow leads at home, where Arizona has gone 26–24 this season, proving they can win close games in their own park. From a betting perspective, oddsmakers view this as a tight contest with Boston as slight favorites, but Arizona’s respectable home record and ability to hang around against stronger lineups gives them real value as an underdog play, especially in a game where Rodríguez’s veteran savvy could offset Tolle’s rookie momentum. For the Diamondbacks to take this opener, Rodríguez must attack the strike zone early and work into the middle innings with minimal damage, the top of the lineup must get on base and pressure Boston with speed and situational hitting, and the bullpen must close cleanly without free passes. If those elements align, Arizona can both slow Boston’s postseason momentum and prove that despite a middling record, their blend of speed, contact, and home-field confidence keeps them dangerous in September.