Diamondbacks Host Reeling Reds as Series Finale Arrives in the Desert
The Cincinnati Reds have had better weeks. After dropping four of five to St. Louis, they roll into Arizona for the finale of this three-game set, and Sunday afternoon's matchup carries no shortage of stakes even outside any postseason positioning just yet. For the Diamondbacks, sitting at 67-61 with a full slate of regular-season baseball still ahead, this is about building momentum after a stretch that's been anything but steady.
This is Game 3 of 3 in the series, and it's the finale that will decide who leaves the weekend feeling good about themselves. Arizona's recent form has been a rollercoaster — a 7-6 win over Boston sandwiched between a pair of ugly losses (4-9 and a 1-11 blowout), then a split with Atlanta that saw them lose 3-5 before bouncing back with a 10-3 statement win. That kind of inconsistency has defined the Diamondbacks lately, and it shows in a scoring differential that's still positive at +4 despite the choppy week.
Cincinnati's issues run deeper. At 61-67 with a run differential of -89, the Reds have been outscored badly across the season, and their recent form against St. Louis — losing three of five, including back-to-back one-run heartbreakers — reflects a lineup and pitching staff both searching for consistency. They're averaging 4.1 runs a game while allowing 4.8, a formula that's tough to overcome over 128 games.
On the mound Sunday, it's Mitch Bratt for Arizona against Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati, and neither arm enters with dominant numbers. Bratt carries a 4.173 ERA, Abbott sits just a shade better at 4.069. This isn't a marquee pitching duel — it's a game where both bullpens could be tested early, and where the lineups will have chances to do damage if either starter loses the strike zone.
Arizona's lineup, even shorthanded, still has thump. Corbin Carroll has been a steady source of production in right field, and Ketel Marte's recent numbers include a monster 23-point game mixed in with a couple of quiet nights — the kind of streakiness that makes him must-watch every time he steps in the box. Nolan Arenado has been similarly unpredictable of late, following a scoreless outing with a 63.5-point eruption, while Gabriel Moreno has shown flashes of production behind the plate as well. Lars Nootbaar's pop has flashed too, with a 28.5-point game in his last three showing he can still change a contest in a hurry.
The injury report complicates things for both sides. Arizona is dealing with a rotation gutted by long-term absences — Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Ryne Nelson, Cristian Mena and Blake Walston are all out for extended stretches, forcing manager decisions that lean on depth arms like Bratt. Add in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Tommy Troy both nursing shorter-term issues, and Arizona's roster construction on Sunday will look different than it did earlier in the season. Max Kepler is also questionable with a day-to-day injury, which could affect the outfield mix.
Cincinnati's absences sting just as much. Hunter Greene and Brandon Williamson are both out long-term from the rotation, stripping the Reds of frontline pitching options, while the lineup is without Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain and Tyler Stephenson — a staggering number of key everyday contributors sidelined at once. That kind of attrition explains a lot about why Cincinnati has struggled to find rhythm, and it puts more pressure on the healthy names. Eugenio Suárez has had a mixed last three games, and TJ Friedl has gone cold, posting three straight scoreless outings. JJ Bleday and Sal Stewart offer some hope of secondary production, with Stewart's 34.5-point game standing out as a reminder of what he's capable of when things click.
There are no fantasy projections available for this matchup, so there's no start or fade call to make here — this is purely about reading the matchup on the field. Arizona has more talent healthy in its lineup and a bullpen that can cover for Bratt if needed, while Cincinnati, gutted by injuries and reeling from a rough stretch against St. Louis, will need much better at-bats from its healthy core to close out the series on a positive note.
Expect Arizona's lineup depth to be a factor late as the Diamondbacks look to close out the homestand on a high note and give their bullpen a much-needed confidence boost heading into the next stretch of the schedule.
