DENVER — Surely the Diamondbacks, after two wins in Texas and a sweep of the Colorado Rockies, had to be looking at four more games against the team with the worst record in Major League Baseball, the Rockies, as an opportunity.
To build some momentum and provide confidence.
To determine who will remain on the active roster when current injured list players Pavin Smith, Ildemaro Vargas, Gabriel Moreno and Ryan Thompson are healthy, which is getting closer every day.
The Diamondbacks are playing with some purpose, and maybe even more belief in a postseason spot, after their 8-2 win over the Rockies on Thursday, Aug. 14. And they have three more games against Colorado through the weekend.
In the end, it could all be for naught, but Arizona is now 60-62 and 4 ½ games out of the final National League wild-card spot. With 60 games still to be played in the regular season, there are a lot of opportunities to make up more ground.
On Aug. 1, the day after the MLB trade deadline, the Diamondbacks were 51-59 and 10 games out of the last wild card.
“It’s funny how this game can change that quickly,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I just think the guys believe in what they’re capable of doing. There’s going to be no sudden changes, no trade deadline.
“The players are energized, we’re athletic and it seems that the bullpen has fallen into place.”
In the series opener, Eduardo Rodriguez pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing only a run on six hits, and the Diamondbacks collected a three-run home run from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and a two-run shot from catcher José Herrera.
Arizona has won six of its past seven games — including four straight against the Rockies — and nine of its past 12. The Diamondbacks led 5-0 after 1 ½ innings, and have scored within a game’s first three innings in 12 consecutive contests.
“We’re ready to play in the first inning. Those are some of the demands that I have,” Lovullo said. “Being an Arizona Diamondback, you walk on the field, you’re ready to go.”
Lovullo also credited hitting coach Joe Mather and pitching coach Brian Kaplan for their work.
The Diamondbacks continued a recent home run barrage that has now seen them go deep in 12 straight games. With two more in the series opener here, Arizona has hit 24 home runs since Aug. 2, matching the 12-game home run streak they put together from June 23 to July 5.
Gurriel hit his 15th home run of the season in the first inning to give the Diamondbacks a 3-0 lead. Then Herrera struck for just his second home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the top of the second with one out.
ARI – Jose Herrera 2-run HR (2)
📏 Distance: 381 ft
💨 EV: 92.6 mph
📐 LA: 34°
⚾️ 94.1 mph four-seam fastball (COL – RHP Bradley Blalock)
🏟️ Would be out in 29/30 MLB parks
ARI (5) @ COL (0)
🔺 2nd#Dbacks pic.twitter.com/MGwnstyupd
— MLB Home Runs🚀 (@MLBHRs_) August 15, 2025
“It’s great to help the team,” Herrera said. “For us, our mentality is to win games. It would be great to have Gaby (Moreno) back and ready to help the team. We know how important he is to the team. But right now we’re just chipping away doing our best to win every single game.”
The Diamondbacks made it 7-0 in the top of the fourth. Alek Thomas singled, but after Blaze Alexander flied out and drew an errant pickoff throw from Rockies starter Bradley Blalock, Thomas tried to turn that error into a two-base mistake but was thrown out at third base.
After a walk and a single, hot-hitting Ketel Marte doubled off the right-field wall to drive in two runs.
Kyle Farmer’s fifth-inning solo home run was the only run Rodriguez allowed, and he used an effective high fastball for several of his strikeouts.
“I was locating all my pitches. I was throwing my fastball right where I wanted, my change-up,” Rodriguez said. “Feel like everything was working. One of those days where everything was so perfect that you just go out there and execute and just keep throwing and throwing.”
Moreno, Lawlar in lineup together for Reno Aces
Aug. 14 was a big night for a couple of Diamondbacks who are on the mend from injuries.
Lovullo said catcher Moreno, who is closing in on his return date from the 60-day list, was set to work behind the plate for Triple-A Reno in the Aces’ home game against El Paso.
So was infielder Jordan Lawlar, who was activated from the 7-day injured list on Aug. 14. First baseman/DH Smith and infielder Vargas (10-day IL) played on Aug. 12 and 13 and got four at-bats in each game, Lovullo said.
The plan was for Moreno to catch five innings. He and Lawlar were in the lineup, Lawlar at third base.
Decisions are pending with Moreno, Vargas and Smith soon to be activated. But the Diamondbacks have played well of late, so there’s a balance to strike when it comes to who is sent down or moved to make room and who remains in the majors.
“One of the big things that I appreciate (GM) Mike (Hazen) understanding is, what is this team doing today from a collective standpoint with how they’re playing as a group,” Lovullo said.
“And sometimes when you pull people out of that, it hurts the team, it hurts the direction you are going in. So I will weigh in and pass it along to Mike and he will bake that into the decisions moving forward. I’m very grateful that he listens to me in that regard.”
The Diamondbacks also have to figure out who will start on Aug. 17 in the series finale against the Rockies, with RHP Anthony DeSclafani on the 15-day injured list.
“Everything is on the table at this point,” Lovullo said.
Lovullo at Cardinals practice
Lovullo attended the Arizona Cardinals’ joint practice session with the Denver Broncos in nearby Centennial, Colorado, on Aug. 14, though he did not speak with Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
“I saw him doing his work,” Lovullo said. “I was texting him the other night and he said ‘I’ll come over and I’ll get some time with you.’ And I said ‘Don’t worry. I just want to watch you work. I just want to watch you in your element and watch you interact with players.’
“It was great. There was a lot of intensity there, and I just watched him relate to players, relate to coaches and teach,” Lovullo said. “I haven’t really seen that up close. The time that we spend together is very valuable for me. I hope he feels the same way.”
The two coaches have talked about culture building, evaluating players and compare notes. They text each other a few dozen times a year.
“He’s a great motivator, he’s a great evaluator,” Lovullo said of Gannon. “He gets his points across really well.”
Coming up
Aug. 15: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (12-7, 5.03) vs. Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (2-5, 8.37).
Aug. 16: At Colorado, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.46) vs. Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (2-9, 6.35).
Aug. 17: At Colorado, 12:10 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-12, 5.18).
(This story has been updated to add new information.)