Where to Watch
Probable Pitchers
Lineups
Arizona Diamondbacks
| # | Player | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lars Nootbaar | DH |
| 2 | Corbin Carroll | RF |
| 3 | Geraldo Perdomo | SS |
| 4 | Gabriel Moreno | C |
| 5 | Max Kepler | LF |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | 3B |
| 7 | Tim Tawa | 1B |
| 8 | Ildemaro Vargas | 2B |
| 9 | Ryan Waldschmidt | CF |
Atlanta Braves
| # | Player | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | RF |
| 2 | Drake Baldwin | DH |
| 3 | Matt Olson | 1B |
| 4 | Ozzie Albies | 2B |
| 5 | Michael Harris II | CF |
| 6 | Mauricio Dubón | SS |
| 7 | Lane Thomas | LF |
| 8 | Austin Riley | 3B |
| 9 | Sean Murphy | C |
Preview
The Arizona Diamondbacks head to Truist Park on Saturday, August 15 to face the Atlanta Braves in a 7:15 PM ET first pitch. Eduardo Rodriguez gets the ball for Arizona against Atlanta's Grant Holmes in what shapes up as a pivotal mid-August road matchup. With the dog days of summer bearing down and roster decisions carrying real weight, this is the kind of game that reveals what the D-backs are made of away from home. Catch it on FOX/FOX ONE or tune in locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
Probable Starters: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Grant Holmes
Eduardo Rodriguez draws the assignment for Arizona. The left-hander has been a key part of the D-backs rotation, and Saturday's start against a deep Atlanta lineup is as legitimate a measuring stick as he'll face. Rodriguez will need to work efficiently and command the strike zone to give Arizona a chance to steal a win in a tough road environment.
Grant Holmes gets the nod for the Braves. Holmes will be pitching in front of one of the more dangerous lineups in the National League, and he'll look to use that firepower as a cushion while keeping Arizona's bats in check.
Arizona Diamondbacks Lineup
- 1. Lars Nootbaar — DH
- 2. Corbin Carroll — RF
- 3. Geraldo Perdomo — SS
- 4. Gabriel Moreno — C
- 5. Max Kepler — LF
- 6. Nolan Arenado — 3B
- 7. Tim Tawa — 1B
- 8. Ildemaro Vargas — 2B
- 9. Ryan Waldschmidt — CF
Atlanta Braves Lineup
- 1. Ronald Acuña Jr. — RF
- 2. Drake Baldwin — DH
- 3. Matt Olson — 1B
- 4. Ozzie Albies — 2B
- 5. Michael Harris II — CF
- 6. Mauricio Dubón — SS
- 7. Lane Thomas — LF
- 8. Austin Riley — 3B
- 9. Sean Murphy — C
Keys to Watch for Arizona
Corbin Carroll at the Top of the Order
Carroll sliding into the two-hole behind Lars Nootbaar gives Arizona some legitimate speed and on-base potential near the top of the lineup. If Carroll can get on base and create chaos on the basepaths, Arizona's offense becomes a different animal against Holmes.
Handling Ronald Acuña Jr.
Rodriguez's biggest challenge may be the man leading off for Atlanta. Acuña Jr. batting first means Rodriguez will face him multiple times, and keeping him off the bases is critical to Arizona's chances of staying in this game. How Rodriguez attacks Acuña will set the tone for the entire outing.
Nolan Arenado in the Six-Hole
Arenado batting sixth in Arizona's lineup is a significant weapon in the middle of the order. If Carroll and Perdomo get on base ahead of Moreno and Kepler, Arenado becomes a genuine run-producing threat who Atlanta's bullpen will have to reckon with late in the game.
Prediction
Atlanta's lineup from top to bottom is legitimate, and Truist Park is a tough place to win on a Saturday night. The Braves' depth — Acuña, Olson, Albies, Riley — means there are no easy outs from one through nine. Rodriguez will need one of his sharper outings to keep Arizona in it. That said, Arizona has enough lineup pieces to compete if Rodriguez is on. This one feels like a grind. Edge to Atlanta, but expect the D-backs to make it interesting. Prediction: Braves 4, Diamondbacks 3.