The Arizona Diamondbacks head to Washington for a Friday night matchup against the Nationals at Nationals Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET on July 24, 2026. Eduardo Rodriguez gets the ball for Arizona against Washington's Carson Palmquist in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching duel. The D-backs roll out a lineup headlined by Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, and newly acquired veteran Nolan Arenado, making this one worth watching for anyone tracking where this roster stands heading deeper into the second half.

Pitching Matchup: Rodriguez vs. Palmquist

Eduardo Rodriguez draws the start for Arizona, giving manager Torey Lovullo a lefty option against a Washington lineup that leans heavily on right-handed bats. Rodriguez has the experience and the repertoire to work through a lineup like this one — the D-backs will need him to go deep into the game and keep the bullpen fresh in what is a road environment.

Carson Palmquist gets the nod for the Nationals. The young left-hander will be tested by an Arizona lineup that has legitimate threats from top to bottom. How Palmquist handles the middle of the order — Geraldo Perdomo, Gabriel Moreno, and Arenado batting third through fifth — will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

Arizona Diamondbacks Lineup

• 1. Ketel Marte, 2B
• 2. Corbin Carroll, RF
• 3. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
• 4. Gabriel Moreno, C
• 5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
• 6. Max Kepler, LF
• 7. Tyler Locklear, 1B
• 8. Adrian Del Castillo, DH
• 9. Tim Tawa, CF

Washington Nationals Lineup

• 1. James Wood, LF
• 2. Curtis Mead, 3B
• 3. Andrés Chaparro, DH
• 4. CJ Abrams, SS
• 5. Dylan Crews, RF
• 6. Jacob Young, CF
• 7. Harry Ford, C
• 8. Luis García Jr., 1B
• 9. Nasim Nuñez, 2B

Keys to Watch for Arizona

• Rodriguez's command: If Rodriguez can establish his offspeed stuff early and limit walks, Arizona has the defense behind him to make this a low-scoring game. A quality start — six innings, three runs or fewer — puts the D-backs in position to win.
• Marte and Carroll at the top: The one-two punch of Ketel Marte leading off and Corbin Carroll batting second gives Arizona one of the more dynamic tops of any lineup in the National League. Getting those two on base early puts pressure on Palmquist from the jump.
• Arenado in the lineup: With Nolan Arenado slotted fifth, opposing pitchers cannot work around the heart of this order easily. His presence gives this lineup a different look and a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat.
• James Wood for Washington: The Nationals leadoff man is the D-backs' most significant concern on the other side. Wood at the top of the Washington order with CJ Abrams hitting cleanup means Rodriguez must be sharp against a lineup that can score in bunches.

Prediction

This game comes down to Rodriguez executing his game plan against a Nationals lineup with legitimate offensive weapons. If he can limit James Wood and keep Abrams in check, Arizona's lineup has the firepower to solve Palmquist — particularly once Marte and Carroll begin working counts. The D-backs have the edge in veteran experience in this one. Arizona wins a tight game, 4–2.

Catch the action on DBACKS.TV or Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Spanish-language coverage is available on La Campesina 101.9 FM and 860 AM.