The red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks lastly received to debut their prized offseason pickup Wednesday afternoon. Veteran lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, sidelined by a shoulder damage since spring coaching, made his 2024 debut within the second recreation of Arizona’s doubleheader sweep of the Cleveland Guardians (ARI 5, CLE 3). The D-backs signed Rodriguez to a four-year, $80 million contract in December.
“I am glad that I’ll pitch this season and be capable of assist the workforce for that final push,” Rodriguez stated earlier than his scheduled season debut was rained out Tuesday evening (by way of Arizona Republic). “That is what we’re actually searching for and what I’ve ready myself to go on the market and do, assist my workforce to go to the postseason once more.”
All issues thought-about, Rodriguez’s D-backs debut went effectively. A dominant outing it was not, however he held Cleveland to 3 runs on 4 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, and he wanted solely 65 pitches to do it (he was on a pitch restrict). His velocity was down a tad from 2023, which is comprehensible after the lengthy layoff. All in all, a promising debut.
Rodriguez, 31, made 26 begins and threw 131 1/3 innings with a 3.30 ERA with the Detroit Tigers final season. He used his no-trade clause to dam a deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the commerce deadline, then opted out of the ultimate three years and $39 million on his contract after the season. That paved the way in which for him to signal with the defending Nationwide League champs.
The spring-training damage was initially described as a cramp in his again close to his shoulder, and the hope was he would wish minimal downtime. That clearly didn’t occur. Rodriguez spent the final 4 months recovering and he didn’t make any minor-league rehab begins. Rodriguez as an alternative confronted minor leaguers in simulated video games on the workforce’s spring coaching complicated.
With Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly each lacking vital time, Arizona has used 13 completely different beginning pitchers this season, together with a sequence of openers. Righties Slade Cecconi, Yilber Diaz, and Cristian Mena all rotated via the No. 5 spot in latest weeks because the D-backs awaited Rodriguez’s return. Kelly made his first rehab begin Tuesday and is getting nearer to rejoining the workforce.
Regardless of the pitching accidents, Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep improved the D-backs to 63-52 on the season. They’ve gained 18 of their final 23 video games and have climbed to inside 3 1/2 video games of the NL West lead, pending the result of Wednesday evening’s Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies recreation. It is the closest they have been within the division race since April 24.
As for the Guardians, they’ve misplaced a season-high 5 straight video games — they hadn’t misplaced greater than three straight video games previous to this five-game shedding streak — and their AL Central lead is down to three 1/2 video games. That is the smallest it has been since June 8.
