The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to recover from a close 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Friday as they prepare for Saturday’s game at Coors Field. With the team holding a 60-63 record and striving to return to .500, right-hander Ryne Nelson will take the mound in a highly anticipated pitching matchup. The Rockies, who have only 33 wins this season, will rely on their own young talent to keep pace.
Ryne Nelson’s Recent Performance and Key Challenges
Nelson has been a dominant figure in the Diamondbacks’ pitching rotation throughout 2025. However, his last outing was a setback, marked by a critical three-run home run that fueled the Texas Rangers’ comeback victory earlier this week. In that game, Nelson allowed five runs over 5.1 innings, one of his poorest performances this season. Prior to that, his consistency was impressive, surrendering two or fewer earned runs in nine of his ten starts, largely due to his effective fastball.
Saturday’s setting at Coors Field poses a distinct challenge, given the hitter-friendly environment favoring hard contact and fly balls. For Nelson to succeed, he will need to rely not only on his fastball but also on inducing ground balls or striking out batters to minimize damage.
Colorado Rockies’ Pitching Threat: Chase Dollander
The Rockies will counter with Chase Dollander, their right-handed No. 2 prospect, who has struggled to find consistent success this season. Despite a high earned run average of 6.35, Dollander delivered a solid five-inning, one-run performance in his last outing. His pitching arsenal includes a high-90s four-seam fastball, a much slower curveball in the upper 70s, and occasional use of a cutter, sinker, and changeup.
Opponent hitters have particularly punished Dollander’s four-seam fastball and cutter, reflected in high slugging percentages against those pitches. Conversely, his curveball has been highly effective, limiting batters to a very low batting line, suggesting it could be vital in Saturday’s contest.
Relief Pitching Depth for Both Teams
On Friday, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen featured strong performances from Juan Burgos and Andrew Hoffmann, both pitching scoreless innings during a tough game. With starters Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez having gone deep in their recent outings, manager Torey Lovullo has several relief options available for this crucial game.
The Rockies utilized Jimmy Herget for two innings, Juan Mejia for one inning, and closer Victor Vodnik to secure the save. Both Herget and Mejia threw over 20 pitches, which may influence bullpen management moving forward in the series.
Implications for the Series and Team Outlook
This matchup at Coors Field carries significant weight for the Diamondbacks as they push to even their season and strengthen their playoff hopes. Ryne Nelson’s ability to rebound from his recent struggles will be critical to Arizona’s success, especially in a hostile environment that challenges pitchers. Meanwhile, the Rockies will count on Dollander’s potential and their bullpen depth to maintain their momentum.
The outcome of this game could determine the momentum for the rest of the series and affect each team’s positioning in the National League standings as they enter the midseason stretch.