D-backs' Eduardo Rodriguez strives to show star power vs. Brewers

Less than 24 hours after he learned he was selected to his first All-Star Game in his 11th major league season, Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez will start the decisive contest of the Arizona Diamondbacks' three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.

"It means a lot to me because I've been in this game for quite a long time," Rodriguez, 33, said before the Diamondbacks beat the Brewers 4-3 on Saturday night. "To have the opportunity to go to the All-Star Game (July 14) for the first time, it's just something that amazes you."

Rodriguez (7-2, 2.21 ERA) has the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors among qualified pitchers.

"He's been our rock, he's been the ace, whatever term you want to use, it's applicable to what Eddie has done this year for us," said Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll, who was selected to his second All-Star team.

"Every single time he's gone out on the mound, he's given us more than just a chance to win, but a likelihood of winning. It's made me proud as his teammate, watching some of the struggles with injuries and, now, to see him put it all together this year, it's been awesome."

Rodriguez is coming off a solid win against the San Francisco Giants after holding them to one run and five hits in seven innings of a 5-4 victory last Monday.

"I feel like my best years in the league, it's always been the second half," Rodriguez said. "I think the last time I had a really good first half was with Detroit, in my second year in Detroit (in 2023), but it's always been the second half when I've been pitching great. So having it this year is just a blessing, and I feel happy for it and, hopefully, I keep doing it the rest of the season."

Rodriguez is 0-3 with a 4.44 ERA in five career starts against Milwaukee. He faced them on April 29 and came up an out short of earning the win after allowing two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings of his team's 6-2 victory.

Rodriguez opposed right-hander Brandon Sproat in that game, and the two will square off in Sunday's series finale.

The Brewers could depend on Sproat (3-4, 5.28 ERA) even more in the second half of the season after Brandon Woodruff left with an injury to his throwing arm on Saturday night.

Woodruff was making his third start since missing nearly two months because of right shoulder inflammation.

"We've got to get a better opinion of where we are, so we'll get that and move forward," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Woodruff after Saturday's loss.

Sproat has won his past two starts, both against the Cincinnati Reds. He most recently held them to two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 victory on Tuesday. A week earlier, he blanked the Reds on one hit over six innings in a 2-0 triumph.

Sproat's only appearance against the Diamondbacks came on April 29, when he took the loss after giving up four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 6-2 game.

--Field Level Media