A dramatic one-run game on Thursday ended in a 2-1 victory for the Diamondbacks (26-23). Now, Arizona will attempt to take the first two in this four-game series. As for the Rockies (19-32), it’s shaping up to be another season outside of contention in the NL West. However, Colorado has looked far more competitive compared to 2025’s historically bad squad. Will the visitors put up a fight in Phoenix this evening?

The Diamondbacks are favorites (-218) over the Rockies, with the over/under set at nine runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Friday’s showdown between Colorado and Arizona on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Rockies vs. Diamondbacks prediction, preview

In this divisional matchup, it’ll be Tomoyuki Sugano on the bump for the visitors. The Japanese hurler is now in his second season stateside, following a 2025 campaign in Baltimore. On a Rockies squad devoid of pitching talent, the right-hander might already be a staff ace. Through 47.0 innings of work, he’s notched a 4.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25 strikeouts (4.8 K/9). Still, a look at the advanced metrics shows that the 36-year-old is due for negative regression. He ranks inside the bottom fourth percentile of all pitchers in xERA (7.40), whiff % (17.0), K % (12.8) and barrel % (15.5).

In fairness to Sugano, he’s thrown most of his innings at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Still, it’s not as if a trip to Arizona will be that much better. The Diamondbacks are averaging 4.55 runs per game, tenth-most in baseball. They’re led by none other than Corbin Carroll, one of the NL’s best hitters. Over 46 games this season, he’s slashing .282/.390/.552 with seven homers, 26 RBIs and six steals. He’s joined by co-stars Ildemaro Vargas (141 wRC+), Nolan Arenado (129 wRC+) and Ketel Marte (98 wRC+). As a unit, the Snakes are tied for the eighth-best batting average (.244) and second-most doubles (81).

If Colorado is going to pull out a win tonight, it’ll likely take a stellar performance at the plate. However, the Rockies are a far worse offensive unit away from home. They’re averaging 3.88 runs per game on the road this season, sixth-fewest in the majors. Just four hitters on the roster have notched a wRC+ equal to or greater than 100. To boot, the Rox have posted a National League-worst K% of 24.8%

That should be music to the ears of Michael Soroka, tonight’s starter. Since joining Arizona, the 28-year-old has accounted for a 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 55 strikeouts (10.1 K/9) over 49.0 innings. It’s early, but the veteran is putting together one of the best seasons of his professional career. Soroka has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his nine outings so far. That includes a 5.2-inning, two-run performance last weekend vs. Colorado.

Rockies vs. Diamondbacks pick, best bet

A strikeout-heavy approach should do Soroka well this evening against the free-swinging Rockies. On the other side, Sugano has been flirting with disaster all season. This capable D-Backs lineup should take advantage of his tendency to give up fly balls. Arizona has all the ingredients to earn a second straight win tonight.

Best Bet: Diamondbacks -1.5 (-218)