MLB Scores Today: Rockies vs Diamondbacks on May 24

Colorado will host Arizona on Sunday, May 24, and MLB Scores Today will track every run as the Rockies try to halt a three‑game skid while the Diamondbacks push a mid‑season surge. The 4:10 p.m. Eastern start on DBACKS.TV adds another data point to the evolving NL West landscape, and fans will be watching for clues about each club’s playoff hopes.

Colorado Rockies entered the series with a sub‑.400 win‑percentage, lingering near the bottom of the West, whereas Arizona Diamondbacks hover around .500 and have posted a modest offensive surge over the past two weeks. The contrast is rooted in each franchise’s recent history: the Rockies have cycled through three managers since 2022, trying to blend a high‑altitude offense with a pitching staff that has struggled to adapt to Coors Field’s thin air. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have kept a consistent front office under general manager Mike Hazen, who has emphasized analytics‑driven roster construction and a deep bullpen that finished 2025 with the league’s second‑best ERA.

What does the schedule reveal about today’s matchup?

According to USA Today, the Rockies at Diamondbacks will tip‑off at 4:10 p.m. ET, confirming the broadcast partner and slotting the game into an early‑evening window that often favors West‑coast hitters. The timing aligns with the league’s broader effort to maximize viewership for the NL West, a division that has produced three World Series champions in the past five seasons. Historically, early‑evening games in Arizona have yielded higher batting averages for visiting teams because the desert heat slows down pitchers’ grip strength in the later innings.

Key details shaping the contest

Colorado’s rotation features rookie right‑hander Dakota Hudson, who posted a 3.68 ERA in his last three starts and a 1.24 WHIP over 27⅔ innings. Hudson, a 2022 first‑round pick out of the University of Texas, refined his change‑up in the Arizona Fall League and has been praised by pitching coach Brent Strom for his ability to locate fastballs on the inner half of the plate—a skill that could mitigate Coors Field’s propensity to inflate ERAs. Arizona will counter with veteran left‑hander Zac Gallen, who carries a 2.95 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and a strikeout rate of 9.2 K/9. Gallen, signed to a three‑year extension in the 2024 offseason, has transitioned between starter and closer roles, posting a 2.1 FIP as a reliever and a 4.15 FIP as a starter, underscoring his versatility.

Offensively, the Rockies rely on shortstop Trevor Story, whose OPS+ of 112 signals above‑average production despite the team’s struggles. Story, a former No. 2 overall pick in 2015, returned from a torn ACL in 2024 and has rediscovered his power stroke, hitting 18 home runs through May 20. The Diamondbacks lean on outfielder Christian Walker, whose barrel rate of 9% this season ranks among the league’s top ten. Walker, a 2023 All‑Star, has become a focal point of Arizona’s “power‑first” approach; he has driven in 62 runs and posted a hard‑hit rate of 49.2%, the highest among players with at least 300 plate appearances.

Looking at the tape, the Rockies have struggled to generate quality at‑bats against left‑handed pitching, hitting just .221 against southpaws this year while posting a .267 average versus right‑handers. By contrast, Arizona’s lineup hits .255 against right‑handed starters and .238 against left‑handed arms, suggesting a potential advantage for Gallen’s arm, especially since he will be attacking the Rockies’ left‑handed core of Story, Nolan Jones and outfielder Ezequiel Duran.

Historical context and season trends

The last time these two clubs met in early May, back in 2022, the Rockies won a 7‑5 slugfest that hinged on a two‑run double by Ryan McMahon in the eighth inning. That game marked the first time Colorado defeated Arizona after a 12‑game losing streak, a pattern that seems to be repeating this season: both clubs have used early‑May victories as catalysts for short‑term winning runs. In 2025, the Diamondbacks finished 86‑76, missing the playoffs by one game, while the Rockies posted a 78‑84 record, finishing fourth in the division. The 2026 campaign has already seen the Dodgers dominate with a 70‑38 record, the Padres perched at 66‑44, and the Giants languishing at 55‑55. The gap between the Rockies and the playoff threshold is roughly 12 wins, a margin that can be erased with a 10‑game winning streak—a scenario not unheard of for Colorado, which posted a 12‑2 run in June 2023.

Key Developments

• Colorado’s starting pitcher Dakota Hudson earned his first win of the season in the previous night’s game against the San Diego Padres, a 5‑2 victory that saw him retire 10 of the last 12 batters and limit San Diego to a single run after the fifth inning.
• Arizona’s left‑hander Zac Gallen recorded his 12th save of the season in a prior outing, highlighting his versatility as both a starter and closer; his save came in a 4‑3 nail‑biter against the Seattle Mariners, where he struck out the side in the ninth.
• The game will be the first of a three‑game series between the clubs, with the next two contests scheduled for May 25 and 26, both also on DBACKS.TV. The series opener is crucial because the winner will set the tone for the weekend, and both managers have hinted at using the middle games to test bullpen depth.

Coaching strategies and bullpen usage

Rockies manager Bud Black, a former pitching guru, has indicated he will lean on a six‑man rotation for the weekend, giving Hudson extra rest after his heavy workload in the Padres series. Black plans to insert left‑handed reliever Ryan Feltner in the seventh inning to neutralize Arizona’s left‑handed power surge, a move that mirrors his successful 2024 decision to pull right‑hander Ryan Feltner in favor of left‑handed reliever Jon Gray against the Dodgers in a high‑leverage situation.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who has a reputation for aggressive bullpen management, is expected to deploy his high‑leverage arm, Ryne Nelson, in the eighth inning regardless of the score. Nelson, a 2023 first‑round pick, posted a 2.71 ERA in relief this season and has a career strikeout‑to‑walk ratio of 4.3, making him a prime candidate to close out tight games.

Impact and what’s next for the NL West

If Colorado pulls off a win, a short‑term surge could narrow the gap with division leader Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit 3.5 games ahead. A victory would also lift the Rockies to a .425 winning percentage, the highest since their 2021 wild‑card push, and would give Bud Black his fourth win of the season, improving his managerial record to 12‑9. Conversely, a loss would likely cement the Rockies’ position near the bottom and force a reassessment of their rebuilding timeline, potentially accelerating trade talks for outfielder Kris Bryant, whose contract expires at season’s end.

Arizona, on the other hand, seeks to string together victories that could elevate them into the wild‑card conversation. A win would push them to within two games of the fifth‑place spot, keeping postseason hopes alive as the season heads into its crucial July stretch. The Diamondbacks would also improve to .506, a benchmark that historically correlates with a 90‑win season for Arizona; the club last reached that mark in 2023 when they finished 92‑70 and secured the NL West title.

Both clubs will be watching the performance of emerging youngsters. The Rockies have promoted 21‑year‑old shortstop Bobby Dalbec from Triple‑A Albuquerque, where he hit .298 with 12 homers in 45 games. Dalbec’s defensive versatility could provide Black with a late‑inning defensive substitution if the game remains close. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have given 23‑year‑old pitcher Jordan Montgomery a spot start in the bullpen earlier this week, and his 1.85 ERA in relief could earn him a regular role if he continues to dominate right‑handed hitters.

Fans can track live updates on ESPN, where real‑time scores and inning‑by‑inning breakdowns are posted throughout the day. Advanced metrics such as Statcast exit velocity and launch angle will be available on MLB.com, allowing fantasy owners to gauge the impact of high‑velocity swing rates that have become a hallmark of Arizona’s offense this season.

Colorado Rockies have been scrambling for consistency all season, and the May 24 outing offers a chance to prove that the pitching staff can hold its own against a solid Arizona lineup. The team’s recent road trip produced mixed results, but Hudson’s recent form suggests that the rotation may finally be finding its rhythm. If the Rockies can generate enough offense against Gallen, the game could serve as a turning point for a club that has been chasing wins since the season’s opening day. The Rockies’ bench depth—highlighted by veteran pinch‑hitter Ryan McMahon and utility man Raimel Tapia—will also be tested, as Black may need to employ a pinch‑hit for the pitcher in the ninth if the game remains tied.

Arizona Diamondbacks entered the series with a modest surge in run production, and the May 24 game is expected to test the depth of their bench. Walker’s power has been a key factor, and his barrel rate places him among the league’s elite; his 472‑foot home run against the Chicago Cubs on May 12 was the longest hit in Chase Field this season. The Diamondbacks’ front office brass hopes that a win will keep the club in the wild‑card hunt and solidify Gallen’s role as a reliable arm in high‑leverage situations. Arizona’s left‑handed hitting core—Walker, Pavin Smith and Gabriel Moreno—has combined for a .288 average against right‑handed pitching, a statistic that could tilt the balance in a low‑scoring duel.