The Arizona Diamondbacks are back at it today for the rubber match of their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and there's plenty on the line. After splitting the first two games, the D-backs are once again eyeing that .500 mark—a milestone that could set the stage for a promising month ahead. Looking at the schedule, May is shaping up to be a golden opportunity for Arizona. Starting today, they'll face 22 consecutive games against teams with losing records, including seven against the Colorado Rockies, six versus the San Francisco Giants, and series with the New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners. The toughest opponent in that stretch? The Mariners, who currently sit at 18-20. That's a favorable path to build a cushion above .500, and the D-backs need to seize it.

After a rough patch in the rotation, it's refreshing to see the starting pitching bounce back with two solid outings in this series. All eyes are on Zac Gallen today, who's looking to regain his form following a tough start at Wrigley Field. That outing saw his ERA jump from 3.14 to 4.45, though his FIP barely moved (from 3.59 to 3.63). It's possible that the poor performance was a reaction to taking a comebacker off his body in his previous start—an unsettling moment for any pitcher. Here's hoping "normal service" resumes, with Gallen's ERA regressing back toward his FIP. A strong outing today would be a huge boost for a team that thrives on momentum.

If the D-backs can hold the Pirates to zero or one runs again today, they'll achieve something truly special. The last time Arizona allowed two or fewer runs over a three-game series was back in September 2017, when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers by a combined score of 19-2. That series included a 13-0 shutout, a 3-1 win in 10 innings, and another 3-1 victory—all part of a franchise-record 13-game winning streak with a team ERA of just 1.91. When you only need two or three runs to win, life is good. Could this be the start of a similar run? With the schedule lined up in their favor, there's no better time for the Diamondbacks to heat up. Let's see if they can make it happen.