Diamondbacks fans spent Sunday watching a season come down to a razor-thin finish, and then watching it disappear before the final out in Arizona’s game.
The Diamondbacks needed two things to break their way. They had to beat the San Diego Padres in their final game, and the Tampa Bay Rays had to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. If that had happened, Arizona and Philadelphia would have finished with the same record, and the Diamondbacks would have owned the tiebreaker.
Instead, the Phillies beat the Rays, 7-3, and that was enough to end Arizona’s postseason hopes before the D-Backs finished their own game. It’s the third straight season the club will miss the playoffs after its World Series run in 2023.
Online, the reaction from Arizona fans came fast and loud, with plenty of frustration over how close the team got without getting back in.
“The Arizona Diamondbacks if missing playoffs by one game was a competition pic.twitter.com/NqS2RVonmY”
“- Damon (@DamonDawg) September 27, 2026”
“No #DBacks tweets today. Another season where bad management costs us a playoff spot. 1 playoff appearance in 9 years. Jose Cabrera game will live on forever.
Torey Lovullo extension will be signed Tuesday.
- Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) September 27, 2026”
“The Arizona #Dbacks have been eliminated from the postseason.
A lack of production from their “superstars”, half of a functioning rotation caused by poor offseason signings, and a bland deadline have lead to this.
It’s the 3rd straight season of high payroll and no playoffs
- Diamondbacks Prospects 🐍 (@dbacksprospectz) September 27, 2026”
Not every reaction was angry. Some fans pointed to the bigger picture, saying the team still gave them a meaningful September and a season worth appreciating, even if it ended short of the playoffs.
“It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for the #Dbacks today.
The last 2 weeks have been incredible. I would take them over a quick playoff series exit any day.
- Mark McClune (@MarkMcClune) September 27, 2026”
“i love the arizona diamondbacks. and i always will. being so close again means we have a good team. it means i got to see meaningful games in september for another year. this year gave me so many memories that i will always remember fondly. i got to see two walk off homers! and
- geraldo perdomo’s biggest fan (she/her) (@azgeraldomarte) September 27, 2026”
“@RSaenzFox10 it’s sad the Dbacks fell one game short of postseason. However, they still finished with a winning record & surpassed their win total from last season https://t.co/oX1TkZtut0
- Charles Isaacs (@Chasi1229) September 27, 2026”
Now the attention shifts to what comes next for Arizona. The questions are simple, even if the answers won’t be: what did this season teach the Diamondbacks, and what needs to change so they don’t find themselves in the same spot again?
For fans, the debate is already underway.
In Other News...
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Torey Lovullo said he wants to keep managing the club as his contract expires, adding a layer of uncertainty to an offseason that already has plenty of it. Corbin Carroll and Nolan Arenado both pointed to the teams effort and fight, but the bigger question now is how Arizona turns that competitiveness into a more complete finish next year. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Enter Offseason With Torey Lovullo Uncertainty Looming
The Diamondbacks are heading into the offseason with an unusually big question hanging over the dugout: whether Torey Lovullo will be back for an 11th season as manager. Lovullo, who signed a three-year extension after the 2023 World Series, has not yet had any discussions about another deal, and both he and team executives have acknowledged that his future remains unresolved.
For Arizona, it is a notable piece of business to sort out after a season shaped by expectations raised in recent years. Lovullo has made clear he would like to keep going if the organization wants him back, but for now the situation sits in limbo, leaving one of the clubs most familiar figures waiting on a decision that could help define the next phase of the team. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Season Ends With A Near-Miss That Will Sting All Winter
The Diamondbacks came into the final day needing help and some finishing punch, but the combination never materialized. Arizona had to beat San Diego and get a Phillies loss to keep its postseason hopes alive, yet the results went the other way, ending the season on the wrong side of a razor-thin race that will linger in the background all winter.
Gabriel Moreno was in the original lineup before a hamstring injury knocked him out of the game, adding another layer of frustration to a day already loaded with pressure. For a team that had put itself in position to keep playing, the ending was especially harsh: one last chance to control its fate slipped away, and the wait for next October starts now. [Read more 🡒]