The Diamondbacks took care of business in a game that mattered in the Wild Card picture, and they did it with some real pop at the top of the lineup.
Lars Nootbar delivered his best night at the plate since joining Arizona in the trade, jumping the action with a lead-off home run. Corbin Carroll added another blast, and the Diamondbacks kept building from there to even the series. The win also trimmed the gap in the Wild Card race, with the Padres losing and Arizona holding on to pick up a game.
The pitching side had its own grind. Kohl Drake had a rough stretch as the lineup turned over, but Gerardo Carrillo, Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, Dennis Santana and Juan Morillo covered five innings without allowing an earned run and gave up just one hit.
Elsewhere, the Giants’ Tony Vitello was tossed after objecting to a fair/foul call, and Logan Webb didn’t get the message right away before eventually joining his manager in the clubhouse.
Around the league, the labor situation is looking uglier by the day. The latest MLB proposal for CBA talks has some interesting ideas, but the bigger takeaway is the one being made loud and clear: Manfred and the owners are pushing hard in a way that could blow up the negotiations and lead to a lost season, or more.
MLB also suspended a once-prized Dominican prospect after an investigation uncovered an elaborate age-fraud scheme that allegedly included a fake death and a gravesite tombstone, according to sources familiar with the case who spoke to ESPN.
In Other News...
Corbin Burnes Just Gave The Diamondbacks Rotation Some Real Hope
A rehab start in Triple-A Reno gave the Diamondbacks a timely reminder of what Corbin Burnes can still bring to the rotation. Working his way back from Tommy John surgery and a subsequent right teres major strain, Burnes needed only 17 pitches to get through two perfect innings, a small but meaningful checkpoint for a pitcher Arizona counted on heavily after signing him to a six-year deal before the 2025 season.
The performance does not mean he is ready to jump back into the big league mix just yet, and the club still expects him to make additional rehab outings before any return later this season becomes realistic. Still, for a rotation that has been waiting on some good news, Burnes early efficiency in Reno offered a clear sign that the path back is moving in the right direction after he posted a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts before the injury. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Marte Situation Leaves Diamondbacks In An Awkward Spot
Ketel Martes absence against the Boston Red Sox put the Diamondbacks in an uncomfortable place, even before the lineup card was handed in. Marte had traveled with the club, then was placed on the restricted list after not appearing in the game, leaving Arizona to manage a situation that was as much about baseball as it was about keeping the bigger picture intact.
The decision not to punish Marte underscored how delicate the moment has become for the Diamondbacks, who can ill afford to turn a short-term issue into something more damaging. Marte is expected back for the Aug. 31 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, but the longer-term question hanging over the team is how secure his place really is once he returns. [Read more 🡒]
Corbin Carroll Is Chasing A Rare DBacks Milestone Again
Corbin Carroll keeps finding new ways to make the Diamondbacks offense look complete. The right fielder is already up to 19 home runs and 20 stolen bases, a combination that puts him on the doorstep of another rare 20-20 season, and he has done it while also leading all of MLB in triples with 16. His all-around profile has remained as dynamic as ever, with a 4.5 fWAR that ranks third in the National League and baserunning and sprint-speed numbers that still sit among the leagues best.
What makes this stretch even more notable is how close Carroll is to a statistical club few players ever touch. He is in position to join the 20-20-20-20 group for doubles, triples, home runs and steals, a reminder that his value goes well beyond one loud tool. For a Diamondbacks team that leans on his energy and versatility at the top of the lineup, the remaining question is how high the ceiling goes from here. [Read more 🡒]