Dropping a series in the middle of a playoff push is never ideal, especially when the offense barely shows up. After the Diamondbacks managed just one run and went through what felt like their weakest stretch at the plate in 2026, the road trip had a chance to reset everything.
Instead of staying in Philadelphia, though, Arizona headed to Houston, where a meeting with the Astros offered a different kind of challenge. The task was made even tougher by the Diamondbacks’ history at Daikin Park, where they had not won a series since 2012, back when the Astros were still in the NL Central.
Friday night’s opener didn’t do much to calm any nerves. The Diamondbacks kept running into the same problem they’ve had all week, coming up empty in nearly every key scoring chance. They were 1 for their last 27 in those situations dating back to Saturday’s second game of the doubleheader, and their only run came on a Gabriel Moreno solo homer.
There was at least one encouraging sign on the mound. Merrill Kelly worked six innings without issuing a walk, his first start without one in more than three months.
Even in a loss, it was another step forward for a pitcher who has been uneven for much of 2026. With a 2.89 ERA over his last three starts, Kelly has started to look like the kind of arm Arizona needs down the stretch and maybe beyond.
Saturday brought the response Arizona needed. Brandon Pfaadt gave the Diamondbacks a chance by pushing into the seventh inning, allowing just three earned runs and piling up 13 whiffs.
That set the stage for the offense to finally come alive. After spending too much time wasting runners in scoring position, the Diamondbacks went 4 for 10 in those spots, with Lars Nootbaar delivering an RBI double in the seventh and Moreno following with the go-ahead single in extras.
The biggest swing of the night, though, belonged to Ketel Marte. Back from the IL, Marte delivered his biggest hit since returning with a game-tying blast in the eighth, and it came on a pitch that was well below the zone.
It was the kind of moment that flipped the entire feel of the game. Not just a big hit, but the kind of blast that can change the mood in a dugout and give a lineup the jolt it’s been missing.
Sunday’s rubber match turned into another night where Arizona leaned hard on its pitching. The Diamondbacks only scored three runs, but this time that was enough.
Eduardo Rodriguez took the ball and got off to a rough start when Yordan Alvarez hit a solo homer in the first. After that, though, Rodriguez settled in and controlled the game, finishing six strong innings with 19 whiffs, including nine on his changeup.
The early damage has been part of the pattern with Rodriguez this year. Opponents have had more success jumping on him right away than once he gets rolling, and once he gets past that opening stretch, he’s been a lot tougher to square up.
From innings two through eight this season, Rodriguez has a 1.88 ERA. Brandon floated the idea that the slow starts could simply be tied to Rodriguez moving from bullpen warmups to the mound, and his 6.11 ERA in the first inning this year backs up that thought.
The bullpen also earned its share of the credit after finishing the series with a combined 8.2 innings, five hits allowed, one earned run, no walks and 14 strikeouts. Gabe pointed out that, for the first time in the Mike Hazen era, he feels confident in any of the arms that get called on in late-game and high-leverage spots.
Looking ahead, the Diamondbacks head to Kauffman Stadium for a series against Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals. Kansas City has not had the kind of year the club or its fans expected, but its pitching has been sharp lately. Michael Wacha and Noah Cameron, two of the likely starters in the upcoming series, have both been pitching well over their last seven outings, and each has an ERA below 3 in that span.
There was also news on Arizona’s side of the pitching picture, with multiple reports suggesting the Diamondbacks would activate Corbin Burnes for his 2026 debut. It would be his first outing since Tommy John surgery ended his 2025 season earlier than anyone wanted.
As for the Royals, Brandon kept his focus on Witt, who remains the most dangerous bat in their lineup and the face of the franchise. Arizona’s pitching staff has recently found ways to quiet top hitters like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez, and the challenge in Kansas City will be to keep that same approach working. Let anyone not wearing No. 7 do the damage, and keep the star in check.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Suddenly Face A Frightening Geraldo Perdomo Concern
Geraldo Perdomo gave the Diamondbacks a scare against the Astros when he was struck in the helmet by a 93 mph line drive while trying to advance to second base. He was checked on the field before being diagnosed with a head contusion, and Arizona said he will be monitored further as the team waits to see how he responds.
Perdomos exit forced the Diamondbacks to reshuffle their defense in the middle of the game, a reminder of how quickly a routine baserunning play can turn into a bigger concern. For Arizona, the immediate question is less about the one play itself than whether one of its most important infield pieces can bounce back without missing additional time. [Read more 🡒]
Max Kepler's Latest Career Turn Is Tough For Twins Fans To See
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Keplers stint with the Diamondbacks never really found traction, as the veteran struggled offensively after arriving in 2024. The expectation now is that he will clear waivers and head back into free agency, leaving Arizona to move on quickly while one more familiar name from a recent roster cycle appears headed for another turn elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Just Delivered The Kind Of Win Fans Can Rally Around
Arizona got the kind of late, tense road win that can settle a dugout and give fans something to latch onto. The Diamondbacks edged the Astros 4-3 in 10 innings at Daikin Park, with Ketel Marte adding his 22nd home run of the season to keep the offense moving and the game close into extra innings.
Gabriel Moreno ended it with a timely RBI single in the 10th, a fitting finish for a team that needed every inch of this one. Brandyn Garcia closed the door for his fifth save, and the way the bullpen handled the final moments gave Arizona a clean, encouraging result in a game that could have gone either way. [Read more 🡒]