The Diamondbacks are trying to keep their playoff position intact, but the picture around them is tightening fast. Philadelphia’s series win pushed Arizona farther into a separation battle, and the club’s margin for error is shrinking with every quiet night at the plate.
Corbin Carroll’s back is now part of the conversation, and it’s a concern that can’t be brushed aside if the Diamondbacks want to hold onto a postseason berth. The timing matters, because Arizona also has the Padres and Marlins looming in the wild-card chase, and San Diego will face the Diamondbacks in the final three games of the regular season.
There’s no quick fix coming from the pitching side either. Corbin Burnes will not be an option for at least another week, and his return remains on hold until he builds up more. Ryne Nelson and Zac Gallen are still working their way back as well.
That leaves Arizona in a spot where winning is the only thing that can change the conversation. The club could help itself by getting back on track now, because the longer the skid lasts, the more pressure builds around Burnes’ availability and the rest of the roster’s health.
Off the field, the Marte situation is still drawing attention, though teammates would probably love nothing more than a long winning streak to push that storyline aside. For now, the bigger issue is the one on the field: the Diamondbacks’ offense has gone cold, and there’s also growing concern that the bullpen may have hit a wall.
The broader playoff picture doesn’t offer much comfort. Arizona sits fifth among the seven National League contenders in remaining strength of schedule, while the Padres are sixth. The Dodgers are seventh, though they “don’t matter at this stage.”
And as for the way people evaluate the season, the reminder is simple: preseason projections still matter more than some want to admit. The real question is how much a few months of results should change what was believed back in March, and the answer, according to the source material, is less than the projection skeptics might like.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Face A Bigger Torey Lovullo Question Than The Playoff Push
Even with the Diamondbacks still in the thick of a playoff push, the bigger conversation around the dugout may be what comes after this season. MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com said he expects Arizona to retain Torey Lovullo for another year, pointing to Lovullos strong relationship with the general manager, the way players respond to him, and the fact that his teams have remained competitive even through uneven stretches.
Lovullos future has still become a talking point because the job security question tends to surface when expectations run high, but there has been no official decision from the club. Murrays view adds another layer to the seasons final stretch: even if the results go one way or another, Lovullo could remain a central part of Arizonas plans, and any move away from him would likely not keep him on the market for long. [Read more 🡒]
Gabriel Moreno Has Changed What Arizonas Lineup Can Be
Gabriel Morenos breakout season has given Arizona something it has not always had behind the plate: a catcher who can shape the lineup in more than one way. He has paired better contact with more impact, showing improved power metrics while also making more consistent swings, and the result has been the kind of production that has pushed him to career highs in home runs and slugging percentage.
Just as important for the Diamondbacks, Moreno has been on the field enough to matter. After dealing with availability concerns in earlier seasons, he has reached 110 games and looked the part of one of the better catchers in baseball, which changes how Arizona can build around him. The combination of bat speed, more balls pulled in the air and a lower whiff rate has made this feel less like a hot streak and more like a shift in what the lineup can be. [Read more 🡒]
Kael Snyder And Perry Face An Early Test Their Turnaround Needs
Perry High School opened the season with the kind of jolt every struggling program hopes for, rolling to a 64-0 win under senior quarterback Kael Snyder, the Boise State commit who has become the face of the turnaround. The performance came with a fresh voice on the sideline too, as the program recently hired Jeremy Hathcock as its new head coach after a stretch of losing records dating back to 2018.
Now the first real test arrives in the form of Centennial High School in Las Vegas, a matchup that should say more about where Perry stands than a season opener ever could. Snyder gives the offense a proven leader, and Hathcocks arrival adds another layer of intrigue, but the bigger question is whether this fast start can hold up once the schedule starts asking harder questions. [Read more 🡒]