The Diamondbacks’ latest stretch has become a mess of bad timing and bigger distractions, and Merrill Kelly’s August hasn’t helped. His rough outing added another ugly line to a month that is moving in the wrong direction at exactly the wrong moment for Arizona. Even the way the club is being discussed feels off these days, with the situation around the team hard to pin down.
The biggest cloud remains Ketel Marte. There is no doubt that many will paint it as a season-wrecker, and plenty will also connect it to Tore Lovullo’s job security. Marte was not in Boston, and that absence has only widened the noise around the club.
Marte’s agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, told MLB Network on Wednesday that her client is continuing to deal with a personal matter and will have an MRI on his knee in Phoenix on Thursday.
Marte’s return to Phoenix does at least keep the situation moving, and there was another note from his side as well. He is looking forward to coming back, and the team support around him remains unwavering.
Whatever is going on with Ketel Marte, may things improve soon an may everything work itself out in a positive fashion. While he did not go into the stands and batter a fan, the rest of this seems incredibly appropriate at this moment in time for the team.
There is no way around it, Ketel Mater’s recent actions have created a monster distraction for the team as they attempt to make the playoffs.
On the field, there was one small bright spot in an otherwise bad night: Justin Martinez made his highly anticipated return to the mound. It didn’t erase the damage around him, but it was at least a flicker of hope for Arizona.
Around baseball, the National League MVP conversation is tightening. With roughly 40 games left in the season, the PCA vs Ohtani debate is expected to go right down to the wire.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Return Home With More Turbulence Than Fans Expected
The Diamondbacks were already navigating an uneasy week before their return trip ever left the runway, with All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte landing on the restricted list for an undisclosed reason and missing the first two games against the Red Sox. Arizona managed to steady itself enough to win the finale, but the off-field uncertainty had already given the homestand a jarring feel.
Then the flight home added another layer of disruption. The clubs charter plane could not land in Phoenix because of a storm and was diverted to Las Vegas, where the team stayed overnight before planning to make the final leg back to Arizona the next morning. For a team trying to put a tricky stretch behind it, even the travel schedule has turned into part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Just Lost Another Bullpen Arm With Something To Prove
Another arm with some intrigue has slipped away from the Diamondbacks, as right-hander Andrew Hoffmann is moving on after being claimed off waivers by the Phillies. Philadelphia sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley right away, a sign the organization still sees a reliever worth keeping in the fold as it sorts out its bullpen depth.
For Arizona, it is another reminder of how quickly fringe pitching depth can disappear, especially when a pitcher has shown enough in the majors and minors to draw attention elsewhere. The roster move also came with a corresponding shuffle in Philadelphia, where Felix Reyes was recalled and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right-wrist fracture, while Hoffmann gets a fresh chance to keep pushing his way back toward a big-league role. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Escape A Messy Win As Wild Card Pressure Builds
Brandon Pfaadts night was rough from the start, as the Diamondbacks right-hander gave up three home runs and saw his outing end on a three-run blast. Even so, Arizona kept itself in the game, and the offense finally broke through with a fifth- and sixth-inning rally that turned an early hole into a lead, with Gabriel Moreno, Torey Lovullo and Nolan Arenado all turning in key hits to help steady a lineup that needed it.
The finish was just as messy as the beginning, and in a wild-card race, that kind of win can feel equal parts relief and warning sign. Arizona tacked on more in extra innings after Boston reliever Jovani Moran lost the strike zone, a reminder that the Diamondbacks are finding ways to survive right now even when the margins are thin and the stress level keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]