PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks never quite overcame an ugly four-run first inning from the San Diego Padres, as they dropped their final series opener of the regular season 5-3 on Friday.

With the loss, the D-backs no longer control their own destiny in the NL Wild Card race, needing some help from around the league to play October baseball.

The Diamondbacks (88-72) are in a virtual tie with the New York Mets (87-71) and Atlanta Braves (87-71) but trail in percentage points and without either tiebreaker. The D-backs have two games remaining, while the NL East rivals have four, including a doubleheader on Monday.

“We couldn’t close up that early deficit, the first inning I think took a little bit of energy out of us,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

“We’re going to be ready to go tomorrow. We know what we’re fighting for. A lot of people are asking me questions about the stability of our team. Are we okay? We’re great. We’re fine when it comes to prepping and expecting to go out and have good things happen. … We didn’t get the victory today. We sure as hell are gonna do all we can to get one tomorrow.”

The earliest Arizona can clinch is now Sunday, which would require two wins to close the regular season and at least one Mets loss to the Milwaukee Brewers or one Braves loss to the Kansas City Royals. The Mets fell to Milwaukee 8-4 on Friday, while the Braves bested the Kansas City Royals — who clinched a postseason berth due to the Minnesota Twins losing — 3-0.

The Padres, meanwhile, locked up the top Wild Card spot and no longer have anything to gain from this series at Chase Field other than potentially eliminating a division foe.

“I feel like we’re confident,” reliever Kevin Ginkel said. “I feel like this team is a playoff-caliber team. We’ve shown it all year. Obviously, it’s coming down to the last couple of games here, and we’re going to need some help, but I feel like if we keep doing our job and keep it close, we’re going to have a chance.”

Diamondbacks fall behind

D-backs starter Merrill Kelly threw 31 pitches during a first inning in which he did not receive help from his defense.

The game started with a Luis Arraez double on a high fly ball to right-center field. Arizona sold out for offense in the lineup, starting Pavin Smith in right, moving Corbin Carroll to center and leaving Jake McCarthy on the bench. Smith could not run the fly ball down (Arraez hit a very similar ball for an RBI triple later in the fourth inning).

Arraez later scored on Manny Machado’s sharp one-hopper to second baseman Ketel Marte’s glove side, which he whiffed at. There was a chance to potentially turn two and end the inning unscathed.

“Not an easy play, those types of grounders are kind of uncomfortable. I thought I could make a swipe at it, but I wasn’t able to make the play,” Marte said via Spanish interpreter Alex Arpiza. “The hit was to the glove side, it wasn’t straight down the middle, if it was down the middle then I play it off a hop and off me, but it was to the side.”

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said Ketel Marte was going for the “kill shot” on the ball that got by the second baseman in a four-run Padres first inning. pic.twitter.com/IjWxNkASd2

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 28, 2024

After a Jackson Merrill single, Lovullo went out to the mound to check in on his players’ focus after a couple plays got away.

“I just told them, ‘Lock in. Let’s go, lock it in,'” Lovullo said. “I saw a couple things that told me we weren’t absolutely 100% engaged, and I just wanted to make sure we were. And they said they were. I checked on every one, looked them all in the eye and they said they were ready to go.”

Xander Bogaerts hit what looked like a routine double-play ball out of the mound visit, but Marte had trouble getting a grip on the turn and sailed his throw out of play. Another run scored, and former Diamondback David Peralta piled on with an RBI single.

Nine batters came to the plate in what is typically a scoreless inning for this typically excellent Diamondbacks defense.

“That’s just part of the game,” Kelly said. “That’s my job. Got to pick up your teammates. Offense and defense got to pick up the pitching and the pitching got to pick up the offense and defense.”

Four in the first 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qqYe3TtOQ7

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 28, 2024

Day of almosts for Diamondbacks

Arizona cut the deficit in half right away, as Corbin Carroll hit a home run off San Diego’s Yu Darvish, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. skied a sacrifice fly that just missed getting over the fence to tie the game.

The D-backs put up an offensive performance of near-misses all night, from an Eugenio Suarez liner just left of the foul pole in the second inning, a 398-foot fly out to center from Smith and a 401-foot Marte shot tracked down by Merrill in center field.

The Diamondbacks had the game-tying or go-ahead run at the plate in seven of nine innings. Ultimately, the D-backs fell short with runners on base, finishing 1-for-7.

Merrill Kelly better than the statline

Kelly was effective throughout the rest of his outing, stacking up 5.2 innings with one earned run after the four in the opening frame. He was charged with all four early runs despite the defensive lapses behind him. Lovullo said Kelly deserved a better fate.

“I think throughout a course of the game, there’s a couple pitches I probably like back and redo, but for the most part, I felt like I had some pretty good stuff,” Kelly said. “Location was good, changeup was really good tonight.”

Plus, he did not have any cramping issues pop up, which he called a blessing.

Arizona’s bullpen — Joe Mantiply, Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk and Ginkel — threw 3.1 scoreless innings to keep the game close.

Diamondbacks’ next game

Eduardo Rodriguez will start for the D-backs on Saturday. San Diego has not named its starter.

First pitch is at 5:10 p.m. on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson will come out of the bullpen this weekend in the final series of the regular season against the San Diego Padres, manager Torey Lovullo said.

Nelson came off the injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation that popped up after his last start back on Sept. 8 in Houston.

Lovullo was specific that Nelson would not be an option to start against San Diego with a postseason berth on the line, but Nelson will have a role at Chase Field. The D-backs can clinch a playoff spot with a sweep or depend on other results to punch a ticket.

“I want to believe he can go out and fire bullets in all three games, but I don’t know if that’s going to be the case,” Lovullo said. “I’m going to see how he’s used tonight, if he’s used tonight, and then have him wake up tomorrow and tell me how he feels. He’s an injured athlete. We got to be mindful of his return.

“I think my starting point — and this is just me, and I have the right to change my mind — is we could use him for an inning or two innings tonight, maybe an inning on Sunday. That would be my initial starting point. But I know this is the time of year where the boys get after it and they sacrifice so we’ll see what role he fits into.”

Merrill Kelly is Friday’s starter for Arizona against a Padres team looking to solidify the top Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks can run out Eduardo Rodriguez on Saturday and Brandon Pfaadt on Sunday, although Lovullo said that is not set in stone.

Nelson said he’s comfortable coming out of the bullpen. He’s had an opener in front of him twice this season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his outings combined for 10 innings and one earned run.

“I’ve done it with the opener a few times, and last year through the playoff run,” Nelson said. “So I don’t think it’s a comfort thing at all. I think I’m just, more than anything, excited to go out there and pitch.”

Nelson threw a 25-pitch bullpen on Tuesday, so getting up to a starter’s worth of pitches right away is not in the cards.

But he could really assist a Diamondbacks bullpen that has had its ups and downs, especially this month. Outside A.J. Puk, Arizona’s positive-role relievers such as Ryan Thompson Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel have hit some bumps over the past four weeks. They will be relied on this weekend, but Nelson adds depth that could be worthwhile.

Nelson had been one of the most productive pitchers in MLB for the previous two months before his injury. He was second in the league with 79.1 innings from July 1 to Sept. 8 with a 3.16 ERA.

“It’s tough when you’re at home watching on TV and the team is on the road, it’s a weird feeling,” Nelson said. “You’re not supposed to be here. You’re supposed to be somewhere else, and that’s a hard feeling to get over with. More importantly, just happy to be back with these guys and finish this thing with them.”

Can Zac Gallen pitch on short rest?

Lovullo said the idea of Zac Gallen pitching on short rest had not yet been discussed, but he also did not dismiss the notion.

Gallen threw six innings with one earned run and 11 punch outs on Wednesday in a win over the San Francisco Giants.

“I know Zac, and if he could help his team win on Sunday, and if it’s an all-in day, he’s going to come to me and say, ‘I want to pitch in this game,'” Lovullo said. “And I probably will not get in his way. So we’ll find out what role he could be in. I don’t know what it would be, but if we get to that point, we’ll figure it out.”

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo discusses Zac Gallen’s availability to pitch this weekend with Dave Burns and Kellan Olson.

The Torey Lovullo Show on @BurnsAndGambo is presented by Estrella Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/TgQngXXXFv

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 27, 2024

What is Alek Thomas’ role?

The Diamondbacks recalled center fielder Alek Thomas from Triple-A Reno, giving the club its best defensive outfielder back and a left-handed option off the bench.

Jake McCarthy has received the bulk of the center field starts in the second half of the season, and Corbin Carroll will patrol center on Friday with Pavin Smith in right and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left.

Thomas is going to be coming off the bench for the time being.

“Right now, probably a defensive replacement later in games, pinch run, maybe pinch hit,” Lovullo said. “I mean, in a close game, he’ll probably be playing center field for us. That’s what I explained to him. I said, ‘As far as the next three days and a start, let’s compartmentalize that, not worry about it.'”

Thomas has a .609 OPS in the major leagues this season in what has been an injury-marred campaign. He missed significant time with separate hamstring and oblique issues.

His OPS is .778 in 16 games with Reno this season.

First pitch on Friday is at 6:40 p.m. with Kelly matching up with San Diego’s Yu Darvish at Chase Field.

Tune to 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app for pregame and first pitch. 

Follow @alexjweiner

Arizona putting together a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres at Chase Field punches its ticket, no matter what fellow NL Wild Card contenders the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves do the rest of the way. But this situation is a bit more complicated without a perfect weekend.

The Mets and Braves play a doubleheader on Monday due to postponements from Hurricane Helene, so they each have five games left to Arizona’s three. That’s one of several reasons the magic number is a bit of a moving target here. Sure, three wins is a clinch, but two wins and one Braves loss in no way guarantees the D-backs get to jump in the pool.

Perhaps laying out the D-backs’ clinching scenarios is simpler, even if all these possibilities are a bit bell-ringing.

FanGraphs’ odds have Arizona (58.6%) slightly behind New York (76.7%) and Atlanta (64.7%) to make the playoffs entering play on Friday.

Arizona (88-71) sits in a virtual tie with New York (87-70) and one game ahead of Atlanta (86-71) without a tiebreaker over either team.

The Padres (91-68), who fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday to end their NL West chase, are three ahead of the D-backs and can lock up the top Wild Card spot with another win.

The playoffs truly start this weekend at Chase Field.

Will the Diamondbacks make the playoffs? D-backs clinching scenarios

3 wins by Arizona

Let the beer and bubbles flow, it’s over.

The Diamondbacks would jump the Padres and eliminate either the Mets or Braves with a 91-win season. This would also give the D-backs a chance to host a Wild Card Series unless the Mets finish with a 4-1 or 5-0 record. In that case, the D-backs would be off to Queens.

2 wins by Arizona

There is a reason general manager Mike Hazen was referencing the 90-win mark as significant earlier this week.

Essentially, the Mets and Braves would need to combine for four or more losses in 10 combined games left, and two of those will come Monday.

The D-backs would reach 90 wins, while the Mets and Braves eliminate the chance to both crack 90 with four more defeats between them.

That means either the Braves or Mets would have to lose at least two of three games in their respective series this weekend, or they each drop at least one. The Mets are in Milwaukee, while the Braves host Kansas City.

For example, if the Mets and Braves both win two of three games this weekend, their 89 and 88 win totals would ensure Monday’s doubleheader only decides which of the NL East rivals moves on.

If the Mets drop two of three in Milwaukee and the Braves sweep Kansas City, same deal: New York would have 88 wins and Atlanta 89. If the Braves drop two games to the Royals and the Mets sweep the Brewers, the Braves are eliminated.

1 win by Arizona

This is where it gets really tricky for the Diamondbacks.

For 89 wins to get Arizona into October, the Mets would have to finish 1-4 or 0-5, or the Braves would need to go 2-3 or worse.

The D-backs finishing with 89 wins would be enough by the end of the weekend only if the Braves get swept. That’s the lone scenario where Monday’s doubleheader would not matter for the D-backs’ postseason chances, only seeding, in this case.

No wins by Arizona

Arizona would need the Mets to lose out or have the Braves finish 1-4 or 0-5.

The D-backs would not be in a position to clinch before Monday if they are swept by San Diego.

Unfavorable matchups to help the D-backs

The Mets visit a Brewers team with absolutely nothing to play for. The Brewers are the NL Central champs locked into the third division winner spot behind the Dodgers and Phillies. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy can manage workloads with his pitching and position players.

Frankie Montas (4.85 ERA) will start on Friday for the Brewers against Mets ace Sean Manaea (3.29 ERA).

The Braves host the Royals, whose magic number for an AL Wild Card berth is one. A Royals win or a Minnesota Twins loss would clinch a spot for Kansas City, as only the second or third Wild Card slot would be up for debate.

Brady Singer (3.73 ERA) starts for Kansas City against Atlanta’s Max Fried (3.42 ERA) in the opener.

And that is why FanGraphs’ odds have the D-backs’ odds behind the Mets and Braves to make the postseason entering play on Friday.

Doubleheader impacts Diamondbacks

Failing to clinch before Monday’s doubleheader is a tenuous possibility for the Diamondbacks.

That scenario brings up the potential nightmare of either the Mets or Braves clinching in the first game of their doubleheader and slamming the brakes to preserve their top starters, relievers and position players for a second game in which the other club needs a win to get in. If the D-backs win 90 games but both the Mets and Braves sit at 89 entering Monday, that’s a problem.

There’s also this scenario: Let’s say the D-backs finish with 89 wins, the Mets sweep the Brewers to clinch while the Braves win two of three against Kansas City. Atlanta would only need one win in two games against the Mets’ B-Team to eliminate the D-backs.

Very simply, the Diamondbacks could really use two wins to keep their odds solid — if they don’t slam the door with three.

Yes, the playoffs truly start this weekend.

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks were in dire need of their ace to “rise to the occasion” and stop the bleeding of a three-game losing streak, and Zac Gallen delivered Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants.

In likely the final start of Gallen’s regular season, he gave the D-backs six innings with one run on two hits, striking out a season-high 11 batters en route to an 8-2 victory to keep Arizona (88-71) in a postseason spot.

“That’s probably the best I’ve felt in a while,” Gallen said. “There’s been some good outings in there, but either just didn’t feel great or battled a little bit of a sickness for a little while. … It’s best one in a while.”

His day did not start off particularly neat, as Gallen labored through the first two frames on 41 pitches and San Francisco took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Tyler Fitzgerald double. From there, Gallen was brilliant, retiring 12 Giants in a row with seven punch outs.

The offense, meanwhile, started to rally. From innings 2-4, Arizona racked up five runs on seven hits and five walks. By the end of the fourth inning, every hitter in the D-backs’ lineup had reached base safely. The Giants yanked starter Mason Black after 2.2 innings.

Pavin Smith broke the game open in the eighth inning with a pinch-hit, three-run shot to the pool to take an 8-2 lead.

The third inning was key. Arizona just took a 3-1 lead, and Gallen got the offense right back to work with a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 frame. The D-backs extended the lead to 4-1, and Gallen was off and cruising.

“To put up a couple runs and have a quick 1-2-3 inning, get right back in the dugout, keep the offense rolling, keep the energy high, all that is so important,” first baseman Christian Walker said.

Gallen finished off seven of his strikeouts with the curveball, which induced 11 whiffs on 17 swings, to which he said, “They just seemed really aggressive at the bottom of the zone, so I was trying to use it to my my advantage.”

The right-hander finished his September with a 2.67 ERA in five starts, all of which resulted in wins. He held the Giants hitless in six shutout innings earlier this month at Oracle Park.

“Proud of the guys for sure. This was a big one.”

Zac Gallen on the D-backs bouncing back. pic.twitter.com/ePh0zFFn3n

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 26, 2024

Gallen (likely) closed his regular season with a solid 3.65 ERA in 148 innings and the D-backs went 18-10 in his starts (he earned a 14-6 record). There was more variance than what we’ve grown accustomed to over the past few seasons — 3.47 ERA in 2023, 2.54 in 2022 — as Gallen sought a certain rhythm all year.

But Wednesday was a game the Diamondbacks frankly had to have, and he — in manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen’s words — was the right guy in the right spot.

“The biggest thing is just pitching to win, not pitching to not lose,” Gallen said. “When you get a tight spot, you can be a little, I don’t want to say timid, but maybe you’re waiting for something to happen. So I’m trying to be on the attack, trying to be aggressive, just take it to them.”

The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were rained out for both Wednesday and Thursday, so the D-backs picked up a half-game on both Wild Card contenders in the standings. The D-backs and Mets (87-70) are in a virtual tie one game up on the Braves (86-71) entering Thursday.

The Diamondbacks had to get over a gut punch from Sunday’s 10-9 loss in Milwaukee, and the next two days against the Giants were below standard that led the club to this point.

Lovullo addressed the team on Tuesday, noting he thought about screaming at them during an 11-0 loss but thought better of it, and the message came out quite positive from the players’ recollection. Wednesday was much closer to “Diamondbacks baseball” with a clean operation and a lineup that can get on a pitcher with its patience and depth.

There was a weight to the moment felt in the clubhouse, not anxiety but “urgency” popped up postgame from multiple players.

“These matter big time,” Walker said. “I think we had to prove to ourselves to get back on track. We had to find a little confidence, a little swagger. A lot of props to Gallen on the mound tonight, but I think we checked a lot of boxes taking a little bit of load off, and taking some pressure off and remembering how good this offense can be.”

“I feel like there’s just sense of urgency,” Smith added. “You can call it pressure. We know they’re super important, so it’s going to feel a little extra pressure. But just getting out to a good start today, and then Gallen being so dominant took the pressure off a little bit.”

Lovullo described the slate as clean going into the final series of the regular season, which starts Friday against the San Diego Padres. Merrill Kelly will start the opener.

Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke pregame his goal was 90 wins, which requires a series win over the postseason-bound Padres. Doing so would not in itself guarantee a playoff spot, which may not be finalized until Monday when the Mets and Braves have a doubleheader scheduled, but it would put the D-backs in a strong position to hold firm.

A sweep would end any doubt.

“We very much feel like we control our own destiny in here,” Walker said.

Follow @alexjweiner

Major League Baseball announced the six rosters for the upcoming Arizona Fall League, which begins on Oct. 7 to showcase and give additional playing time to some of the game’s up-and-coming prospects.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are sending eight farmhands to play for the Salt River Rafters:

– INF Tommy Troy
– LHP Yu-Min Lin
– INF Gino Groover
– RHP Dylan Ray
– LHP Philip Abner
– OF Kristian Robinson
– RHP Kyle Amendt
– RHP Alfred Morillo

Troy will get work in at second base after the D-backs drafted him as a shortstop out of Stanford with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Troy missed more than two months with hamstring issues this season and will use the Fall League to make up the lost reps. He capped his first full professional season with a .288/.378/.462 batting line over his final 30 games with 10 doubles, three homers and nine steals for High-A Hillsboro.

Troy is the No. 5 player in the system and highest-ranked D-backs prospect headed to the AFL, according to MLB Pipeline.

Groover was one of the hottest bats in the system by the end of the year with a .283/.376/.497 slash line and nine homers over his last 30 games between Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo. He spent three months on the injured list with a wrist injury.

Arizona’s No. 9 prospect, a second-round draft pick from N.C. State in 2023, will get in work at second, third and first base.

Both Lin and Ray also missed time with injuries. Lin, however, put together a strong second half for Double-A Amarillo and even made the jump to Triple-A Reno for one appearance. He threw 4.2 innings with one earned run in his Aces debut on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Taiwanese left-hander with a deep arsenal ended the minor league season with a 2.91 ERA over his final 10 starts.

Ray, a 2022 fourth-round pick, had a 5.03 ERA in 17 starts with Amarillo this season.

Abner, Amendt and Morillo are all primarily relief pitchers. The latter two finished the year with 22 saves. Amendt made it to Reno by August and finished his season with a 2.86 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 44 innings. Abner and Morillo closed the year in Hillsboro.

Robinson, once Arizona’s No. 1 prospect before an off-the-field predicament led to two lost minor league seasons, spent the entire year in Amarillo. The 23-year-old from the Bahamas finished with a .214/.337/.350 batting line, 11 home runs and 10 steals.

Salt River Rafters roster

Introducing your 2024 Salt River Rafters!#azfallleague pic.twitter.com/746qJbzbbx

— MLB’s Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) September 25, 2024

The Rafters consist of players from the D-backs, Nationals, Rockies, Twins and Yankees.

– Glendale Desert Dogs: Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, Reds, White Sox
– Mesa Solar Sox: Angels, Athletics, Cubs, Rays, Red Sox
– Peoria Javelinas: Braves, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Padres
– Scottsdale Scorpions: Blue Jays, Giants, Mets, Pirates, Tigers
– Surprise Saguaros: Astros, Guardians, Orioles, Rangers, Royals

Who are the top prospects in the Arizona Fall League?

Kansas City Royals 2024 first-round pick Jac Caglianone (No. 6 pick) is the highest-ranked prospect going to the AFL this season, No. 15 in the league by MLB Pipeline. He will play for Surprise.

Caglianone was the top two-way player in the nation at Florida, crushing 68 home runs and throwing 148.1 innings on the mound over his last two years at Florida. He only hit in High-A this season after the draft.

San Diego Padres top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, will play for Peoria, along with Seattle Mariners top two prospects infielders Colt Emerson and Cole Young.

The New York Mets are sending their two best position player prospects in Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert to play for Scottsdale.

MLB announced the rosters for the Arizona Fall League. Here are the Top 100 @MLBPipeline prospects who will be playing: pic.twitter.com/2dArOo6FHC

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) September 25, 2024

Arizona Fall League key dates

Opening Day: Oct. 7 (Surprise at Mesa)

Rafters opener: Oct. 8 vs. Scottsdale

Home Run Derby: Nov. 8

Fall Stars Game: Nov. 9

Play-in Semifinals: Nov. 15

Championship: Nov. 16

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — The past three days of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball entering Wednesday have built up some frustration, capped by an 11-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday that flipped a likely playoff bid to a coin flip.

After the game, manager Torey Lovullo suggested he lit into his team a bit, and on Wednesday, he expanded on what the message was.

“It’s okay to feel the way you’re feeling, it’s okay to think the way you’re thinking, but I bet on you guys,” Lovullo said. “I come in here and I bet on you guys because I love you guys and I care about you guys, but we gotta figure some [expletive] out, and we gotta do it now, there’s no time to waste. I expect your best effort and a focused effort, and I promise you, I will give you mine.”

“We know he cares about us, we got such a great staff taking care of us in so many ways, and so he was just reiterating the care we have for each other and that he’s got confidence to get it done,” Corbin Carroll described.

Lovullo said he has sat in a lot of those talks throughout his career, which he said ranged from a skipper whining and yelling at himself to a much-needed message for the room to absorb. He’s seen toaster ovens flying across and tables flipped over with full spreads on them.

The Diamondbacks still control their path to the postseason with four games left despite the disaster 8-0 blown lead and series loss to San Francisco. Arizona entered Wednesday in the third NL Wild Card spot, a half-game up on the Atlanta Braves.

“I just wanted them to know where we were, and I wanted our footing to be solid because we’re okay,” Lovullo said. “We’re gonna be just fine. I could have been critical. I could have blasted off on them. I’ve been in that range. It’s ugly. But I chose not to do that because nobody needed to be ripped into. With four days to go, I didn’t need to start pinpointing guys and targeting guys.”

The Diamondbacks have four games remaining, and manager Torey Lovullo shared his general message to the club after last night’s loss. pic.twitter.com/baqYUZYiGO

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 26, 2024

First pitch on Wednesday between the Diamondbacks and Giants is at 6:40 p.m. on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks were crushed by the San Francisco Giants 11-0 on Tuesday, dropping a home series against a .500 ballclub while clinging onto a Wild Card spot in the final week of the regular season.

The two straight losses to San Francisco further muck up Arizona’s path to the postseason at a half-game back of the New York Mets for the second Wild Card spot and a half-game up (tied in the loss column) with the Atlanta Braves for the third slot.

The D-backs (87-71) still control their own destiny with four games left, but the pressure is on to turn the page quickly after three straight defeats, including the 8-0 blown lead Sunday in Milwaukee.

“Usually I try to filter things the right way, come up with something that’s gonna sound a little bit positive, but I don’t think there’s much positive that came from this game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I don’t want to sit here and hammer away at things, because you guys saw what I saw.

“We got to play better baseball. We got to play more focused baseball. It’s all built off pitching, that makes the game look crisp and gets the flow and keeps everybody engaged when you’re attacking the zone.”

Lovullo’s response to a question about reading the Riot Act to his club: “I probably just did it.”

D-backs starter Brandon Pfaadt followed up a complete gem in Milwaukee with a dud, lasting 2.2 innings and giving up five runs (four earned) on a pair of crushed home runs by Patrick Bailey and Michael Conforto. Mike Yastrzemski nearly hit a three-run shot of his own, but Corbin Carroll robbed him at the fence.

Make that two of Pfaadt’s last three starts in which he failed to get out of the third inning and three straight Diamondbacks starts that ended before the fifth frame concluded.

“I think at the beginning of this year we talked about being consistent. That hasn’t been the case lately,” Pfaadt said. “We’re just going to flush those two outings and move on, and if we’re called upon to pitch that last game, then we’ll be ready.”

Blake Walston did not fare well either, giving up another three homers in relief. The Giants had All-Star Logan Webb, who has given the D-backs fits before, on the bump, and he threw six scoreless innings. Webb delivered 13 shutout frames against Arizona this season.

Consistent quality pitching has been an issue all season for the Diamondbacks, from the injury-plagued first four months to a disappointing output since the rotation became whole in August. The team ERA is 4.66 overall, which ranks No. 27 in MLB ahead of the bottom-dwelling Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies. Looking at only September, the team ERA was dead last before Tuesday’s game at 5.61 — 4.91 from starters and 6.58 from relievers.

The D-backs came into Tuesday with a 73.1% chance to make the postseason, per FanGraphs projections. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-1 on Tuesday, knocking Arizona’s probability to 67.8%. By the end of the night, those odds dropped to 53%. Take the numbers for what they are, but they show a visual that the path is getting narrower.

“Ultimately, it comes down to these guys linking up 26 strong and saying this is go time,” Lovullo said. “I’ve said it last year, you gotta stay connected. When you’re connected, you’re dangerous. These guys are connected, but we haven’t had great results. I think there’s a little bit of frustration that’s been building inside of this clubhouse for the past couple days.”

The Diamondbacks, as Carroll pointed out, have been through extreme waves of ups and downs this season, showing a resilience that pushed them past an injury-marred first half where .500 seemed elusive and building the top-scoring offense in the league.

“I think everything this team’s been through this year — there’s been plenty of lulls, there’s been plenty of great runs with great stretches — I just think all of it adds up to a team that’s able to keep some level-headedness, regardless of the situation,” Carroll said. “I’ve just got confidence in us as a team to go out there and be able to just put our best effort.”

Arizona’s odds sat as high as 96.8% after the D-backs swept Boston for their sixth straight win a month ago, but since then the Diamondbacks have put up a mediocre 12-15 record while other wild card teams have made up ground, particularly the Mets, who are 19-7 since then.

The NL Wild Card race is very different from last year in terms of win totals. The 2024 D-backs have three more wins than the 2023 D-backs with four games to play. Yet this time, the race may be to 90 wins, which is hard enough to do without giving up six runs per game.

The Mets and Braves have two more games this week, which helps to an extent. Both NL East clubs own the tiebreaker over Arizona. The San Diego Padres, who finish the season at Chase Field, clinched a postseason berth on Tuesday and sit two games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West. The D-backs may get a Padres squad that is going all-out for the division on Friday — San Diego defeated Los Angeles Tuesday on a game-ending triple play.

“There’s no two ways to look at it, we want to play postseason ball, and in order to do that, we got to take care of business in these next four games,” Carroll said. “Got to leave it all out there. That’s what we plan to do.”

As hard as it can be to find silver linings in a blowout loss, the D-backs are set up very well for Wednesday. Zac Gallen gets the start and needs to be the stopper. Arizona’s positive-role bullpen has had a couple days rest. The Giants, who have won seven of eight games, are turning to right-hander Mason Black, who has a 5.88 ERA this season.

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks’ batting order Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants returned to normalcy with second baseman Ketel Marte, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catcher Gabriel Moreno back in against All-Star starter Logan Webb.

The D-backs entered Tuesday’s slate 1.5 games up on the Atlanta Braves for the third Wild Card spot after losing Monday’s opener to San Francisco 6-3. Only five games remain.

Marte was absent from the lineup on Monday as he and club continues to manage his left ankle, which has left lingering discomfort following a high-ankle sprain that cost him the better part of August. He pinch hit on Monday but struck out in the eighth inning.

Torey Lovullo, Ketel Marte find understanding

The veteran said postgame he asked for the day off to be sharp for the final five games and potentially beyond. Manager Torey Lovullo appreciated Marte speaking up after Lovullo fell on the sword before first pitch, noting Marte was in a dangerous spot and overdue for a day off his feet.

“I just appreciated Ketel yesterday speaking up postgame, kind of had my back which I really appreciated,” Lovullo said. “When an athlete comes to me, and I’ve had an eight-year relationship with Ketel, and he says, ‘I need a day off tomorrow, I am not going to be any good and I’m going to hurt the team if I play tomorrow,’ how do you take that?

“I’m always going to protect the player, for sure … I’ll never come up here and slash a player ever, ever, ever. And I think Ketel knew that.”

Lovullo highlighted the understanding they have built over the years. The plan, Lovullo and Marte both said, is to be full-go the rest of the way with a smaller window for error in the Wild Card race than before.

The offense did not get a whole lot going without Marte, finishing Monday’s game with seven hits and eight men left on base. Kevin Newman, who started at second base, went 0-for-3.

Marte is back to hitting second behind Corbin Carroll on Tuesday.

Gabriel Moreno, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. jump back in

Moreno exited Sunday’s game with left adductor tightness, the same area at which a strain cost him nearly six weeks on the IL. After having an MRI and missing Monday’s game, Moreno is good to go. He was available off the bench Monday and will bat eighth on Tuesday.

Finally, Gurriel, who returned from a near-three-week IL stint on Friday, did not start Monday as they work him back from his calf strain. Gurriel is in left field and hitting fifth.

Tuesday’s batting order mimics Arizona’s likely postseason squad against a right-handed pitcher.

“You’re going to see us go full throttle,” Lovullo said. “These guys want to play the rest of the way. That was the agreement we had. We put that in place.”

Ryne Nelson an option for the weekend

Starter Ryne Nelson threw a bullpen at Chase Field on Tuesday as he nears his eligible return date from the IL (right shoulder inflammation). Merrill Kelly is starting on Friday against the San Diego Padres, and from there the D-backs have decisions to make for the last two games of the regular season based on Nelson’s availability to start or work from the bullpen.

“We’ll put it all into our search engine and find out what his pitch count is and where he’s at,” Lovullo said. “We’re still in discussions. I’ll let Nelly know, and then keep you guys informed.”

The decisions will be closer to finalized by the end of the Giants series on Wednesday.

Business as usual

Lovullo said the feel around the clubhouse has been pretty normal despite the urgency of the moment with the postseason so close.

He overheard the players marveling over what Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen accomplished for fantasy football and other everyday conversations from the team.

“Normal. I’m a veteran, and the excitement level is the same every day,” Marte said Monday.

“I don’t think it’s any different than it has been,” Jake McCarthy said Monday. “I think when you have that mentality every day, you don’t have to turn it on for this time of year.”

Lovullo said there were lessons learned from last season, when Arizona was in essentially the same spot in the final week. On this day in 2023, the D-backs had the second Wild Card spot and a half-game lead over the Chicago Cubs. The Miami Marlins were one game behind Chicago.

“We’re all curious about what’s going to happen day-by-day, but at the end of it, all we can control is what we’re doing in our space,” Lovullo said. “Want everybody to go out and be the best version of themselves … You can’t worry about Scenario A, Scenario B, Scenario C.”

Diamondbacks’ lineup vs. Giants

Game 158.https://t.co/epBmrbYHsx | https://t.co/k9Xjx1ui6d pic.twitter.com/xTZEGEGhAt

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 24, 2024

Follow @alexjweiner

Rodriguez walked off the mound trailing 5-2 with two outs in the fourth and runners on the corners. Scott McGough escaped the jam to close the book on a disappointing follow-up to Rodriguez’s 11-strikeout day in Colorado.

Giants third baseman Matt Chapman zipped around the bases for a go-ahead, inside-the-park home run — the first from a Giants player since 2017 (Denard Span) — to give San Francisco a 3-1 lead in the third inning.

The Giants later tagged Rodriguez with two home runs over the fence from Casey Schmitt and Michael Conforto.

“Don’t make mistakes,” a frustrated Rodriguez said postgame. “I feel like the homers were just pitches I missed middle of the plate. That’s something that always happens, when you miss over the plate, you pay for it, no matter who you play.”

Rodriguez said he wanted to throw a fastball up but missed to Chapman, a cutter in that snuck over the plate to Schmitt and was looking down-and-away to Conforto but missed in and gave up a 430-footer.

“Like I said, don’t make mistakes, work on my command and get ready for my next game,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also struck out eight batters in a mixed bag performance that involved a lot of hard contact. San Francisco smacked seven of 13 balls in play at least 99 mph off the bat, six over 100 mph.

His ERA through nine starts off the injured list is 5.56, as he has only lasted six innings once this season.

“He’s got enough starts to be be in rhythm and be consistent,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Is he in midseason form? No … He’s been a really good pitcher at this level for a long time, so maybe there’s still a little drag on certain things, but I think overall, he’s ready to compete. … I don’t think you saw his best effort today.”

Chapman later hit an RBI triple to center off McGough, and both blasts sent Arizona’s Jake McCarthy barreling into the wall and coming up empty. McCarthy was frustrated to not catch either ball.

Matt Chapman turns on the jets for an inside-the-park homer! 🏃‍♂️

(MLB x @Adobe) pic.twitter.com/UYmQdQ1TiC

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2024

The D-backs jumped ahead early with a Joc Pederson RBI double off Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong in the first, but they had trouble fully climbing back in once down by three runs.

Christian Walker and Geraldo Perdomo also drove in runs, but the ballclub left eight men on base and finished with seven hits and 11 strikeouts.

Birdsong went five frames with two earned runs and six strikeouts before the bullpen threw four innings with one run allowed.

“I don’t think there’s any pressing,” McCarthy said. “I feel like we’ve had our foot on the gas pedal for the whole season. Just chalk it up to baseball, we’re gonna bounce back tomorrow.”

Ketel Marte among starters out of lineup

Ketel Marte (ankle injury management), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf injury management) and Gabriel Moreno (day-to-day with adductor tightness) were all out of the lineup. Marte and Gurriel pinch hit late but neither collected a knock.

Lovullo was asked whether he regretted the decision to sit Marte, who is still dealing with lingering discomfort from a high-ankle sprain, and he said it needed to happen.

“Hopefully we’re on our way to the playoffs. That’s where they really need me,” Marte said via Spanish interpreter. “So I thought it was a pretty good day to rest. … I’m not someone who asks for a lot of days off, but when I do ask for it, it is because I need it.”

Marte said he expects some discomfort to linger beyond the season, but he should be good to go for the final stretch.

As for Moreno, Lovullo said he was available to play off the bench on Monday, a positive sign for his prospects on Tuesday.

Wild Card check-in

The Diamondbacks have dropped two straight games as their grip on a National League Wild Card has loosened since they led 8-0 in Milwaukee before losing 10-9 on Sunday.

Arizona, in the third NL Wild Card spot at 87-70, leads the Atlanta Braves by 1.5 games without the tiebreaker as a buffer.

The Braves (85-71), second-place Wild Card squad New York Mets (87-69) and the Wild-Card-leading San Diego Padres (90-66) all had Monday off. The Mets and Braves playing each other starting Tuesday helps the Diamondbacks, but missed opportunities will add up.

“We got beat … we got to flush what happened tonight and be ready for a very stubborn team,” Lovullo said.

The D-backs will play to avoid a series loss on Tuesday with Brandon Pfaadt on the mound following his seven innings of one-run ball and 12 strikeouts Thursday in Milwaukee.

San Francisco will send All-Star Logan Webb to the mound.

Follow @alexjweiner

Nelson continues to work back from right shoulder inflammation, which put him on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 11. The right-hander is eligible to return this weekend for the final series of the regular season against the San Diego Padres.

The ballclub will evaluate his progress in the meantime to determine how to use him. Nelson threw a 16-pitch bullpen on Saturday and plans to throw 25 pitches on Tuesday at Chase Field.

“His stuff is coming out real aggressive. Just resting the right shoulder, becoming asymptomatic, which has happened and we’ll see what tomorrow yields,” Lovullo said. “And everybody wants to know, will he be a starter when he comes back? Will he be reliever? We’re not sure. We just gotta find our way to that spot. When we get there, we’ll start to make some of those decisions.”

Nelson had been Arizona’s most consistent starter since July 1 when he went on the IL, owning a 3.16 ERA in 79.1 frames over that stretch. He’s found a lot more success with the secondary arsenal off his heater to work deep into games consistently. He also beat out veteran Jordan Montgomery for a starting job when the team dealt with a roster crunch in the rotation.

Zac Gallen is probable to start Wednesday, leaving Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Nelson as options for the final weekend. Arizona entered Monday two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the final Wild Card spot with six games remaining.

“It’s probably gonna be based on how (Nelson) feels and what he can give us, and what that pitch total gets to,” Lovullo said. “We’re not going to run him out there and start for 35 pitches if that’s what the number is. We’ll put it all into the search engine, if it spits something out that’s positive and a big number, we may. If not, we might have him piggyback or come out of the bullpen.

“He’s a weapon. We want to find the best way to use him as a weapon.”

Lovullo said it’s possible Nelson could jump from 25 pitches to 50 in a game, as missing minimal time has kept him stretched out to a degree where it would not take long to build back up.

Gallen is lined up for Game 1 of a Wild Card Series if the D-backs get there. Kelly is expected to be the Game 2 starter and there are decisions to make for the third game.

Rodriguez and Pfaadt have had their ups and downs over the past month but entered Monday’s action coming off their best starts of the season. Rodriguez and Pfaadt have another start against the San Francisco Giants before the final series of the season, perhaps another evaluation input for these decisions.

Needing only four starters in the postseason anyway — ironically the D-backs have an extra starter as opposed to last year when they suffered from a deficit — someone is going to have a different role to stack innings in October if the D-backs make it.

The bullpen, meanwhile, has a league-worst 6.84 ERA in September in 73.2 innings — a number that ballooned after six earned runs from the bullpen in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Texas Rangers rank No. 29 at 5.65.

Arizona has its group of trusted relievers, a corps that has had its share of hiccups this month — excluding A.J. Puk. Nelson presents an opportunity to expand those options for Lovullo with someone who had been pitching with excellent form and can go multiple innings.

Yet another storyline to watch over this final week of the season.

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was a glaring omission from Monday’s starting lineup against the San Francisco Giants, as the club entered the night holding onto a two-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card race with only six contests remaining.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte was doing fine, but the veteran has been in the “red zone” for a day off as he continues to progress after missing time due to a left ankle sprain. Lovullo called the lineup decision “preventative,” as Marte has been grinding at less than 100%.

The Diamondbacks have been balancing working players back from injury while trying to keep their foot on the gas in such a tight playoff race. Lovullo compared his handling of Christian Walker’s return from an oblique strain to Marte’s situation.

“Yesterday I took Christian Walker out of the lineup. … It’s probably about three or four days too late to give him a day off, talking to the medical team,” Lovullo said. “As a manager, sometimes we do desperate things, and we’re in that point right now where we got to win baseball games.

“I’m in that same space with Marte. Marte has been going out there with his blood and guts and giving everything he possibly can. The left leg, it probably wasn’t 100% when he came back, if you guys studied the swings enough, you could recognize he was protecting that space. It’s getting much better. He feels very good, and he’s gaining confidence on that left leg. … I just probably went a little bit too far with him, and I needed to get him the day off today.”

Marte had a day off last Tuesday in Colorado, which Lovullo said had to do with the altitude. The switch-hitter was on the IL from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6 after initially hurting the ankle on Aug. 10.

“I think we were in a dangerous spot with with him … I know there’s soreness in that lower half that he probably is not admitting or talking about,” Lovullo said. “And I would say, if it was a last game of the season, winner-take-all, I think he would gut it out one more day and come into my office and say, ‘I want to play in this baseball game.'”

Lovullo said Marte would be available off the bench Monday and should come up in a key spot. Kevin Newman received the start to fill in. Walker was back in Monday’s lineup after his day off.

Marte and Walker are expected to be full-go the rest of the way. Marte has homered in three straight games, as he has heated back up to his pre-injury production at the plate following a slow start.

Gabriel Moreno MRI results

Catcher Gabriel Moreno remains day-to-day after exiting Sunday’s game in Milwaukee with left adductor tightness, the ballclub announced. Moreno received an MRI on Monday, and Lovullo said the club felt it “dodged a bullet.”

Moreno missed six weeks with a left adductor strain. There is still some soreness, but the MRI came out “unremarkable.”

Jose Herrera received the start Monday behind the plate.

Why is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. not starting?

Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was also absent from the lineup due to a return-to-play progression, giving way for Pavin Smith to start against a right-handed pitcher, Hayden Birdsong.

Gurriel returned from the injured list on Friday after spending nearly three weeks down with a calf strain.

Diamondbacks’ lineup vs. Giants without Ketel Marte

Game 157.https://t.co/epBmrbYHsx | https://t.co/k9Xjx1ui6d pic.twitter.com/sAkU0JtzcO

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 23, 2024

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

Follow @alexjweiner

Just as all seemed right in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ world leading 8-1 against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, another injury scare reared its ugly head.

Catcher Gabriel Moreno blocked a ball in the dirt from pitcher Jordan Montgomery and quickly called to the dugout in the fourth inning.

After a conversation with trainer Max Esposito, manager Torey Lovullo and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Moreno limped off the field.

The club said he suffered from left adductor tightness.

Jose Herrera grabbed his gear and jumped into the game after hitting his first career home run on Saturday.

Moreno recently returned from a six-week injured list stint back on Sept. 15. He suffered a left adductor strain running down the first-base line in Cleveland on Aug. 5.

Herrera and rookie Adrian Del Castillo — who was optioned after Moreno’s return — held down the fort in the Gold Glover’s stead.

Moreno had been performing well since coming back from injury, hitting 6-for-14 with three walks in five games entering Sunday. He started Sunday’s game 0-for-1 with a walk.

He is vital to stopping the opposing run game, and D-backs pitchers have praised his impact behind the plate and importance to the club upon getting back from the IL.

To make matters worse, the Diamondbacks blew an eight-run lead and fell 10-9, the largest blown lead in a loss in franchise history.

Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame Moreno will be day-to-day.

Follow @alexjweiner

The Arizona Diamondbacks broke out a seven-spot in the third inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead with a four-game series sweep in sight at the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Josh Bell and Eugenio Suarez capped the avalanche with back-to-back home runs, as the D-backs’ offense took advantage of Milwaukee mistakes to put up a crooked number and give starter Jordan Montgomery plenty of run support.

Josh Bell and Eugenio Suárez go back-to-back, and the @Dbacks have scored 7 runs in the 3rd inning! pic.twitter.com/P714XXIVFL

— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024

Geraldo Perdomo started the rally with a little league home run off Frankie Montas. Perdomo lined a triple just fair into the right-field corner and scored after the relay throw got away.

🚨 DOMO DINGER* 🚨

*kind of pic.twitter.com/WPteiqkiyZ

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2024

Pavin Smith singled, Ketel Marte walked and Joc Pederson reached on a catcher’s interference — with two strikes — by Gary Sanchez to load the bases.

The Brewers had an offramp to escape, as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a potential double play grounder to third base. Joey Ortiz, however, misplayed the ball and only recorded one out as a run scored. Jake McCarthy responded with a two-run single.

Bell, starting at first base with Christian Walker on a day off, came up and pummeled a heater 436 feet to center field. That was his first homer since Aug. 7.

Suarez followed with a solo blast for the seventh run of the inning. After another walk, Montas was pulled after 2.2 innings and eight runs, seven earned.

With Walker and Corbin Carroll receiving rest days, the offense continued to roll and show off its depth.

Marte homered in the first inning to kick off the scoring, his 35th of the season.

The D-backs entered Sunday having won four straight games against Milwaukee, outscoring the Brewers 28-15 in those games.

Diamondbacks blow lead

The D-backs failed to capitalize on such a strong start, however, blowing the eight-run lead for a 10-9 loss.

Follow @alexjweiner

Safe to say Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte has heated back up after his injured list stint, as he clobbered a home run for a third straight game Sunday at the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marte fell behind 1-2 against Brewers starter Frankie Montas in the first inning, but he unloaded on a fastball down the middle. The ball traveled 421 feet, a no-doubter and Marte watched it fly for a second before taking off. The blast gave Arizona a 1-0 lead.

Ketel Marte. 35 HR.

Se une a Alfonso Soriano y Robinson Canó como los únicos intermedistas latinos en conectar 35 HR en una temporada de #LasMayores. pic.twitter.com/VIE2hOSWSw

— LasMayores (@LasMayores) September 22, 2024

The switch-hitter also tied a franchise record with 13 home runs in the first inning this season, sharing the feat with former teammate Paul Goldschmidt back in 2018.

Marte has a career-high 35 long balls and 93 RBIs on the season. He and Jay Bell are the Diamondbacks to hit that many bombs while primarily playing middle infield positions.

Twenty-two of Marte’s homers have come in the first or ninth innings.

After an 0-for-11 start through three games off the injured list (ankle sprain), Marte came into Sunday 12-for-33 (.364) with a 1.276 OPS, four home runs and 11 RBIs over his last 10 games. He has caught fire again similar to his stretch before suffering the ankle injury on Aug. 10 when he earned an OPS of 1.208 over the span of a month from July 10 to Aug. 9.

Marte firing on all cylinders has come at an opportune time for the club, which entered Sunday with a magic number to clinch a playoff spot at five. The D-backs return home on Monday for the final six games of the season, starting with three against the San Francisco Giants.

Catch the rest of Sunday’s game on ESPN 620 AM and the Arizona Sports app. 

Follow @alexjweiner

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks plan to send several of their top prospects such as pitcher Yu-Min Lin and infielder Tommy Troy to the Arizona Fall League this season to make up for reps lost to injury throughout their respective minor league campaigns.

The plan is for Lin and Troy to be joined by starting pitcher Dylan Ray, infielder Gino Groover and reliever Philip Abner, who all missed significant time this season, according to farm director Shaun Larkin.

“Depends on what we’re looking at and what positions are available for us to send, but if it lines up with guys who potentially have missed time during the year, I think that’s a perfect opportunity to do it,” Larkin told Arizona Sports of the AFL’s benefits. “Especially the guys in those levels where it’s High-A, Double-A-type player, top-end prospects, I think that’s a good way to utilize it.

“And then if that wasn’t the case, we would take a different strategy … But for this year, I think it lines up really well.”

Diamondbacks prospect Yu-Min Lin finishes strong before fall league

Lin was hit in the face by a foul ball in the dugout to land on the injured list on April 27. He did not return until June 14.

The 21-year-old left-hander had ambitions coming into the season of reaching the majors, which were sidetracked, but he was excellent at limiting runs down the stretch for Double-A Amarillo.

Lin put together 60.1 innings with a 2.98 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in his last 10 starts.

He struck out 58 batters and walked 21 during the stretch. Lin still has plenty to work on being so young, and the AFL will give him that avenue for 3-4 starts. He is also slated to pitch in the WBSC Premier12 international baseball tournament for Taiwan this offseason, Larkin said.

Blue Min Lin
Super Yu-Min
doMINant pic.twitter.com/LKAfvYRLuW

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) August 11, 2024

Troy and Groover were Arizona’s top two draft picks in 2023. Groover missed three months on the IL, while Troy was out for just more than two months.

Both players hit a groove late in the season, particularly Groover, who over his last 30 games with High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo slashed .283/.376/.497 with nine homers and 30 RBIs. He finished with an .841 OPS in 61 games played.

Troy did not produce initially after returning from injury with a .511 OPS in 19 games during July. He closed the year strong with a batting line of .288/.378/.462 in his final 30 games with 10 doubles, three homers and nine steals for Hillsboro.

Larkin said Troy will be an everyday-type player in the AFL, playing second base after moving off shortstop. Groover will be in the mix for reps at first, second and third base.

MLB Pipeline’s latest update had Troy ranked No. 5, Lin No. 7, Groover No. 9 and Ray No. 16 on Arizona’s top 30 prospects list.

The Arizona Fall League season begins on Oct. 7, and the Salt River Rafters open the slate on Oct. 8.

Gino Groover (@MLBDevelops) continues his hot Double-A start.

The @Dbacks‘ No. 9 prospect slugs his first Texas League homer, collects three extra-base hits and is 8-for-14 since joining the @sodpoodles: pic.twitter.com/iELgl1QQZt

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 6, 2024

Is Jordan Lawlar going to play in the Arizona Fall League?

Shortstop Jordan Lawlar is back in the lineup for Triple-A Reno, but injuries to his thumb and hamstring have limited the top prospect to 11 games at an affiliate entering Thursday.

Lawlar will see some extra game action during the offseason, but it will come in the Dominican Winter League as opposed to the AFL. Lawlar will play for Tigres Del Licey.

For now, Lawlar will play in high-intensity games as the Aces clinched a spot in the postseason.

“Not only just getting at-bats, but it’s in a championship-type environment, which helps mimic the big leagues as close as you can. Every game matters,” Larkin said.

“Get him going, and hopefully, an option for the major league team should it be needed in the back end of the year here and into the playoffs. At least he’s ready to go and built up and available, that’s the best we can do at this point in the year with how it’s gone.”

Follow @alexjweiner

The Diamondbacks have won three straight contests and picked up a game on both the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card race on Friday.

PIÑA POWER IS SO BACK. pic.twitter.com/uW5N9VBGMo

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 21, 2024

Gurriel had not played a game since Sept. 1 after a left calf strain, but he came up clutch to smoke an outside changeup to deep left field off southpaw DL Hall.

He did so at the perfect juncture, too, considering the D-backs just lost a 4-0 lead after three Brewers homered off Zac Gallen in the fifth inning: Joey Ortiz, William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell.

The offense picked up Gallen right away, as Gurriel’s 18th homer of the year supplied a 5-4 lead. The D-backs scratched across another pair of runs to give the bullpen some breathing room. Corbin Carroll plated a run on a slow ground out, and pinch hitter Randal Grichuk walked with the bases loaded on nine pitches.

“It’s always a great thing after the opposite team comes and scores a few runs, if you come back and — boom — hit them back, it will shut down their momentum and actually pick up momentum on our side,” Gurriel said through a translator.

Arizona’s bullpen was excellent to preserve the lead, as Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez and Ryan Thompson each tossed scoreless frames before the ninth inning. A.J. Puk shut the door for the save on three strikeouts.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Gurriel from the 10-day IL before first pitch on Friday, designating infielder Luis Guillorme for assignment to create the roster spot. Gurriel was hot at the time of his injury, hitting .354 with three homers and five doubles over his previous 19 games.

Gurriel came out of the game after a walk in the seventh inning for a pinch runner, ending his return 2-for-3 and reaching base three times.

“It feels really satisfying to, one be back on the field, and two, in a crucial week like it is,” Gurriel said through a translator. “And then the fact that I didn’t just come back, I had an opportunity to help the team, too. It was a great night for me.”

Arizona took a 1-0 in the first inning on a Ketel Marte solo shot, his career-high 33rd of the season. Marte reached base four times on Friday with three hits and a walk, including an RBI double and bunt single.

Geraldo Perdomo singled in the second run off Brewers starter Colin Rea during the second inning, and Carroll hit a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. Marte’s double scored Perdomo in the fifth inning.

Gallen opened the game with four scoreless innings before the long ball bit him in the fifth. He finished with five innings and four earned runs.

NL Wild Card check-in

Arizona (86-68) reclaimed sole possession of the second NL Wild Card spot, one game up on the Mets. The D-backs also jumped to three games up on the Braves, who are on the outside looking in.

“It’s a good feeling, but we’ve got eight more games to go,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “No deal is done. We’ve got to go out and play our best baseball from here on out.”

D-backs starter Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches on Saturday against Milwaukee right-hander Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48).

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow @alexjweiner

Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte set a new career high with his 33rd home run of the season in the first inning of Friday’s 7-4 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marte jumped on the first pitch from Brewers right-hander Colin Rea and just got enough of it to deep right field. Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick — who robbed Corbin Carroll of a home run last weekend at Chase Field — leaped but came up short of bring it back.

Ketel Marte sneaks one out to give the @Dbacks an early lead 🐍 pic.twitter.com/0Pa971lCHK

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

The shot gave Arizona an early 1-0 lead after it defeated Milwaukee 5-1 in Thursday’s series opener. Marte nearly missed his 33rd big fly on Thursday with a shot off the wall.

Marte hit 32 home runs during his breakout 2019 campaign and had yet to eclipse 30 game until this season. He hit 25 in 2023. Injuries over the years have impacted his output, and even with an injured list stint last month (ankle), Marte’s power has been so consistent this year as one of baseball’s premier power hitters.

There was a stretch this summer in which he seemed to homer every day, as he blasted 13 dingers from July 10 to Aug. 10 (26 games).

The switch-hitter entered Friday tied for fifth in the National League in home runs, only trailing Shohei Ohtani (51), Marcell Ozuna (38), Kyle Schwarber (35) and Pete Alonso (34).

Twelve of his home runs this season have come in the first inning, a feat only Paul Goldschmidt has accomplished in a D-backs uniform (13 in 2018), according to Stathead.

Importantly for the D-backs, Marte is finding a groove again. He started 0-for-11 after coming off the IL on Sept. 6. Since then, he entered Friday 7-for-27 (.259) with an .873 OPS over his last eight games.

Marte recorded three hits on Friday, including an RBI double down the left-field line and a bunt single.

Follow @alexjweiner

The Arizona Diamondbacks have more starting-caliber players than spots in the batting order, but keeping the red-hot Pavin Smith involved has been discussed as the club embarks on the final week of the regular season.

Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday he spoke with general manager Mike Hazen on ways to continue giving Smith opportunities even with left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. back from the injured list.

Gurriel rejoined the lineup after nearly three weeks down (calf) on Friday for a matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers, but Lovullo kept Smith in the starting nine in right field against right-handed starter Colin Rea. Corbin Carroll slid over to center field, while Jake McCarthy was out of the lineup for the first time in weeks.

Pavin Smith provides some 2-run insurance for the @Dbacks!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/2zPdfZs0Si

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 20, 2024

“We’re gonna be as creative as possible,” Lovullo said. “We’re gonna try to make sure the best combination of baseball players are gonna help us win baseball games, that’s it, bottom line. If that includes Pavin Smith, we have to find time for him. His OPS is in the .950 range (.969), he’s helped us win games, he’s killing the baseball. I’m not gonna put everything down and say, ‘Okay, you’re on the bench.'”

Smith smoked a two-run home run for insurance in Thursday’s 5-1 win over Milwaukee, his fifth of the month.

“Lourdes is going a have a bit of a return-to-play program, I’m going to give certain guys days off at the right times to create some space for Pavin. He deserves this opportunity,” Lovullo added.

Smith and right-handed platoon slugger Randal Grichuk have been Arizona’s two hottest hitters in September. Grichuk leads the team with a 1.475 OPS in 38 plate appearances, while Smith is close behind at 1.355 in 50 PAs.

Since Sept. 8, Smith leads all of baseball with a 1.526 OPS in 39 plate appearances — even ahead of Shohei Ohtani and his historic 6-for-6 Thursday night against the Miami Marlins.

Smith has had an up-and-down role this season without a spot on the roster on Opening Day. He has been optioned three times since then. Yet he stepped up while filling in for Gurriel against right-handed pitching and even started games against lefties.

Torey Lovullo tells @BurnsAndGambo Pavin Smith deserves the opportunity to stay involved even with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. back from injury.

The Torey Lovullo Show is presented by Estrella Jalisco. pic.twitter.com/E3A91vKRq1

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 20, 2024

“It kind of seems like that’s sort of the theme for this team this whole year, where guys go down and people step up. So being able to do my part in that is pretty cool,” Smith told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Sept. 10, after he hit three home runs on Sunday Night Baseball in Houston.

McCarthy is in a bit of a funk, but he is Arizona’s best bet in center field defensively — as long as Alek Thomas is in Triple-A — and had been the hot hand for a stretch this season. With Grichuk penned in against lefties, Joc Pederson the designated hitter against righties, the team will have to run out some different-looking combinations to keep Smith in even a semi-regular role.

It’s a great problem to have, and it goes beyond Smith with questions of what to do with Josh Bell or whether Thomas can make his way back for a postseason roster spot if the D-backs get there.

For now, Smith will have a chance to continue producing in another key game Friday at 5:10 p.m. Zac Gallen is on the mound for Arizona.

The game will air on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.

Diamondbacks’ lineup

Game 154.https://t.co/epBmrbY9CZ | https://t.co/k9Xjx1tKgF pic.twitter.com/UHBxDInHe0

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 20, 2024

Follow @alexjweiner

The D-backs designated infielder Luis Guillorme for assignment in a corresponding roster move.

Gurriel will bat fifth and start in left field on Friday.

He landed on the IL with a left calf strain on Sept. 2, missing more time than the minimum stint manager Torey Lovullo was initially optimistic about.

The veteran played in continuation camp games this week after taking live at-bats, the final step before jumping back into the lineup.

Gurriel was hitting the ball very well before hitting the shelf, hitting .338 with a .976 OPS in his last 20 games. He has a .744 OPS this season with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs over 125 games in his second season with the club.

Arizona’s fill-ins have stepped up admirably, though.

Pavin Smith has seen an increase in playing time in left field. In 13 games since Gurriel suffered the injury, he is batting .400 in 45 plate appearances with five home runs.

Smith’s season OPS is all the way up to .969, as he is making a case for a role down the stretch.

Randal Grichuk, typically Arizona’s designated hitter against lefties, has offered immense power this month with six home runs and four doubles while hitting .455.

After getting Gabriel Moreno back from the IL (adductor strain) last weekend and now Gurriel, Arizona has a full arsenal offensively. Even center fielder Alek Thomas and shortstop Jordan Lawlar recently returned from injuries and provide depth in Triple-A Reno.

There are nine games left in the regular season, and Arizona’s final six games are at home starting Monday against the San Francisco Giants.

Guillorme, a midseason pickup, played in 18 games with Arizona and hit .162 with 11 walks and three stolen bases while providing plus defense.

He helped fill in with Ketel Marte suffering an ankle injury last month.

Follow @alexjweiner

Infielder Demetrio Crisantes, a 2022 seventh-round pick from Nogales High School, reached base safely in 57 consecutive games from June 25 to the end of the regular season at Single-A Visalia in a breakout campaign.

Crisantes is tracking down the unofficial MiLB record of 71 straight games, set by former Boston Red Sox players Kevin Millar and Kevin Youkilis. Crisantes will have the opportunity to do next season.

The prospect joined MLB Network’s Intentional Talk last week, and Millar himself got to ask him about coming for his record.

“100%,” Crisantes said. “I read that you had 71, and I told my mom I’m gonna get there and my dad too. I’m gonna get past 71, I’m gonna break that record.”

Demetrio Crisantes is coming for your MiLB on-base streak record, @KMillar15 👀

The @VisaliaRawhide standout joins Intentional Talk from the bus ON THE WAY to a playoff game to talk about his 57-game on-base streak and more! pic.twitter.com/hVIv0JyhaI

— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) September 12, 2024

Beyond the on-base streak, Crisantes has dominated for the Rawhide since his promotion from rookie ball in June.

Crisantes hit .333/.429/.478 in 63 games with 16 double, six home runs and 20 steals. He ranked 12th in the California League in steals despite the delayed start. And his .921 OPS ranks sixth among minor leaguers with at least 400 plate appearances — D-backs catcher Adrian Del Castillo is first at 1.017, according to FanGraphs.

On Wednesday, MiLB named Crisantes to the California League All-Star team, along with fellow Visalia teammates outfielder Druw Jones, designated hitter Angel Ortiz and pitcher Daniel Nunez.

Crisantes jumped from outside the top 30 to No. 13 on MLB Pipeline’s D-backs prospects rankings this season, and Pipeline named him Arizona’s breakout prospect of 2024.

D-backs farm director Shaun Larkin said Crisantes is as good a bet as anyone to break the on-base record given his approach.

“He just has a good, quality, advanced approach, especially for his age and for the levels he was at this year,” Larkin told Arizona Sports. “Swings at strikes, takes balls, moves the ball forward, hits it hard. And you combine all those things, especially at the A-ball levels, you’re gonna have a lot of success.

“You watch him take batting practice, you watch how he goes about his work, the conversations you have with him. He’s just an advanced, confident hitter who’s humble enough to keep working but confident enough to not be afraid of anything.”

Demetrio Crisantes finished the Single-A regular season with a 57-game on-base streak!

The @Dbacks‘ No. 13 prospect and the @VisaliaRawhide begin the Cal League playoffs tonight. pic.twitter.com/hVleFUkqrl

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 10, 2024

Larkin said Crisantes will likely start next season one level up in High-A Hillsboro.

“Our job is to make sure we’re constantly putting our players in a position of success, while also making sure they’re being challenged,” Larkin said. “And he’s proved the challenge point at the levels he was at this past year, and I think he’ll continue moving up.”

Druw Jones closes season strong

Jones, Arizona’s Minor League Player of the Month for August, is also expected to start next season in Hillsboro after spending all of 2024 in Visalia.

The 2022 No. 2 overall pick produced a batting line of .275/.409/.405 with six home runs and 21 stolen bases while continuing to play elite defense in center field. He finished the season 12-for-36 with four extra-base hits and six walks over his final 10 games.

Jones was held back by injuries after the draft in 2022 and throughout the 2023 season, so getting a full year under his belt was valuable.

“Just a great year on lot of levels for him,” Larkin said. “Not only the production, but the mechanical adjustments he made, the mindset he had and how he handled the ups and downs of a full season, the health, the teammate part of it, just a great year for Druw. We’ll continue to push him as he’s ready. And I think he proved that he’s ready for the next challenge.”

The 20-year-old is Arizona’s No. 2 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list.

Druw Jones calls game … off the barn! 🛖@VisaliaRawhide | @Dbacks | @jones_druw pic.twitter.com/Ynjefpq4c5

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 12, 2024

Follow @alexjweiner