D-Backs Slowly Sinking In The West

Photo: Nolan Arenado hit the third home run to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the eighth

Two weeks ago the Arizona Diamondbacks were sitting in the third and final wild card spot, but things have shifted as the San Diego Padres came to life. The Padres went on a tear to overtake the D-Backs and with losing back to back home series to Texas and Miami, the team is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight year. 

After losing the 2023 world series to the Texas Rangers, Arizona has been as close as you can get. In 2024 they won 5 more than the previous season but tied the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets with an 89-73 record but lost the tiebreaker to both those teams. Last year after dealing off some good veteran players Geno Suarez and Josh Naylor to Seattle and Merrill Kelly to Texas, Randal Grichuk to Kansas City, the D-Backs went on a run down the stretch, doing better than anticipated, finishing three games out for the final playoff spot. This year the team got Kelly back but he is not having the same success he did prior to the trade.

Here we are in 2026 and Arizona is 5-5 in their last ten games as opposed to San Diego who has gone 9-1 in the same stretch. That is the difference, 4 games behind with just 9 to play. 

There is still a chance with the two teams playing the final three games of the season in San Diego beginning a week from today, but the Diamondbacks must win an extra game coupled with a San Diego loss along the way. The Padres have three at home with the Marlins, three on the road with the Dodgers and those three with the D-backs. Arizona has three with the Yankees, then three at Colorado before the final three with San Diego. There is still time, but the margin for error is nearly gone.

Photo: Pavin Smith touches home plate with the first home run in the second inning

In the final game of the series with the Miami Marlins, Arizona found themselves down 2-0 in the second inning. Pavin Smith came up and got all of it, belting a long towering home run over the right centerfield fence to make it 2-1.

Photo: Merrill Kelly struck out 9 in 4 2/3 innings but gave up the four runs (three earned)

The Marlins scored two more in the third, one of which came across on a throwing error by Nolan Arenando. Merrill Kelley had some bright moments, striking out 9  and pitching out of two jams in the first and fourth, but was pulled in relief of Ryne Nelson in the fifth. Trailing 4-1, catcher Gabby Moreno made it 4-2 in the fifth with a home run.

The bullpen did their job, but the D-Backs were able to only get one more run, that coming on another bases empty home run, this one by Nolan Arenado.

What ended the game was with two outs, Lars Nootbaar walked with two outs. Jordan Lawler came in to pinch run with Ketel Marte at the plate. Lawler took off on the first pitch and was nailed by catcher Joe Mack to end the game. A tough way to lose a game with one of your premiere players at the plate.

D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said, “We did our math, we did our work, and we felt like we were gonna be able to steal that very, very easily, and it didn’t happen. It was a fastball up and out. It was a really good pitch to throw on. Maybe we just have to pick a better pitch, that might be another situation. You have to give credit to them, it was a great tag.”