The D-backs haven’t lost a game in a week!
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
- Reinstated from the Restricted List: INF Ketel Marte
- Designated for assignment: INF Sergio Alcántara
Well, that was short. Alcantara’s SIXTH stint with the team only lasted a couple of days, and ends without any additions to the playing time he acquired previously, as he becomes another ghost Diamondback. I guess we will see if he passes through waivers and goes to Reno, or if he opts for another orbit around the sun. Probably re-signing with Arizona at some point in Spring Training 2026, I imagine. Good to have Marte back, although I am a little curious about why Torey Lovullo chose to say specifically yesterday that Ketel “is in Arizona”? I mean, the house that got burgled was by all accounts… in Arizona. So I’m not sure why he would have been anywhere else. Anyway…
For the first time since last August, the D-backs have gone a week without being beaten. Admittedly, a large factor in that is the four-day break for the All-Star Game, and the actual winning streak is a modest three games. There’s a certain sense of “We’re back!” as a result. But it is worth pointing out the team hasn’t moved places in the standings. San Diego are currently thrashing Washington. Presuming that holds, if Arizona were not to win today, they would end the weekend 5.5 games back of the third wild-card spot… In other words, exactly where they were before the break, when they were generally considered to be in sell mode.
Fangraphs remains largely unconvinced. While the winning streak has tacked on a few points, they still give the D-backs only a 16.1% chance of reaching the playoffs. I do not think that’s going to be sufficient for Mike Hazen to hold off the “SELL” button, but we will see what happens over the next week. Perhaps things will become clearer by the time we have finished the series against the Astros and Pirates? I would say the team needs to go at least 4-2 there, to stave off a break-up. Even with a win today, treading water at .500 doesn’t feel like it will be good enough, especially considering the likes of Suarez and Kelly represent a real chance to restock the farm. Not pessimism, just pragmatism.