The Diamondbacks’ recent strong performance has put them in a position to make the playoffs. The health of Christian Walker and Ketel Marte will be key to their success.
The Arizona Diamondbacks may have missed their chance at the National League West division title, but the reigning NL champions are still well-positioned for the 2024 postseason. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the second of three NL Wild Card spots with less than a month left in the season.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for the Diamondbacks, who were seven games under .500 at one point and didn’t solidify a winning record until just before the All-Star Break. Since then, they’ve been on fire, posting a 28-13 record to revive what once seemed like a lost season and keep their hopes of defending their pennant alive.
However, nothing is certain in baseball, and the Diamondbacks have challenges ahead. With October approaching, manager Torey Lovullo still needs to navigate issues with an underperforming starting rotation, a shaky closer, and key players dealing with injuries.
The Diamondbacks must figure out how to get closer Paul Sewald back on track
While the Diamondbacks began the season slowly before heating up, closer Paul Sewald has experienced the reverse. After missing the first month of the season, he posted a stellar 0.54 ERA in his initial 19 appearances. However, in his subsequent 22 appearances, Sewald’s ERA has ballooned to 7.40, with opponents achieving a .985 OPS against him.
Sewald lost his closer role at the start of August, with Justin Martinez stepping in and converting all seven save opportunities during the month. Despite this change, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo doesn’t view Martinez as the permanent closer. Lovullo made it clear, saying, “No, I’m not gonna give him that. I don’t want to give anybody that yet. We’re still working on some things. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Paul. There have been some improvements. And our best bullpen has Paul on the very back-end of it. And I want that to happen really bad.”
Sewald kicked off September positively, delivering a scoreless 7th inning in Arizona’s 14-3 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday.
Arizona can’t rely solely on its offense in October
The Diamondbacks are prolific at scoring runs, having amassed 749 by September 3, which leads the majors and is over 45 runs ahead of the second-place New York Yankees. Their team batting average of .263 ranks second in MLB, and their team OPS of .773 is slightly behind the Yankees’ top mark of .774.
Despite their offensive prowess, their playoff prospects hinge on their pitching. Their starters are struggling with a 4.81 rotation ERA, placing them 27th in the league. Zac Gallen is the only consistent starter with a sub-4.00 ERA and an ERA+ over 100. Jordan Montgomery, who excelled with the 2023 World Series champion Rangers, has faltered with a 6.16 ERA for Arizona and is now in the bullpen. Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, both of whom missed four months, have been underwhelming since their return. Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson have performed well, with Pfaadt leading the rotation in WHIP at 1.191.
To advance deep into October, the Diamondbacks will need additional front-line pitchers to support Gallen.
The Diamondbacks need to reintegrate Christian Walker and Ketel Marte back into the lineup
Despite the Diamondbacks’ impressive offensive performance, the right side of their infield, featuring Christian Walker and Ketel Marte, has been sidelined for over a month. Marte, who last played on August 18, is on the IL with a left ankle sprain. Manager Torey Lovullo mentioned on Monday that he’s unsure of Marte’s exact return date, but since Marte is “asymptomatic,” he might join the team on their upcoming road trip to San Francisco and Houston.
Marte has been one of Arizona’s top hitters, leading the team with 30 home runs and a .298 batting average, resulting in a 156 OPS+ in 500 plate appearances.
Walker has been out since July 29 with a left oblique injury. He underwent a “live workout” before Monday’s game, and Lovullo anticipates he will also be back for the next road trip.
Walker, once considered a trade candidate during the Diamondbacks’ early struggles, ranks second on the team with 23 homers and an .815 OPS. Their return could significantly boost an already strong offense that’s positioned itself well for the postseason.
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