SEPTEMBER 26 • KANSASCITY.COM
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
89-73 · 3RD IN NL WEST
Diamondbacks activate RHP Ryne Nelson, recall OF Alek Thomas The Arizona Diamondbacks activated right-hander Ryne Nelson from the 15-day injured list on Thursday after he recovered from right shoulder...
Ryne Nelson - Reinstated from IL The Diamondbacks reinstated Nelson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports
Impact Nelson threw 28 pitches in his second bullpen session Tuesday following his first session of 16 pitches. With his return coming near the close of the season, it seems Nelson will be used as a multi-inning reliever, but it is possible he may return as a starter. Yilber Diaz and Blake Walston were both optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday as part of a corresponding move.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Blake Walston - Optioned to Triple-A The Diamondbacks optioned Walston to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
Impact Since rejoining the D-backs' bullpen Sept. 15, Walston has surrendered eight runs (five earned) over just 5.2 innings while striking out seven batters and walking one. He and Yilber Diaz will end up as Arizona's roster casualties following the activation of Ryne Nelson (shoulder) and promotion of Alek Thomas, and the 23-year-old Walston likely won't make it back to the majors during the final series of the season this weekend.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Yilber Diaz - Sent back to Reno The Diamondbacks optioned Diaz to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
Impact Diaz made three appearances for the Diamondbacks after being recalled from Triple-A on Sept. 12, during which he allowed three earned runs over 8.1 innings while striking out five batters and walking four. He and Blake Walston will now be sent back to the minors as Alek Thomas comes up from Reno and Ryne Nelson (shoulder) returns from the IL.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Alek Thomas - Back in majors The Diamondbacks recalled Thomas from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Impact Thomas was optioned to Triple-A in the middle of August, but landed on the 7-day injured list due to a right oblique strain a few days after. He was reinstated from the injured list Sept. 18 after missing a month of action. With his return to the big club, Yilber Diaz and Blake Walston were optioned to Triple-A Reno
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Christian Walker: Diamondbacks rediscovered 'a little swagger' in win over Giants DBacks first baseman said team feels they control their own playoff destiny with one regular-season series left.
SEPTEMBER 26 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Justin Martinez - Enters in seventh inning Martinez allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Giants.
Impact The Diamondbacks were up, 5-1, when manager Torey Lovullo had Martinez enter the contest to open the seventh inning. He allowed the first two batters to reach but managed to wriggle out of danger. The right-hander was sent out to start eighth and was removed after a double and single made it a 5-2 game. It's unclear why Lovullo had his closer enter what would normally be a low-leverage spot. Martinez has pitched at regular intervals over the past week, so it wasn't an issue of rust. Perhaps it was due to Lovullo's desire to end the team's three-game losing skid.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Corbin Carroll - Scores, delivers run Carroll went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over San Francisco. He was also caught stealing.
Impact Carroll delivered a run on a sacrifice fly as part of Arizona's three-run second inning then trotted home on Pavin Smith's three-run home run in the eighth. Carroll had been scuffling prior to getting a day off Sunday and has bounced back with hits in three straight contests. The year started poorly for Carroll and lingered through much of the season, but a torrid August (1.042 OPS, 11 home runs) has re-established his bona fides as a threat. Through 155 games, the same amount he played in his Rookie of the Year season in 2023, Carroll has 21 homers, 14 triples, 73 RBI, 32 steals and 119 runs scored. His hitting profile didn't change much from last season, and it could be argued that any drop-off in 2024 was attributable to bad luck (.258 BABIP).
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Christian Walker - Starts rally in win Walker went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Giants.
Impact The Diamondbacks, who entered the night losers of their last three, were down early when Walker doubled to lead off the second inning and scored the first of three Arizona runs in the frame. He also singled home a run in the fourth. With the Diamondbacks still needing to secure a postseason bid, Walker should be a lineup regular in this weekend's series against the Padres.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Pavin Smith - Clobbers three-run shot Smith went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Giants.
Impact Smith didn't enter the game until the bottom of the eight when he was brought in to pinch hit for Randal Grichuk with two runners on. The outfielder then came through in a big way, launching a three-run home run off Spencer Bivens on the third pitch he saw to extend Arizona's lead to six runs. The long ball was Smith's ninth on the campaign and his sixth in the month of September, where he's batting .310 with 12 extra-base hits, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Zac Gallen - Strikes out 11 in 14th win Gallen (14-6) picked up the win over the Giants on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out 11.
Impact The only run charged to Gallen on the night came across in the second inning after he walked the leadoff man to open the frame before then surrendering an RBI double to Tyler Fitzgerald. The right-hander responded by retiring 14 of the next 15 batters he faced while also posting a season-high 11 strikeouts in the contest. Gallen generated 16 whiffs on the night and it marked the third time this season in which he's recorded double-digit strikeouts. He's now won his last five decisions (spanning seven starts) and carries a 2.67 ERA in September to go along with a 38:11 K:BB. On the downside, Gallen has also issued multiple free passes in nine of his last 10 outings.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Gallen fans 11 as D-backs salvage finale vs. Giants Zac Gallen struck out a season-best 11 in six innings and pinch hitter Pavin Smith slugged a three-run homer to help the Arizona Diamondback...
SEPTEMBER 26 • KANSASCITY.COM
Giants' K-prone ways in focus vs. D-backs: 'We've got to put it in play' PHOENIX -- The Giants rank in the middle of the pack in most major offensive categories this year, but there’s one statistic where they’re c...
SEPTEMBER 26 • MLB.COM
Faster-paced MLB games being embraced by fans and players, no longer 'too much of a time commitment'
Major League Baseball is finishing its games more quickly these daysSEPTEMBER 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
SF Giants' season-long winning streak comes to an end against Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks The Giants’ run of strong starting pitching came to an end Wednesday night and so did their season-b...
SEPTEMBER 26 • SACBEE.COM
Gallen delivers right on time to help D-backs bounce back PHOENIX -- In college at North Carolina, Zac Gallen was given the nickname "The Milkman" in part because of his last name, but also because...
SEPTEMBER 26 • MLB.COM
Gallen strikes out 11, Diamondbacks end 3-game slide with 8-2 win over Giants
Zac Gallen struck out 11 in six stellar innings, pinch hitter Pavin Smith hit a three-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks ended a three-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over t...SEPTEMBER 26 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Diamondbacks Pitcher Brandon Pfaadt talks about the loss to the Giants Tuesday night Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt talks about the loss to the Giants Tuesday night. He struggled with his command.
SEPTEMBER 26 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Diamondbacks updates: Manager Torey Lovullo focused on his team as Mets-Braves postponed The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
SEPTEMBER 26 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Pavin Smith - Losing work to Gurriel Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Impact On the bench for a second straight matchup with a right-handed pitcher, Smith looks to have moved back into a reserve role after having occupied a strong-side platoon role in left field for much of the previous two weeks. Smith's playing time will likely be more sparse moving forward now that top left fielder Lourdes Gurriel is healthy again after missing time with a calf strain.
SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Gabriel Moreno - Hitless in return Moreno went 0-for-3 in his return to Tuesday's lineup against the Giants following a one-game absence due to left adductor tightness.
Impact Moreno was unable to get going similarly to the rest of his team after the Diamondbacks were shut out in Tuesday's loss. He figures to be behind the plate for the majority of the games the rest of this week as the Diamondbacks continue to fight down to the wire for a wild card spot.
SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Pfaadt - Another ugly outing Pfaadt (10-10) took the loss Tuesday against the Giants, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 innings.
Impact Pfaadt fell flat on his face again after delivering a brilliant outing his last time out during which he racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts. All the major damage against him came from home runs. Patrick Bailey took him deep in the second and then Michael Conforto extended the lead with a three-run blast in the third. Pfaadt has allowed nine home runs over his last nine starts and has seen his ERA jump from a 3.92 to a 4.80 in eight starts since Aug. 7. Pfaadt's regular season is officially over, and he'll have to sit back and wait to see if the Diamondbacks are able to secure a wild card spot to potentially get another chance to pitch again in the playoffs.
SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
Giants aim to continue power surge vs. Diamondbacks The San Francisco Giants have eight home runs over the first two games of their series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.The Giants will look to...
SEPTEMBER 25 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Ketel Marte - Starts Tuesday Marte started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double in Tuesday's 11-0 loss to the Giants.
Impact Marte was held out of Monday's starting lineup, as manager Torey Lovullo indicated the second baseman had been grinding and was in the "red zone." With four games left in the regular season and a playoff spot to be won, Marte is expected to be in the starting lineup every day.
SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
Ryne Nelson - Throws bullpen Tuesday Nelson (shoulder) threw 28 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Impact This was Nelson's second bullpen, after the right-hander threw a 16-pitch session Saturday. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the team is undecided about whether Nelson could return to the starting rotation or be used as a multi-inning reliever in the short term. With four games left in the regular season, it seems the bullpen would be Nelson's landing spot should he return during the regular season. He could continue in a multi-inning role should Arizona qualify for the postseason, when managers tend to limit starters' innings.
SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE
