PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have made it through the first 25 games with a 14-11 record having played flawed baseball, most of which without a super weapon in Ketel Marte.
Fourteen wins at this point is on pace for 90, the number that would have launched them into the postseason last year.
However, the Diamondbacks now enter a 25-game phase of their schedule that rivals any other stretch this season in terms of difficulty.
The slate begins with three games against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field, followed by road series at the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.
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The D-backs return home for three more against the Mets and their first four games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. Those four clubs each made the postseason last year and entered 2025 with serious ambitions.
The Braves are the weak link of the group in the standings with a 10-14 record, although they won five of their last six games. Plus, the D-backs have to face 2024 Cy Young winner Chris Sale and breakout right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach.
The stretch continues with a road series at the San Francisco Giants, who have a top three record in MLB this season at 17-9.
The D-backs get a break of sorts against a flailing Colorado Rockies team before capping the 25-game stretch with three days at Dodger Stadium.
“It’s exciting, I love it,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re going to see where we stand, and I’ll stack us up against anybody.”
During that stretch, the D-backs expect to get reinforcements with Marte less than two weeks away from returning and reliever Kevin Ginkel getting quite close.
There is also plenty of uncertainty. A good chunk of it surrounds the bullpen given A.J. Puk’s injury and a “fatigue” factor that has impacted Justin Martinez.
The lineup has run extremely hot-and-cold. Corbin Carroll and Pavin Smith are among the top producers in MLB, but there have been real struggles from many key cogs down the batting order.
Arizona’s schedule clears up as much as a major league slate can following this gauntlet, but coming off a season that emphasized the importance of every win, especially against those directly in your way, this will be a telling stretch of baseball.
Last year, the Diamondbacks finished with a 2-5 record against Atlanta, 3-4 against New York, 4-3 versus Philadelphia and 6-7 facing Los Angeles.
This would be an optimal time for certain areas to click into place.
How can the Diamondbacks manage their tough stretch?
Starting pitching keeps heading in the right direction
Since April 8 (14 games), the Diamondbacks own the sixth-best starting pitcher ERA in MLB at 2.93 in 83 innings.
The Diamondbacks’ rotation has been healthy to start the season and has seemingly turned a corner from a poor first 10 games. But there is another level to reach.
Brandon Pfaadt appears to be there (2.73 ERA), while Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez have given the team chances to win almost every time they go out there.
Corbin Burnes keeps looking better with each outing, as he was downright dominant through four innings on Thursday before a couple grinding frames. The D-backs need more from Zac Gallen, who starts opposite of Sale on Friday, as he’s given them two really good outings and three not so good (5.60 ERA).
Get Ketel Marte back
Carroll has looked the part of Arizona’s superstar with nine home runs and a 1.065 OPS entering Friday. Now put another star player right behind him (or ahead versus lefties).
Marte has started base running and is set to hit, play defense and lightly run in an extended spring training game this weekend. The 2024 All-Star is trending in the right direction.
Offense gets someone else going
The offense can really use Marte back. Spots 5-9 in the batting order this year have accounted for a .200 batting average and .634 OPS. Can Gabriel Moreno get something going? Eugenio Suarez? Lourdes Gurriel Jr.?
Tim Tawa has provided a spark from the bottom of the order with four homers in 13 games, while Alek Thomas has looked like an improved hitter (.733 OPS).
Bullpen gets healthier
Three extra-inning games in the past week and the Martinez situation has put a strain on the bullpen. Updates on Puk have trickled in slowly as the club awaits medical opinions.
The D-backs are managing Martinez carefully considering his importance to the success of the team, as his absence has been prevalent. With Puk down, having Martinez be the de facto closer seems logical, but he hasn’t been available. The sooner than can reach normalcy with him, the better off this bullpen will look.
Ginkel and Kendall Graveman getting back from the injured list during this stretch will provide much-needed depth and help manage workloads.
Where would this bullpen be without Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller, who have been leaned on a ton and produced as late-minute additions to the active roster?
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