10 Diamondbacks takeaways from opening 10 video games of the season

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks walked off the Atlanta Braves on Sunday to finish their first 10 video games with a 5-5 document, treading water regardless of some early challenges this season.

All 5 Diamondbacks wins have required a save or a walk-off, as eight of the Diamondbacks’ 10 video games have been determined by three or fewer runs.

The offense has but to get going and accidents have continued to affect the roster with Jordan Lawlar the most recent to go down.

At the identical time, the beginning pitching has exceeded expectations, whereas Corbin Carroll has been one of many league’s most impactful bats.

The D-backs began the yr 0-3 at Dodger Stadium earlier than sweeping the Detroit Tigers at Chase Field. Arizona dropped the primary two video games to Atlanta, together with a 17-2 drubbing that can affect their run differential for some time. But the D-backs bounced again with a pair of one-run wins to safe a sequence cut up.

“Going 5-2 with an offense that’s kind of struggling a little bit. … We got pitching heavy in those wins and that carried us. So, we handed off to one another. When it starts to fire on all cylinders, that’s when we’re gonna really take off,” supervisor Torey Lovullo stated.

Ten video games in, and the Diamondbacks are in second place within the National League West with a tricky highway journey forward on the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles. Here are 10 early takeaways from 10 video games performed.

10 Diamondbacks takeaways 10 video games into the season

Corbin Carroll is answering questions on his energy

Carroll began the homestand with a triple to offer the Diamondbacks an early lead towards the Tigers, and he capped it with a go-ahead triple within the seventh inning on Sunday towards the Braves.

Carroll was the standout offensively for Arizona by 10 video games, particularly on the seven-game homestand. He went 8-for-21 at residence with two residence runs, two triples, a double and a stolen base.

The two-time All-Star stated his hand is feeling significantly better now than when he first returned in spring coaching from hamate surgical procedure, and for any considerations about his energy, Carroll is sixth within the National League in slugging at .656 and tied for sixth in complete bases with 21.

Jordan Lawlar suffers one other powerful break

Talk about a mixture of feelings, as on the identical evening Lawlar cracked his first main league residence run, he suffered a damaged wrist on a hit-by-pitch within the again finish of a blowout on Thursday.

Lawlar, the membership’s former high prospect, lastly secured an on a regular basis position in a brand new place within the outfield and had began the season enjoying effectively. Lawlar hit .333 in his first six video games, including precious manufacturing to the underside of the lineup.

The 23-year-old will spend the following six weeks (at the very least) on the IL, doing what he can to remain sharp defensively earlier than he can come again. It is yet one more one other harm setback to his younger profession.

“I get a lot of joy from playing on that field, so I want to keep playing,” Lawlar stated earlier than the IL designation. 

Jose Fernandez gave the Diamondbacks their finest story of the younger season

A yr in the past, Diamondbacks infield prospect Jose Fernandez was simply getting his ft moist in Double-A.

On Tuesday, Fernandez put collectively probably the most — if not essentially the most — prolific main league debuts in membership historical past.

Fernandez turned the seventh participant since 1900 to hit two residence runs in his first MLB sport. His second blast was a go-ahead residence run throughout a six-run eighth inning as Arizona stormed again to beat the Tigers. Better but, it got here off Kenley Jansen, probably the most achieved closers of his era, on his signature cutter.

Whether Fernandez turns into the following huge factor in Arizona or not, that was an evening of baseball romanticism at Chase Field.

“It is the moment that one dreams of as a kid,” Fernandez stated in Spanish.

The lineup has had bother scoring persistently

Sunday was the most effective all-around day for the lineup this season, because the D-backs scored runs in 5 innings and stored making use of strain all through the sport regardless of hitting no residence runs.

Arizona scored 5 runs over its earlier 4 video games and has scored two runs or fewer in six of 10 video games this yr.

As a group, the D-backs are backside 10 in runs, hits and OPS after main the league in scoring over the previous two seasons.

There have been a pair strong indicators recently. Ketel Marte had his most impactful sport on Sunday with two doubles, together with the walk-off knock within the tenth inning. Gabriel Moreno picked up two hits on Saturday.

The D-backs want its core 4 (Marte, Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Moreno) to hold a heavy load, particularly with the accidents impacting the underside half of the order.

This has been a sluggish begin for veteran newcomers Nolan Arenado (.426 OPS) and Carlos Santana (.279 OPS), with the latter having left Sunday’s sport with groin tightness.

The id of an offense with noticeably much less energy than the latest previous remains to be being found out, however Sunday was a blueprint of utilizing pace and situational hitting to provide runs versus counting on the lengthy ball.

“Finding ways to scratch across a run here, scratch across a run there — that’s a good pitching staff over there — so finding a way to do that was big,” catcher James McCann stated. 

Michael Soroka is making an impression

The Diamondbacks signed Michael Soroka as their first free agent addition of the offseason. Soroka was longing for the chance to show he can keep wholesome and be a high quality starter as accidents have plagued what began out as a promising profession.

So far, Soroka has competed in addition to he may have hoped, delivering 10 innings with one earned run in two begins, each wins. He threw an immaculate inning on Monday, the fourth in D-backs historical past. The right-hander additionally struck out 10 hitters, essentially the most by a pitcher debuting for the Diamondbacks.

He was not as sharp on Saturday however fought by 5 efficient innings towards Atlanta, his former membership.

Soroka is throwing extra slurves than every other pitch, and opponents are hitting .071 against it so far.

Eduardo Rodriguez has constructed off of the WBC success

Eduardo Rodriguez put collectively the efficiency of his profession to push Venezuela to a World Baseball Classic championship this spring, and he has not given up an earned run since.

Rodriguez tossed 5 innings with out an earned run towards the Dodgers in his season debut, and he outdid himself with seven shutout innings towards the Braves on Friday.

He has solely given up eight hits with three walks in two begins for a WHIP of 0.92.

A giant change is that Rodriguez has upped the utilization of his changeup, and opponents are hitting .150 towards it up to now. He has additionally continued to work in a brand new curveball.

After a pair lackluster seasons to start his Diamondbacks tenure, Rodriguez is trying the a part of the pitcher Arizona envisioned signing. Now, the offense wants to attain some runs for him to win these video games.

Zac Gallen has a unique look

Lovullo has stated on a number of events that Gallen has had a unique look in his eye this yr. Pitching coach Brian Kaplan stated earlier than the season that he imagines Gallen has a chip on his shoulder.

Gallen didn’t have a really perfect free company expertise, touchdown a one-year deal to return to Arizona with a possibility to attempt once more subsequent winter. After a down 2025 marketing campaign, Gallen has regarded sharp to start out 2026 with one iffy inning by his first 10 frames. He blanked the Tigers by six innings on Wednesday, profitable a pitchers’ duel with two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

If Rodriguez and Gallen grow to be pluses for this rotation after having tough 2025 numbers — particularly by the primary 4 months — that units up the beginning 5 to appear to be what many envisioned final yr as one of many deepest in baseball, particularly when Merrill Kelly and ultimately Corbin Burnes return.

Arizona starters have a collective 3.29 ERA and are fifth in MLB with 52 innings pitched.

The protection has been excellent, more often than not

There have been some defensive hiccups early, however general, the Diamondbacks have graded out very effectively with their gloves.

The D-backs entered Sunday main the league in defensive runs saved with 15. The subsequent highest group is Atlanta at 12.

Alek Thomas already picked up three DRS and has regarded elite in middle area, whereas Marte and Perdomo have been robust up the center. Moreno threw out the speedy Ronald Acuña Jr. stealing in an enormous play on Saturday.

The 10-time Gold Glover Arenado has had some sensible moments at third but in addition a pair errors within the Braves sequence that proved pricey.

Defense was an space of focus to enhance the group in 2026, and it has up to now been a optimistic that may get even cleaner.

The again finish of the bullpen has largely held up regardless of some challenges

Paul Sewald has certainly stepped again into the nearer position he misplaced in 2024, and up to now, he’s been efficient.

Sewald is 3-for-3 in save alternatives with a loss blended in throughout a non-save state of affairs. Sewald allowed two residence runs to the Braves on Friday and got here again Saturday to select up the save in a 1-2-3 inning.

As a group, the D-backs have 4 saves and two blown saves.

Juan Morillo, Jonathan Loaisiga and Taylor Clarke have given up runs in a single look every whereas trying sharp in others. Ryan Thompson had a wonky outing final Monday with two balks however has not allowed a run to this point, neither has Andrew Hoffmann.

The bullpen ERA is an ugly 6.50, the second worst within the league. It is generally weighed down by a blowup innings extra so than constant failures. The bullpen allowed one run or zero in 4 of the final six video games regardless of the tight home windows it’s working in with the offense beginning slowly.

Not having a lefty within the bullpen makes life tougher

Lovullo needed to make it some extent that not having a lefty within the bullpen to start out the yr will not be why the D-backs have misplaced a few of these video games. But it does make the job of an opposing supervisor easier whereas making Lovullo’s tougher.

When Rodriguez — the lone lefty on the group — doesn’t begin, opposing groups can stack the lineup with lefties understanding they received’t have to regulate something.

“It definitely creates a little bit of lineup leverage for the opposition,” Lovullo stated. “They’ve got one thing to worry about, and that’s putting their best left-handed hitting team on the field.”

Arizona relievers have solely allowed a .212 batting common towards lefties after Sunday, however the arduous hit charge is over 50%.

The D-backs confronted a Dodgers group with three of the most effective left-handed hitters within the sport among the many high 4 within the lineup. The Braves had Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson hitting second and third.

The Diamondbacks not having a left-handed reliever is non permanent, Lovullo has stated.

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