Wednesday, July 16

Welcome to the D-backs Beat Newsletter! I’m Steve Gilbert, and I’ve been writing about the D-backs since 1998. Opening Day is less than 24 hours away, so here’s a preview of what you can expect ...  

It was a helpless feeling for the D-backs as they literally watched their season end the day after their regular season did when the Braves and Mets split a doubleheader, which meant both teams won tiebreakers over Arizona. 

That meant Atlanta and New York would be headed to the postseason as the Nos. 2 and 3 National League Wild Cards, and Arizona would be heading home for the winter. It was a bitter pill for the D-backs to swallow after winning 89 games, five more than they won in 2023 when they went all the way to the World Series. 

Missing the postseason by a single game is something that manager Torey Lovullo emphasized to his team all spring -- every game counts and could be the difference between a champagne shower and a winter of regret. 

What needs to go right? The pitchers need to stay healthy 

The D-backs have built out their pitching depth in recent years, as evidenced by the fact that they had three established starters competing for the final spot in the rotation. But as they learned last year, you can never have too much of it. Last season, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Ryne Nelson – four-fifths of their expected regular rotation – spent time on the injured list. It’s hard for any team to sustain those kinds of losses, and it’s a big reason why Arizona underachieved on the mound in 2024. The team will already be without Jordan Montgomery due to Tommy John surgery, so keeping the rest of the staff healthy is even more important if it wants to return to the postseason.

Great unknown: Will the offense score enough runs? 

It seems strange to be asking that question given that the D-backs led the Majors in runs scored last year (and it wasn’t particularly close), but this is a different-looking offense. Gone are first baseman Christian Walker and DH Joc Pederson, who left via free agency. Arizona traded for Josh Naylor to fill the void at first and is counting on Pavin Smith to pick up some of what Pederson provided as the left-handed DH complement to Randal Grichuk. The D-backs expect a better year from outfielder Corbin Carroll, who struggled in the first couple of months of 2024 before catching fire, but given the big losses it stands to reason the offense won’t lead the Majors again. The D-backs don’t need to do that, but they do need to score enough to support what figures to be a better pitching staff. 

Team MVP will be: Corbin Carroll 

I’m not really going out on a limb here, I know, but Carroll seems poised to have another huge year like his 2023 NL Rookie of the Year campaign. Last year, he had a miserable first couple of months and still managed to put up good numbers by the end of the year. He learned from that experience, and I would expect him to put together an outstanding season. 

Team Cy Young will be: Corbin Burnes 

Burnes is a creature of habit, which is why he is starting the fifth game of the season and not the second, and he is going to be a lot more at ease now that he is playing in the same city in which he lives. Aside from his last Cactus League outing, Burnes looked sharp this spring. Gallen was a close second for this one. 

Bold prediction: The D-backs will knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs 

The Dodgers will win the NL West, outlasting the D-backs over the course of a 162-game season, but like they did in 2023, the two teams will meet in the playoffs. And much like in ‘23, the D-backs will find a way to knock off the Dodgers. 

Arizona State head football coach Kenny Dillingham, who spoke to the D-backs this spring, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when Arizona hosts the Cubs for Opening Day on Thursday.  

ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, defensive back Xavion Alford and defensive lineman C.J. Fite will also be on the field for the first pitch. 

The ASU football team captivated the Valley last fall as it won the Big 12 Conference title and participated in the College Football Playoff. 

In addition, American Idol star and Gilbert, Ariz., native McKenna Breinholt will sing the national anthem. The Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard will be there, and there will be a flyover from Luke.  

Rally towels will be given away to the first 20,000 fans courtesy of AZ Complete Health. 

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