MINNESOTA – The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to avoid disaster on Saturday night, as their bullpen almost cost the Snakes the win again in Minnesota against the Twins.
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Sep 13, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona D-Backs catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) dislikes the called third strike against him and for Minnesota in the eighth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
In the bottom of the eighth inning during their Saturday night matchup in Minnesota, Taylor Rashi was the latest victim of a poor outing as he gave up a single to Kody Clemens that tied the game. After a great start from Ryne Nelson, the D-Backs bullpen set them back yet again. They were able to not let the mistakes get the best of them and pull out the 5-2 victory in extra innings. Though it’s these issues adding up that could make the D-Backs miss the playoffs by even just a game, just like how they ended their 2024 season.
Sep 12, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryan Thompson (81) pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
These are the games the D-Backs need to win. In their Friday night match-up, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen ended up losing to the Twins in extra-innings after Gabriel Moreno’s home run gave them a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. These issues have plagued the Diamondbacks all season long and have been detrimental to Arizona’s chances of making the playoffs. If the Snakes can fix the issues at hand with their bullpen, they will be way better set up for success.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) takes out relief pitcher Taylor Rashi (54) during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Chase Field on Sept. 7, 2025. © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
What the D-Backs can do for the rest of the season is just focus on giving their bullpen enough of a lead so that they don’t affect these tight games. For next season, questions surrounding the future D-Backs pitching coach Brian Kaplan, as well as who will be a member of the D-Backs bullpen, have to be the first discussion.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
