The Diamondbacks have been on a historic roll, winning 24 of their past 30 games. After getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a bizarre series at Tropicana Field, they rebounded with back-to-back series sweeps over the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox to make it a 6-3 road trip.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Following Sunday’s game Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas joined the list of opposing players impressed by Arizona’s strong play this season. Casas becomes the second star player this month to give their compliments to the Diamondbacks. Two weeks ago, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper shared similar sentiments after Arizona beat them in a four-game series at Chase Field.
“They have been playing amazing baseball since the break,” Casas told WEEI Reporter Rob Bradford after Sunday’s game. “They are a million and zero right now since the break and I can see why.”
'They have been playing amazing baseball since the break. They are a million and zero right now since the break and I can see why.' – Triston Casas on the Diamondbacks
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) August 25, 2024
Since the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks are 26-8. The team has been clicking in all facets of the game. They are scoring an average of 6.5 runs per game, giving their pitchers plenty of margin for error. Ryne Nelson has stepped up to be a key arm in the rotation, with a 2.76 ERA over that stretch with strong peripherals, forcing the team to send Jordan Montgomery to the bullpen he couldn’t keep up. The bullpen has played well in the month of August, leading all MLB with 21 holds and a 3.25 ERA that ranks sixth best.
Over the weekend, the Diamondbacks controlled the game for much of the series, outscoring the Red Sox 23-8. Arizona starting pitchers combined to pitch 18 of the 27 innings, allowing just six combined runs, with Ryne Nelson, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly each picking up a win. They led wire-to-wire in the first game against a promising young arm in Bryan Bello, beat them on a day Kutter Crawford pitched well, and beat their All-Star right-hander Tanner Houck.
Their ability to grind down starting pitchers was on full display, as each of the Red Sox starters found the hard way. All three of them were pitching well through three innings, but the Diamondbacks’ offense got to them in the middle innings with 13 runs scored off them to take control of those games. Fenway Park can be a tough environment to play in for a visiting team, but the team has shown its ability to handle those environments throughout the season.
They’ll have a tough test on the next homestand, as they face the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. It presents an opportunity to bury the Mets in the National League Wild Card race and get their way back in the NL West division race.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
