Arizona Diamondbacks’ Stunning Playoff Surge: How the D-backs Became MLB’s Hottest Underdog

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks delivered their most dramatic victory of the month on Wednesday afternoon, edging the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 on a 10th-inning walk-off single by rookie catcher Adrian Del Castillo, who lined a 1-0 fastball from Matt Festa into left to score Blaze Alexander and ignite a Chase Field celebration. Late-Night Drama in the Desert • The game marked Arizona’s seventh extra-inning contest since the All-Star break and only its third win in those situations. • Starter Brandon Pfaadt tossed six scoreless frames, striking out five while scattering three hits, before the bullpen surrendered a two-run lead in the eighth. • Veteran reliever Andrew Saalfrank struck out David Fry with the automatic runner on third to keep the score tied in the top of the 10th. What the Win Means for the Standings At 61-66, the Diamondbacks sit 4½ games behind the final NL Wild Card spot and remain fourth in the NL West. Betting markets give Arizona roughly a 3 % chance to reach the postseason, according to BetArizona’s latest playoff odds update. Manager Torey Lovullo emphasized urgency after the game: “Every win right now is a mini-playoff for us. We have to treat tomorrow the same way—we’re chasing, and there’s no room for let-ups.” Key Performances Fueling the Surge Corbin Carroll continued his August rebound, reaching base three times and swiping his 41st bag, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. collected two RBI, including the game-tying single in the first. Del Castillo’s heroics extend an impressive cameo; he’s now 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position since his July call-up. “I’m just trying to slow the game down,” the 25-year-old said postgame. “These veteran guys keep telling me, ‘Stay within yourself,’ and that was running through my head in the box.” Rotation Getting Healthy The club expects ace Zac Gallen to be activated from the 15-day IL (elbow) for Saturday’s series opener against the Padres. His return should stabilize a rotation that ranks 10th in the NL with a 4.41 ERA since July 1. Upcoming Stretch Will Define the Season • 4-game set vs San Diego (division rival also chasing WC) • 6-game road trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles • Only two scheduled off-days before Sept. 9 Lovullo hinted that top prospect Jordan Lawlar (Triple-A Reno, .308/.389/.545) could join the club when rosters expand Sept. 1, potentially adding infield depth for the final push. Search Momentum Around the Snakes Online interest in “Diamondbacks walk-off,” “Adrian Del Castillo,” and “D-backs playoff chances” spiked within minutes of the game’s conclusion, reflecting heightened fan engagement as Arizona tries to replicate last year’s late-season surge. Looking Ahead With 35 games left, the math remains steep, but if the Diamondbacks can continue stringing together tight victories, they’ll keep themselves in the conversation. “We’ve been here before,” Carroll noted. “The experience from 2023 taught us how quickly momentum can flip. Tonight could be that spark.” For a team that refuses to concede, Wednesday’s walk-off wasn’t just another win—it was a timely reminder that the desert still has October dreams.