The Arizona Diamondbacks won’t take anyone by surprise in 2024 the way they did last year. Everyone sees them coming.
The big picture: After winning the National League pennant and earning a trip to the second World Series in franchise history, last year’s underdogs have bigger expectations this season.
Flashback: This time last year, many expected the team would improve but thought they weren’t ready to compete for the playoffs.
- The D-Backs ended up going almost all the way, losing the World Series to the Texas Rangers in five games.
Driving the news: The team starts the 2024 season Thursday with a home game against the Colorado Rockies at 7:10pm.
State of play: Last season, outfielder Corbin Carroll was NL Rookie of the Year. This season he could be MVP.
- The 23-year-old phenom stole 54 bases and hit 25 home runs, a first for any rookie in MLB history.
- Ace of the pitching staff Zac Gallen was in the Cy Young Award conversation last season and seems poised to compete for it again this year.
- Many eyes will also be on returning up-and-comers like catcher Gabriel Moreno and pitcher Brandon Pfaadt.
Between the lines: Arizona added a few noteworthy players in the offseason, trading for third baseman Eugenio Suarez and starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, and outfielder and designated hitter Joc Pederson.
- The team made one more addition this week when it signed starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery to a one-year deal.
Plus: The team recently sent top prospect Jordan Lawlar down to Triple-A Reno, but there’s some buzz about what we might see from the 21-year-old shortstop later in the season.
- However, Lawlar will undergo thumb surgery and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.
Reality check: No matter how well the D-Backs did last year or what kind of potential they have, few expect them to contend for the National League West crown, thanks to the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers.
- After Arizona swept them in the NL Division Series last year, the Dodgers responded with one of the most eye-popping off-seasons in MLB history, signing superstar Shohei Ohtani to a historic deal.
- Los Angeles also signed Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
- That adds tremendous firepower to a team that already won the NL West last year — even if Ohtani won’t pitch this season and will only bat this season while recovering from elbow surgery.
Yes, but: The D-Backs can still get to the playoffs through a wild-card spot, the same way they did last season.
Friction point: Closing pitcher Paul Sewald will miss the season’s first weeks with an oblique strain, a critical loss to a bullpen that was crucial to the team’s playoff run.
- Rodriguez also starts the season on the injured list due to a lat strain.
What we’re watching: Just one of CBS Sports’ six baseball writers, who unanimously picked the Dodgers to win the NL West, thought Arizona would finish second in the division. Only three thought the team would get into the playoffs.
- Sporting News also predicted a second-place finish for the D-Backs, as did ESPN, which estimated a 51% chance to reach the postseason.
