"Sedona 9" Week #5

The Diamondbacks entered the week with momentum but leave it licking their wounds. A 2–4 stretch included multiple blown leads, a bullpen in disarray, and several frustrating losses that could’ve—and probably should’ve—gone Arizona’s way. Despite individual heroics from players like Corbin Carroll, Josh Naylor, and Brandon Pfaadt, the team couldn’t string together enough clean baseball to win either series. If there's a silver lining, it’s that the talent is clearly there—the execution just wasn’t.

🔝 Top 3 Performers

1. Brandon Pfaadt (SP)

Brandon Pfaadt continued his impressive season by securing his National League-leading fifth win on April 27 against the Braves. He pitched six-plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. This performance brought his season record to 5-1, cementing hi, as a contender for staff ace with Burnes. Pfaadt's consistency and poise have been critical in anchoring a rotation that’s dealt with inconsistency from others.

2. Josh Naylor (1B)

Josh Naylor was locked in at the plate this week, highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance on April 27 with two doubles and two RBIs. His clutch two-run double in the seventh inning helped the D-backs snap a frustrating four-game skid. Naylor is now hitting .318 on the season with a team-leading .388 OBP and continues to be one of the most reliable bats in the lineup. His blend of power and situational hitting has made him a mainstay in the heart of the order. We have been "blessed" with a stand-out start to the season for Josh, and if he keeps this up the AZ front office may just be forced to make him the 1B of the future.

3. Corbin Carroll (OF)

Corbin Carroll had a monster week, belting two homers against Tampa Bay on April 23 and adding two triples and an outfield assist in the April 27 win over Atlanta. His nine home runs on the season tied him, at the time, for the MLB lead, and he also leads the D-backs in hits (37) and RBIs (23). His explosive speed and power combo continue to electrify the fanbase and keep him squarely in the early MVP discussion. Simply put—Carroll is doing it all... Also he is fast!

📉 Bottom 3 Performers

1. Zac Gallen (SP)

Zac Gallen was roughed up again this week, allowing four earned runs over just five innings in an April 25 loss to the Braves. He gave up six hits, walked three, and struck out only four, struggling to establish command against a tough lineup. Gallen is now 1-4 on the year with an ERA over 5, a far cry from his ace-level expectations. He’ll need to bounce back quickly to give Arizona a true 1-2-3 punch with Pfaadt & Burnes.

2. J.P. Feyereisen (RP)

Feyereisen was tagged with the loss in extra innings on April 24 against the Rays after surrendering a go-ahead RBI double. He’s been inconsistent in high-leverage spots and hasn't looked sharp in recent outings. With the D-backs bullpen under a microscope, performances like this raise questions about late-inning reliability. Arizona needs him to return to early-season form to stabilize the bridge to the closer.

3. The Bullpen as a Whole

It was a brutal week for the Diamondbacks' bullpen, which blew multiple late leads and cost the team a chance at a winning series. Losses on April 24 and 26 were directly impacted by bullpen collapses in the eighth inning or later. Wild pitches, walks, and poor pitch location plagued nearly every reliever, including recent struggles from Martinez, Beeks, and Jameson. If the Snakes hope to contend, the bullpen must figure things out—and fast.

😲 Biggest Surprises

1. Eugenio Suárez’s Historic Night

Suárez etched his name into the record books with four home runs on April 26, becoming just the 19th player in MLB history to do it. Incredibly, the Diamondbacks still lost the game in extras, wasting what could’ve been an all-time moment. It was his best offensive game since joining Arizona, and a much-needed spark during a tough stretch. If this is the start of a hot streak, the offense could reach another level.

2. Geraldo Perdomo’s Pop at the Plate

Perdomo cracked a solo homer and added an RBI groundout in the April 27 win, offering a welcome offensive boost. Long known more for his glove and contact ability, his ability to drive the ball with some authority came as a pleasant surprise. Despite a bit of a small slump this week, we has still added some productive outs and some pop to help the team when they need it. 4 HRs this year already is a big surprise considering what Domo normally brings in the power department. A productive Perdomo adds length and versatility to the batting order. Once Marte returns it will be interesting to see how he fits into the lineup. Does he hit 2nd, 6th, back to 9th?

3. Alek Thomas’s Timely Knock

Maybe we shouldn't be to surprised by the clutch hitting from Thomas, especially after the 2023 playoffs and his miraculous HR. However, Thomas came through again when needed with an RBI double in the early innings on April 27 to give Arizona the lead. While he’s still trying to find offensive consistency here and there, this season he has proved he can deliver when needed. He is hitting .320 w/ RISP and his defense remains Gold Glove-caliber, but it’s his offensive development that will determine his long-term role. If he can continue stringing together quality at-bats, the center field job is his to lose.

Final Note:The D-backs finished the week 2–4, falling to 15–13 overall and dropping a tightly contested series to the Braves. With several games slipping away late, the focus now turns to cleaning up bullpen execution and getting back on track before the standings tighten in the NL West even more. AZ will be tested over the next 2 weeks with a tough strength of schedule and a chunk of it being on the road back east.

Lets Go Snakes!