Recaps
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks fall to Braves in series finale, at Red Sox next – Gabriel Moreno and Ildemaro Vargas each hit solo home runs, but the Diamondbacks lost everyday third baseman Nolan Arenado to what the team announced as left trunk discomfort in the top of the fourth inning of a 5-3 road loss to the Atlanta Braves. Matt Olson hit a tie-breaking three-run home run off Diamondbacks reliever Brandyn Garcia in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Diamondbacks (66-59) won the series against
the National League East leaders. Vargas entered the game at third in Arenado’s place. Vargas hit his second home run in as many days in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 2, and has twice hit home runs in back-to-back games this season.
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks can’t complete sweep of Braves – The Braves took two different one-run leads through the first six innings that were answered by Gabriel Moreno and Ildemaro Vargas solo home runs. Then Olson delivered the big blow on a 3-0 count with two outs in the seventh inning off Brandyn Garcia. The D-backs brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning after Ketel Marte and Max Kepler reached base to begin the inning, but Arizona could only muster one run out of it as the next three batters hit into outs. Michael Soroka delivered another strong start in his second start back from injury, going 5.2 innings with two runs allowed.
Team news
[SI] What Diamondbacks’ Big Series Win over Braves Means for Playoff Hopes – If San Diego loses (Ed: they did not, in fact, lose), Arizona will be back in the third and final Wild Card spot. If they win, the D-backs will sit outside the playoff picture. Such is the nature of a tightly-contested National League Wild Card environment. The Phillies are poised to gain even further ground, currently in the second Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks do have a bit of a lead on the next team up in the Miami Marlins, who are 63-61, but those types of gaps can quickly evaporate, and the D-backs have already lost three of their six scheduled games against the Marlins.
[AP] Arenado worried after leaving loss to the Braves with left trunk discomfort – “I am worried,” Arenado said. “I’ve never had that before, so I don’t know what it is.” Arenado said he initially felt the pain while bending over in the batter’s box and it felt worse after he swung. He slowed up noticeably while running to first and quickly decided to leave the game. “I felt a little bit of pain in my intercostal area,” he said in the clubhouse afterward, pointing toward his left rib cage. “I don’t know. It just didn’t feel right. I haven’t really felt that before, so I had to get get taken out of the game.”
[MLB Trade Rumors] Diamondbacks Select Dennis Santana, Designate Philip Abner For Assignment – Santana’s 3.50 expected ERA and .218 opponents’ average on balls in play hinted at some regression in his future. Still, he’s had quite the shift from effective pitching to being downright unplayable in 2026. The Diamondbacks, who are 66-58 and currently hold an NL Wild Card spot, won’t be counting on him to return to his previous performance in the middle of a postseason race. More than likely, Santana will only be up for a short stint. Fellow righties Gerardo Carrillo, Taylor Clarke, and Juan Morillo all have ERAs under 1.00 since the All-Star break, so there’s no long-term need for Santana if they keep pitching well.
[Sporting News] Diamondbacks future with Torey Lovullo likely to rely on playoff outcome – For Torey Lovullo, a lot appears to be riding on the playoffs. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, if the Diamondbacks miss the postseason, they’re likely to fire Lovullo. His job relies upon making the postseason or not. “Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, barring a dramatic change, likely must make the playoffs to keep his job,” Nightengale writes. “He’s in the final year of his contract, and there have been no talks about an extension. He was saved once before by GM Mike Hazen, who is close friends with Lovullo, but Hazen may be unable to stop a firing this time if the D-backs miss the playoffs for the eighth time in the past nine years with a franchise-high payroll.”
And, elsewhere…
[ESPN] pitcher Tommy John, namesake of pioneering surgery, dies – Former major league pitcher Tommy John, a four-time All-Star who won 288 career games and was the namesake behind the pioneering elbow surgery that prolonged his career for 14 more years, died Saturday at the age of 83. John died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, the New York Yankees said in a statement Sunday. A cause of death was not given, but he had been in hospice and had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years. “The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans,” the team said.
[MLB] Ranking every MLB farm system, 1-30 – #25 Arizona Diamondbacks (2026 preseason rank: 22, 2025 midseason rank: 16) The D-backs are deepest at catcher with first-rounder Ryder Helfrick leading the charge followed nicely by Carlos Virahonda (No. 5), Alberto Barriga (No. 16) and Ivan Luciano (No. 18), each of whom has impressed at Double-A or lower in 2026. Acquired from the Rangers at last year’s Trade Deadline, David Hagaman represents Arizona’s best chances at producing a midrotation starting pitcher, while 31st overall pick Blake Bryant could be an enticing long-term project for that group.
Soulm8te (2026)
- Rating: C+
- Dir: Kate Dolan
- Star: Lily Sullivan, David Rysdahl, Claudia Doumit, Arty Froushan
This is the next installment in the M3GAN franchise, though you needn’t worry if you haven’t seen Soulm1te through Soulm7te. Originally intended as a theatrical release, that got canned after the failure of M3GAN 2.0. I think it’s for the best. This is merely okay, dedicated more to staying within the lines than pushing beyond them. The plot is one we’ve seen often enough before, such as in Raptus and Companion. Lonely person gets robotic companion. Person jail-breaks robotic companion. Person discovers this causes problems bigger than voiding the warranty.
