Jordan Lawlar took a knee near second base while awaiting the replay decision. He had just been cut down trying to steal, for the final out in the Diamondbacks’ crushing 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night. When the verdict arrived, Lawlar, not looking particularly surprised, started his long, slow walk off the field.
The D-backs played a pair of games over the past two days that they viewed as must-wins. They lost both. Technically, they are still alive in the wild-card race, 3½ games back of the San Diego Padres with nine games left. But, in all likelihood, they are in deep trouble. And they know it.
In a session with reporters that lasted less than a minute, right-hander Merrill Kelly was asked all of four questions, the last of which was about how he views the Diamondbacks’ place in the playoff hunt. He did not offer an inspiring answer.
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“About the same place as you guys see it,” he said.
A thunderstorm blew through downtown Phoenix in the late innings, dumping enough water on Chase Field that the roof leaked near the pitcher’s mound. The roof has been like this for years, but it has never been so symbolic.
FanGraphs’ playoff odds give Arizona a 16% chance of reaching the postseason. The Diamondbacks were off Thursday before hosting the New York Yankees over the weekend in their final home series of the season.
It was a loss that felt like many that came before it. The Diamondbacks have been no strangers to offensive doldrums this season, and their latest skid threatens to be the one that ends their year. They followed a familiar script: They put runners on base and left them there.
“I feel like for us (the frustration) is more not being able to hit with runners in scoring position, including myself,” shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said. “I think I’m hitting .100-something. This month it’s been a struggle with runners in scoring position. I think in May and June it was a little bit like this. This is the type of game where we need to score. This is the time of the season where we have to score; it doesn’t matter how. We have to score runs. It doesn’t matter how you produce. We’ve got to score.”
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado hits a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field on Sept. 16, 2026.
Their three runs all came via solo homers, one apiece from Pavin Smith, Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado. But they went hitless in six at-bats with men in scoring position one night after losing an extra-inning game in which they stranded 15 baserunners.
They played things aggressively in the ninth but watched it backfire. After Lars Nootbaar worked a two-out walk against surprise reliever Sandy Alcantara — the same Alcantara who threw 101 pitches in a start two days earlier — manager Torey Lovullo sent Lawlar to pinch-run and gave him the green light to steal.
Lawlar took off on Alcantara’s 0-1 pitch to Ketel Marte, but Marlins catcher Joe Mack threw a low laser to second to narrowly throw Lawlar out. Lovullo said the Diamondbacks’ coaches felt that given Lawlar’s speed, Alcantara’s time to the plate and Mack’s time on throws to second, it was a good situation to run.
“We did our math, we did our work, and we felt like we were going to be able to steal that very, very easily,” Lovullo said. “And it didn't happen.”
What went wrong?
“Probably a jump, a read and a tell, and we just didn't hit it right,” Lovullo said.
Said Lawlar: “I saw everything we prepared for. Executed the approach and Joe made a really good throw. … I feel like it was a good jump. Keyed off of what we’ve been looking for and I ran.”
In the end, the four runs the Marlins scored in the early innings off Kelly were too much to overcome.
At 80-73, the D-backs are four back in the loss column to the Padres. With three games left in San Diego to end the season, they no longer control their own destiny. They need help — and they need to play better, fast.
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez turns a double play on Arizona Diamondbacks pinch hitter Jose Fernandez in the sixth inning at Chase Field on Sept. 16, 2026.
“We’ve got to start playing our finest baseball,” Lovullo said. “We got nine games left, and anything's possible.”
—Nick Piecoro
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson returns from injured list
Arizona reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson from the 60-day injured list before their game on Wednesday.
Nelson returns to the major league pitching staff after missing three months with a strained right elbow. He last pitched on June 15, earning a win against the Los Angeles Angels in seven innings.
Nelson made 15 starts this season, but he'll work out of the bullpen for Arizona for the rest of the season.
"It feels really good to be back," Nelson said. "It's nice to get back here and hopefully contribute and push this thing in the right direction and do whatever I can to scratch some Ws out. It's been tough not being able to help but better late than never."
Nelson indicated he might not be using his full arsenal of pitches as a reliever. He said it was important to him to return from injury and contribute, crediting the training staff at Salt River Fields for helping him.
Nelson was available for an inning-plus of work on Sept. 16 if called upon, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
Right-handed pitcher Derek Law was designated for assignment, but the team encouraged Law to remain around the club in some capacity to stay prepared in case the D-backs need a reliever for the postseason roster should they get there.
—José M. Romero
Coming up
Friday, Sept. 18: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (15-6, 2.62) vs. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (8-9, 3.67).
Saturday, Sept. 19: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.77) vs. Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95).
Sunday, Sept. 20: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 5.87) vs. Yankees RHP Will Warren (10-6, 3.89).
