DAVID BRANDT Baseball Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani runs toward first base as he doubles against the Seattle Mariners during a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

What to watch during MLB’s best-of-three Wild Card Series this week

September 28, 2025

Major League Baseball’s postseason is about to start with some spicy Wild Card Series matchups. The American League features a classic rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, with all games at Yankee Stadium. The Detroit Tigers face the Cleveland Guardians, seeking revenge after losing a big lead in September. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Diego Padres take on the Chicago Cubs. The Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have earned byes to the Division Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani fields the ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Shohei Ohtani has 3rd straight dominant outing on mound with 6 scoreless innings

September 23, 2025

Shohei Ohtani is showing his dominance on the mound as October baseball nears. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star had his third straight scoreless outing on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His fastball consistently hit the 98-100 mph range, even reaching 101.2 mph. Ohtani gave up five singles and started an athletic double play to end the fifth inning. The 31-year-old is building up his pitch count after elbow surgery kept him off the mound last season. He worked five hitless innings in his previous outing. This was Ohtani’s 100th mound start in the big leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr., third from left, is taken out on a cart after diving for a ball hit by Texas Rangers' Rowdy Tellez in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

D-backs OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. carted off field after knee injury vs. Rangers

September 1, 2025

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was carted off the field during Monday’s game against the Texas Rangers after hurting his right knee. Gurriel was hurt in the sixth inning when he awkwardly jumped to avoid center fielder Blaze Alexander, who made a diving catch. Alexander was playing his first game in center field as a big leaguer. Gurriel stayed on the ground for several minutes while medical staff attended to him. The 31-year-old eventually got up and walked to the cart before being driven off the field.

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford, right, celebrates with Joc Pederson (4) after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Osuna’s 2-run single in 10th inning pushes Rangers past Diamondbacks 7-5 for 6th straight win

September 1, 2025

Alejandro Osuna hit a two-run single in the 10th inning, Jake Burger had a crucial RBI triple in his return from the injured list and the Texas Rangers rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 for their sixth straight victory. The Rangers had runners on second and third with two outs in the 10th when Osuna — hitting .149 in 87 at-bats this season — ripped a line drive that caromed off reliever Juan Burgos into foul territory. Michael Helman crossed the plate easily and then Ezequiel Duran scored all the way from second, sliding under Gabriel Moreno’s tag. Texas is 1 1/2 games behind Seattle for the final American League wild card. The Rangers scored twice in the ninth to tie it at 5.

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Good wood: MLB hitters cutting down on strikeouts, even in age of increased velocity

August 27, 2025

Major League Baseball’s hitters are starting to win a few more battles against their hard-throwing pitcher counterparts. Hits could outpace strikeouts in big league games for the first time since 2017. MLB teams are averaging exactly 8.28 hits and strikeouts per game through Aug. 26 and league-wide batting average is up slightly to .246. Managers and players said hitters are starting to adjust in the face of increased velocity, coming to the plate with a better two-strike approach. Technology has also played a factor, with new pitching machines better able to mimic the high-speed, high-spin deliveries.

Colorado Rockies' Kyle Karros hits an RBI single on his major league at-bat debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Kyle Karros, son of 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, hits RBI single in first MLB at-bat

August 8, 2025

Colorado Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros is off to a strong start in the National League, following in his dad’s footsteps. The 23-year-old hit an RBI single in his first big-league at-bat Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Karros has moved quickly through the Rockies’ minor-league system after being drafted in the fifth round in 2023. He was batting .301 with six homers this season, mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. His dad, Eric Karros, hit 284 homers over a 14-year career, mainly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr., right, celebrates his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres with Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo (2) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. makes history, crushes 103.9 mph pitch from Mason Miller for a 2-run homer

August 6, 2025

San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller was bringing the heat. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned the favor. Gurriel crushed a 103.9 mph fastball from Miller into the left-field seats for a two-run homer in the eighth inning, tying the game at 5-all. It was the fastest pitch hit for a homer since MLB started pitch tracking in 2008. It was part of a two-homer night for Gurriel. The veteran also hit a two-run shot in the first inning.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk connects for an inside-the-park home run against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Royals acquire veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk in deal with the Diamondbacks

July 26, 2025

The Kansas City Royals acquired veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. The D-backs got right-hander Andrew Hoffmann, who has made three appearances for the Royals this season out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old was selected in the 12th round of the 2021 draft by the Braves. The 33-year-old Grichuk has played the past 1 1/2 seasons for the D-backs, with the club using his right-handed bat mostly against left-handed pitching. News of Grichuk’s trade came in the middle of Arizona’s 2-0 loss in Pittsburgh. He could be seen hugging teammates in the dugout.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez, left, watches the flight of his three-run home run as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo, right, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

MLB trade deadline: Eugenio Suárez, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo among prized players who could move

July 25, 2025

The market is heating up in the last week before the July 31 trade deadline. Arizona sent Josh Naylor to Seattle on Thursday. The Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies on Friday while the Mets added left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles. More Diamondbacks could be traded, including slugger Eugenio Suárez and starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo and Sandy Alcantara could also be dealt.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor celebrates in the dugout with his teammates after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Mariners acquire Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks for 2 pitchers as trade deadline deals begin

July 24, 2025

The Seattle Mariners have acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. This move comes as the Mariners aim to strengthen their roster before the July 31 trade deadline. Naylor, 28, is hitting .292 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs this season. The Diamondbacks received left-hander Brandyn Garcia and minor-league lefty Ashton Izzi in return. The Mariners currently hold a 54-48 record, placing them second in the AL West and in the second wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks, with a 50-53 record, are expected to continue trading players before the deadline.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte watches his two run double in the first at the MLB baseball All-Star game between the American League and National League, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte’s home burglarized during All-Star break

July 17, 2025

Police are investigating a burglary at a home reportedly owned by Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte. The incident occurred Tuesday night while Marte was playing in the MLB All-Star game in Atlanta. Authorities describe it as a “high-dollar residential burglary” involving stolen personal items and jewelry. No one was home during the break-in. Records from the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office confirm Marte owns a property on the block. Marte contributed to the National League’s victory with a two-run double in the first inning. The investigation remains active, and no further details have been released.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes, left, leaves a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Snake eyes: D-backs’ $425 million investment in starting pitching hasn’t gone as planned

June 9, 2025

The normally budget-conscious Arizona Diamondbacks have been willing to spend big money over the past several years, taking chances on the notoriously volatile market of free agent starting pitching. So far, it’s come up snake eyes. Over the past 5 1/2 years, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has committed roughly $425 million to four pitchers — Corbin Burnes, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodríguez and Madison Bumgarner. The combined return on that investment has been a 30-48 record, 5.25 ERA, minus-0.4 WAR and two Tommy John surgeries.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo pauses in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo turns to his 92-year-old mom for advice amid team’s slump

May 30, 2025

A season of sky-high expectations is off to a slow start for the Arizona Diamondbacks.. They have lost seven of their past eight games heading into Friday night’s game against the Washington Nationals. The skid has dropped Arizona to 27-29 despite the highest projected payroll in team history. There’s more than one reason the D-backs are struggling but the bullpen has caused the most heartburn. Arizona’s relievers have blown multiple big leads and their combined 5.49 ERA is among the worst in the big leagues. There are reasons to believe that things could turn around. Outfielder Corbin Carroll, second baseman Ketel Marte and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo lead a lineup that’s been one of the most productive in the big leagues.

DAVID BRANDT Baseball Writer.