Diamondbacks' Bullpen Falters, Wild-Card Hopes Dim

The Arizona Diamondbacks used a bullpen game in a recent 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, opening with Jalen Beeks and turning to Nabil Crismatt for bulk relief. Los Angeles countered by starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Arizona's bullpen allowed early runs that produced the decisive defeat. The loss, combined with other results, left the Diamondbacks trailing Cincinnati and the New York Mets for the final NL wild-card spot and disadvantaged by unfavorable tiebreakers. Manager Torey Lovullo employed the bullpen approach while key starters Zac Gallen and Eduardo Rodríguez were being rested because of injuries, a strategy meant to maximize matchups but which raised execution concerns after the defeat. With a slim margin and tiebreaker disadvantages, Arizona needs wins and help down the stretch to keep its postseason hopes alive.