Diamondbacks rally past Cubs to stay in NL wild-card race

MLB Diamondbacks rally past Cubs to stay in NL wild-card race

By Ben Gale

August 26, 2026 • 3:04 AM EDT

Updated 18 days ago

Diamondbacks rally past Cubs to stay in NL wild-card race

The Arizona Diamondbacks are making a strong habit of clutch baseball, even as drama swirls around them and their star second baseman Ketel Marte remains out of sight. Marte, who’s been missing from the clubhouse for a week without offering public apologies to teammates, still looms large over the team. But on Tuesday night in Phoenix, it was rookie Ryan Waldschmidt who seized the spotlight with a pinch-hit, walk-off homer—his second such blast this month. The D-backs erased a 4-0 deficit to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 and keep their wild-card hopes alive.

Change is everywhere for Arizona. Their rotation is patched together, only one starter left from opening day, and their closer has already been let go. Some inside and outside the organization are mocking their manager for his handling of the Marte saga. Still, the D-backs refuse to quit. Their 40th comeback win leads all of MLB, which tells you this team has backbone. They’ve built a reputation for being hard to kill, refusing to let even big drama derail their chase.

According to Yahoo Sports, what’s fuelled Arizona has been resiliency. Manager Torey Lovullo said his players have a “mentality that they’re just a bunch of dogs, and they’re just not going to stop. They’re going to keep getting after it every single day.” Lovullo pointed out this never-quit mindset is why the group stays together, even while some teammates are fuming about Marte’s unexplained absence and others are open to welcoming him back.

On Tuesday, the game felt lost late. The Cubs held a four-run lead heading into the eighth, but the Diamondbacks chipped away. Still down by a run and down to their last out, Waldschmidt smashed a 408-foot shot off Jacob Webb. It was both the D-backs’ 40th comeback win and Waldschmidt’s second walk-off homer this month. That pinch-hit blast wasn’t just clutch—it made him the first rookie in club history to hit a pinch-hit, walk-off homer, and according to OptaStats, the first MLB rookie ever with two walk-off home runs while trailing in the same month.

Waldschmidt summed up the feeling in the clubhouse: “We’re pretty resilient. We’re never out of a game.” Sometimes a team’s stats really do say it all. The victory moved Arizona (70-63) to just one game behind the Padres for the NL’s last wild-card spot with 29 games to go. With Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes potentially returning in mid-September, the D-backs aren’t just alive, they’re gaining confidence at just the right time.

Ketel Marte has been absent from the team for a week with no public apology.
Manager Torey Lovullo’s approach to Marte’s absence has drawn criticism inside and outside the organization.
Arizona’s rotation and bullpen are both makeshift after a season of personnel changes.
The Diamondbacks notched their 40th comeback win, the most in MLB.
Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a dramatic pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Cubs.
Waldschmidt is the first rookie with two walk-off homers while trailing in the same month, per OptaStats.
Arizona is now within one game of the final NL wild-card spot.
Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes could return in mid-September—insulation as the playoff race tightens.

Turbulent week, inspired play

The D-backs aren’t pretending everything’s perfect. The clubhouse has mixed feelings about Marte. Some are angry, recalling that Marte left the team without permission last season too, but others see a path for forgiveness and team unity. Brandon Pfaadt’s comments after pitching 6 and 2/3 strong innings were telling: the real distractions are coming from outside voices, not inside. He told USA TODAY Sports, “I feel like there’s a lot of drama outside of the clubhouse and people are trying to exaggerate what’s going on. But in the clubhouse, I feel like we’re all still together. We’re still on his side.” That perspective keeps the squad focused even as the playoff chase heats up.

How Arizona stays afloat in the playoff race

This comeback win isn’t a fluke. The D-backs have made a habit of late heroics all year. Top teams don’t let locker-room drama or key injuries be excuses—they find a way. With nearly a third of their games won via comebacks, Arizona fans and bettors alike should pay attention. Close games, late rallies, and new heroes like Waldschmidt are becoming the norm in the desert. The return of key starters could make them a real threat if they lock down a wild-card spot.

Key takeaways

Arizona is thriving on resilience and late-game moments, not just talent.
Despite clubhouse drama, the players remain publicly united.
Waldschmidt is making history as a clutch rookie bat.
The rotation and bullpen are held together by a thread, but it hasn’t stopped them yet.
Marte’s loom returns soon; how the team responds will be pivotal for chemistry.
Bettors should watch Arizona’s penchant for comebacks—live lines could offer value in late innings.
The wild-card race is essentially a dead heat—one swing, one night, can change everything.
The return of Gallen and Burnes could drastically improve the starting staff at the right time.
Outside distractions are a factor in the headlines, but not (so far) in the win column.

Looking ahead

The Diamondbacks have 29 games left. With the wild-card race tighter than ever, every game is a playoff game from here on out. For bettors, the crucial angle is that this team has proven it can erase deficits right to the last out. Until Ketel Marte’s status is fully resolved and with key reinforcements still on the way, expect Arizona to be unpredictable but never boring—and with this many comeback wins, the D-backs are always in play, no matter the score.

More coverage: MLB news coverage, our MLB betting analysis and MLB expert picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ketel Marte was absent from the team for a week without publicly addressing his teammates. The reason for this latest absence remains unconfirmed, but it’s not the first time he’s left the team unexpectedly.

The Diamondbacks won 5-4 with a dramatic comeback, capped by rookie Ryan Waldschmidt’s pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the ninth inning after trailing most of the game.

Waldschmidt became the first rookie to hit two walk-off home runs while trailing in the same month, and the first rookie in Diamondbacks history to hit a pinch-hit, walk-off homer.

Yes, Arizona is now just one game behind the Padres for the final NL wild-card spot, with 29 games remaining and key starters potentially returning soon.

Some teammates are upset, but others, like pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, insist the clubhouse is united and most of the controversy is exaggerated by outside voices.

Their starting rotation has been held together with only one original opening-day starter. Both Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes are hoped to return by mid-September.

The Diamondbacks lead MLB with their 40th comeback win of the season, showing a consistent pattern of resilience and late-game heroics.