Diamondbacks Lose All-Star Marte Amid NL Wild Card Hunt vs Twins

The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently in a tight race for the National League Wild Card spot, positioned 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets with only 15 games left in the season. They face a crucial three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, a team that has struggled significantly after a midseason roster shakeup. Key player Ketel Marte, who has been instrumental with a strong on-base percentage and OPS, is dealing with a right foot contusion and was scratched from the starting lineup to recover, highlighting the team's need to get him healthy for the playoff push. Despite their ups and downs throughout the season, including periods of winning and losing streaks, the Diamondbacks remain in striking distance of other teams competing for the Wild Card. The team recently received a legislative commitment involving $627 million to keep them in Phoenix, underscoring local support amid the playoff chase. Meanwhile, the Twins, with a poorer record and notable pitchers like Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan, present a key opportunity for the Diamondbacks to improve their standings before facing a challenging schedule against the Giants, Phillies, and Dodgers.