Arizona's 2025 season started with promise but collapsed under a tide of injuries and underperformance. Corbin Burnes’ season ended after 11 starts due to elbow surgery, and Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk also hit the IL, crippling the bullpen. Moreno, Vargas, Marte, and Carroll fought through injuries, forcing lineup shuffles and late-season role changes. The rotation never stabilized: Gallen (4.83), Pfaadt (5.25), and Rodriguez (5.02) struggled, while a deadline fire sale sent Suárez, Kelly and others out, reshaping the org for 2026.

The Diamondbacks face a tight offseason where payroll limits, youth, and veteran balance will define the 2026 roster. Hazen must decide how much to spend, leaning on trades if cash is scarce, while weighing the payoff of young pitchers against veteran stability. First base remains unsettled after a struggling platoon, with Locklear’s injuries clouding his timeline and internal options like Smith, Vargas, and Tawa shaping the path forward. External power and catching depth could be the swing factors as Arizona maps its next moves.

Expect the front office to mix cost awareness with strategic risk, aiming to maximize upside from a young core while avoiding over-committing to outdated contracts. If Arizona can allocate even modest free-agent funds or extract value via trades, the lineup could pivot toward a blend of controllable pitching and veteran presence, with first base and the middle of the order as primary targets depending on health and development.

Dodgers clinch a playoff berth as Sasaki shines in relief. In his first high-leverage relief appearance, the rookie worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, hitting 99 mph and touching 100.1 mph in the process. He followed with another clean frame, reinforcing his status as a true October weapon. Manager Dave Roberts has him on a rest-focused path, signaling a potential postseason role that could extend beyond a one-off experiment.

Activated from the 60-day IL, Sasaki impressed in back-to-back relief outings and now appears slated for a rested, meaningful stint in October. If the early bullpen outings are any guide, the Dodgers might lean on him early in high-leverage spots, potentially reshaping late-inning matchups and closing opportunities for the Dodgers.

Dodgers lean on a bullpen pivot as Roki Sasaki shifts to relief, debuting with a clean 1-2-3 frame and two punchouts to spark postseason optimism. Confidence surges, and management faces a zero-roles playoff landscape where leverage decisions trump fixed assignments.

If Sasaki sustains the momentum, LA gains a flexible late-inning option that could power a deep run. The front office now weighs how to balance roles as the postseason looms, betting on energy, adaptability, and high-leverage upside.