PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - POSTGAME: Gabriel Moreno's CLUTCH Hit Fuels D-backs' Stunning Comeback Over Guardians

Episode Date: August 1, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks' offense was quiet for eight innings in Cleveland, but when it finally came alive, it delivered another dramatic comeback. The D-backs rallied late to beat the Guardians, securing their MLB-leading 34th comeback win of the season. We break down Mitch Bratt's best start of his young major league career, Gabriel Moreno once again coming through in the clutch, and another dominant performance from Arizona's bullpen. Plus, we discuss encouraging injury updates on Michael Soroka and Justin Martinez, along with some intriguing trade rumors that are beginning to pick up serious momentum as the deadline approaches.   0:00 - SKEEYEE 2:30 - Game recap 7:00 - Gabriel Moreno does it again 13:00 - King snake 18:00 - Juicy rumors 19:40 - Mitch Bratt + The bullpen 33:00 - Wildcard race check-in 43:50 - Trade Deadline discourse 52:00 - Justin Martinez and Michael Soroka updates   JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4   An ALLCITY Network Production   SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube   ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports   MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker   ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix   PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/   ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/   Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order!   Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes   bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets!   Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/   Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.   Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.   Circle K:  Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you!   When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.   #dbacks #diamondbacks #arizonadiamondbacks #mlb #zacgallen #corbincarroll #ketelmarte #mlbtheshow #mlbtraderumors #tradedeadline #traderumors #allstargame Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

into another edition of the PHNX Diamondbacks postgame show presented by our friends at Circle K and that was a very cathartic yell after watching this offense do nothing for seven whole innings. My name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX. I'm thrilled to have you guys here and thrilled to be talking about

another Arizona Diamondbacks comeback win, this time beating the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 4 to 1. And I am not alone. I have you wonderful people in the live chat with me. And I also have my guy, my friend, my former tag team partner, large intimate, formerly big sexy, Kevin Thomas on the ones and twos tonight. It's like when Mark Henry was sexual chocolate.

Yeah, it was sexual chocolate. This is large intimate, right. But thrilled to have you guys here. And as always, we are brought to you by our friends at Bet365. Bet365 where winning is everything. Go use that code of PHNX365 when you sign up as a new. new user to get yourself some bonus bets. Also download the very aesthetically pleasing game time app.

Download that app and get yourself some cheap tickets, create an account and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase terms to apply. What a victory by this team tonight, a night where I was so bored watching this baseball game that I cleaned this entire goddamn office because I just felt like it was the only way for me to put my nervous energy to use instead of sitting there tapping my fingers at the table waiting for the diamond back's offense to wake up in this game. Tanner Bybee absolutely dominated the D-back starting lineup today, holding them to just two hits in this game, and it looked like that was what this outing was going to be. But luckily for the Diamondbacks, Mitch

Bratt was equally as good, even though he just gave up one run in his outing today. And the Diamondback's offense finally wakes up in the 8th to score four runs and give this team a four to one victory over the Guardians. And I'm going to try very hard not to dead name them during this episode. And Kevin is going to get me on it if I do. But speaking of Kevin, the Diamondbacks improved a 58 and 52 this season. They are now six games above 500. Kevin, send Perdomo up the mountain and tell him never to come down.

Ernesto in the chat. That says this game sucked until it didn't. Then it was awesome. Yeah, you're right. It was awesome when it wasn't terrible early on. But the debacks have now won and National League Best 13 of their last 18 games dating back to that magical date of July 9th. And they have the second most wins in all of Major League Baseball

in that frame behind the Boston Red Sox. More importantly, this is the DeBack's 34th comeback victory of the season, which leads all MLB teams. and I don't know what that means other than just like the one-run thing, where they also have the most one-run games played this year, it means the Diamondbacks don't give up. It means that they are able to keep their composure late in these close games and at the very least not let a ton of one-run games slip away from them,

and in this case not let games that they don't have a lead slip away either. I would talk about the offense in this game early on, but what offense? What offense was there? The Diamondbacks didn't even get their first hit off of Tanner Bybee until the third inning when Ryan Waldschmidt singled with two outs, and then he was immediately picked off trying to get too much space over there at first to end the inning. The Diamondbacks wouldn't get their second hit until the sixth inning on a two-out single by Geraldo Perdomo.

and that would be it for that. That would not score. He would not score. The Diamondbacks would not score, and their offense looked as listless as it possibly could. But that was early. That was early. They did get two base runners in the fifth inning when Moreno and Marte were consecutively hit by pitches,

and that was like the most that they had cooking in this game before the eighth inning. That's all the offense could muster up against Bybee, who was as advertised today, and, you know, at the very least, you got to tip your cap to him and to Mitch Bratt for keeping the Diamondbacks in this game because Brat was excellent. He gave the Diamondbacks their best start of his major league career. Oddly still walking a lot of batters, which is just something he did not do in AAA. In fact, that was one of his best traits, was not walking batters.

And now it seems like he can't stop walking them at a major league level. But he was still very effective today. He pitched his way out of some jams, and the offense finally woke up in the eighth inning to give this Diamondbacks team a victory. It started with one out in the eighth inning when Tim Towell walked, and Ryan Waldschmidt single to give the Diamondbacks a runner in scoring position, and truly their first real threat of the game that wasn't made by be hitting two batters, right? But then Corbyn Carroll walked to load the bases.

It was a great at bat, and it was exactly what the Diamondbacks needed, just to see a lot of pitches and for Corbyn to get on base and load the bases up for this, you know, for this potential comeback here. And instead of what we've seen at times this year where the Diamondbacks come up short in those instances, they delivered. You had Perdomo delivering his second hit of the game. This one was an RBI single that scored Tawa and tied the game up at one. Then Gabriel Moreno, who again continues to be the hero for this team, time and time again

over the last two months. Did it again. Delivered what would become the game-winning hit, essentially, for the Diamondbacks. He singled the right-fielder Angel Martinez, who came up. The ball was bouncing towards him. It looked like he was just trying to field it on the bounce, and he missed it. So it gets past him. Moreno makes it to second.

Both runners, two runners would score, and the Diamondbacks would be up three-to-one. Walschman and Carroll would both score on the air. Gabby makes it to second. They do credit him with just an RBI single instead of two-RBI double. but I don't care regardless. He brings in two runs, and he once again showed patience and he showed poise. He took what was given to him, and he absolutely delivered in the biggest moment of this game. And again, there was not a lot of chances for this team.

That's something that they've had time and time again this year. Their offenses created many opportunities to score, and they have trouble converting those opportunities. Today, they hardly had any runners in scoring position. I think when Marte got hit, that was the only runner in scoring position because they moved Moreno over to second base after he got hit. Besides that, they didn't have nothing, right? So again, when they had this opportunity in the eighth inning, especially against what is a very good bullpen. You know, the Guardians starting pitching staff is very good, but their bullpen is equally as good.

I think it's even higher ranked as far as the relief bullpen versus, you know, what their starters are. But the Diamondbacks did the thing there against the bullpen late. Gabby, again, scores two runs, and then I think just as important, with runners on second and third, Cotell Marte comes up, and he comes through with another RBI hit. This time a single, that would push the Diamondbacks lead there to 4 to 1, which is what the game would end at. There was also a play earlier that seemed very crucial in a 1-0 baseball game,

which is what this game was for the majority of it, Almost the entirety of this game was a one-to-nothing ball game, but Nolan Aronado made just an incredible grab and throw to get Angel Martinez to ground out at first in the fifth inning. Not only was it a phenomenal throw, just incredible, that once again just reminds you how Nolan Arnato is not an unk, he's not washed, and you can save all of your old talk for someone else

because that man still has it. Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, you can be unk and not be washed. washed. No, that's true. He's unc. I'm unk and washed. That's what I realized when I made that comment that I talked about on, on Twitter yesterday, when I got up in the morning and said, I'm going to get my chores done early before it gets too hot outside.

Let's get up at 630, get this lawnboat, right? I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm broken. I'm officially old. I'm old, and I'll admit it, and there's nothing I can do to change it. But, again, Nolan Aronado, not only was it, again, a phenomenal throw, but 100% a run would have scored there. And I'm not saying that two runs changed. changes this game, but with the outcome being as close as it was, you never know how that

runs scoring branches this game off into a different timeline in which we lose, right? So that seemed very much, very important at the time to keep a run from scoring and to keep this game at one to nothing. But again, we are going to talk before the end of this episode about some very juicy trade rumors that I think all of you are going to be very interested in, as well as some very positive, encouraging updates about both Michael Soroka and Justin Martinez. In regards to that, though, it just once again reminds me how impressive it is that this team has been holding it down the way they have with all of these injuries this season. This, not even this season. Forget the season.

I just meant this month. The month of July, I will say I couldn't have been more wrong about. I thought this team was going to get their ass kicked this month. And they have proven that they really have come together and they have found a way as a unit, as a team to win these baseball games. It seems to be Gabby Moreno a lot being the hero lately, but it feels like, you know, we've seen Mad Max Kepler be a hero for this team a few times. We've had, of course, Geraldo Perdomo be a hero, Nolan Aronado be a hero, like all of these guys kind of step up. And it feels like you're getting, you know, a consistent team performance out of the Arizona Diamondbacks, which is what they kind of were always meant to be.

be. This was never a team that was contingent on one superstar or one person leading the way. It's why they're able to win games with Marte struggling the way he has and Carroll not necessarily performing the way we expect Corby and Carroll to perform. But it's been the entire lineup. And that's something that the Diamondbacks haven't had the last few years as far as their offense is concerned. Still not a top offense in the league, still trying to find their way, I'm not going to act like four runs is a ton tonight, but again, the fact that they were able to be held scoreless for seven innings in this game

and then finally find a way to break through late and steal this one from the Guardians was great to see, great to see. And it truly makes you feel like this team is capable of finding ways to win baseball games, even when their offense is being completely shut down by the starting pitcher like Tanner Bybee did tonight. I will say this. This team, I'm excited to see what happens this weekend.

The trade rumors are swirling, and it feels like with the position that they are currently in, the Diamondbacks have really have, might have something cooking here. We might all be very excited about what happens on the other side of this weekend. At the very least, what we can be excited about is how well this team that is here now on the field is playing without any additions and without having, those players brought in to back the map or even getting guys back from the injured list. So top performers tonight, Geraldo Perdomo was two for four with a run scored and an RBI.

He tied the game up and he was huge for this team. He's also the only player that had a multi-hit night. No, that's not true. Excuse me. Ryan Walshman also had a multi-hit night. He was two for three with a run scored. Again, great to see Waldy contributing as well as Cotel Marte delivering with that big RBI there. He went one for three tonight with that RBI.

But again, our King Snake is the guy that has been at Kevin a few times before, and it seems like he's coming up more and more recently. It's Gabriel Moreno, who went one for three tonight, had that one game-winning hit, one RBI, and now Gabriel Moreno has reached based safely in a franchise high, 46 straight starts. He broke that tie with Corbyn Carroll with his home run on July 29th against the Pirates and continues to keep this streak going,

which it's on path to be the longest streak by a catcher in the 2000s, in the 2000s. Not to mention Moreno. No knocking on wood? No knocking on wood? I should knock on wood. Is it? I don't know.

Chees, I mean, at this point, it's just, it's all toppings on the ice cream is really what it is. It's an amazing Sunday. And any games, any, any, as long as he continues to extend the streak, It's just all good. All additional goodness. But eight games on this road trip, Gabriel Marino is hitting 355 with three doubles,

one home run, 12 RBI and three walks. The man is consistent, and he remains the most consistent hitter in the D-BACs lineup right now. Not the most powerful, not the best OPS, nothing like that, but still the best batting average by far, and he finds ways in these big moments to contribute, whether it's him getting on base as a base runner or him getting the game winning hit like he got today.

Huge win from this team, and again, it would not have happened without Diamondbacks rookie Mitch Bratt shoving today against the Guardians. It was an incredible performance, the best of his MLB career, and we are going to talk about it on the other side of this break.

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Yeah. No, I mean, why not? It's not going to happen. But let's just throw rumors like that out there. I still offer Terrick Scoobel the entire city of Kingman. All of it. Like, I'm not even saying like, oh, okay, you can go live there and the people will have to, like, serve under you as like, not constituents, maybe like, what did they call, like, peasants back in the day? That's a word for what was happening, yes.

Yeah, right. Like, he would be the king of kingmen. He would be the king man, essentially. He could change the name if he wanted to of the town, too. We're fine with that. And everybody would serve underneath him. But we could also just level the entire city. Well, I mean, we'll evict people.

We'll give them notice. We'll give them time to get out. But we'll level the whole city and we'll make the biggest goddamn house you've ever seen in your life. What is happening? I'm just trying to offer stuff up for Terek Scoobel, who's originally from Kingman, Arizona. Wait, so you want to level his hometown? If he wants that, is what I'm saying.

If what he wants is to, like, own the whole town, we'll do that if he wants to, like, have a castle that we build there. Hey, baby, I love you. I destroyed your hometown for you. We'll get him a little crown. I mean, whatever, it doesn't matter. We'll figure it out. But whatever we need to bring Scoobel here.

No, we will not be acquiring Scoobel, but we, once again, do have some interesting things coming up, including some Diamondbacks scouts, currently taking a look at one starting pitcher who hasn't been having a great season, but hey, still, we could use the help. Any help we could get as starters will take. But after watching Mitch Bratt pitch tonight, maybe not,

because Mitch Bratt was very good for the Diamondbacks. He gave the deba backs, like I said, his best outing as a major leaguer, even though he's still struggling with walks, which is just still so odd, considering how good he was at not walking batterers, like I said in the minor leagues. But the only run he allowed tonight was thanks to a walk,

coincidentally enough. It was a one-out walk in the first inning of Jose Ramirez. Ramirez would steal second base and then score on a Reese Hoskins RBI single to give the Guardians a 1-0 lead that would last for the entire game somehow. It was just the entire game. It was all of it. It was the entire game having to watch this man, or no, this Diamondback's offense do nothing.

But meanwhile, Mitch Bratt, very good against the Art Guardians. And I will say, I will preface this with the Guardians have the worst offense in all of Major League Baseball. They have the worst team OPS in all of baseball. And we very much saw that on display tonight against Mitch Brad. Brad did an excellent job of handling this lineup. He had a 1, 2, 3 second inning. He gave up a lead-off single to Stephen Kwan in the third, but then he would not allow another base runner in that inning. In the fourth, he walked Reese Hoskins.

but Guy got Brayen Rochio. I know, I'm not, look, you guys don't have bad with names. I didn't hear it on the broadcast. So it's a weird name. I'm not even going to try to butcher it, even though I already did. He hit into a double play. And then Brat would walk David Fry, but again, no further runs would score. No further base runners would end up on base.

He did give up another hit to Kwan in the fifth inning, which was a one-out double. He intentionally walked Ramirez to not deal with that. with two outs and then he got chased to louder to fly out to left. So the plan worked perfectly and he gets out of the game without much more damage other than that one run scoring in the first inning. And he was really good tonight. He had a nice mix of pitches. He threw six different pitches in tonight's game. He went primarily with his four-seem fastball, which maxed out at 92.9 miles per hour and average 91.5. He got one whiff with it and he threw that 35% of the out. He complimented that with a pretty nice slurve tonight, which he got two whiffs on.

He also got two whips on his slider, which he didn't throw much, but he got some whips on that. The slurv was his complimentary pitch with the four seam tonight. He threw that 26% of the outing. He threw the change-up and sinker 11% each slider 10%, curb ball 7%. So again, he did a great job tonight of mixing his pitches up. He did have two strikeouts, and I will once again say the strikeout meter, the circle K, strikeout meter deserves better than that. However, again, if we're going to pitch to contact,

I think the one thing I will say about the Circle K strikeout meter is it nose ball. So it's okay with that. We get the win. It's okay with not being fed. But we got two strikeouts on the strikeout meter. Plug that weird European plug or whatever it is in there, Kevin, to make it light up. And there we go. We got two strikeouts on the board tonight.

Brat goes five innings for the Diamondbacks, gives up three hits, one earned run. He walks four, but strikes out two. One of the walks was intentional, so that's fine. But again, it's just odd that this guy that one thing he did really well was pitch in the zone, pitched contact and not get a lot of walks when he was a pitcher in the minors. But we will take that from Mitch Bratt. Again, we will take not only the five innings pitched, but him only allowing the one-earned run any outing.

You know, you can't expect a ton of length from these rookies, but if they can go out there and give you five innings with three earned runs or less, even though that's not a quality start as far as MLB is concerned. It is a quality start as far as Derek Montia is concerned with our rookie pitchers. Let's talk about the bullpen, though, shall we? Ladies and gentlemen? Ladies and gentlemen, the bullpen? Kevin?

The bullpen? What are we even? What is this bullpen? They are amazing, and they did it tonight. Held it down for four innings. Clark, Taylor Clark, one inning of work. one strikeout. Jonathan Loisga,

aka Johnny Lazzania, one inning of work, one walk, one strikeout. That would literally, the walk that Lazzania had would be the only walk or the only base runner

that the Guardians would have for the final four innings of this game. Give it to me. Give it to me, Kevin. One inning from Ginkle, zeros across. And then Brandon Garcia

three saves now, one inning of work, one strikeout, cooking. Russell, the bullpen is cooking this season. And again, I know we've had our, we've stumbled. We've had our Paul Seawald moments. Other guys, Ryan Thompson also has had his fair share lately of struggling as well. And throughout the year, you know, you're going to have your bumps. But the consistency overall from this Diamondbacks bullpen remains its strength this year.

It is the reason why the Diamondbacks lead MLB. with 34 comeback wins. It is the reason why the Diamondbacks lead MLB in one-run games. Because this bullpen keeps them in these games and keeps them, you know, gives them a chance to win. Even in a loss, even in a one-run loss, right? They're not letting these games blow up and get out of control. They are keeping this game,

these games within shouting distance, or more importantly like tonight, they are keeping these games scoreless when they come in and do what they've been doing. And again, I just cannot say enough about how incredible they continue to be and how, you know, we just a few days ago were talking about what are they going to do. And if adding a bullpen arm has now become a priority. I see now that there is no need for a bullpen arm.

What they need to do is simply put Brandon Garcia into the closer roll. This man had a one, two, three, ninth inning with a strikeout. and looked effortless in doing so. There was no home runs allowed just for funsies. There was no excitement. We didn't get to buckle up and get on a roller coaster and find out if we were going to end up with a win at the end. It was just pitching, getting outs, and ending a game quickly and quietly.

In fact, Kevin and I were kind of mad. We were like, can we get a three-two count? We're trying to catch up here, get some graphics made and stuff. And the bullpen just like, nope. Nope, we got dinner plans. We're getting out of here. And that's what happened. Shuffed.

Shuffed. And I just, again, I can't, I can't believe you would watch what Garcia does. Lefty, righty, don't give a crap. I don't care how much you need a left-hander for other moments, other parts of the rotation, other parts of the starting lineup. Not rotation, but parts of the lineup. Fine. Go get another left-handed reliever.

Right? Philip Abner is not good enough. So go get another left-hand of reliever if you feel like you need that. But Brandon Garcia is that guy. He is that guy for this team. The more experience, the more innings he gets under his belt, the better he is going to get. His stuff is incredible.

I know that you want, you know, to have that flexibility of a lefty being able to come in and, you know, get those big parts of the lineup when you feel like you need that against certain teams. And perhaps you change your strategy a little bit. Tori said he was going to go more based on the matchups on who would close out games for this team. It feels right now, though,

like he is very comfortable with Brandon Garcia being there in that spot. And the Diamondbacks bullpen still is hovering around the middle of the league, but 17th best ERA, even with Paul Seawald and Ryan Thompson, and both having ERAs lately in the teens and 20s, you know, that still feels like the rest of the bullpen is doing a really good job to keep them there around the midpoint of major league teams as far as bullpen ERA is concerned.

But again, I just don't think that there's any doubt in my mind who should be closing out games for this team right now and who should continue to until, you know, until that becomes a problem or somebody you cannot, can no longer count. on. But for right now, Brandon Garcia is a certified G and a bona fide stud, and as so many of you know, you cannot teach that. We're going to take a quick break. On the other side of this break, we're going to talk about the numbers from this game, as well as the delicious wildcard standings. Don't you go

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models. Summer always flies by, and these offers will too. So don't wait until it's too late. Hurry in today and choose no hassle, no nonsense, no pressure, choose Sanderson Ford. All prices are plus tax title license, $599 dealer dock fee and dealer ads must finance through Ford Motor Credit on proof credit C dealer for qualifying vehicles and complete details. Offer expires August 31st, 2026. All right. Jason in the chat says, all my best friends are Angel fans. They are in shambles, worst record in all of MLB. Sounds like a team that we should fly in and pick the bones of. How about we get one re-Detmers from your Angels team, shall we?

And a Jose Soriano while we're at it? Just saying, I'm excited. I'm excited because the Diamondbacks are going to add. What they're going to add, we don't know. But we do know that the position that they're currently in right now is undeniable. Is undeniable. With losses tonight's by the pirates, the Phillies, everybody lost. Everybody that matters to us lost, and the Diamondbacks are now in firm control alone of the second wildcard spot over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Not the first wildcard spot, not the third wildcard spot, the second one, right? And they did it tonight by winning this game when all of these other teams lost. So let's take a look at the numbers from tonight's game. Then we're going to get up there and do the wild card stuff. But the Diamondbacks win this one by a score four to one, and they do it with zero extra base hits. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, zero extra base hits. I don't know what was going on in Cleveland. Was the air thick?

Was gravity extra heavy in the state of Ohio tonight? Gravity. Zero extra base hits. One for the Guardians. The Diamondbacks were three for five with runners in scoring position, with most of those happening in that eighth inning. Meanwhile, the Guardians were one for six tonight. Both teams did not hit the ball very hard,

a 24.1% hard hit percentage for the Diamondbacks, 25% hard hit percentage for the Guardians. Expected batting average, 286 for the D-backs, which is not bad at all. It just goes to show that a lot of their balls were finding defenders when hit. Meanwhile, Guardians was pretty bad. Expected batting average 156.

Three-for-three on challenges for the Diamondbacks. You know how proud that makes me. I'm a proud Papa when it comes to CNN. All I want you to do is use two. Win or lose. Use two. Okay, that's the goal every night. We don't leave them to our children in our will.

So three for three for the Diamondbacks, two for two for the Guardians. And again, overall, just a solid night on a night where neither team was scoring very much offense. The Diamondbacks find that little crack that they can get through and bust this game open and win this one by a score of four to one. And it really did feel like they kind of stole this one

overall from the Guardians. And so that was great to be on this side of that. But this cactus light is on for multiple reasons, not just for the win, but because we are winning when it comes to the wildcard chase. Kevin, if you wouldn't mind, let's take a look at those updated standings from MLB.com because this is pretty. This is pretty. The Philadelphia Phillies, they're spiraling just like the Marlins did,

as did the pirates, as are the pirates, and the nationals and the Cardinals. Everybody's losing. It's great. The Marlins lost a whole bunch of games, so them losing or winning one, that's fine. We don't care about that. But what we very much do care about is now sitting at 58 and 52. The Diamondbacks are four games back from the Chicago Cubs for the top spot, which we are currently gunning for. Watch your back cubs. The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. Diamondbacks, when three in a row, they are the hottest team right now in the NLW. wild card race, and again, it's just a very exciting time. It's, it is the best possible time for them to be doing this, right? Because if this team is playing really good baseball theoretically throughout the year, maybe they don't see weaknesses to add, maybe they don't see a need to upgrade. I don't know. That's kind of crazy talk.

But overall, this offense, I feel like still needs some help, and I still very much would like to see this team add a starting picture with the uncertainty of the future for the Diamondbacks. But when you sit here and look on Friday, July 31st, as we approach the trade deadline on Monday, this team, these boys have done everything they needed to do to convince Mike Hazen and the rest of the front office that this is not a mediocre baseball team. That this team, even though they might be mediocre on paper and stats and numbers and offensively, they still aren't great, they are fighting right now when these wins are literally the most important, when you needed to make the biggest impression on your front office, when you needed

to literally scream in their face and say, do not give up on us, they did it. You know, and I mean, again, I didn't think that there was. much that they could do in this Guardian series to change that after how well they've played. But what they can do in this Guardian series is just reinforce it, make it that much more evident that Mike Hazen needs to make some moves. A GM's job is very complicated when it comes to this time of the year, right? You can't gamble and go all in when you're simply trying to make a mediocre team better and think that that's going to be enough to turn them into a contender.

Especially in this market. This market not only is it going to be hard for you to go out there and address your needs, but the cost is going to be high, and the suitors for the exact same player you're trying to acquire, there's going to be a lot of them in both the American League and the National League. So it's not an easy task. When you have a team that kind of limps in here, You can't try to make a desperate move in order to improve them with that move jeopardizing your future.

Just think about how crazy it is that the Padres did what they did to acquire Juan Soto just to have that really go nowhere for that franchise. And now they're getting to watch those prospects, those young, talented players, be all-stars for the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the Nationals are kind of in that same spot, right? The Nationals are a team that were young and exciting and have played good baseball all year. But here as they approach the trade deadline, they've lost three in a row. They've dropped down below 500.

And they're a team that, again, you might not want to do much to mortgage the future in order to build around now. You might still feel like their window is open long enough that you can make some changes. But, you know, those changes don't need to necessarily be impatient or rushed. The debacks are different, I feel like. The debacks are kind of in a win now mode for multiple reasons. The guys that are here, guys that are expiring contracts, Tori Lavolo on an expiring contract, the uncertainty of the 2027 season.

There's just a lot for this team right now with veterans like Nolan Aronado and, you know, Corbin Burns coming back that you feel like now is the time. Now is important. Now is the time for this team. to try to go out there, make not a splash at the trade deadline, but do something that's going to fortify this lineup, fortify this starting rotation,

and make this team a true contender. Then when you get back guys like Ryan Nelson and Corbin Burns and Michael Soroka and Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawler, you are overpowered. You're OPE, as they say in the video game world. And now you have all the tools that you need for you to go out there and truly make a run in the postseason. You know, let's not forget that right now

one of the guys that's been helping them when baseball games isn't even eligible to participate in the postseason. So that is a hit to their roster that is coming and is inevitable. And again, is something that the Diamondbacks have to keep in mind as far as keeping this offense, you know, rolling. Kepler didn't have a good night tonight,

but he has been good for this team at times. So it's just a very exciting time. for this team to be playing their best baseball. And it's exciting to, you know, have this weekend come up now and, you know, on the other side of it, perhaps see this team transformed in a significant way through a trade. It's like Christmas. I don't know what I'm going to get,

but I know I've been a good boy, and I know I should get whatever my little heart desires. So bring me Luis Garcia, Jr. That's what I want. And if you are watching, if you're on Trade Watch tonight, I do have to tell you that Luis Garcia Jr. was pulled early from tonight's Nationals game. Just saying, just saying, I am just saying. We're going to take a quick break and I'm going to talk about more trade rumors

and get you guys really excited on the other side of this break. Plus, we have some very encouraging updates about Soroka and J. Mark. don't you go anywhere, you are watching the PHNX trade show. Well, Mountain America Credit knows that financial success begins with the right institution and the right account. And that account is their one and only My Style Checking account. Designed around exceptional member service, my style checking is more than a box of dusty old checks.

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He said he left the game with leg soreness. Damn, damn. I wanted to be on Hug Watch. I'm ready, I'm ready, Kevin, to be on Hug Watch in the dugouts. I'm ready to be on Hug Watch on the field. And I'm also ready to hug, by the way. I give the best hugs, and you can get one of those hugs. If you join us on August 25th for our D-Backs takeover of Chase Field,

presented by Circle K, again, August 25th versus the Chicago Cubs. and I was saying it jokingly earlier, but this series might be for that first wild card spot by the time this comes around. Who knows what's going to happen between now and August 25th, but your ticket does include the hug that I mentioned earlier, as well as a piece of PHNX DBAX merch of your choice, a shirt or a hat.

You get a DBAX ticket to the Bar as All You Can Eat Section so you can eat all of the glizzies with us, and you die hard to get 20% off. So get your tickets now. PHNX.com slash events. Do not wait. They will sell out and we will not have more. So this is the last table over.

And what section is this in, Derek? This is in the all you can eat section. The bar as all you can eat. Glizzy section. Let's go. Let's go. Cannot wait. Can't wait.

Get that link in our show notes, by the way. Or like I said, head on over to go p.hnx.com slash events. We have trade rumors. Abundant trade rumors. And a lot of those trade rumors are in fact involving the Arizona Diamondbacks. And they're kind of all over the place, you guys. It's kind of fun.

The biggest one that I am noticing seems to be the Diamondbacks attached to Mets starter Freddie Peralta. And I need that to happen just so that I look right from that article I wrote where I gave you guys five trade candidates the Diamondbacks should target at the deadline

because they listen to me about that one. Look, the fact is that Freddie Peralta is everything that you want in a trade candidate. He is on a terrible team that has no hope of making the playoffs and is literally spiraling. They have huge contracts and a huge payroll, so they just want to do everything they can

to shed their payroll. But Freddie Peralta is on an extremely friendly team contract still. And that contract expires at the end of this year, making him a free agent, or making him very, very cheap, right? Like, he's a rental. He's not having a good, season. His ERA is terrible. There are so many reasons why the Diamondback shouldn't even be

interested in him. He has a 4.99 ERA across 22 starts. Gross. But scouts from the Padres and the Diamondbacks attended City Field to evaluate Peralta ahead of the trade deadline. So it would very much look like the Diamondbacks are interested in adding a starting pitcher based on these reports. We also have another report where John Gambador, aka Gambo, has connected the Diamondbacks to Casey Mize, who was scratched from his start today. He, meanwhile, has been having an incredible season. 2.70 ERA this season.

He has a great fastball. He has excellent command, and he has a really, really good splitter as well to compliment that fastball. He, like I said, was scratched from his start today, I believe, is when he was scratched. or yesterday. So that is somebody. And whenever Gambo starts talking, whenever Gambo, that's, that's, yeah, that's a pretty good. Now, what's interesting is we're getting like conflicting reports because a few hours ago, apparently the Tigers said that in regards to Mize, they would very much like to hold on to him, that they want to hold on to KZ Mize.

they want to hold him back, excuse me, until after the trade deadline. So he will not have another start until the trade deadline. That means the tigers are going to trade Casey Mize. That's exactly what that means. So meanwhile, according to Nick Picoro over at AZ Central, the Seattle Mariners were listening to Shane, as they tend to do. And Jerry Depoto wants to get on the phone and see what it's going to take for the Diamondbacks to give the Mariners one Ryan Waldschilds.

Schmidt. And I don't know how much I like that. However, the proposal might be for Emerson Hancock, who is somebody that we very much were hoping for. So I don't know. The Mariners have that abundance of pitching. We have an abundance of outfielders. Maybe it makes sense. Maybe it makes sense. And I know that we've heard that because of the trade deadline being what it is and because of teams wanting to hold on to prospects due to that unknown value that we might be seeing trades happen major leagher for major leaguer. And in this case, it's not somebody that's been up very long, but Ryan Walshman, again, has proven that he can play at a major league level. He's proven that he's been a good defender. And he's, you know, he's proven lately that he can

turn his bat around and lower that strike. rate a bit. So I don't love it. Kellen in the chat just says no, no, no, no, no. Does not like that. Jason says if they take Waldi, I riot, I already lost Blaze. You lost Blaze? We lost Blaze. We all lost Blaze. Blaze wasn't just yours. Blaze belonged to all of DeBax Nation, and we all lost them. But Sean is also right in the chat. Sean says Lawler's injury proneness concerns me with the Waldie talk. It's very true. I would like to see Lawler stay healthy

for long here. And I'm not going to blame him for getting hit in the hand and having his handbrake, right? But the hamstring thing sucks. And hopefully we'll get Lawler back soon. And people in the chat seem to be very much against Ryan Walsh Mitt. But hey, you know,

again, that comes down to what do you value more? And what do the Diamondbacks have in the pipeline as far as pitching is concerned for the future of this team. Emerson Hancock could be an ace for the Diamondbacks going forward. And again, this is the struggle of being a GM. Remember earlier when I said it sucked and it was unenviable and I don't want to do it because it's hard to make these decisions? Do you want to make this kind of decision? Are they paying me like they pay my case in? Yeah, sure. Then yeah, I'll take all of the

scrutiny. I'll take a crack at it and I'll go live on an island. You have to, you have to post from your Twitter account as much as you do now. Well, that seems foolish. Well, that's what I'm I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So, anyway, but yes, there's some very interesting trade rumors abound, and it seems like the Diamondbacks are getting, are part of these trade rumors more and more. Again, it's encouraging that the debacks should be making a move, and despite that move being underplayed by Gambo and others, which I completely understand. I don't think, I don't think even Damon thought we were going to go out and get Terrick Scoob. I don't think Damon thought we were going to get some of those names that he was throwing out there.

But from his perspective, since he's not here, I will say once again that you got to stop thinking that you can't make those big moves and you can't stop thinking or you can't regret what's happened in the past and have that keep you from making moves now. Right? Like, it seems like every time we go out and get a huge starting pitcher that we think is going to absolutely change this rotation, it doesn't do that. Right? So, again, it would cause me pause as well.

But if you could find a way to get your hand on young controllable starting pitching for this team, you got to do it. You got to do it. The future is still so uncertain as far as the starting rotation for the Diamondbacks. Derek, I have a question. Yeah. This comment from Chief Crazy Buffalo 839 has me thinking, if you were to try to trick another GM in the MLB, Now I'm putting you in Mike Hazen's office. And I'm saying, Derek, you have to get Pave and Smith off this franchise.

How are you going to, what's your pitch to another GM? How are you going to sell me this pen on Pave and Smith? Did you guys know that Pave and Smith has the largest family of any Major League Baseball player? And that all 78 members of his family are currently season ticket holders, you can bring that kind of attendance in one addition by adding Pave and Smith and we'll simply throw him in. We're helping make money on the side. I mean,

if you want, do you want to sell tickets? Do you want to put butts in seats? Well, we will have 78 members of the Smith family here for 100 games. Spring training and regular season. That's cute. I don't know if I'm going to buy the pen, but that was cute. Yeah. Sean says dye his hair and changes the number and first name.

What new name are we going with? Peter. Staven Smith. Perry Smith. That sounds like a guitarist for like a 90s rock band. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Perry Smith was, yeah, he was the bassist for Jane's addiction in the 90s is what he was. I don't know. We'll figure something out.

We'll definitely figure something out. But there is some very encouraging news in regards to Diamondbacks players that are here and are on the injured list. According to Steve Gilbert from MLB.com, Justin Martinez is expected to go on a rehab assignment next week. he will play in a camp game, and then he will go to Vesalia and pitch in a rehab game for Vesalia. So if you were excited before we started, get excited now, considering that you know that J-Mart is on his way back, and this bullpen that already has been good, as good as it is, will be getting J-Mart back soon. And also, the starting rotation will be getting Michael Soroka back. and Michael Soroka, according to a report,

had himself a tremendously good night in the Arizona Complex League against the Cubs ACL team. In fact, Michael Soroka pitched four innings of perfect baseball with eight strikeouts tonight and he combined with two other relievers for a three-hit shutout against the ACL Cubs. Now it's the ACL Cubs.

I'm not going to go crazy. But still, still, still. he's back. And eight strikeouts and four innings? Sign me up. Sign the Circle K strikeout meter up for that. We're talking, right? I'm pumped, right?

Not to mention Ryder Helphrick was also playing in that game and he hit a two-run home run. So our future also looks pretty good, considering the guy we just drafted, is hitting dingers already in the ACL. But man, cannot be excited enough about the, the Michael Soroka. And Nate Cleveland is saying we have a trade.

Is Nate Cleveland being sincere? Do we actually have a trade or no? I need to know this. Kevin, do me a favor. I'm doing some Googles. Round up the Diamondbacks team and do some research there. But yeah, Ina, I haven't seen Ina in a while. Ina, great to have you here in the chat.

She says we need a lefty reliever to balance Garcia as he crushes it. and the closer roll, you're right. You're right. The Diamondbacks need another left-handed pitcher in that pen so that Tori can use him in other situations. It was crazy to start the season with none. It was crazy to start the season with no left-handers at all. But, hey, overall, it's nice that Garcia has rounded out

into what he has become. So we don't have a trade, but the twins do. The twins do. Oh, okay. And that's fine. That's fine. The twins don't affect me in any way, shape, or form. So they can stay there in the American League doing whatever they're doing.

But this team, again, has, again, some reinforcements coming on the horizon. Sooner than many people anticipated, perhaps, especially with Michael Soroka shoving. Good chance that he might only need two more starts before he returns to the starting rotation. The Diamondbacks do have some tough matchups coming up outside on the other side of this Guardian series. They have a four-game series with the Padres here at home, and then they take on the Dodgers once again for a three-game series. So you would love to see Soroka back sooner than later. Chances are he will miss both of those series, but he should be back here by the midpoint of August. As long as Cole Drake and Mitch Brack can hold it down, which I am far more encouraged by Mitch Bratt's outing today,

So, you know, you feel at least these guys are serviceable and they might get you there. They might get you to Michael Soroka getting back. They might get you to Zach Gallen being back. And most importantly, this rotation might get us to Corbyn Burns being back. And who knows what the starting rotation can be at that point when you have Corbin Burns, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Michael Soroka all pitching in the same rotation together. Plus, Brandon Fott has been incredible. And Merrill Kelly, outstanding as well in this last.

last outing. Like, things are not as bad as we might think they are, but we get emotional during 162 game season, and there's some highs and some lows, and we don't do our best of, you know, being calm and rational through those times. But we thank you guys so much for joining us tonight. We will be back on Monday.

More importantly, we'll probably be back over the course of this weekend. There's a good chance that there will be a trade that happens for the Diamondbacks before Monday comes around. Should that happen, keep it locked right here to the PHNX Diamondbacks channel. Well, it's not just our channel, but we live here. And we will be doing emergency podcast or whatever content we need to do once those trades happen for this team. But again, it's a very exciting time, boys and girls. It is absolutely Christmas, and I cannot wait to see what Santa Hazen got us all under the trade tree.

Until then, you can follow us on social media. I am at Kappa underscore Caveman with a K. The hobbled but resilient. Kevin Thomas is at Kevo Post. Damon is still in Alaska, that coward. But our show is at PH&X underscore debacks, and all roads do lead to at PHNX underscore sports. I wanted to tell people to follow Damon, Kevin,

but he's just fighting with people while he's in Alaska, and I don't want him to do that anymore. It's what he does. It's he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, inevitable, once again, just like all this other stuff I discussed. But we love you guys. We thank you so much for your time. Remember, your time is your most valuable commodity,

so we can't thank you enough for sharing some of it with us. We'll be back on Monday for sure at 12 p.m., but we'll probably be back maybe more than once over the course of this weekend. So keep it locked right here to the PHNX channel. Until we see each other again, I hope you guys all have a wonderful rest of your Friday, and hope you have a good weekend. More importantly, I hope Mike Hazen has a good week.

and I hope he brings us exactly what we need to transform this team into a true contender. Until that happens, love you guys. Thank you again for stopping by and remember, kids. Baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when you are able to beat everybody. This one's for Jason.