Arizona Diamondbacks News

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Ketel Marte • 2B • Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte Scratched on Friday Due to Illness

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (illness) was scratched from Friday's game against the visiting New York Mets due to an illness, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. With Marte under the weather, Ildemaro Vargas is making the start at second base at Chase Field and will hit in the two-hole against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean. Jose Fernandez will enter the lineup at first base. It continues what has been a rough start to the 2026 season for Marte, who came into Friday's action hitting a lowly .209/.262/.353 with a .614 OPS, five home runs, 13 RBI, and 19 runs scored in his 139 at-bats for the Snakes. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Saturday to see if he's feeling good enough to return to the D-backs' starting nine. Hopefully, the day off will help Marte get his head right so he can begin turning things around at the plate. Vargas has been one of the best storylines of the 2026 campaign early on, finding regular playing time in Arizona and hitting an impressive .360/.381/.614 in his 120 plate appearances.

Yesterday

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Calling Up Top Prospect Ryan Waldschmidt

The Arizona Diamondbacks have called up top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno on Friday to make his major-league debut, according to MLB Pipeline. In a corresponding move, outfielder Alek Thomas was optioned to Reno. The 23-year-old outfielder is ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 49 prospect in baseball, and he has earned his first MLB promotion after slashing .289/.400/.477 with an .877 OPS, three home runs, nine doubles, three triples, 22 RBI, six stolen bases, 30 runs scored, 19 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 34 games across 156 plate appearances with the Aces. Waldschmidt should play regularly for the Snakes in center field now that Thomas is being sent to the minors, and he'll absolutely be worth a look in single-year fantasy leagues now that he's up in the majors. The former first-rounder in 2024 out of Kentucky is currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available. The 6-foot, 205-pounder has lots of fantasy upside for his above-average raw power from the right side of the plate in a hitter-friendly home environment at Chase Field.

Yesterday

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt Back in Action in Minors After Injury Scare

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt (head) had an injury scare while at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday when he was hit square in the helmet by a pitch. Waldschmidt initially stayed in the game before eventually being pulled, and he was held out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution. The 23-year-old was back on the field for Thursday's game at Triple-A, though, and he went 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI for the Aces. Arizona's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has struggled at the dish of late, hitting just .105 with two doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in his last five games, but overall, he's still hitting a strong .289/.400/.477 with an .877 OPS, three home runs, 22 RBI, six stolen bases, and 30 runs scored in 34 games on the farm. Despite being rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues, Waldschmidt remains one of the top young outfield stashes in fantasy baseball, and he should be up in the big leagues in 2026 sooner rather than later. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is intriguing for his above-average raw power from the right side of the plate.

2 days ago

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt a Top Outfielder to Stash Despite Injury Scare?

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt (head) had an impressive month of April at the plate, and he could be due for a promotion to the majors very soon. When he does get called up, he'll be making his MLB debut. The 31st overall pick in the 2024 draft, Waldschmidt is slashing .285/.400/.480 with three home runs, six steals, a 12.6% walk rate, a 24.5% strikeout rate, and 117 wRC+ at Triple-A this year. He's also a talented defender who has the ability to play any of the three outfield spots, although 93.5% of his defensive innings this season have come in center field. The biggest concern with Waldschmidt right now is that he took a pitch to the head on Tuesday, and he didn't play on Wednesday. Depending on the severity, he could be due for a stint on the injured list. Once he returns to action, though, he'll continue his push for a spot on the major league roster. Regarded as a power and speed threat, Waldschmidt is worth stashing in many fantasy baseball leagues.

3 days ago

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt Hit in the Head by a Pitch in the Minors

Preston Salisbury of AZSnakePit.com reports that Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt (head) was hit square on the side of the helmet by a fastball during Tuesday's game with Triple-A Reno. Waldschmidt stayed in the game initially before being removed, and he was held out of Wednesday's contest as a precaution. It's unclear if Waldschmidt is in the league's concussion protocol or if he's dealing with concussion-like symptoms, but it's an injury to follow up on for fantasy managers already stashing the outfield prospect in dynasty/keeper leagues. In redraft leagues, the D-backs' top-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is also a stash candidate with his MLB debut expected to come at some point in 2026. Before his head injury this week, the 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2024 out of Kentucky was hitting .285/.400/.480 with an .880 OPS, three homers, 21 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six steals in 33 games for Reno. Waldschmidt is currently rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.

3 days ago

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt Still Worth Stashing Amid Triple-A Skid?

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has hit a bit of a skid at Triple-A and has seen his value as a top hitting prospect to stash decline slightly. Over his last seven games with Triple-A Reno, Waldschmidt has gone 5-for-28 with just one home run and a double. During this stretch, the outfielder has swiped two bags while holding a 7:2 K:BB. However, prior to this short slump, Waldschmidt held an impressive .330/.441/.520 line with a strong .980 OPS over his first 24 games at the Triple-A level. Even though Waldschmidt was unable to break camp with the MLB roster, the former Kentucky standout has held his own at the top level of minor leagues. If he can snap this cold slump, Waldschmidt should remain in the mix to debut in the coming weeks. His five-category potential makes him a top-hitting prospect to stash.

6 days ago

Gabriel Moreno • C • Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks Reinstate Gabriel Moreno From the Injured List

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they reinstated catcher Gabriel Moreno (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and designated catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment in a corresponding move. Moreno is returning to the big-league club without going on a minor-league rehab assignment following a two-week stay on the IL with a left-oblique strain. Fantasy managers will want to check back later to see if Moreno is back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Colin Rea. Moreno, who was hitting .275 (11-for-40) with no home runs, five RBI, and six runs scored in 13 games before getting hurt, is only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. He'll be Arizona's primary catcher now that he's back. Although Moreno has hit a solid .281 in his four-plus seasons in the majors, he's never had more than nine home runs or 50 RBI, and has only played over 100 games in a season once.

May 1

Zac Gallen • SP • Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen to Start on Friday Against Cubs

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) will make his next start on Friday in the series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. He'll be opposed by Cubs right-hander Colin Rea. Gallen was pulled from his last start early last Saturday in Mexico City against the San Diego Padres when he was hit by a comebacker in his right shoulder. The 30-year-old veteran escaped any major damage, though, and was able to throw a normal between-starts bullpen session on Wednesday. Gallen should be prepared for a normal workload on Friday in Chicago, but fantasy managers might want to think twice about using him in their starting lineups against a Cubs team that currently ranks fourth in baseball in OPS (.777). Gallen has allowed just 10 earned runs in 28 2/3 innings pitched in his first six starts of the season, but he's also only struck out 17 batters. It's definitely not an ideal matchup for an aging pitcher coming off an injury, even if it wasn't serious.

Apr 30

Geraldo Perdomo • SS • Diamondbacks

Geraldo Perdomo Returns to Arizona's Lineup Against Brewers

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (ankle) is back at the 6 and is batting leadoff for the Snakes in Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Brandon Sproat at American Family Field, according to MLB.com. Perdomo missed the team's last two games after suffering a left-ankle sprain in Saturday's contest in Mexico City against the San Diego Padres. The 26-year-old switch-hitting Dominican should be returned to fantasy lineups in traditional leagues against Sproat, who has struggled early on in his first year with the Brew Crew. Perdomo hasn't really stood out offensively yet in 2026, slashing .250/.350/.393 with a .743 OPS, one home run, three doubles, three triples, six RBI, six stolen bases, and 11 runs scored in 25 games across 102 plate appearances. He's been much better of late, though, going 13-for-30 (.433) with a double, three triples, two RBI, two steals, and four runs scored in his previous eight games, dating back to April 14.

Apr 29

Zac Gallen • SP • Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen to Throw a Bullpen on Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) played catch on Monday and will throw a regular between-starts bullpen on Wednesday, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Gallen expects to make his next start on Friday on the road atWrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, but he'll know for sure after throwing a bullpen. The 30-year-old veteran was pulled from his last outing early in Mexico City on Saturday against the San Diego Padres after being hit by a comebacker. Although Gallen has looked good so far in 2026 in his first six starts, fantasy managers may want to avoid him this weekend in his first start back after an injury against a Cubs offense that ranks fourth in the majors with a .777 team OPS in the first month of the season. In his eighth year in the big leagues, Gallen has gone 1-1 in his first 28 2/3 innings with a 3.14 ERA (3.58 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks.

Apr 29

Geraldo Perdomo • SS • Diamondbacks

Geraldo Perdomo Remains Sidelined with Ankle Issue

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Geraldo Perdomo (ankle) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Perdomo will miss his second straight game after suffering a left ankle sprain during Saturday's loss to the San Diego Padres. For now, Perdomo is considered day-to-day, but he could land on the Injured List if the injury doesn't improve soon. Jose Fernandez will get another start at shortstop and bat sixth against right-hander Chad Patrick on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Perdomo on Wednesday.

Apr 28

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt Continues to Hit, Nearing MLB Debut?

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt simply will not slow down at Triple-A Reno and continues to press for a promotion to the major leagues. In his most recent contest, the D-backs' top-ranked prospect went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, now sitting with a .317-3-19-25-4 stat line through 27 games. In addition to three home runs, the former 31st-overall draft pick has recorded seven doubles and three triples, giving him a stout .529 slugging percentage, and an above-average 11.9 percent walk rate has produced a .416 on-base percentage. After swiping 29 bags last year between High-A and Double-A, the University of Kentucky product has shown the ability to be a five-category fantasy producer, and remains one of the top hitter stashes in fantasy leagues, with appeal in all formats. The 23-year-old is likely to be up in the big leagues in the coming weeks, so the time is now to stash him away, especially in leagues where an NA spot is available.

Apr 28

Zac Gallen • SP • Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen Expected to Make his Next Start

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) was feeling better over the weekend, according to manager Torey Lovullo, and the club is more encouraged that he will be able to make his next start, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Gallen was hit on his right (throwing) shoulder by a line drive on Saturday night in Mexico City in the opener of a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. He made it through three innings before being pulled early, allowing no runs on just one hit while walking none and striking out three. The 30-year-old's next scheduled outing will come this weekend against the hot-hitting Chicago Cubs. The former third-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016 out of North Carolina has looked good so far in 2026 despite a lack of strikeouts, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 28 2/3 innings pitched over six starts. DFS managers will probably want to fade Gallen this weekend against the Cubs coming off his shoulder injury.

Apr 28

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. • LF • Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Remains a Worthy Waiver-Wire Target Despite Initial Struggles

After missing the first few weeks of the 2026 season while recovering from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the big leagues on April 18. The 32-year-old has struggled in his first 26 plate appearances of the year, hitting .125/.192/.167 with zero home runs, three RBI, and one run scored. However, Gurriel Jr. recorded at least 18 home runs and 85 RBI in each of his first three seasons with Arizona from 2023 through 2025. He's also a career .273 hitter who cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 13.9% last season. Once Gurriel Jr. settles in and gets some more plate appearances under his belt, he remains a solid bet to provide balanced, four-category production for fantasy managers. In leagues where he remains on the waiver wire, Gurriel Jr. could be a worthy target.

Apr 27

Gabriel Moreno • C • Diamondbacks

Gabriel Moreno Could Return This Weekend

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (oblique) isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list for the series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers, but he could return for the series against the Chicago Cubs this weekend, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. The D-backs originally thought the 26-year-old backstop would be an option to return against Milwaukee on Tuesday. Until Moreno can return this weekend, the Snakes will move forward with James McCann and Aramis Garcia at catcher if Adrian Del Castillo (finger) is forced to join Moreno on the IL after injuring his finger on Sunday in Mexico City. The once-promising Moreno has quickly lost luster in fantasy baseball leagues, especially single-catcher formats. Durability has been a major issue, as he has played in over 100 games just once in four MLB seasons. Through 13 games this year, Moreno has hit .275 (11-for-40), but with no homers and five RBI. Moreno has never had double-digit home runs in a season and is currently rostered in just 11% of Yahoo leagues.

Apr 27

Geraldo Perdomo • SS • Diamondbacks

Geraldo Perdomo Out After Spraining his Ankle on Saturday

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (ankle) is not in the starting lineup in Mexico City on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, according to MLB.com. Perdomo is out of action for the two-game series finale in Mexico City after spraining his left ankle on Saturday. The D-backs aren't expecting Perdomo to land on the 10-day injured list, so he should have a very good chance of returning after an off day on Monday to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Jose Fernandez is making the start at shortstop and will hit sixth on Sunday against Padres right-hander Michael King. When active, the 26-year-old Perdomo is a must-start in fantasy baseball lineups. He's off to a .250/.350/.393 start with a .743 OPS, a homer, six RBI, 11 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his first 84 at-bats in 2026. Fernandez has looked even better at the plate in his first 21 MLB games, going 23-for-72 (.319) with two long balls and 11 RBI in 74 plate appearances.

Apr 26

Ildemaro Vargas • 2B • Diamondbacks

Ildemaro Vargas Carries Waiver-Wire Appeal Amidst Red-Hot Start to 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks utility man Ildemaro Vargas has been one of the biggest surprise success stories of the 2026 season so far, hitting .351/.368/.649 with five home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 runs scored across 77 plate appearances. The 34-year-old has worked his way into everyday playing time with Diamondbacks first basemen Pavin Smith (elbow) and Carlos Santana (thigh) both currently on the injured list. Vargas has spent the majority of his MLB career to this point in a utility role, including his 38-game stint with Arizona in 2025. His .350 batting average on balls in play is likely to regress to his career average of .271 over a larger sample, and his 7.6% barrel rate does not support a full-scale power breakout. Still, Vargas is taking advantage of his opportunity with the Diamondbacks and should not be ignored as a potential waiver-wire target for fantasy managers.

Apr 26

Geraldo Perdomo • SS • Diamondbacks

Geraldo Perdomo Day-to-Day With Left-Ankle Sprain

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (ankle) was removed from Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres with a left ankle sprain. He injured his ankle while fielding a ground ball during the seventh inning. The 26-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before exiting. He is considered day-to-day with his next chance to return being on Sunday in the series finale against the Padres in Mexico City. Perdomo is slashing .250/.350/.393 with a home run and six stolen bases over 84 at-bats this season. Ildemaro Vargas would see an uptick in at-bats and would handle shortstop for the Diamondbacks if Perdomo misses any time. Vargas is off to a hot start this season, hitting .351 (26-for-74) with five home runs and 16 RBI over 19 games.

Apr 25

Zac Gallen • SP • Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen Exits Saturday's Start Early with a Shoulder Contusion

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (shoulder) was removed from Saturday's start against the San Diego Padres with a right shoulder contusion. He was hit by a comebacker in the shoulder during the third inning and initially stayed in the game. The Diamondbacks pulled Gallen at the end of the third inning after 49 pitches. He allowed one hit while striking out three over three scoreless innings before exiting. The 30-year-old is considered day-to-day and will undergo additional testing. Overall, he owns a 3.14 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings in 2026. Gallen is considered questionable to make his next start on Friday at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.

Apr 25

Ryan Waldschmidt • CF • Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt Showing Five-Category Upside at Triple-A

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt remains a top hitting prospect to stash ahead of Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season. The top-hitting prospect in the Arizona system nearly broke camp with the MLB roster but was instead sent to Triple-A to put the finishing touches on his development. With the Reno Aces, Waldschmidt has showcased his elite five-category potential and is on the verge of earning the call to join the Snakes. Through his first 23 games of the Triple-A regular season, Waldschmidt has hit two home runs, added seven doubles, and swiped four bags. During this stretch, the former Kentucky product has held a .333/.449/.552 line with a 1.001 OPS. Even though Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is back in action in left field, Waldschmidt could carve out a starting job in center field and would have high-end fantasy upside as soon as he earns the call. He should be viewed as a top stash option in all formats this week.

Apr 24

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