Snakes Territory: An Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast

The Diamondbacks stayed red hot on Friday night with a road win over the Washington Nationals. Eduardo Rodriguez made big pitches when he needed to, and Gabriel Moreno continued his two-plus-month run as one of the best hitters in baseball. We give E-Rod and Gabi their flowers and discuss our takeaways from the game.

We also take a look at the latest wild card standings and dive in to general manager Mike Hazen's comments on the upcoming trade deadline. Is pitching now a bigger priority than a middle-of-the-order bat? Could the D-backs exceed the first competitive balance...

What started as a back-and-forth affair between the Diamondbacks and A's ultimately turned into a blowout D-backs win as the offense exploded for 15 runs on 17 hits, including five homers. We highlight Ryan Waldschmidt hitting his first major-league homer, Corbin Carroll getting his timing back and more.

Plus, we revisit Tuesday's extra-innings win, where Ildemaro Vargas showed that he could hit literally anything and Paul Sewald blew his second save of the year. How much longer can Sewald hold onto the closer role?

Finally, we discuss injury updates on Zac Gallen, Drey Jameson, Michael Soroka and...

The Diamondbacks pulled off one of the more improbable comebacks in franchise history on Sunday, turning a 7-0 deficit into an 8-7 win in 10 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. How did they do it, and where does it leave the D-backs in the standings?

We also dive in to a long list of injury updates, including Corbin Carroll leaving Sunday's game early with an elbow injury. What is Carroll's timeline? Could Jordan Lawlar return soon?

Finally, we preview the upcoming series against the A's and discuss Brandon Pfaadt's turnaround since returning from Triple-A Reno...

Mistakes piled up on Friday night as the Diamondbacks opened the second half with perhaps their most frustrating loss of the season. We dive in to the key moments from the game.

Why did Torey Lovullo go to Paul Sewald in a tie game? Why didn't Ketel Marte challenge the final pitch of the game? What's up with the offense continuing to struggle with runners in scoring position?

We also discuss a long list of injury updates, including Zac Gallen seeking a second opinion on his elbow from renowned surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Is it...

MLB draft guru Jordan Shusterman joins the show to discuss the Diamondbacks' performance at the MLB Draft, including Ryder Helfrick, Blake Bryant, Carson Kerce and more. What later-round picks could prove to be great value in the long run?

Plus, we dive in to the latest D-backs news, including Tommy Troy hitting the injured list, an unexpected Geraldo Perdomo injury report, Mike Hazen's team meeting and more.

Join Jesse Friedman, Jack Sommers and special guest Jordan Shusterman on Snakes Territory, the official Arizona Diamondbacks show in the Foul Territory Network.

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Just as the Diamondbacks' season appeared to be on the brink of collapse, they ended the first half by sweeping the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium for the first time in nearly a decade. We discuss the key moments of the weekend, including seven hits from Tim Tawa, a plethora of excellent defensive plays, a nearly perfect weekend from the bullpen and more.

With the team back to two games over .500, are they back to being buyers at the trade deadline? We dive in to several D-backs-related deadline updates from Bob Nightengale. Is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. really an...

The Diamondbacks cruised to a 9-3 win over the Dodgers on Friday behind a huge day from Tim Tawa, another stellar outing from Eduardo Rodriguez and a whole lot of Dodgers miscues. We break down Tawa's statement game at first base and revisit the decision to bring him back to the majors.

We also discuss Mike Hazen's recent comments on the Diamondbacks' first base search. Is the team seeking external help? What options are out there?

Finally, we give the latest injury updates on Michael Soroka, Corbin Burnes and others. Can Soroka make it back...

The Diamondbacks salvaged a series split against the San Diego Padres behind a stellar outing from Merrill Kelly and just enough from the offense, including a solo home run by Nolan Arenado. What worked for Kelly in the win?

We also react live to the news that the D-backs designated Pavin Smith for assignment and recalled Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno. How will we remember Smith's complicated D-backs tenure, and what's the plan at first base moving forward?

Finally, we discuss Torey Lovullo's job security as the team sits in a precarious position in the...

The Diamondbacks made it close but ultimately dropped their series to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, losing the finale, 3-2. Eduardo Rodriguez was stellar yet again, but the offense stranded too many baserunners — and perhaps got a little unlucky in the process. We discuss our takeaways and revisit several key moments from the weekend.

Looking ahead to the trade deadline, we also discuss Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers as a potential target for the Diamondbacks. What makes Detmers attractive, and what would it take to get the deal done?

Finally, we discuss the D-backs' la...

The Diamondbacks lost their final game to the San Francisco Giants, and Zac Gallen struggled once again. Will the D-backs change how they use Gallen moving forward?

We also dive in to a plethora of mailbag questions. Is Pavin Smith running out of time, and why has the team had so much patience with him? How secure are Torey Lovullo and Mike Hazen's jobs? How does the Blaze Alexander trade look in retrospect?

Plus, we preview the upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers on Snakes Territory, the official Arizona...

The Diamondbacks continued their dominance of the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday with an 8-2 win. Ketel Marte homered for a fourth consecutive game, Brandon Pfaadt threw well in his first start back in the majors and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. notched a pair of extra-base hits, including a three-run homer in the first inning. What were the keys to Pfaadt's success? Which other D-backs have homered in four consecutive games?

We also look back on Monday's game and Eduardo Rodriguez's continued dominance. Is E-Rod bound for the All-Star game? Plus, how big of a problem is the...

After a lifeless showing against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, are the Diamondbacks still in position to buy at the upcoming trade deadline? We take a look at where they sit in the NL wild card standings, how that compares to recent seasons and what it would look like to become sellers.

We also do a deep dive on Merrill Kelly's 2026 struggles and preview the Diamondbacks' upcoming series against the San Francisco Giants. Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers on Snakes Territory.

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Zac Gallen pitched a season-high 6.2 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday — was it a legitimate step in the right direction? We discuss Gallen getting on a roll in the middle innings despite plenty of hard contact. How long is Gallen's leash to stay in the rotation? 

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks offense once again struggled with runners in scoring position, blowing a pair of key opportunities. Is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. running out of time?

Finally, we answer some questions from the chat and talk about Yilber Diaz being claimed off waivers. Join Jesse Friedman and Jac...

The Diamondbacks' series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed, and closer Paul Sewald took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the decision. Why didn't the Cardinals move the start time earlier? How will the D-backs line up their pitching this weekend as a result?

Meanwhile, the D-backs made a flurry roster moves on Thursday, including optioning left-hander Mitch Bratt back to Triple-A Reno. We discuss Bratt's promising major-league debut and the adjustments he still might need to make.

Finally, we talk about Derrick Hall's comments about the D-backs never seriously pursuing Paul...

After eight innings of scoreless baseball on Tuesday night in St. Louis, the Diamondbacks' offense finally broke through for four runs in the ninth — and narrowly held on for a 4-3 win over the Cardinals.

We discuss Nolan Arenado and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. coming through with a pair of elusive hits with runners in scoring position. We also discuss Paul Sewald nearly giving up that lead in the ninth before Brandyn Garcia entered to save the day. Is Garcia the Diamondbacks' most trustworthy reliever? 

We also dive in to a plethora of upcoming roster decisions, fro...

It was an eventful day for the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. On the positive side, Corbin Carroll notched his franchise-record-tying 52nd triple in a 9-5 win over the Minnesota Twins. However, Michael Soroka and Jordan Lawlar exited the game early, and just hours prior, news broke that Ryne Nelson has an elbow injury that will shut him down for 4-6 weeks.

When could each of these injured D-backs return, and who might need to step up in their absence? How could the recent run of injuries affect Mike Hazen's trade deadline plans?

Jesse Friedman and...

With the trade deadline approaching, we discuss Mike Hazen's comments about whether he will buy or sell and what his top areas of need are. We dive in to a few specific targets that could make sense for the Diamondbacks.

Plus, we discuss the team's series win over the Angels, Eduardo Rodriguez notching his 100th win, the signing of Korean two-way prospect Jun-Sang Eom and more. Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers on another edition of Snakes Territory. 

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Jack Sommers and AZ Sports writer Alex Weiner unpack the D'backs decision to demote Ryan Waldschmidt with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returning to the club.

The guys question Pavin Smith's projection to end the year as a league average hitter. Plus, answering your mailbag questions on the Trade Deadline, the team's best lineup and what to do with Zac Gallen.

Jack and Alex also look ahead to the 3-game set hosting the Angels.

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Live postgame reaction to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds on Friday, June 12. Jack Sommers welcomes back SI's Alex D'Agnostino to break down all the action. Eduardo Rodriguez got the start vs the Reds and struggled. What did we see? Jack and Alex share their thoughts. 

The hosts shout out a stellar effort from the bullpen and take a deep dive into the Snakes' offensive struggles of late.

Plus, thoughts on the setback with AJ Puk. The latest injury news and timeline for his potential return. 🌶️

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Live postgame reaction to the Marlins beating the D'backs Wednesday. Jack Sommers welcomes SI's Alex D’Agostino. The duo also dives into issues with runners in scoring position and Zac Gallen's continued struggles Tuesday. Plus, where the D'backs rank in Extra Bases Taken and a looming roster crunch. 🌶️

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Jesse Borek of MLB joins the show as we recap the Nationals series and dive into the success Mike Soroka is having.

After touching on the D-backs struggles with runners in scoring position, and looking ahead to the Marlins series, the focus shifted to prospects.

Jesse is uniquely positioned to provide insights and information about key prospects and he brought the knowledge not only for the top prospects like Kayson Cunningham and Daniel Eagen, but for a group of lesser known and unheralded prospects that are excelling in the D-backs system.

To explore...

Down 2-0 late against the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks scored two in the eighth to tie it before Ketel Marte destroyed a walk-off home run against Tanner Scott in the ninth. We discuss Marte overcoming his recent struggles with another dramatic hit.

Plus, we discuss Corbin Carroll's impressive home run the inning prior, Geraldo Perdomo's key hit and the D-backs' disastrous fifth inning that nearly cost them the game. We also react to Corbin Burnes' unfortunate setback, and break down why the D-backs decided to send Brandon Pfaadt down to the minors. 

Plus, we revisit our c...

Missed opportunities abounded for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday as they went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a 6-5 loss to Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers. What's up with the D-backs situational hitting lately, and why did Geraldo Perdomo lay down a bunt in a 3-1 count in the ninth inning? We dive in to that decision.

Meanwhile, Michael Soroka bounced back nicely from a rough first couple innings, and Jonathan Loaísiga allowed two key runs out of the bullpen. On the positive side, Corbin Carroll continues to destroy left-handed pitching.

J...

The Diamondbacks snapped their three-game losing streak with an impressive 4-1 win over Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at Chase Field. Eduardo Rodriguez's tossed another gem, Tommy Troy launched his first career home run in a pivotal spot and both the bullpen and defense were stellar. What worked so well for E-Rod in his latest stellar outing?

Meanwhile, teams apparently are still allowing left-handed relievers against Ketel Marte, as Ketel launched another late-game homer to pad the D-backs' lead. We also revisit several key defensive plays by Ildemaro Vargas and Jorge Barrosa...

For the first time in more than two weeks, the D-backs lost a game that did not go down to the wire. Instead, Bryan Woo tossed seven scoreless innings and Ryne Nelson gave up four homers in a 5-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

What's up with Nelson give up so many home run this year? And what went wrong for the D-backs' offense? We also revisit Friday's 10-inning loss to the Mariners, in which Brandon Pfaadt allowed a key run out of the bullpen. Is it time for the D-backs to send Pfaadt down to Triple-A...

The Diamondbacks continued their ownership of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, completing their second sweep in the past week. Michael Soroka was stellar once again, and the D-backs capitalized on several pivotal Giants mistakes.

We discuss our takeaways from the series, from the starting rotation's continued success, to Ketel Marte hitting a 452-foot home run, to some shaky bullpen moments, to Ryan Waldschmidt starting to look a bit more human. We also talk injury updates, with Nolan Arenado being the latest addendum to the report. When will Arenado return, and what about Pavin Smith, Jordan Lawlar...

The Diamondbacks are on fire. After beating the Giants 6-2 on Memorial Day, they are back to a season-high five games over .500. Have we ever seen a run like the one Ketel Marte is on right now? And will he and Corbin Carroll form one of the best position player duos in baseball the rest of the season?

Meanwhile, Merrill Kelly continued his recent run of success, and D-backs starting pitchers at large are pitching deep into games with regularity. Also, Tommy Troy has burst on the scene with three hits in his first two big-league games...

Renowned pitching guru Eno Sarris of The Athletic joins the show to talk all things D-backs pitching. We talk about how Stuff+ can help us understand what's going on with Zac Gallen. We also talk about how Gallen might be able to get back on track. 🌶️

Meanwhile, we discuss Eduardo Rodriguez's outstanding season, whether Michael Soroka's strong start is sustainable, names to watch in the minors and more.

Join Jesse Friedman, Jack Sommers and special guest Eno Sarris on this episode of Snakes Territory.

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The D-backs swept the San Francisco Giants, and all indications are that Ketel Marte is back. After hitting a walk-off home run in Tuesday's game, Marte reached base in all four plate appearances in the finale. We discuss Marte's tremendously bad luck finally turning around.

We also discuss our other series takeaways. Does Ryan Waldschmidt have the power to blossom into a superstar? Is Corbin Carroll alright after getting hit in the head by a throw to third base? Is the D-backs' bullpen actually good?

Finally, we preview the team's series against the Colorado Rockies...

Despite an eventful final two innings, the Diamondbacks left Colorado with a series win behind a stellar outing from Michael Soroka and a two-homer game from Corbin Carroll. Carroll explained after the game what's been working for him offensively, and we dive in to some larger trends with D-backs swing decisions.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are showing signs of coming out of slumps offensively, and Eduardo Rodriguez delivered another solid outing. After a rough outing on Sunday, could Brandon Pfaadt be optioned to Triple-A Reno?

Finally, we preview the upcoming series against...

At 37 years young, Merrill Kelly tossed the first complete game of his career against the Colorado Rockies on Friday as the Diamondbacks notched a 9-1 win. What worked so well for Kelly? Has he officially erased any reason for concern after his slow start?

We also discuss another successful day for the offense, including a four-hit day from Ildemaro Vargas and the first four-walk game of Nolan Arenado's career. Plus, is Gabriel Moreno finally looking like himself again?

Finally, we discuss the D-backs' bullpen usage getting back under control with the starting rotation covering more...

The Diamondbacks had seemingly pulled off an impressive comeback against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, but the Rangers then gave them a taste of their own medicine in the bottom of the ninth. Paul Sewald blew his first save of 2026 as the D-backs ultimately fell, 6-5.

What went wrong for Sewald in the ninth? We also discuss the offense struggling to come through with runners in scoring position before finally breaking through in the ninth. Other takeaways from the series include Corbin Carroll having better at-bats, Michael Soroka continuing his strong season and Zac Gallen once again...

The Diamondbacks secured their first series win since mid-April on Sunday, beating the Mets 5-1 behind another dominant outing by Eduardo Rodriguez that saw him pitch into the ninth inning. What made E-Rod so effective? And why didn't Torey Lovullo let him finish the game?

Plus, Ryan Waldschmidt had an excellent game, driving in three of the Diamondbacks' five runs and making a spectacular catch at the wall in left field.

Finally, we answer your mailbag questions on the bullpen, upcoming roster decisions, potential call-ups and more. Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers on Snakes...

Merrill Kelly looked (mostly) like his old self on Saturday, tossing seven innings of one-run ball as the Diamondbacks snapped their three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the New York Mets. What worked so well for Kelly, particularly as the game went on?

Offensively, it was another quiet day, but Ildemaro Vargas' two-run single in the third proved to be enough. How concerned should we be overall about the D-backs' offense? And what have we learned about Ryan Waldschmidt after his first two big-league games?

Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers for this...

With the offense in a funk, the Diamondbacks are calling up top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt to see if he can provide a boost. In a corresponding move, they designated outfielder Alek Thomas for assignment.

What has allowed Waldschmidt to rise so rapidly through the Diamondbacks' farm system? And what should we expect from him in the majors? Plus, why did the D-backs designated Thomas for assignment instead of optioning him to Triple-A?

We discuss all angles of Friday's roster moves in this live emergency edition of the podcast. Join Jesse Friedman and Jack Sommers on...

Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka did their part against the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, but the Diamondbacks lost yet another series as the offense mustered only seven hits in the final two games. How concerning is Ketel Marte's slow start?

Meanwhile, Rodriguez turned in perhaps his best start as a Diamondback. What worked so well for him on Tuesday? Also, we explore Ryne Nelson adding a new pitch to his arsenal and a wave of roster decisions coming up as Carlos Santana nears return from injury.

Finally, we preview the upcoming series against the New...

The Diamondbacks got swept by the Chicago Cubs, and all eyes are on a starting pitching staff that now has the worst ERA in baseball. Are there reasons to be hopeful that the D-backs' pitching staff can turns its season around? We dive in to the rest-of-season projections for D-backs pitchers, including starters, relievers and some of their minor-league depth.

Plus, we discuss a recent trend of bad first innings. Can Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll shake their current slumps? We also preview the upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Join Jesse Friedman and Jack...

Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga blanked the Diamondbacks for seven innings as the D-backs dropped their fourth game in their past five and moved to 2-5 on their road trip. Why did the D-backs struggle so much against Imanaga, and why didn't Gabriel Moreno pinch hit in the seventh?

Meanwhile, D-backs starter Ryne Nelson took a big step in the right direction. Will he need to use his secondary stuff more to succeed moving forward? We also discuss whether Alek Thomas' leash is getting short after a big defensive mistake in Friday's game, how the team will...

The Diamondbacks dropped two of three to the Brewers in Milwaukee, and the two losses were about as ugly as it gets. D-backs pitchers allowed a total of 28 runs in the series, with Merrill Kelly, Michael Soroka and the since-demoted Andrew Hoffmann all allowing big crooked numbers. Is there any hope for the D-backs struggling pitching staff?

Meanwhile, Ildemaro Vargas' historic hit streak lives on, and Nolan Arenado's big home run on Tuesday highlighted a strong recent run offensively. We also discuss the D-backs adding Philip Abner as a left-handed reliever and previewing the upcoming series against...

Down 7-1 to the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning on Sunday, the Diamondbacks stormed back to win one of the more memorable games in recent years. Of course, Ildemaro Vargas had a central role to play, notching three extra-base hits and driving in four runs on his way to winning NL Player of the Week.

Meanwhile, Ryne Nelson had not other rough outing, and several D-backs have gone down with injury, most recently Adrian Del Castillo. How soon should we expect him back?

We also preview the Diamondbacks' series against the Milwaukee Brewers...