Their best player had the day off. Their ace started but had something of an off day. But the Diamondbacks, in a game that encapsulates the state of the National League, still steamrolled the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday afternoon.
Their 6-1 win gave them a four-game series victory over what could be the worst team in baseball; perhaps the weekend’s most baffling development was how the Diamondbacks managed to lose one of the four games.
The Diamondbacks emerged from the offseason looking to hit on a series of small bets. They brought back the core from last year’s disappointing team, revamped the coaching staff, added mostly around the edges and hoped for better health and better results.