👋 GOOD MORNING 🎂 - Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start.

I’ve got a very special message this morning — Happy birthday to PHNX! We turn four years old today, and I need to give a huge shoutout to my colleagues who have worked so hard over the years to bring you the very best.

Not a day goes by that I’m not blown away by the talent and dedication of our incredible staff, both present and past. That includes leadership, social media, producers, photographers, beat reporters and everyone behind the scenes — cheers to you, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

On to the show!

— Patrick Brown, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

There have been injuries and distractions, and they were sellers at the deadline.

No matter. The Diamondbacks could still actually do this.

It’s not the scenario anyone had anticipated heading into the 2025 season, when expectations were high and the roster was (almost) full with healthy arms and legs. Mention the name Tommy John around any D-backs fan, and you may have to run for cover.

Arizona was 47-50 at the All-Star break and eventually dropped all the way to 51-59 following an Aug. 1 loss to the Sacramento Athletics, signaling what looked to be the end of a season that started with such hope.

As the great Lee Corso said throughout his illustrious career: Not so fast, my friend.

Arizona is 21-14 since that rough stretch. Excitement aside, the Diamondbacks have just a 1.2 percent chance to make the postseason following yesterday’s 11-5 loss to the Giants, but they have not lost a series since losing three of four to the Rockies from Aug. 14-17.

Their recent series wins have come against the Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, Reds and Guardians.

Better yet, they have five games remaining against teams they are chasing for a spot; five more against the Giants and three vs. the Padres. Given how the Wild Card chase presently looks, those games could have quite an impact on postseason aspirations.

Here are the NL Wild Card standings following yesterday’s action:

Imagine the impact if the Diamondbacks win, say, four of their remaining five games against the Giants and even two of three vs. the Padres.

The remaining teams on their schedule are the Twins (63-80), Phillies (84-60) and Dodgers (79-64), collectively comprising the fourth-hardest remaining schedule. It’s a tall order, but the way the team has played over the last few weeks has offered fans a reason to have faith.

Arizona has the seventh-best team ERA over the last 30 days (3.96), and the eighth-best WHIP (1.23). If you’re looking at just the National League, those numbers are even better, as the Diamondbacks have the fourth-best ERA (behind Milwaukee, San Diego and Chicago) and fifth-best WHIP.

Pretty impressive stuff from a staff that was first decimated by injuries, and then by trades.

The Diamondbacks’ bats have not fallen silent, either. Geraldo Perdomo leads the team with six home runs over the last 30 days, and Blaze Alexander has stepped up with five home runs and 13 RBI. The loss of Lourdes Gurriel still stings quite a bit (he had led the team over the last month with 21 RBI), but Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte have maintained their stellar play to cushion that blow as much as humanly possible.

It would be quite an achievement if the D-backs snuck back into the playoff picture, and if they do, they would be the hottest team in baseball.

If — and yes, it’s a big if — that happens …. look out.

Giant Disappointment: Given the topic above, yesterday’s 11-5 loss in San Francisco was a rough way to start the series. A five-run sixth blew the game wide open, leading to Arizona’s second straight loss. They’re back at it today, though, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm. Keep the faith!

Sparks Fly: The Mercury play their final regular season home game tonight, hosting the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 pm (Arizona’s Family Sports). It’s a critical game for the Sparks, who are locked in a battle with Seattle for the eighth-and-final playoff spot, so it will be good experience for the playoff-bound Mercury to face a team desperate to save its season.

Phoenix wraps up its regular season on Thursday at the 9-34 Dallas Wings.

Miller Time: The ASU women’s basketball team announced its non-conference schedule yesterday, the first in head coach Molly Miller’s tenure in Tempe. A few marquee matchups include Penn State on Dec. 10, Oregon State on Dec. 14 and Gonzaga on Dec. 16.

The Sun Devils open their season at Desert Financial Arena against Coppin State on Monday, Nov. 3, and will also host UNLV on Nov. 22.

It feels so far away, but it won’t be long until tip-off!

I mean this graphic is just … ::chef’s kiss::

Watching the D-backs’ progress over the last month: