ESPN lists the biggest successes and failures of the 2024 D-backs

As the 2024 MLB regular season draws to a close, the Arizona Diamondbacks enter the final week with a wildcard berth, with six crucial games remaining against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres to secure a playoff spot.

The D-backs are in the race for the playoffs thanks to their MLB-leading offense, which has scored 861 runs. All-Star Ketel Marte leads the way with a .295 batting average, 35 home runs and 98 RBIs, while players like Eugenio Suarez, Joc Pederson and Christian Walker fill in for an offense that ranks 14th in 2023 with 746 runs scored.

When choosing the team's greatest achievement in 2024, ESPN's Bradford Doolittle unsurprisingly chose the D-backs' offense.

Arizona's offense has been one of the most explosive groups in the major leagues. The Diamondbacks lead the major leagues in scoring by a wide margin, and while their home stadium plays a role in that, Arizona has been among the top eight or so offenses outside of Chase Field as well. The Snakes rank in the top two in all three slash categories, and only the Dodgers have hit home runs more often among NL clubs.

Despite the offensive success, the same cannot be said of the starting lineup. While Zac Gallen won 13 games and Ryne Nelson was able to step in after injuries to Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, Doolittle cites Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery as the team's biggest failures this season.

When Arizona signed Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery, it looked like the D-backs had beefed up their rotation. Whether it's injuries, a short spring (in Montgomery's case), or just bad pitching, the moves haven't paid off so far. Combined, Rodriguez and Montgomery have a 5.93 ERA and just seven good starts out of 28. Montgomery is responsible for six of those good starts, but his numbers dropped so much that he was moved to the bullpen for a while.

After signing a four-year contract in the offseasonRodriguez didn't make his first start until August 7 after missing the first few months of the season with a shoulder injury. In eight starts, Rodriguez has compiled a record of 3-3 with a 5.09 ERA, 36 strikeouts and a 1.45 WHIP.

Despite his struggles, Rodriguez's final start was one of his best of the season, going 6 1/3 innings with just two earned runs and 11 strikeouts in his team's 9-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Montgomery also had his struggles this season. After signing just days before the start of the regular season, Montgomery posted an 8-7 record with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He was moved to the bullpen on August 23 after the return of Rodriguez and Kelly.

Montgomery returned to the rotation after Nelson was placed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. His His last start was a mixed bag: He went 4 1/3 innings, allowed three earned runs, and had six strikeouts and two walks in the team's 10-9 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.