The Arizona Diamondbacks are fewer than 24 hours away from Opening Day of the 2026 season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Dodger Stadium at 5:30 p.m. MST on Thursday.
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After an eventful offseason, the team released its Opening Day roster on Wednesday and will gear up for a return to the postseason for the first time since winning the National League pennant in 2023.
However, analysts and reporters across the sport are widely predicting the Diamondbacks to finish around .500 with an outside shot at the playoffs.
Here’s a look at what is expected of the Diamondbacks’ 2026 season ahead of Opening Day in L.A.:
2026 Arizona Diamondbacks season predictions
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert
To make playoffs
After being picked by many to make the postseason the past two seasons, less seems to be expected from the Diamondbacks in 2026.
These are the types of seasons in which Arizona seems to thrive. No one expected its magical 2023 season, and it wasn’t on experts’ radars in ’11 and ’17 when it also made the postseason. This year, again, the Diamondbacks will surprise people and survive a tough early schedule, get a boost from the return of injured players and slither their way back into October baseball.
The Athletic’s Keith Law
Projected Record: 83-79
Arizona is stuck in the middle of the contention window, with a playoff-caliber offense and a pitching staff that might be playoff caliber if everyone is close to 100 percent. Bringing back Zac Gallen on a one-year deal feels like a coup, as he hit free agency off a down year, and they should get Corbin Burnes back at some point this season. Ryne Nelson seems to have made the leap to mid-rotation starter last year; if Brandon Pfaadt does the same this year, they could be wild-card contenders again.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly
Projected Record: 82-80
Lovullo has shown an ability to get the most out of his teams, and with Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo anchoring his lineup, this is going to be a competitive team. They just have too much working against them in terms of pitching injuries.
Yahoo! Sports’ Fred Zinkie
Projected Record: 82-80
This figures to be a retooling year in Arizona, while the organization waits to get Burnes back in 2027. Success this season might look like determining which players, particularly among Adrian Del Castillo, Jordan Lawlar, Brandon Pfaadt, Nelson and Alek Thomas, can be part of the next wave of success. There will also be more trade rumors around Marte in July, and the front office will have to decide whether to recoup a package of prospects or keep Marte in hopes of competing in 2027.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo
Projected Record: 81-81
The Diamondbacks can score. Two years ago, they paced the majors in runs scored. Last year, they finished sixth despite dealing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline and having Carroll, Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Pavin Smith and Gabriel Moreno land on the injured list at various points. And yet, the Diamondbacks have not reached the postseason since their surprise run to the World Series in 2023, largely because their pitching staff ranked 27th in ERA in 2024 and 23rd last season.
Arizona brought back right-handers Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who was traded last summer to the Rangers, and signed Michael Soroka over the offseason to bolster the pitching staff. But Kelly will miss the start of the season because of a back injury, while Cy Young Award winner Burnes and relievers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez remain out after Tommy John surgery.
USA Today’s Gabe Lacques
Projected Record: 80-82
In coming weeks, Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82) corner infielders Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana will turn 35 and 40, respectively. They’ll need some gulps from the fountain of youth to ensure that the bottom of the lineup isn’t an arid wasteland…
Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Phillips
Projected Record: 77-85
The Diamondbacks signed several late-career veterans, searching for the magic of 2023. But Arizona’s roster doesn’t look anywhere near pennant-worthy. Lovullo has just two playoff appearances in nine seasons.
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