Waldschmidt walk-off lifts Diamondbacks to 40th comeback win as Ketel Marte stays away

The Arizona Diamondbacks stayed in step with the National League wild-card chase with a dramatic win that came courtesy of Ryan Waldschmidt’s walk-off home run. The victory marked the team’s MLB-leading 40th comeback win, a sign of resilience that matters late in the season when the margin for error shrinks.

Arizona’s comeback did not arrive in a vacuum, either. Ketel Marte, the Diamondbacks’ star second baseman, has reportedly not been seen in the team’s clubhouse since he went AWOL about a week earlier. The report also says Marte has not publicly apologized to teammates, placing additional strain on a club that is simultaneously trying to play meaningful October games and manage an off-field disruption.

Against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on Aug. 25, the game ultimately hinged on the ninth inning. With Arizona still fighting for leverage, Waldschmidt delivered a two-run walk-off home run that completed the comeback and sent the Diamondbacks home crowd into immediate celebration. For a team chasing playoff positioning, moments like that do more than create a highlight, they preserve momentum in a crowded standings picture.

The Diamondbacks’ ability to turn deficits into wins has been central to their season profile. Having 40 comeback victories at this stage of the year suggests a team that can respond quickly, maintain discipline in late counts, and keep pressure on opponents even when the earlier innings do not go as planned.

But the Marte situation adds an unpredictable element. A star player missing time from the clubhouse, regardless of the cause, can affect more than just lineup construction. Clubhouses rely on routines, leadership, and day-to-day communication, and reports indicating the second baseman has not appeared since the incident raise questions about whether the team can stabilize its internal rhythm while still performing under playoff-caliber pressure.

For now, Arizona’s immediate task is straightforward: keep winning in the wild-card race and make sure the game-to-game execution remains sharp, even as uncertainty lingers around Marte’s status within the organization. The next look will come in how the Diamondbacks handle lineup decisions at second base and how they respond emotionally if the team continues to face late-inning leverage situations.

If Arizona keeps producing comeback wins, it can offset the kind of instability that can otherwise widen in September. Still, the Marte storyline is the one to watch, because it has the potential to shape not just short-term chemistry, but also how the Diamondbacks enter the final weeks with clarity about who is fully integrated into the team’s day-to-day plan.