D-backs could now have two MVP-caliber players for stretch run

However, Carroll has since bounced back in a big way. Over the last 14 games, he's slashing .262/.340/.595 with a .935 OPS, and his second-half OPS+ has soared to 150, much closer to the 134 OPS+ he posted in 2023.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo recently told MLB.com's Brian Murphy, “I think his best baseball is being played right now,” and the numbers back him up. Carroll has doubled his home run total from the first half of the season, hitting 10 homers compared to just five before the All-Star break. 

His resurgence has helped Arizona go 6-1 in Marte's absence, pulling the D-backs to within three games of the Dodgers.

Marte, Arizona's presumptive MVP candidate, has been sidelined since Aug. 18. Initially expected to return by late August, recent updates indicate it'll likely be later than that. The Diamondbacks have thrived despite his absence, primarily due to Carroll's resurgence. 

When Marte returns, the D-backs will have two MVP-caliber players ready to lead them into the playoffs. They’ve shown they can succeed even without their star player, and with Marte’s return, their potential only increases. 

As of Wednesday, FanGraphs has the Diamondbacks at a 93.7% chance of making the playoffs. With Marte back in the lineup and Carroll playing his best baseball of the season, Arizona could be a nightmare matchup in the postseason. 

The D-backs were 35-44 after June 30 last season, limping into the playoffs after a hot start. Their struggles came early this year, but they’ve been on a tear since June.

Carroll’s resurgence has inspired a level of confidence in the team that even Marte, for all his talents, couldn’t match. But together, they form a duo that makes Arizona a formidable force.