Preparing for the second game of their three-game road series against the Kansas City Royals, the Arizona Diamondbacks have won 12 of 19, climbing from fourth place in the National League West into wild-card contention. Four Diamondbacks hitters are leading the charge. Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Eugenio Suarez and Gabriel Moreno combined for 14 homers and 52 RBIs while batting a combined .
318 in 19 games since June 29. Marte, who homered and singled on Monday, has reached base safely in 20 of 22 games. The All-Star second baseman went deep on Monday to give Arizona a 3-1 lead in the third inning, but Kansas City rallied for a 10-4 victory.
The homer off All-Star Cole Ragans was Marte's 13th against left-handed pitching -- the top total in the majors. Arizona has also enjoyed solid starting pitching during its climb -- with the notable exception of Yilber Diaz's three-plus-inning, seven-run outing on Monday. The Diamondbacks' rotation posted a 2.
89 ERA in the previous 11 games. The starting staff will get a boost Tuesday as Jordan Montgomery is set to return from a four-week absence. The left-hander progressed enough from right knee inflammation that he will skip a rehab assignment and make the start against the Royals.
"He threw a sim game today," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday. "Maintained velo at 92-93 (mph). Everything was good.
" In three career starts against Kansas City, Montgomery is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA. He last faced the Royals on July 31, 2022, in his.