Diamondbacks quietly leading the major leagues in runs scored

They do not have a 40-40 player. They don’t have a 50-home run guy.

They had only one hitter selected to this year’s All-Star Game.

Yet the Arizona Diamondbacks are the highest-scoring team in the major leagues and in contention to return to the postseason for a second straight season after making a run to the World Series last year.

The Diamondbacks are averaging 5.49 runs a game. Few people outside of the desert probably know that fact, though.

The most astounding part is that no other team is even close. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second at 5.05, almost a half of a run less than the Diamondbacks.

The offense is a big reason why the Diamondbacks are in playoff position with 11 days left in the season. They are tied with the New York for the second National League wild card, 2 ½ games behind the San Diego Padres and two games in front of the Atlanta Braves.

The lone All-Star in the Diamondbacks’ lineup is second baseman Ketel Marte, who is having a fine season with a .292/.365/.552 slash line and 32 home runs in 125 games. He will likely finish in the top 10 in the NL MVP voting.

Third baseman Eugenio Suarez has hit 28 home runs and driven in 96 runs while first baseman Christian Walker has gone deep 26 times. They may get a few down-ballot MVP votes.

What really makes the Diamondbacks dangerous is that general manager Mike Hazen has built a lineup that has no real weak spots from the top of the batting order to the bottom.

“We have a lot of faith in the person behind us,” designated hitter Joc Pederson said told Draft Nation. “We know that if we don’t get it done then there’s a good chance the next guy behind you is going to pick you up. It is everybody pulling on the same string and it’s a powerful thing and it’s contagious. Once you have that belief and confidence in each other, the sky really is the limit.”

Hazen formed the potent offense without making any splash moves. The lineup is a combination of homegrown players and low-key acquisitions.

All three starting outfielders were first-round draft picks by the Diamondbacks – left fielder Pavin Smith, center fielder Jake McCarthy and right fielder Corbin Carroll. After winning the NL Rookie of the Year award last year, Carroll got off to a slow start this season before getting hot in August.

Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was signed as international amateur free agents from the Dominican Republic. Walker was claimed off waivers in 2017 from the Cincinnati Reds.

Marte and Suarez were acquired in separate trades from the Seattle Mariners seven years apart – Marte in 2016 and Suarez last winter. Catcher Gabriel Moreno and injured left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade during the 2022-23 offseason.

The Diamondbacks signed Pederson to a one-year, $12.5-million contract last winter.

The offense has helped the Diamondbacks stay in contention during a season in which they have been hampered by injuries to and ineffectiveness from their pitching staff.

Merrill Kelly has been limited to 11 starts because of injury while left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez has started just eight times since being signed to a four-year, $80-million contract as a free agent last winter.

Signed for one year and $25 million late in spring training, lefty Jordan Montgomery has a 6.23 ERA in 24 games. Paul Sewald lost his job as the closer in early August.

The Diamondbacks are 27th among the 30 MLB teams in runs allowed with 4.88 a game.

Yet the offense has helped the Diamondbacks pull through.

“We talk about adaptability and resiliency, that's part of our culture,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We know that it’s not going to be smooth sailing at all times. So those are early conversations in spring training where these guys are aware of it. And then when that’s upon you, what are you going to look like? I think we fight as a team, we believe as a team.

“We're not the only team that's going to go through this or is going through that. It’s part of the game. It happens every single year. You can’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself, and our guys never have.”

Instead, the Diamondbacks just keep hitting.