The Arizona Diamondbacks opened an unusual four-city road trip on Thursday with a makeup game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, but one of their biggest stars was not in the starting lineup. Veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado received the afternoon off as Arizona prepared for an important National League matchup with postseason implications.
Although Arenado’s absence immediately caught the attention of fans, there was no indication that it was related to an injury. The veteran has been one of the Diamondbacks’ most dependable players throughout the 2026 campaign, appearing in 96 of the club’s first 102 games. After carrying such a heavy workload, Arizona’s coaching staff appears to have simply chosen to give him a well-earned day of rest.
The contest itself carries plenty of significance despite being a standalone makeup game. Originally, Thursday had been scheduled as an off day for both clubs before a rainout during Arizona’s June visit to St. Louis forced Major League Baseball to reschedule the matchup. Instead of enjoying a travel day before continuing their lengthy road trip, both teams had to return to Busch Stadium for one final game.
Arizona entered the afternoon holding a slim advantage over the Cardinals in the National League Wild Card race. The Diamondbacks also own the season-series tiebreaker after winning enough games against St. Louis earlier in the year, a potentially valuable edge if the playoff standings remain tight in September.
Manager Torey Lovullo unveiled a lineup featuring several familiar names despite Arenado’s absence.
Ketel Marte remained at the top of the order, followed by Corbin Carroll in right field. Geraldo Perdomo occupied the third spot, with catcher Gabriel Moreno batting cleanup. Max Kepler started in left field, Tim Tawa handled first base duties, Adrian Del Castillo served as designated hitter, Ildemaro Vargas took over at third base, and rookie Ryan Waldschmidt started in center field.
The most noticeable adjustment came at third base, where Vargas received his first start of the season. While he has appeared briefly at the position in several games this year, he had not started there since the 2025 campaign. His defensive versatility has made him a valuable piece for Arizona throughout the season, allowing Lovullo to shuffle his lineup without sacrificing depth.
Vargas has earned increased playing time thanks to his recent performances. Earlier this week, he delivered one of the biggest moments of Arizona’s season by producing a dramatic walk-off hit against the Athletics. Less than 24 hours later, he showcased another side of his versatility by pitching the ninth inning during a lopsided Diamondbacks victory, saving valuable bullpen arms for future games.
His ability to contribute in multiple ways has become increasingly important as Arizona pushes toward the postseason. Whether filling in around the infield, delivering timely hits, or even handling emergency pitching duties, Vargas has consistently answered whatever challenge the coaching staff has presented.
With Vargas moving to third base, Tim Tawa shifted across the diamond to first base. That adjustment also opened a spot in the outfield, allowing rookie Ryan Waldschmidt to return to his natural position in center field after spending time in left field during the previous series.
Waldschmidt has been building confidence in recent days after recording the first home run of his major league career. The young outfielder has shown flashes of the offensive potential that made him one of Arizona’s promising prospects, and the organization hopes he can continue contributing during the stretch run.
Meanwhile, Arenado entered Thursday coming off another memorable week. During Arizona’s recent series against St. Louis, the veteran enjoyed some success against his former organization, including a clutch two-run home run that helped fuel an incredible seven-run comeback victory. That dramatic win allowed the Diamondbacks to secure the season series against the Cardinals, giving Arizona an important tiebreaker should the two clubs finish with identical records.
Arenado also reached another career milestone earlier this week against the Athletics when he collected the 2,000th hit of his major league career. The accomplishment further strengthened an already impressive résumé that includes multiple Gold Gloves, All-Star appearances, Silver Slugger Awards, and a reputation as one of baseball’s premier third basemen over the past decade.
Because of those recent achievements and his heavy workload this season, giving Arenado a scheduled day off makes sense as Arizona looks ahead to an extended road trip. Following the Cardinals matchup, the Diamondbacks are scheduled to visit the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, and Cleveland Guardians before finally returning home.
Managing player health will be critical over such a demanding stretch of games. Arizona remains firmly in the playoff race, and preserving the energy of key veterans like Arenado could prove essential as the regular season enters its final months.
The Diamondbacks have emphasized roster flexibility throughout the season, and Thursday’s lineup illustrated exactly that philosophy. Players such as Vargas and Tawa have frequently moved between positions, allowing Lovullo to rest regular starters without dramatically weakening the team’s overall defense or offensive production.
Arizona has relied on that depth all season while overcoming injuries and navigating one of the National League’s most competitive playoff races. Contributions from role players have repeatedly complemented the production of established stars including Marte, Carroll, Moreno, Perdomo, and Arenado.
For Thursday’s makeup game, however, the spotlight shifted toward the supporting cast. Vargas had an opportunity to show he could handle third base, Waldschmidt looked to build on his recent offensive breakthrough, and the Diamondbacks hoped to maintain their narrow Wild Card advantage over the Cardinals.
Unless Arizona announces otherwise, Arenado’s absence appears to be nothing more than a routine maintenance day for one of the club’s most reliable veterans. With the postseason race intensifying and a challenging road trip underway, ensuring that he remains healthy and fresh may be one of the smartest decisions the Diamondbacks can make as they continue their push toward October baseball.
