Diamondbacks Seek Improved Baserunning Against Dodgers

Manager Torey Lovullo calls for better decision-making on the bases after close plays against LA.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:10am

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The Arizona Diamondbacks fell 5-4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a close game on March 27. Manager Torey Lovullo expressed frustration with his team's baserunning, saying they need to make better decisions when trying to take extra bases or steal. Lovullo believes close, bang-bang plays are acceptable, but the Diamondbacks made some poor choices that cost them in the narrow defeat.

Why it matters

Baserunning is a critical part of the game, and the Diamondbacks' struggles in that area against their NL West rivals could be an issue moving forward. Lovullo wants to see his players be more disciplined and make smarter decisions on the bases to avoid giving away outs and opportunities.

The details

In the loss to the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks made some questionable baserunning decisions that Lovullo felt cost them a chance at winning the game. The manager said he's fine with players being aggressive and trying to take an extra base or steal, as long as the plays are close and require a review to determine the outcome. However, Lovullo felt his team made some poor choices that led to easy outs and killed potential rallies.

  • The game against the Dodgers took place on March 27, 2026.

The players

Torey Lovullo

The manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ryne Nelson

The starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the game against the Dodgers.

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What they’re saying

“I always say that, no matter what, if you're trying to take an extra base or steal a base and it's a bang-bang play almost where you have to stop play to review — those are OK,”

— Torey Lovullo, Manager

What’s next

The Diamondbacks will look to improve their baserunning in their next game against the Dodgers on March 30.

The takeaway

Effective baserunning is crucial for the Diamondbacks to compete in the NL West, and Lovullo is emphasizing the need for his players to make smarter decisions on the bases. The close loss to the Dodgers highlighted this area as a point of emphasis moving forward.