What's fueling D-backs' surge? Marte, rotation and youth

It’s been a great couple of weeks for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has won 11 of its last 13 games -- all against the Rockies and Giants -- and now sits seven games above .500 at 31-24.

Even if this run has occurred during the D-backs’ most favorable stretch of schedule to this point, they have taken full advantage. Arizona is 4 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West and tied with San Diego for the top NL Wild Card spot.

“I'll tell you what feels good is how we're playing right now,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “And I think we're not focused on the wrong things. We're taking care of the biggest challenges put in front of us every single inning. I'm really proud of the way we're playing right now.”

With more than one-third of their season already in the rear-view, here are a few themes that have defined the D-backs’ recent hot streak:

Marte leading recharged offense
Ketel Marte’s surge at the plate has been perhaps the most important development of the D-backs’ season.

The All-Star second baseman, fresh off earning NL Player of the Week honors, has seen his batting average rise 67 points since May 15, and he’s slashing .511/.538/.894 with four home runs and 17 RBIs during his current 11-game hitting streak.

This after posting a .619 OPS over his first 41 games.

"I don’t really see the beginning of the season as a struggle," Marte said on Tuesday. "Baseball is a long season, and there are ups and downs. As for my situation, even though the hits weren’t landing, I was hitting the ball hard, the same way the team was doing things right but we just weren’t getting wins. I’m optimistic about what’s coming next."

The rest of the D-backs’ lineup has followed Marte’s lead.

Arizona scored 76 runs over that 13-game stretch against Colorado and San Francisco, second-most in MLB in that span.

Steady contributions from Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno, along with three impact rookies (more on that later) during this stretch have helped lift the bats out of a rut that persisted for much of late April into early May.

Quality starting pitching
Lovullo held a meeting with the D-backs’ rotation during the series against the Cubs at the beginning of the month. The message was simple: be better.

The group responded accordingly.

After posting the worst rotation ERA (5.42) through the first 33 games of the season, D-backs starters have combined for a 2.51 mark since. And the results have only gotten better over the last two weeks.

Merrill Kelly, who owns a 2.17 ERA over his past four starts, tossed his first career complete game at Coors Field on May 15. Eduardo Rodriguez has remained consistent, with quality starts in four of his last five appearances. Ryne Nelson has pitched into the seventh inning or later in each of his past four outings. Zac Gallen has been much sharper over his past two appearances. Michael Soroka has a 1.78 ERA this month.

Lovullo doesn’t concern himself with the fact that much of the rotation’s success has come against struggling opponents. He sees it for what it is: important progress.

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for every team in this league,” Lovullo said. “On a piece of paper, if you look at certain teams, yes, their record might say one's better than the other, but we've got to be hungry, stay hungry, and take care of today.”

Youngsters making an immediate impact
First it was Jose Fernandez, who was called upon to help inject life into the D-backs’ lineup after a season-opening sweep in Los Angeles.

Then it was Ryan Waldschmidt, tasked with taking over center field duties after Alek Thomas was designated for assignment this month.

Now it’s Tommy Troy, who is getting time in left field with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the injured list.

None of them have wasted any time making an impact.

The trio of rookies was prominently featured in Arizona’s starting lineup this week in San Francisco, an indication of how important their contributions have been so early into their Major League careers.

It’s also an encouraging sign for the D-backs' future.

Regardless of how long of a runway Fernandez, Waldschmidt and Troy get to develop in the big leagues this year, they’ve already made quite the first impression.