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I spent some time talking with D-backs general manager Mike Hazen on Friday and here are some excerpts from our conversation:

On Thomas and Lawlar
Both outfielder Alek Thomas and shortstop Jordan Lawlar are possible contributors down the stretch and in the postseason, should the D-backs hang on to a Wild Card spot.

Thomas is nearly recovered from an oblique strain and has been working out at the team's Spring Training complex. Lawlar, the D-backs' No. 1 prospect, recently returned from injury and is currently with Triple-A Reno.

Both players were part of Arizona's postseason roster last year, with Thomas starting in center field and Lawlar coming off the bench.

That doesn't mean that either player would force someone else off the roster at this point, but rather they are options should something come up.

Keep in mind, outfielder Jake McCarthy was on the D-backs’ postseason roster for the 2023 NL Wild Card Series before he injured himself on his final swing in batting practice prior to Game 1 and had to be placed on the injured list for the rest of the postseason.

Lawlar is likely going to play winter ball this offseason to make up for the time he missed this year.

On the postseason push over the final two weeks
The D-backs are locked in a tight race for a National League Wild Card berth along with the Padres, Mets and Braves. That's four teams for three spots.

Last year, the D-backs were able to nab the third and final Wild Card spot with 84 wins, a total they are just two victories away from matching. This year, it's all but certainly going to take more than that to get in.

"It's going to be a challenge," Hazen said. "We have to play well. We're gonna have to play good baseball. We're gonna have to [pitch] the ball better and we've been talking about that for a few weeks. I think there's been some bright spots starting to emerge. I think Zac [Gallen] and Merrill [Kelly] both threw the ball pretty well on the last road trip. ... Coming into the homestand, that would be huge for us. You know, we need [Eduardo Rodriguez] to get going, and we need [Ryne Nelson] and Brandon [Pfaadt] to kind of get back to what they were doing a few weeks ago."

The D-backs’ remaining schedule includes six more games against the Brewers after Friday’s loss, three against the Rockies, three against the Giants and three during the season's final weekend with the Padres.

"This team we're about to play is going to be very tough to play," Hazen said of the Brewers. "They've been tough all year long. They're one of the best teams in the National League. We get them [six more] times, so we'll see."

On what has stood out about McCarthy this year
When Spring Training opened, it looked like McCarthy could be on the outside looking in when it came to a roster spot, but an injury to Randal Grichuk opened a spot and McCarthy has made the most of it.

McCarthy's performance was one of the reasons Thomas was demoted to Reno in August.

What has stood out the most to Hazen about McCarthy's play this year?

"Just the consistency of it," Hazen said. "How he kind of got hot, whatever, in the middle of the year, and he's been able to hold that sort of level of consistency. I think that's been instrumental for what we're doing. And his improvements in center field."

McCarthy's ability to play center well with Thomas injured and then demoted has also resulted in Corbin Carroll being able to focus strictly on right field.

"I think that helps Corbin," Hazen said. "I think it helps any player."