The Arizona Diamondbacks are at the quarter pole of the 2026 season. 40 games in they're an even .500 with a 20-20 record. They're third in the NL West, 4.0 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and ninth in the NL overall , three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the third NL Wild Card. Review of Diamondbacks First 40-Game Schedule May 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images The narrative heading into the season was the the D-backs needed to figure out how to survive a very tough early schedule while waiting for injured players to return one by one. The thinking was just hang in there and stay close, with the knowledge reinforcements are on the way. So far so good navigating the early schedule. But the oft-used phrase, "It's not who you play, but when you play them" certainly applies.…