The Diamondbacks are hoping to bounce back this season after a 2025 plagued by injuries, some of which they'll still be dealing with this year.

The big picture: The D-Backs haven't been to the postseason since their Cinderella run to the 2023 World Series, which is getting further and further in the rearview mirror.

Catch up quick: Arizona started last season with some optimism after signing 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and first baseman Josh Naylor.

• But Burnes' season ended early with Tommy John surgery. Also on the injured list were key players like outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and relief pitchers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk.
• As they slipped out of playoff contention, the D-Backs traded big hitters Naylor and Eugenio Suarez and starting pitcher Merrill Kelly.

Yes, but: They still had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the majors.

State of play: The D-Backs bring back a lot of offensive firepower, including second baseman Ketel Marte, a subject of offseason trade talk; former Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, who's led the National League in triples for three straight seasons; and shortstop Gerardo Perdomo, an NL MVP candidate last year.

• In the offseason, they signed 34-year-old third baseman Nolan Arenado, an eight-time All-Star.
• On the pitching side, they brought back Kelly.

Threat level: The D-Backs' success may hinge on how well they recover from last year's injuries.

• Burnes isn't expected back until around July, and it usually takes pitchers a while to return to form after Tommy John surgery, if it happens at all.
• Puk hopes to return by June, and Martinez, who's also recovering from Tommy John surgery, in August. Meanwhile, Gurriel is likely to miss at least the first month of the season.

What we're watching: Most experts have them finishing third or fourth in the NL West, though a couple of CBS Sports prognosticators think they'll finish second behind Los Angeles.

What's next: The D-Backs start their season today with a road game against the Dodgers.

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A newly opened project in Phoenix offers transitional housing made from shipping containers for older adults who are experiencing homelessness.

State of play: City officials and others gathered yesterday morning for the opening of Senior Bridge, which provides 40 individual transitional housing units for homeless seniors at 28th and Van Buren streets.

• It's a collaboration that includes the city of Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Housing, and is operated by Mercy House.

Zoom in: Phase 1 has 40 units, each 160 square feet, equipped with beds, sinks, toilets, showers, microwaves and small refrigerators.

• ☀️ The complex is entirely solar-powered with lithium battery storage, and can operate completely off the power grid, said Mercy House chief program officer Timothy Huynh.

Between the lines: Senior Bridge is open to people 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness and meet several other criteria, including that they're able to care for themselves.

• There's no set time for how long residents stay, but Huynh said people will ideally move on within 90 days.

"We are creating a model that centers dignity while delivering results," Phoenix Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington said at the ribbon cutting event.

What's next: Phase 2 will have 54 permanent supportive apartments of about 750 square feet.

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❤️‍🩹 "We are in agony," "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie said in her first interview since her 84-year-old mother disappeared from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1. (NBC News)

🧊 The Phoenix City Council yesterday approved the Community Transparency Initiative that will bar federal immigration agents from using city property without authorization. (Arizona's Family)

🗓️ The council also voted to rename César Chávez Day (March 31) to Farmworkers Day. (X)

• The Roosevelt Elementary School District, which also recognized Chávez Day, will call the holiday Roosevelt Roots Day. (AZcentral)

🚦 Phoenix's nine new traffic cameras caught 70,000 speeders during the 30-day warning period. Ticketed enforcement officially began yesterday. (12 News)

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge voided the Arizona No Labels Party's name change to the Arizona Independent Party yesterday.

Why it matters: Arizona's unaffiliated voters (which number nearly 1.5 million) are also called independents, leading to concerns of voter confusion.

The big picture: The party's leaders say they were trying to disrupt the two-party system by making it easier for nonpartisan candidates to run for office — but critics argued the name change was intentionally misleading.

What they're saying: The secretary of state can't allow a political party to change its name after collecting signatures under a different one, Judge Greg Como wrote in his ruling, calling it a "political bait and switch."

What we're watching: The party will appeal, chair Paul Johnson told us.

• 11 Arizona Independent Party candidates qualified for this November's ballot and Johnson said he believes they'll still be allowed to run under the No Labels name, pending the appeal.
• Yes, but: He suspects the state Republican and Democratic parties will challenge that as well.

The backstory

The D-Backs promise fun for fans even if they don't deliver on the diamond.

There's a bunch of special events, heritage nights, fireworks shows and freebies on the schedule this season.

• Here are some can't miss promotions:

🐴 March 30: Meet the Budweiser Clydesdales

🐶 March 31, April 22 and May 5: Bark in the Park

🧑‍🎤 April 4: All-American Rejects post-game concert

👕 April 18: Ketel Marte t-shirt giveaway

✨ May 9: Star Wars Night with a Gabriel Moreno Mandalorian bobblehead giveaway

🧢 July 19: Kids get a Baxter ears baseball cap

🌬️Aug. 22: Serpientes haboob globe giveaway (because snow globes are silly)

🏆 Sept. 19: 2001 throwback jersey giveaway (something pretty big happened 25 years ago!)