Diamondbacks' Meteoric Rise Shakes Up NL Wild-Card Race
As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks stood at a precarious 39-43, trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games with four teams ahead of them. They were also a daunting 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks now find themselves at the pinnacle of the wild-card race, boasting a six-game cushion for a postseason berth.
The catalyst behind this dramatic turnaround has been their staggering 29-10 record since June 29. During this period, Arizona has won nine of its last ten games and 17 of its last 20, with their three losses coming by a mere four runs combined. Remarkably, they have not lost a series since late June, accruing a 12-0-1 record in 13 series since June 27.
"It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason," said outfielder Jake McCarthy, who has been instrumental in their resurgence.
Key Performances Amid Setbacks
Despite their success, the Diamondbacks have faced significant challenges. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Moreover, Paul Sewald's struggles necessitated his removal from the closer's role.
Corbin Carroll's transformation at the plate has been a game-changer. On June 5, Carroll had a batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances. However, he has since improved dramatically, now slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Similarly, Josh Bell has been a revelation, hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Jake McCarthy's contribution has been equally vital, hitting .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games.
Arizona's rotation has seen its share of fluidity, utilizing 14 different starting pitchers this season. Currently, the rotation includes Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt. Kelly marked his return by holding the Phillies to two runs over five innings, while Rodriguez has contributed two solid starts since his season debut last week.
In the bullpen, Justin Martinez has excelled in his new role as the closer, going 3 for 3 in save opportunities. A.J. Puk has been a formidable presence, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensive Surge
The Diamondbacks' offense has been on fire, hitting .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games and averaging 6.90 runs per game. Adrian Del Castillo's walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas' clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays are among the highlights. The designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also been productive, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
During their impressive 17-3 stretch, Arizona's postseason odds skyrocketed from 40.5% to 91.5%, according to FanGraphs. This remarkable turnaround has reinvigorated their postseason ambitions, proving that the Diamondbacks are a force to be reckoned with as they march towards October.