As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks were sitting at a less-than-inspiring 39-43. They found themselves trailing the third wild-card spot by 3.5 games, with four teams standing in their way. The situation seemed grim as they also lagged a staggering 11.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Fast forward to August 14, and the narrative surrounding the Diamondbacks has undergone a dramatic shift. The team now stands atop the wild-card race, boasting a six-game cushion for a postseason berth. This remarkable turnaround can be attributed to a phenomenal 29-10 record since June 29. During this stretch, Arizona has won nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20, with the three losses coming by a combined four runs. Impressively, they have not lost a series since late June, compiling a 12-0-1 record in 13 series since June 27.
Injuries and Adversities
Despite their success, the Diamondbacks have had to overcome significant obstacles, particularly injuries. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Additionally, the team's original closer, Paul Sewald, had to be removed from the closer's role due to his struggles. Yet, these setbacks have not hindered the Diamondbacks' march towards the postseason.
Key Players and Stellar Performances
Various players have stepped up when needed most. Corbin Carroll, who endured a rough start with a batting line of .192/.278/.279 in his first 254 plate appearances as of June 5, has significantly improved. Carroll is now slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Josh Bell is batting a robust .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games, and Jake McCarthy is hitting an astonishing .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games.
Moreover, the Diamondbacks have utilized an impressive 14 different starting pitchers this season. The current rotation consists of Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt. Kelly held the Phillies to two runs over five innings during his return, while Rodriguez has made two starts since his season debut last week. Justin Martinez has stepped into the closer's role seamlessly, going 3 for 3 in save opportunities. A.J. Puk, another vital contributor, has surrendered just one run while striking out 11 batters in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensive Surge
The Diamondbacks' offense has been lethal over the past 20 games, hitting .305/.368/.565 and averaging 6.90 runs per game. Highlight moments include Adrian Del Castillo's walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas' clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also been effective, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs over the stretch.
Looking Ahead
Jake McCarthy summed up the team's mindset and ambitions when he said, "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this and take this into September and the postseason." This optimistic yet determined outlook is shared by the entire roster as they now find themselves in a commanding position and eyeing a deep playoff run.
Arizona's postseason odds have skyrocketed during their 17-3 run, leaping from 40.5% to a remarkable 91.5%, according to FanGraphs. This is a team that has shown incredible resilience and adaptability, overcoming injuries, key player struggles, and a tough schedule to emerge as one of the hottest teams in baseball.
As the regular season heads into its final stretch, the Diamondbacks are primed to remain a force to be reckoned with. Their resurgence is a testament to the depth of the roster, the effectiveness of their coaching staff, and the relentless spirit of their players. If they can maintain this level of performance, a deep postseason run is not just a possibility but a strong likelihood.