Arizona Diamondbacks' Meteoric Rise to Wild-Card Contenders
In a tale of resilience and resurgence, the Arizona Diamondbacks have orchestrated an impressive turnaround, transforming themselves from a sub-.500 team to wild-card front-runners in just over a month. As recently as June 28, the Diamondbacks were languishing with a 39-43 record, trailing the third wild-card spot by 3.5 games, with four teams standing between them and a postseason berth. Furthermore, they found themselves a daunting 11.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Fast forward to August 14, and the narrative has dramatically shifted—Arizona now sits atop the wild-card race with a comfortable six-game cushion.
The Diamondbacks' resurgence can be attributed to their scintillating 29-10 record since June 29. This remarkable stretch includes an impressive run where they have triumphed in nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20. During this period, the team's three losses were narrowly decided by a combined four runs, and they haven't lost a series since late June, sporting a 12-0-1 record in their last 13 series.
This revival has been driven by a lineup firing on all cylinders, notwithstanding some setbacks. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Additionally, closer Paul Sewald had to be removed from his role due to struggles. Despite these challenges, other players have stepped up to fill the void.
One standout has been Corbin Carroll, who has dramatically improved his performance since early June. On June 5, Carroll was struggling with a .192/.278/.279 batting line in 254 plate appearances. However, in his last 243 plate appearances, Carroll has upped his game, posting a .248/.336/.491 slash line. Another key contributor has been Josh Bell, hitting an impressive .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Jake McCarthy's hot streak has also been pivotal, as he’s hitting .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games.
The pitching staff has equally played an instrumental role, despite utilizing 14 different starting pitchers this season. The current rotation includes Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt. Kelly made a solid return by holding the Phillies to two runs over five innings. Rodriguez has also made an impact, contributing two starts since his debut last week. In the closer role, Justin Martinez has been flawless, going 3 for 3 in save opportunities, and A.J. Puk has been stellar, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
The Diamondbacks' offensive firepower over the past 20 games has been nothing short of phenomenal, boasting a .305/.368/.565 team slash line and averaging 6.90 runs per game. Highlight moments include Adrian Del Castillo's walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas’s clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. Additionally, the designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has been highly effective, combining for a .287/.379/.519 line with 26 home runs.
As the Diamondbacks continue their impressive run, their postseason prospects have surged. According to FanGraphs, their odds of making the postseason have jumped from 40.5% to 91.5% during their 17-3 stretch. This remarkable turnaround has instilled confidence within the squad. As Jake McCarthy aptly summed it up, "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason."
The road ahead will certainly test Arizona’s mettle, but their recent performances have demonstrated a potent mix of resilience, tenacity, and skill. For a team that appeared to be faltering a mere few weeks ago, the Diamondbacks have rewritten their season narrative, making them one of the most intriguing and formidable contenders as the race to October intensifies.