The Arizona Diamondbacks' Remarkable Turnaround
As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks were languishing in the standings with a 39-43 record. They were under .500 and found themselves trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games, with four teams ahead of them. In the National League West, they were a daunting 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks are now leading the wild-card race, holding a comfortable six-game cushion for a postseason berth. This dramatic shift is largely thanks to their impressive 29-10 record since June 29. Over their last 20 games, Arizona has been nearly unstoppable, winning 17 times and dropping just three games, each by a combined four runs. Remarkably, they haven't lost a series since late June, boasting a 12-0-1 record in their last 13 series since June 27.
Despite facing several challenges, the Diamondbacks have powered through. Key player Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Pitching has seen its ups and downs, with Paul Sewald having to be removed from the closer's role due to struggles. However, Corbin Carroll has turned his performance around significantly, improving from a .192/.278/.279 batting line over 254 plate appearances as of June 5, to an impressive .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 appearances.
Josh Bell has been another standout, hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Meanwhile, Jake McCarthy has been on an exceptional run, hitting .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games. The Diamondbacks' ability to adapt is further showcased by their use of 14 different starting pitchers this season. The current rotation, featuring Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt, has been solid. Kelly, for instance, held the Phillies to two runs over five innings during his return, while Rodriguez has made two strong starts since his season debut last week.
Finding a reliable closer in Justin Martinez, who is 3 for 3 in save opportunities since taking on the role, has been a significant boost. Additionally, A.J. Puk has contributed by surrendering just one run and striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks have been on fire, hitting .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games and averaging 6.90 runs per game. Memorable moments include Adrian Del Castillo hitting a walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas delivering a clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The Designated Hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also been formidable, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
The Diamondbacks' 17-3 stretch not only boosted their morale but also their postseason odds. According to FanGraphs, their chances of making the postseason jumped from 40.5% to an impressive 91.5%. If there's one word to describe the franchise's surge, it's "resilient." As Jake McCarthy eloquently put it, "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason."
For the Arizona Diamondbacks, the future is bright. With their eyes set on the postseason and an unwavering determination, they have transformed from underdogs to serious contenders, capturing the excitement and admiration of fans and analysts alike.