The Diamondbacks are in the midst of the NL wild-card race with an excellent chance to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. With only six games left in the season, what do the Diamondbacks need to do to clinch it?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Diamondbacks sit in the second wild-card spot, tied with the Chicago Cubs. This is after losing their third game versus the Yankees. However, the Marlins are only a game back and have the most manageable remaining schedule out of the three teams. The Reds are also in the race. They are 2.5 games back and losing their last two series. They would need a miracle to make the playoffs. So, that leaves us with a three-horse race with the top two getting the wild card bid.
Let’s look at their final opponents to determine how many games the Diamondbacks need to win to make the playoffs.
Arizona Diamondbacks (82-74)
The Diamondbacks will start a three-game series today in Chicago versus the White Sox. They will face a trio of pitchers who have combined for over a 5.0 ERA this season. The White Sox have a 60-96 record, 10th in the American League. The Diamondbacks should win all three games.
However, their second series is against the AL West-leading Astros. They are two games away from clinching the division. The Astros may sit some of their starters for the postseason. However, this still won’t make them easy wins. The Astros’ back end of the rotation is really strong, and every hitter has made an impact for them.
Chicago Cubs (82-74)
The Cubs, opposite the Marlins, have an intense schedule remaining. They have the best team in baseball, the Braves. Then they face the NL Central winners in the Brewers. All of these games are on the road.
The Braves will send out their best pitchers one last time before the playoffs, while the Cubs will do the same. Atlanta has had more losses than wins recently and needs to be headed in the right direction come playoff time. So, the Cubs can steal one or two games here.
The Brewers, on the other hand, have won 12 of 18 and are playing their best baseball right now, so the Cubs might be able to get one game, but that’s about it.
It is also important to note that the Diamondbacks have the tiebreaker over the Cubs, so even though they are tied now, the D’backs would still finish above them. There is a likely chance the Cubs lose both these series, which guarantees the DBacks a playoff spot if that’s the case.
Miami Marliins (81-75)
The other thing that one must track is who their top competition plays. For the D’backs, that would be the Cubs and Marlins. The Marlins, as I said earlier, have maybe the easiest remaining schedule in baseball. They face a disappointing Mets team who have lost 5 of their last six but did win a series against the Marlins a week ago. The Mets have their top 3 pitchers up and have nothing to lose.
They then face the Pirates, who are on a hot streak, having won 5 of their last 7, and have the chance to play spoiler for the Marlins, who will probably be tied with the Cubs for the final wild-card spot.
Looking at all these schedules. The D’backs will make the playoffs if they go 3-3 or better in their final six games. The Marlins and DBacks will be the two wild card teams joining the Phillies.
