After losing their series opener to the Astros 2-1 on Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks continue to fight for a Wild Card spot with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It would be their first trip to the postseason since 2017.
Unfortunately, since the Diamondbacks have lost back-to-back games, they have been forced to use up Zac Gallen and now Merrill Kelly, who are by far their two best options on the mound.
This means that if the D-backs do reach the playoffs, they will be without their two aces when the Wild Card round starts on Tuesday.
However, before Arizona even begins to think about what this Wild Card round may look like, they need to first reach.
And they can do so in one of two ways on September 30th.
Scenario 1: Diamondbacks beat the Astros
Hoping to halt an offensive skid, the Diamondbacks will be taking on two-time CY Young winner Justin Verlander today at 5:10 PM.
Meanwhile, the Astros also need a win, as they could potentially sneak their way to the top of the AL West with a win and a Rangers loss.
Scenario 2: The Reds lose to the Cardinals
On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds provided a powerful statement that they are not ready to call it quits yet as they dominated the Cardinals with a final score of 19-2.
The Reds have now won three of their last four and are just 1.5 games back from a Wild Card spot.
And Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks, as they are 4-3 against them this season.
The first pitch for the Reds game against the Cardinals is at 4:15, so there may be some scoreboard watching coming from the Diamondbacks dugout.
Other important games that have massive NL Wild Card implications today include the Marlins vs. Pirates at 3:35 and the Cubs vs. Brewers at 4:10 PM.
If the Cubs do lose to the Brewers, they will officially be eliminated from the playoffs.
