The Diamondbacks enter their final game of the season, hoping to clinch a National League Wild Card. It is still possible, but they’ll need help in order to get there. Not only will they have to win their season finale against San Diego, but they will need the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers to also win.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!What's up for grabs in #Game162:
– @Braves can clinch a #Postseason berth today with win vs. Royals OR a loss by the D-backs vs. Padres.
– @Mets can clinch a Postseason berth today with a win vs. Brewers AND a loss by the D-backs vs. San Diego.
– @Dbacks can clinch a…
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2024
How this will work out is a win by Arizona will put them at 89 for the season. Losses by the Braves and Mets would put them at 72 and 73 losses respectively. Since the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets have to play two games against each other, one of the two teams is guaranteed to finish with 74 losses and will be eliminated.
It is a difficult ask, as not only do they have to take care of their own business but also have things lined up for them. If the Diamondbacks pull off a miracle and clinch a postseason spot on Sunday, they will be the No. 6 seed regardless of what happens Monday.
The worst-case scenario would be Arizona loses and both the Braves and Mets win. That would eliminate the Diamondbacks from playoff contention, just one week after their postseason odds peaked at 93% on FanGraphs. Since then, the team is 1-5 and are now on the outside looking in. They’re now in a situation where they have to win to have any hopes of saving their season.
A loss does not guarantee the Diamondbacks are out, but would require the Mets to lose their final three games. They would play a Braves team that has already clinched a playoff spot as a result of Arizona’s loss, the question would be how aggressively does Atlanta play the final two games. Should Atlanta win the first, they would clinch the National League’s No. 5 seed and leaving their final half of a doubleheader completely inconsequential.
It will be interesting to see how the Diamondbacks handle their final game of the year against a team that has very little to play for beyond eliminating a division rival.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and more for Burn City Sports.
