PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks’ year will come down to the wire once again, and nearly every result around them — not just their own — matters.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandyn Garcia (55) during the seventh inning at Chase Field during the game between Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
The Snakes closed out their final homestand of 2026 with a series win over the New York Yankees, taking the series finale in emphatic fashion with an 8-4 victory after trailing 4-1. Nolan Arenado hit his third grand slam of the season to help complete the comeback. While the win keeps Arizona statistically alive in the postseason race, the Diamondbacks’ path to October continues to get more complicated.
With six games left on their schedule, the D-Backs are four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the final National League wild-card spot and five games behind the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, who are tied for the top wild-card positions.
That leaves the club with one simple task: Win as many of its remaining six games as possible and hope the teams ahead of it give it enough of an opening.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) celebrates his triple during the seventh inning at Chase Field during the game between Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
The first part is obvious, as Arizona now heads to Colorado to take on the Rockies for three games. Despite their record, the Rockies took the last series between the two teams at Chase Field in August and aren’t necessarily looking to roll over for the Diamondbacks.
Then, the Snakes will head to San Diego for their final three games of the regular season — and possibly the most important ones yet if they’re not eliminated by that time.
The second part is harder.
Sep 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) and baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) celebrate after the ninth inning at Chase Field during the game against the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Philadelphia is the closest team ahead of Arizona, so Phillies losses are particularly important. Good Morning Ball’s Aaron Hughes posted what would need to happen in each scenario and the record the D-Backs would need to have by the end of the six games.
If the #Dbacks go 4-2 the Phillies must go 0-6
If the Arizona go 5-1 the Phillies must go 1-5 or worse.
If the Diamondbacks win all 6 Philadelphia must still go no better than 2-4.
Padres magic number is 2 so any combination of 2 San Diego wins or Arizona losses clinch them
— Aaron Hughes (@AaronrHughes) September 20, 2026
In other words, the Diamondbacks don’t control much of their playoff destiny anymore. Their wins will still matter, but so will what the teams ahead of them do over the next week.
The Snakes elimination number is down to three, and they are the only remaining team in the National League that has not been eliminated but does not currently hold a playoff spot. There’s no room left for error.
Arizona can only take care of its own schedule now and hope one of the teams ahead stumbles.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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