The Diamondbacks' playoff hopes are still alive
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The Arizona Diamondbacks looked down and out for much of the season, but they're making an improbable run for the National League's last playoff spot. Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
What seemed impossible a month ago is now within the realm of possibility — the Arizona Diamondbacks are in the playoff hunt as they enter the season's final stretch.
Yes, but: The odds are still against them.
- Arizona has nine games left in the regular season, and none will be easy wins.
- They've got series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, who already locked up the National League East and West titles, respectively, as well as the San Diego Padres, who are close to securing a wild card spot.
The big picture: Despite bad luck and midseason trades that deprived the Snakes of some of their best players, the D-Backs are two games out of the third wild card spot, tied with the Cincinnati Reds.
- For much of the past week, they were only a game and a half back from the New York Mets.
Catch up quick: After a solid start, the D-Backs went into a nosedive and it looked like the season might be a lost cause as recently as last month, falling to eight games under .500 on Aug. 1.
- But they've picked up the pace, going 26-17 since then and fighting their way into the wild card race.
- "It's getting real. But we've got to keep grinding. We've got to keep doing the things that we do," D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said after Tuesday's win over the Giants, per the Arizona Republic.
The intrigue: It's easy to look back wistfully to the start of the season and imagine what could've been.
- Pitcher Corbin Burnes, Arizona's marquee offseason acquisition, suffered a season-ending elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery in June.
- Relievers A.J. Puk, Kevin Ginkel and Justin Martinez, and, most recently, outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., are also out for the year.
- The team's prospects were grim enough that the D-Backs started unloading players before the trade deadline, dealing big-hitting third baseman Eugenio Suárez, first baseman Josh Naylor and starting pitcher Merrill Kelly.
What they're saying: "I think everyone just kind of bought into the process of 'We're still in this thing,'" pitcher Zac Gallen told reporters on Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported.
- Outfielder Alek Thomas said, "probably not too many people expected us to be in this position after the trade deadline and everything. It's fun."
The latest: The Mets won Thursday night, giving them a two-game lead over Arizona, while the Reds' win pushed them into a tie with the D-Backs for fourth place in the wild card standings.
- But the Giants lost to the Dodgers, leaving them one game back from Arizona and Cincinnati.
Flashback: The Snakes found themselves in a similar situation last year.
- They clawed their way back into the playoff fight but narrowly missed the last wild card spot and a chance to repeat their Cinderella run to the World Series in 2023.
What's next: The D-Backs face the Phillies at Chase Field today at 6:40pm.