As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks faced an uphill battle. With a record of 39-43 and trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games, their postseason hopes seemed distant. Standing 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West only added to their predicament.
However, fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks have orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, now leading the wild-card race with a six-game cushion. Their performance since June 29 has been nothing short of astonishing, racking up a 29-10 record. A series of notable wins has pushed them to win nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20, with their three losses all coming by a combined margin of just four runs.
Clutch Performances and Key Contributions
A pivotal factor in this resurgence has been the contributions from various players despite injuries and reshuffles. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Additionally, Paul Sewald was removed from the closer's role due to struggles. Yet, the team continued to push forward.
Corbin Carroll, who had a struggling batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances as of June 5, has found his stride, now slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Josh Bell has been delivering at a high clip, hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games, while Jake McCarthy has been on fire with a .460/.477/.730 line in his last 17 games. "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason," McCarthy expressed, reflecting the team's determined mindset.
Pitching Resilience
The Diamondbacks' rotation has undergone notable changes throughout the season, using 14 different starting pitchers. The current rotation features Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt. Kelly returned strongly, holding the Phillies to two runs over five innings. Rodriguez, having only recently joined the team, has already made two starts since his debut last week. Meanwhile, the bullpen has seen Justin Martinez excel, going three for three in save opportunities since taking over the closer's role.
A.J. Puk has been another standout addition to the bullpen, surrendering just one run and striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team. Their pitching staff's resilience has been crucial in maintaining their winning momentum.
Offensive Surge
Offensively, the Diamondbacks have been a juggernaut over the past 20 games, boasting a collective batting line of .305/.368/.565 and averaging 6.90 runs per game. Clutch moments have not been in short supply, with Adrian Del Castillo delivering a walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas hitting a game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The Designated Hitter (DH) platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has contributed significantly as well, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs between them.
This offensive prowess has translated into consistent success as they haven’t lost a series since late June, holding a 12-0-1 record in 13 series’ since June 27. This consistency has dramatically altered their postseason projections, with their odds rising from 40.5% to an impressive 91.5%, according to FanGraphs.
Looking Forward
The Diamondbacks' resurgence is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and collective performance. With a well-rounded roster contributing in crucial moments and overcoming adversities, the team has positioned itself as a formidable contender heading into the latter part of the MLB season. This astonishing transformation from midseason strugglers to wild-card leaders showcases their potential to impact the postseason significantly. "We want to continue to improve on this," McCarthy's words encapsulate the team's hunger and determination to make the most of their momentum.