Remarkable Turnaround for the Arizona Diamondbacks
As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a precarious position with a record of 39-43. They were under .500, trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games with four teams ahead of them, and were 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Fast forward to August 14, and the narrative has drastically changed. The Diamondbacks now stand atop the wild-card race, enjoying a six-game cushion for a postseason berth.
Since June 29, Arizona boasts a remarkable 29-10 record. The team has won nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20, with their three losses coming by a combined total of just four runs. This impressive stretch has seen them avoid losing a series since late June, achieving a 12-0-1 record in their last 13 series since June 27.
Individual performances have played a critical role in this dramatic resurgence. Despite injuries to key players like Christian Walker, who has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno, who suffered a groin strain last week, the team has found ways to thrive. Even after closer Paul Sewald had to be removed from his role due to struggles, the Diamondbacks have managed to sustain their winning momentum.
Offensive Surge
A significant part of the Diamondbacks' success has stemmed from their offensive output. Corbin Carroll, who had a batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances as of June 5, has turned things around to now slash .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Josh Bell is hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games, and Jake McCarthy is hitting a staggering .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games. The designated hitter (DH) platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also been effective, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
The Diamondbacks' offense is collectively hitting .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games while averaging an impressive 6.90 runs per game. Highlights include Adrian Del Castillo's walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas's clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays.
Pitching Excellence
Arizona's pitching staff has also been instrumental in their rise. Despite having used 14 different starting pitchers this season, the current rotation of Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt has delivered consistently strong performances. Kelly recently held the Phillies to two runs over five innings during his return, while Rodriguez has made two solid starts since his season debut last week. Justin Martinez is 3 for 3 in save opportunities since taking over the closer's role, and A.J. Puk has surrendered just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Team chemistry and resilience have been evident throughout this period. "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason," said Jake McCarthy.
Postseason Prospects
The Diamondbacks' turnaround is not only reflected in their win-loss record but also in their postseason prospects. During their 17-3 stretch, Arizona's postseason odds have jumped from 40.5% to an impressive 91.5%, according to FanGraphs.
The combination of strong individual performances, effective management, and unwavering team spirit has propelled the Diamondbacks from being under .500 in late June to becoming serious postseason contenders by mid-August. As the season progresses, the team will be looking to maintain their momentum and make a deep run in the playoffs. The rest of the league has certainly taken notice, and fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next for this resilient Arizona squad.