As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a precarious position. With a record of 39-43, the team was under .500 and trailed the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games, with four teams ahead of them. Additionally, they lagged 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Fast forward to August 14, the Diamondbacks now stand atop the wild-card race, holding a six-game cushion for a postseason berth. This notable turnaround has been underscored by their impressive 29-10 record since June 29. Arizona has won nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20. Remarkably, their three losses came by a combined four runs, and they haven't lost a series since late June, boasting a 12-0-1 record in their last 13 series since June 27.
The streak becomes even more astonishing considering the adversity the team has faced. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Additionally, Paul Sewald had to be removed from the closer's role due to struggles. Yet, the Diamondbacks have continued to excel, with new leaders stepping up to fill the void.
Corbin Carroll's resurgence has been a significant factor in the Diamondbacks' success. Carroll, who had a batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances as of June 5, is now slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Contributions from other players have also been vital: Josh Bell is hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games, while Jake McCarthy is hitting an extraordinary .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games.
The Diamondbacks have utilized 14 different starting pitchers this season, but their current rotation featuring Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt has been formidable. Merrill Kelly, for instance, held the Phillies to two runs over five innings during his return, while Eduardo Rodriguez has contributed two starts since his season debut last week.
Closing games has also seen improvement, with Justin Martinez going 3 for 3 in save opportunities since taking over the closer's role. A.J. Puk has been a revelation, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks are sizzling, hitting .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games. The team is averaging 6.90 runs per game in this span. Adrian Del Castillo and Alek Thomas have delivered clutch performances, with Del Castillo hitting a walk-off homer against the Phillies and Thomas contributing a game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also been effective, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
During this 17-3 stretch, Arizona's postseason odds have surged from 40.5% to 91.5%, according to FanGraphs. Jake McCarthy encapsulated the team's current mindset, "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason."
The Diamondbacks' remarkable mid-season turnaround has captivated fans and analysts alike. As the postseason looms, this resilient team aims to sustain their momentum and continue their quest for October glory.