Arizona Diamondbacks' Remarkable Turnaround: From Struggles to Contenders
As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ season seemed destined for mediocrity. With a record of 39-43, the team was under .500 and lagged behind the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games, with four teams ahead of them. They trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers by a staggering 11 1/2 games in the NL West. However, a seismic shift was on the horizon.
Fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks stand atop the wild-card race, boasting a six-game cushion for a postseason berth. The team has engineered a phenomenal turnaround with a 29-10 record since June 29, winning nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20. They haven't lost a single series since late June, holding an impressive 12-0-1 record in 13 series since June 27.
Despite significant injuries, the Diamondbacks have maintained their momentum. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Closer Paul Sewald had to be removed from his role due to struggles. Yet, the team has thrived against the odds.
Much credit goes to the resurgent performances of key players. Corbin Carroll, who had a disappointing batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances as of June 5, has since turned his season around. He is now slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Josh Bell has been a force, hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Additionally, Jake McCarthy is hitting an extraordinary .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games.
The Diamondbacks’ pitching rotation has also been solid, despite using 14 different starting pitchers this season. Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt comprise the current rotation, with Kelly holding the Phillies to two runs over five innings during his return. Rodriguez has made valuable contributions with two starts since his season debut last week.
Justin Martinez has seamlessly taken over the closer's role, going 3 for 3 in save opportunities. New addition A.J. Puk has been stellar, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks have been scorching hot, boasting a .305/.368/.565 line over the past 20 games. The team is averaging a remarkable 6.90 runs per game during this stretch. Notably, Adrian Del Castillo hit a walk-off homer against the Phillies, and Alek Thomas delivered a clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. Even the designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has been formidable, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
As Jake McCarthy succinctly put it, "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason." And indeed, the Diamondbacks have every reason to be optimistic. During their electrifying 17-3 stretch, their postseason odds surged from 40.5% to an impressive 91.5%, according to FanGraphs.
The Arizona Diamondbacks' remarkable turnaround is a testament to resilience, effective management, and standout individual performances. As the team continues its pursuit of a postseason berth, fans and analysts alike are watching with bated breath, eager to see how far this extraordinary journey will take them.