Arizona Diamondbacks Turnaround: From Mediocrity to Contenders
In the fickle world of baseball, where fortunes can turn on a dime, the Arizona Diamondbacks have crafted a narrative of resurgence that's nothing short of spectacular. As recently as June 28, the Diamondbacks languished with a 39-43 record, sitting under .500 and trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games, with four teams ahead of them. They were also 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks have surged to the top of the wild-card race, carving out a six-game cushion for a postseason berth.
The Diamondbacks' 29-10 record since June 29 tells the story of a team hitting its stride. They have won nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20, with their three losses eked out by a combined four runs. Remarkably, they haven't dropped a series since late June, boasting a 12-0-1 record in 13 series since June 27.
Despite injuries to key players like Christian Walker, sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, and Gabriel Moreno, who suffered a groin strain last week, the Diamondbacks have thrived. The team also had to juggle their lineup after Paul Sewald was removed from the closer's spot due to struggles. However, these hurdles haven't hampered their performance.
One of the keys to Arizona's success has been the resurgence of outfielder Corbin Carroll. On June 5, Carroll's batting line stood at a dismal .192/.278/.279 over 254 plate appearances. Since then, he has turned it around, slashing .248/.336/.491 in his last 243 plate appearances. Even as the Diamondbacks navigate injuries and roster changes, Carroll's improvement has been a significant boost.
Another standout performer is Josh Bell, who has hit .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Jake McCarthy, outperforming expectations, is hitting an impressive .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 outings. "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason," McCarthy said, reflecting the team's determination to maintain their momentum.
The Diamondbacks' roster shuffles haven't been limited to the batting lineup. This season, they've utilized 14 different starting pitchers. The current rotation, featuring Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt, has been solid. Kelly, for instance, held the Phillies to two runs over five innings in his return, and Rodriguez has already contributed two starts since his season debut last week.
On the bullpen side, Justin Martinez has stepped into the closer role with aplomb, going 3 for 3 in save opportunities since taking over. Newcomer A.J. Puk has also been a revelation, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since his arrival.
Offensively, Arizona has been on fire, hitting a collective .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games. The team has averaged 6.90 runs per game during this stretch. Clutch performances have been common, with Adrian Del Castillo hitting a walk-off homer against the Phillies and Alek Thomas delivering a game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also excelled, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
This impressive form has dramatically boosted Arizona's postseason chances. According to FanGraphs, during their 17-3 stretch, the Diamondbacks' playoff odds skyrocketed from 40.5% to 91.5%. For a team that was once considered an outsider for playoff contention, these numbers underscore the extent of their turnaround.
As the regular season heads into its final stretch, the Diamondbacks are poised as a formidable force. Their combination of robust batting, versatile pitching, and an unyielding spirit highlights the makings of a deep playoff run. Whether they can sustain this remarkable performance remains to be seen, but for now, Arizona's climb from mediocrity to contenders is an inspirational tale in the tapestry of the MLB season.