PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks have appeared in consecutive postseasons only once in franchise history. That stretch included their lone World Series win in 2001. But fresh off capturing the pennant last season, the reigning National League champions are back within striking distance of October.
Considering they spent much of their first two months this season under .500, securing another wild card berth would be no small feat.
“If you were to tell me before the season started that we’d be two games up with six to play,” manager Torey Lovullo said before Monday’s game, “I’d be like, ‘Check, please.’”
Even after a 6-3 loss to the Giants on Monday, the Diamondbacks lead the Braves by 1 1/2 games for the final wild card spot in the National League, a half-game behind the Mets. If the season ended today, Arizona would face the No. 3-seeded Brewers.
But first, the Diamondbacks need to officially secure a playoff berth, all while trying to keep a few important bats healthy. On Monday, second baseman Ketel Marte got what Lovullo characterized as a long overdue day off. Marte is apparently not fully recovered from the high ankle sprain he suffered in August and Lovullo has put a priority on preventing any serious setbacks. He did the same with starting first baseman Christian Walker, who was scratched from the lineup Sunday. Starting catcher Gabriel Moreno is considered day-to-day, though expected behind the plate again soon. And outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned from the IL a few days ago but is being closely monitored with a more cautious workload.
All four will be crucial come October. Marte, an All-Star, has slashed .295/.373/.565. Walker has blasted 26 home runs, good for third-most on the team behind Marte (35) and starting third baseman Eugenio Suárez (29). Both Moreno and Gurriel have each lengthened the lineup with above-average offensive production (107 OPS+).
The Diamondbacks entered Monday as winners in four of their last five with an 83.1 percent chance of making the postseason, per Fangraphs.
“I think that we’ve been through a lot this year,” star outfielder Corbin Carroll said. “There’s been plenty of highs and plenty of lows, and I think one of the strengths of this team is just maintaining level-headedness and just a steadfast approach to committing to today.”
Said mindset got tested right before the start of their crucial season-ending homestand. On Sunday, after opening with an 8-o lead in three innings over the Brewers, their advantage evaporated almost as quickly as it was established. The Brewers won 10-9 to avoid being swept at home. And the Diamondbacks were left with the biggest blown lead in franchise history. One defeat, soaked in humiliation.
But as the first two months of the year showed, the Diamondbacks have proven adept at moving forward after a stumble. Lovullo said the setback won’t be easily forgotten — or at least that is the hope.
“We all know what happened (Sunday), and we’re going to use that as a way to improve,” Lovullo said. “That’s what we do here. … Let’s go coach and make sure that we use that as a dress rehearsal to not let it happen again.”
The bullpen shouldered much of the blame for such a disastrous end to an otherwise promising road trip — and it’s a unit that will face somme scrutiny. Diamondbacks relievers have posted an ERA near 7.00 in September — not ideal timing for struggles. But closer Paul Sewald, who has also been on the injured list since Sept. 15, has started to ramp up his activity in recent bullpens, Lovullo said. Whether Ryne Nelson returns from that same 15-day IL to start or bolster the backend remains a question that Lovullo said has yet to be answered.
For the Diamondbacks, the approach might just be win now, figure out the rest later. A chance to host as the No. 4 seed is not out of the question. The Padres currently hold that spot, though they come to Arizona to close out the season. Making up 3 1/2 games on the Padres might be a tall task, though the Diamondbacks may be nearing a bigger goal. They began the final week of the regular season with a postseason berth increasingly within reach.
“I feel like we have a lot of core pieces that have been here for a while,” said reliever Kevin Ginkel, who debuted with the Diamondbacks in 2019. “And we understand that we want to be one of the few teams in this franchise’s history trying to get back to the postseason.”
(Top photo of Geraldo Perdomo: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
