After taking three of four games against the Cubs in Chicago, the Arizona Diamondbacks have climbed to the 10th position in the FOX Sports MLB Power Rankings.
Ben Verlander credits the D-backs recent pitching success for why he placed them inside the top 10:
“Arizona is back in the rankings after nearly sweeping the Cubs. When the pitching is right, this club is a tough out. The D-backs have won 12 of their past 13 games in which they’ve held the opponent to three runs or fewer, the fourth-best mark in the majors.”
What sets the Diamondbacks apart is that among the four other teams fighting for the final two spots in the National League Wild Card race—the Cubs, Giants, Marlins, and Reds—they are the only ones cracking the top 10.
However, this by no means indicates that Arizona has a Wild Card spot waiting for them.
Despite their series win over the Cubs, they still find themselves two games behind, leaving little room for error in maintaining their hold on the 3rd Wild Card spot.
In fact, the Marlins are trailing the Diamondbacks by just half a game, with the Giants and Reds closely on their heels.
Taking a peek at the upcoming week, here are the matchups for these teams:
- Cubs: A three-game series against the Rockies (.360%)
- Diamondbacks: A four-game series against the Mets (.480%)
- Marlins: A four-game series against the Brewers (.517%)
- Giants: A three-game series against the Guardians (.472%)
- Reds: A three-game series against the Tigers (.462%)
One notable trend is that all five teams are set to face relatively lower-ranked opponents to kick off Week 24, with only the Marlins’ opponent boasting a winning record.
This underscores the importance of the Diamondbacks securing at least three wins against the Mets if they intend to maintain their grasp on the 3rd Wild Card spot.
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