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Diamondbacks are looking like a threat in the NL again

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Aug 5, 2024 11:25 PM ET

The Diamondbacks are coming.

Arizona, the defending NL pennant winner, is playing its best baseball of the season and looks like a legitimate contender to represent the National League in the 2024 World Series.

It continued its hot streak on Monday in a 7-6 extra-innings win over the Guardians (67-45), which have the best record in baseball.

With the win, the Diamondbacks (61-52) moved into a tie with the Padres (61-52) and Braves (60-51) atop the NL's wild-card standings.

Since July 3, Arizona has the best record in baseball (20-8). It's rebounded from a quiet start by fielding the league's most devastating offense.

During that span, the Diamondbacks have scored 183 runs in 28 games (6.5 runs per game), 19 more than the Red Sox (164), which have scored the second-most runs. (h/t FanGraphs)

The Diamondbacks have 49 home runs over their last 28 games, with 21 coming from second baseman Ketel Marte (11) and third baseman Eugenio Suarez (10).

Suarez was the hero in extras against the Guardians, recording a sacrifice fly in the 10th while being robbed of a base hit with a phenomenal play in right field by Guardians right fielder Lane Thomas.

Eugenio Suárez out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Lane Thomas. Corbin Carroll scores.

Catch probability: 11%
Est. Distance Covered: 90.9 ft
Exit Velo: 86.5 mph
Launch Angle: 22 deg
Hit Distance: 284 ft#Dbacks #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/pqmJEiWYM4
— Catch Probability (@CatchProb) August 6, 2024

Meanwhile, Marte hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw Monday, giving him 28 home runs in 2024.

Ketel Marte jumps on the first pitch and the @Dbacks are on top early. pic.twitter.com/JrsyYcIc6o
— MLB (@MLB) August 5, 2024

No team has seen its postseason odds increase over the past 30 days more than the Diamondbacks. On July 5, they were 43-45 with 20.9% odds of making the playoffs, per Baseball Reference.

Their odds have increased 44.7 percentage points in the month since; Arizona entered Monday with a 65.6% chance of reaching the postseason.

And those numbers could increase.

Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (right shoulder strain) is nearing his return from the injured list and has a rehab appearance scheduled for Tuesday. (h/t ESPN)

Kelly pitched 24.2 innings earlier this season and posted a 2.19 earned run average. He should provide necessary support to a pitching staff that ranks 25th in starter ERA (4.70).

The Diamondbacks made it to last year's World Series after a mediocre start, and with their bats clicking, they're showing why they could be dangerous this October.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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