Yes, the Diamondbacks still have a chance to realize their playoff aspirations. However, they currently sit in the sixth position in the wildcard race, which is for the top three spots.
The probability of the Diamondbacks reaching the playoffs is 30.8% by securing a wildcard spot. Their odds of winning the World Series this year are just 0.9%.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, a relatively recent and youthful Major League Baseball team, was established in 1998. They clinched their sole World Series title in 2001 by beating the New York Yankees in an exhilarating seven-game series.
The Diamondbacks compete in the National League (NL) West division of MLB. Since its inception in 1998, Chase Field has been their home ground. The stadium is equipped with a roof to combat the extreme heat of Arizona.
Currently, the Diamondbacks hold the second position in the National League West Division, with a record of 72 wins and 68 losses. This gives them a winning percentage of .514 for the season.
The Dodgers have already secured the top spot in the NL West Division with an 84-54 win-loss record, thereby directly qualifying for the playoffs.
The Diamondbacks will face off against the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Miami Marlins in the race for a wildcard spot. The San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds are also emerging as potential contenders for a playoff position via the wildcard.
Will The Diamondbacks Make The Playoffs?
The possibility of the Diamondbacks making the playoffs is 15% by securing a wild card in the third position. The probabilities of them getting the first and second positions in the wildcard are very low, 1% and 8% respectively.
In the 2023 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have had a series of mixed outcomes against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The opening series of four matches in the League with the Dodgers ended with two victories and two losses for the Diamondbacks while being on the road.
So far, they have participated in 73 home games and managed to win 38 of them. However, their performance on the road has not been as strong, with 33 losses out of 67 matches played.
Out of the 22 games that are yet to be played, 14 are away games. It is crucial for the Diamondbacks to be cautious and improve their performance in away games.
Unfortunately, the Diamondbacks have almost no chance of directly qualifying for the playoffs, as their chances are less than 1% for every potential position.
The only somewhat hopeful position for the Diamondbacks is the third spot in the wildcard, which they have a 15% chance of achieving and is still within their grasp.
However, the 8% and 1% probabilities for the second and first spots in the wildcard are beyond the control of the Arizona players.
Below is a list of the probabilities of different clubs securing a wildcard spot for the playoffs:
- The Philadelphia Phillies have a 97.8% chance.
- The Chicago Cubs have a 92.2% chance.
- The Miami Marlins have a 36.5% chance.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks have a 30.8% chance.
- The Cincinnati Reds have a 23.0% chance.
- The San Francisco Giants have a 21.1% chance.
The Phillies are nearly assured a spot in the playoffs, boasting a 97.8% probability. The Chicago Cubs are also likely to secure their playoff spot via a wild card, with a solid 92.2% chance.
A fierce battle is anticipated among four clubs – Marlins, Reds, Giants, and Diamondbacks – for the last wild card spot in the National League playoffs.
The Marlins have the highest chance, and the Diamondbacks the lowest, with a mere 15.4% difference between them.
The upcoming three weeks of Major League Baseball (MLB) will be exciting to follow, particularly the games involving these clubs.
The Diamondbacks have 22 remaining matches, including seven against the Chicago Cubs and two against the San Francisco Giants, which are crucial for securing the wildcard spot.
For the Diamondbacks, every upcoming match is as crucial as a final to pave their way to the playoffs.
A single defeat could severely impact their chances and lower their odds, given the limited number of matches left this season. They also need to rely on the outcomes of other games to improve their chances.
The mathematical calculations involved in determining the playoff path are entering a fascinating stage. The performance of the clubs in the remaining matches could alter the playoff probabilities at any moment.
This September promises to be thrilling, with several edge-of-the-seat matches expected.
Last Time Diamondbacks Made Playoff Appearance
The Arizona Diamondbacks last participated in the playoffs in 2017, facing a defeat against the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS). Over 26 seasons, they’ve made it to the playoffs six times.
The Diamondbacks have also participated in the playoffs in the years 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, and 2011. Their playoff history is particularly significant due to winning the World Series in 2001, only four years after the team was formed.
In the 2001 playoffs, the Diamondbacks secured a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the National League Divisional Series title. They then defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1 to clinch the National League Championship Series.
A momentous event in the history of the Diamondbacks occurred following a hard-fought victory over the New York Yankees, with a score of 4-3.
This triumph led them to secure the World Series trophy, detailed below are their individual match performances during the finals:
- October 27, 2001: Against New York Yankees, score of 9-1.
- October 28, 2001: Against New York Yankees, score of 4-0.
- October 30, 2001: Against New York Yankees, score of 1-2.
- October 31, 2001: Against New York Yankees, score of 3-4.
- November 1, 2001:Against New York Yankees, score of 2-3.
- November 3, 2001:Against New York Yankees, score of 15-2.
- November 4, 2001:Against New York Yankees, score of 3-2.
The Diamondbacks made it to the playoffs in 2017, securing a victory in the National League Wild Card against the Colorado Rockies with a score of 1-0.
However, they suffered a crushing defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing all three matches in the series.
Despite this, the Dodgers also faced disappointment as they were beaten by the Astros in the World Series Final with a close score of 4-3.
Additionally, the Diamondbacks also had a taste of victory in the past, as they clinched the NL Divisional Series trophy back in 2007.
Despite their efforts, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in six out of the seasons they participated.
The Diamondbacks Magic Number 2023
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a magic number of 37 to clinch the NL West Division.
Nonetheless, their prospects look grim as the division leaders, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have a much lower magic number of 11.
Moreover, the Diamondbacks are dangerously close to being out of the race for the division title, as their elimination number is only 10. The Dodgers are currently 14 games ahead of Arizona.
The outlook for the Diamondbacks doesn’t get any better when considering the wildcard berth.
Their magic number for securing the third spot in the wildcard berth is 22, which makes it almost impossible for them to secure the first two wildcard spots in the National League.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies have a magic number of 17, the Chicago Cubs 18, and the Miami Marlins 22 for the third wildcard spots.
While these teams are vying for the first and second wildcard spots with better magic numbers than the Diamondbacks, Arizona needs to excel in the upcoming games and hope for the other teams to perform poorly to have a shot at the playoffs.