November 27, 2025 1:12 AM PST
It wasnt even two weeks ago when MLBTR did a poll regarding whether or not anything could shake up the seemingly-stagnant NL playoff picture. At the time, more than believed that the sextet of clubs in postseason position (Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs, Padres, and Mets) would be the ones to ultimately represent the senior circuit in October. The over at FanGraphs were even more bullish on that group, as New Yorks 95.2% chance to make the postseason was the lowest out of those six clubs. A lot has changed since then regarding the perception of the NLs playoff field. While five of the aforementioned six teams are still all but guaranteed to play in October, the Mets have entered a freefall. While a win on Sunday snapped their losing streak at eight games, theyre still 4-9 in September and 15-26 since the start of August (though theyre beating up on the Padres tonight). That extended slump has opened the door for the hangers-on in the NL playoff field to take advantage and, while the Reds and Giants have mostly spun their wheels with 75-75 records headed into the final two weeks of the season, one team has taken full advantage to force themselves back into the conversation: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Maurice Richard Jersey who werent even a listed option for the postseason in that aforementioned early September poll. With an 8-5 record in September and 25-17 since the start of August, Arizonas been almost the inverse of the Mets over the past six weeks. Despite selling off everyone from and to and at the deadline, theyve fought their way back over .500 and now sit just 1.5 games back of a Wild Card spot with 11 games to go after last nights win over the Giants. Its very impre sive for the team to have rebounded this well over the past few weeks, and a lot of things needed to go the right way for that to happen. Since the start of August, (2.68 ERA), (3.61 ERA), and (3.63 ERA) have all looked like quality starters, while has broken out to deliver 30 innings of 2.70 ERA ball in the rotation since making his season debut on August 17. The offense, meanwhile, has gotten sensational performances out of not just superstars like and , but also lower profile talents like (174 wRC+ in 192 plate appearances) and (166 wRC+ in 74 plate appearances). Even rookie (124 wRC+ in 170 plate appearances) has done a great job letting fans in Arizona forget about the lo s of Suarez. As monumental as the teams efforts to force their way into the postseason have been, they still face a very uphill climb even as they sit just a game and a half back. The schedule has done them absolutely no favors. After this series against the Giants, theyll run a gauntlet of Phillies, Dodgers, and Padres to close out the season. Perhaps the series in Philadelphia wont be as difficult as it might look on paper if the Phils ease off the gas after clinching the NL East last night, but L.A. and San Diego remain locked in a close battle for the NL West and surely wont make it easy for their division rivals in the desert to finish this attempt at a comeback. All of that leaves Arizona with just a to make the postseason entering play today, according to FanGraphs. Those are long odds, and while theyll surely improve at least somewhat if the Diamondbacks can put the Giants to bed in this ongoing series, even a sweep isnt especially likely to move the needle unle s the Mets help them out by doing a lot of losing in the coming days. Even then, the Giants and Reds both lurk just half a game behind the Snakes. A series lo s to the Giants would likely spell the end of Arizonas hopes then and there, and a schedule that affords Cincinnati five more games against the struggling Cardinals and Pirates should keep them competitive even if Arizona can dispatch San Francisco. Unlikely as it may seem on paper, however, an eight-game September losing streak in Queens and the Diamondbacks winning at a .595 clip after trading off their best players didnt seem terribly likely either. Could Arizona really finish the job and return to the postseason this year? Have your say in the poll below: Heres a for poll in case the first one isnt showing up Joshua Roy Jersey
It wasnt even two weeks ago when MLBTR did a poll regarding whether or not anything could shake up the seemingly-stagnant NL playoff picture. At the time, more than believed that the sextet of clubs in postseason position (Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs, Padres, and Mets) would be the ones to ultimately represent the senior circuit in October. The over at FanGraphs were even more bullish on that group, as New Yorks 95.2% chance to make the postseason was the lowest out of those six clubs. A lot has changed since then regarding the perception of the NLs playoff field. While five of the aforementioned six teams are still all but guaranteed to play in October, the Mets have entered a freefall. While a win on Sunday snapped their losing streak at eight games, theyre still 4-9 in September and 15-26 since the start of August (though theyre beating up on the Padres tonight). That extended slump has opened the door for the hangers-on in the NL playoff field to take advantage and, while the Reds and Giants have mostly spun their wheels with 75-75 records headed into the final two weeks of the season, one team has taken full advantage to force themselves back into the conversation: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Maurice Richard Jersey who werent even a listed option for the postseason in that aforementioned early September poll. With an 8-5 record in September and 25-17 since the start of August, Arizonas been almost the inverse of the Mets over the past six weeks. Despite selling off everyone from and to and at the deadline, theyve fought their way back over .500 and now sit just 1.5 games back of a Wild Card spot with 11 games to go after last nights win over the Giants. Its very impre sive for the team to have rebounded this well over the past few weeks, and a lot of things needed to go the right way for that to happen. Since the start of August, (2.68 ERA), (3.61 ERA), and (3.63 ERA) have all looked like quality starters, while has broken out to deliver 30 innings of 2.70 ERA ball in the rotation since making his season debut on August 17. The offense, meanwhile, has gotten sensational performances out of not just superstars like and , but also lower profile talents like (174 wRC+ in 192 plate appearances) and (166 wRC+ in 74 plate appearances). Even rookie (124 wRC+ in 170 plate appearances) has done a great job letting fans in Arizona forget about the lo s of Suarez. As monumental as the teams efforts to force their way into the postseason have been, they still face a very uphill climb even as they sit just a game and a half back. The schedule has done them absolutely no favors. After this series against the Giants, theyll run a gauntlet of Phillies, Dodgers, and Padres to close out the season. Perhaps the series in Philadelphia wont be as difficult as it might look on paper if the Phils ease off the gas after clinching the NL East last night, but L.A. and San Diego remain locked in a close battle for the NL West and surely wont make it easy for their division rivals in the desert to finish this attempt at a comeback. All of that leaves Arizona with just a to make the postseason entering play today, according to FanGraphs. Those are long odds, and while theyll surely improve at least somewhat if the Diamondbacks can put the Giants to bed in this ongoing series, even a sweep isnt especially likely to move the needle unle s the Mets help them out by doing a lot of losing in the coming days. Even then, the Giants and Reds both lurk just half a game behind the Snakes. A series lo s to the Giants would likely spell the end of Arizonas hopes then and there, and a schedule that affords Cincinnati five more games against the struggling Cardinals and Pirates should keep them competitive even if Arizona can dispatch San Francisco. Unlikely as it may seem on paper, however, an eight-game September losing streak in Queens and the Diamondbacks winning at a .595 clip after trading off their best players didnt seem terribly likely either. Could Arizona really finish the job and return to the postseason this year? Have your say in the poll below: Heres a for poll in case the first one isnt showing up Joshua Roy Jersey