Playoff push for the Arizona Diamondbacks continues in San Diego

The Arizona Diamondbacks look for another series win in California against the San Diego Padres

After taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in a spot that most teams covet this time of year – virtually assured of making the playoffs.

Entering Monday, the D-backs are five games ahead of the Colorado Rockies for the first National League wild card spot and an almost insurmountable 7.5 game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers.

FanGraphs also likes the Diamondbacks chances.

The Diamondbacks dropped the series finale to the Giants Sunday afternoon, but the Padres helped us out. San Diego defeated Colorado, 3-2, at Coors Field. As a result, the Diamondbacks did not lose or gain a game in the standings.

The Brewers start a series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates tonight, the Cardinals (4.5 games back of Colorado) start a series against the Reds in Cincinnati Tuesday and the Giants will host the Rockies at AT&T Park.

But as the old saying goes, it does not matter what the teams chasing you do, as long as you take care of your business. As the lead dog, the Diamondbacks find themselves in that position.

A series against the rebuilding Padres (66-83) would qualify as a “take care of business” situation.

The Diamondbacks lead the season series, 10-6, including 7-3 at Chase Field and 3-3 at Petco Park. the Padres took two of three at Arizona in their last series.

The D-backs need to get the bats going. On the current trip, they are hitting .198 as a team but the team ERA is 2.77.

Arizona is 20-6 in their last 26 games (.769), the second best winning percentage in baseball behind the Cleveland Indians.