Arizona Diamondbacks: Scoreboard Watching on Saturday, Sept. 23
By Joseph Jacquez
Here is what you need to know about the other games taking place today that have implications for the Diamondbacks and the wild card race as a whole
All the Arizona Diamondbacks need to do is control their own destiny.
If you asked manager Torey Lovullo and the players about magic number scenarios and what other team’s in the race are doing, the above statement is what they would tell you.
Trust me on that.
But fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks, bloggers and media members pay attention to outside factors. Heck, when you have not had meaningful baseball to follow this late into the season since 2011, why not try and drive yourself crazy with math and what if questions.
It is fun to scoreboard watch. It is fun to know that your team is x numbers of games away from clinching a spot in the playoffs. It is fun to finally have a team you thought was supposed to compete a year ago finally live up to expectations.
For anybody that says doing math and watching the scoreboard is not fun or too much to keep track of, tell them it sure beats the alternative.
With all that in mind, here is what you need to know about what happened Friday and Saturday’s action!
Last Night
- The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins in a slugfest thriller. Chris Iannetta hit a go-ahead grand slam!
- The Cardinals defeated the Pirates in Pittsburgh thanks to an error.
- The Cubs beat the Brewers again in extra innings. Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel walked in the go-ahead run.
- The Rockies beat the Padres in San Diego behind starter Jon Gray.
What it means
The Diamondbacks magic number to clinch a postseason berth is down to two.
A Diamondbacks win and a Cardinals loss today would mean Arizona can uncork some champagne bottles!
The Brewers took a major step back in the race for the N.L. Central division title, and the Cardinals moved ahead of Milwaukee in both the division and wild card races.
The Rockies needed a win in the worst way. A victory for Colorado means they stay ahead of St. Louis for the second wild card.
As our friends in Rox Pile noted in the article linked above, the current elimination number for the Redbirds is eight.
Here is a look at the current Wild Card standings:
Arizona: 89-65 (.578) +6.0
Colorado: 83-71 (.539) —
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St. Louis: 81-72 (.529) -1.5
Milwaukee: 81-73 (.526) 2.0
Saturday’s Action
Cubs at Brewers: 10:05 a.m. MST
The Brewers have suffered three straight, painful losses in extra innings. The Brew Crew need this game to stay in the playoff race.
Do not expect Craig Counsell to panic. He will have his guys ready to go.
Quick working lefty Brent Suter (3-2, 3.41) starts for Milwaukee, and Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.22 ERA) starts for Chicago.
Hendricks has been great for Chicago since coming off the disabled list (2.42 ERA in 11 starts). But the right hander is just 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four starts against the Brewers.
Cardinals at Pirates: 4:05 p.m. MST
The Cardinals pulled a win out of their hat on Saturday and are making a late run.
Pay attention Diamondbacks fans. We could very well see St. Louis in Phoenix on Oct. 4.
Lance Lynn (11-7, 3.09 ERA) starts for the Cardinals. The right hander has not gotten very little run support lately. St. Louis has lost six of his last seven starts, but he only gave up three-plus runs once. In three starts against the Bucos, he is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA.
Gerrit Cole (11-11, 4.13 ERA) is on the mound for the Pirates. He owns a 2.50 ERA in three starts versus the Cardinals this season.
Rockies at Padres: 5:40 p.m. MST
Chad Bettis got extra rest before his start today for Colorado. Remember when the Diamondbacks chased him before the first inning?
Bettis (1-3, 6.23 ERA) is only making his seventh start of the season. He has not faced the Padres this season.
Jhoulys Chacin (12-10, 4.12 ERA) gave up three runs in 4.1 innings in a game shortened by rain at Coors Field. The former Colorado pitcher owns a 1.91 ERA at Petco Park, which is the best in the National League.
* The Dodgers clinched the N.L. West last night. But hey, the Diamondbacks won the season series. #BeatLA
Read our preview of today’s D-backs, Marlins game by clicking here. Taijuan Walker gets the ball for Arizona.
"Arizona Diamondbacks: What if the Brewers overtake the Rockies?"
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