3 Biggest Keys to D-Backs Making the Playoffs
The Arizona Diamondbacks have drawn the short straw of playing in the NL West, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope for this upcoming MLB season.
The Diamondbacks finished 74-88 last season, a 22-game improvement from the 2021 season, but were still 37 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the division.
Oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook expect more of the same from Arizona this season, listing its odds to win the division at +5500, its chances to make the playoffs at +430, and its win total at 74.5 games (-120 odds).
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Why the Diamondbacks Can Make the Playoffs
Making the playoffs doesn’t get much more challenging than it is for the teams in the NL West that aren’t the Dodgers or the Padres.
DraftKings oddsmakers have the Dodgers’ win total at 94.5 games and the Padres’ win total at 92.5 games, which means that Arizona’s path to the postseason would likely come via a Wild Card berth.
Here’s three reasons why that’s not impossible:
1. New starters Could Elevate Offense
Arizona’s offense wasn’t abysmal last season, but it also wasn’t particularly good. However, new additions this offseason have filled out the lineup considerably. The team added catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the Blue Jays for catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho, immediately adding depth to the lineup.
Arizona also added some veteran leadership with the signing of Evan Longoria and promoted Corbin Carroll – the No. 2 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline – late last year.
All together, Arizona added four new potential starters while losing only Varsho. That’s a big win for a team that lacked lineup depth last season.
2. Promising Youth Movement
Some of the new starters discussed above are exciting for multiple reasons. The Diamondbacks are reaching the competitive stage of their rebuild, with four projected starters who are 25 years old or younger, including Carroll, Moreno, Alek Thomas, and Jake McCarthy.
Carroll and Moreno are two top prospects, but Thomas and McCarthy are worthy of some excitement, too. Thomas recorded a .619 OPS with 26 extra-base hits in 113 games last season while McCarthy impressed with eight home runs and a .283 batting average in 99 games played.
If more than one of these players takes a significant step forward this season, it could turn Arizona into a much more dangerous squad.
3. NL Wild Card Race Shouldn’t Be Deep
Sure, the NL West is scary at the top, but the race for the two Wild Card spots in the National League isn’t crazy deep.
Some MLB fans might assume that one Wild Card team will come from the NL East and the other will come from the NL West and leave it at that.
But if one or two of the Dodgers/Padres or Braves/Mets/Phillies don’t live up to expectations, there’s suddenly a path for Arizona.
It’s not the likeliest of scenarios, but Arizona could put itself in a position to push for one of the final playoff spots, assuming that the first two items on this list hold true.
Playoffs or not, this is going to be a fun season to be a Diamondbacks fan. Don’t miss out on the chance to build your bankroll for the summer. Sign up with DraftKings now.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.