How the Diamondbacks Could Pull Off a Wild (Card) Comeback and Make the Playoffs

Photo of Diamondbacks players from Denis Poroy of Getty Images

With the final games of the MLB regular season approaching, there are plenty of exciting playoff races to watch. One of the most intriguing is the Diamondbacks battling the Phillies for the final NL Wild Card spot.

With just two games remaining in the season, the D-backs are looking to overtake Philadelphia and sneak into the postseason.

But how can they actually make it happen? The Phillies currently sit 1.5 games ahead of Arizona, with both teams having just two games left to play. The important thing to remember is that the D-backs’ playoff fate isn’t entirely in their own hands—they’ll need some help from Philadelphia.

Here are all of the possible Wild Card scenarios for the Diamondbacks:

MAKE PLAYOFFS:

D-backs 2-0, Phillies 1-1
D-backs 2-0, Phillies 0-2
D-backs 1-1, Phillies 0-2

MISS PLAYOFFS:

D-backs 2-0, Phillies 2-0
D-backs 1-1, Phillies 2-0
D-backs 1-1, Phillies 1-1
D-backs 0-2, Phillies 2-0
D-backs 0-2, Phillies 1-1
D-backs 0-2, Phillies 0-2

It’s important to note that the D-backs hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia thanks to their superior divisional record. It’s also important to note that Arizona cannot catch the Cubs or Padres for the second or third Wild Card spots. That means the D-backs’ only path into the playoffs is to overtake the Phillies for the final NL playoff spot.

If the D-backs do make the playoffs, they would face the Braves on the road, as Atlanta would be the higher seed. The Braves have already clinched their division and are guaranteed to be the lowest-seeded NL division winner, meaning they would face the final Wild Card team.

Even though the odds may be slim for the D-backs to sneak into the playoffs, there’s still plenty for Diamondbacks fans to be excited about. The Snakes have been on an absolute roll, winning six straight games, while the Phillies have dropped three in a row.

If that trend continues, the Diamondbacks could pull off an incredible comeback and overtake Philly in what could become one of the most exciting, down-to-the-wire Wild Card races in years.

Thanks for reading!