The Arizona Diamondbacks are getting healthy and playing solid baseball at the right time.
Following a tough finish to August, the Arizona Diamondbacks have had a solid start to September.
Arizona suffered a three-game losing streak to conclude August and open September, but since then, the Diamondbacks have won four of their last five games. This is very important for them, with the regular season down to mere weeks as their fight continues to maintain third place in the National League Wild Card standings.
Arizona still has work to do, but with a 77-68 record, there is cause for optimism. That optimism is also being reflected in Bleacher Report's recent power rankings.
Moving up
In the outlet’s latest rankings, the Diamondbacks moved from No. 10 to No. 9, indicating a small jump, but one nonetheless.
Bleacher Report highlighted the impending return of Arizona right-hander Corbin Burnes, who made his season debut on Tuesday night after a long recovery process following Tommy John surgery. Burnes was scheduled to return much earlier in the season, but after suffering a right teres major muscle strain in June, he was put on ice for longer.
Burnes’ return has the chance to give the Diamondbacks a much-needed boost. Arizona’s pitching staff has dealt with its fair share of struggles this season, and adding a Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star is exactly the type of injection this club needs down the stretch.
At the time of writing, the Diamondbacks maintain a narrow 0.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres for third place in the NL Wild Card standings. Only three Wild Card teams from each league make it to October, which puts added pressure on Arizona to hold firm.
Bleacher Report also pointed to the Diamondbacks’ season finale against the Padres, which will be a three-game set at Petco Park from Sept. 25-27 that may have season-defining implications for the clubs.
Another X-factor
Before Burnes was set to make his comeback, Arizona also dealt with a dramatic two-week stretch with three-time All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. On Aug. 17, Marte failed to show up for a series-opening game against the Boston Red Sox, which landed him on the restricted list before he was transferred to the Injured List for knee inflammation.
Subsequently, a video surfaced of Marte at a casino on Aug. 21 while the Diamondbacks faced the Cincinnati Reds, adding more fuel to the drama-driven fire. However, Marte apologized for his actions that led to his absence and made his return to the lineup on Aug. 31.
Through five games in September, Marte has a .263/.364/.474 slash line. The nature of Marte’s absence was disappointing, but his return was more important. Now, with Marte and Burnes in the fold, it feels like Arizona can make a run.
