Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #52: 5/24 vs. Rockies

Three consecutive one-run games for the D-backs. That isn’t as rare as you might think. Indeed, it’s the third time this year alone, that Arizona has played three in a row decided by the narrowest of margins. It happened twice in April: from the 4th-7th, and then the entire series in Philadelphia from the 10th-12th was also one-run games. If today’s game is also decided by one run, now we’ll be talking. The D-backs haven’t had four consecutive one-run games since June 1st, 2019. Though even that’ll be some way from the franchise record. From May 30th through June 6th in 2010, Arizona played seven one-run games in a row, including an infamous pair of 1-0 losses in extras to LA.

The run has pushed the Diamondbacks back up the rankings for this year. Their 18 one-run games is most, by two, in the National League, and only behind the Mariners (19) in all baseball. It’s three times as many as the fewest in baseball: the Astros have only six. But the most successful team are the Rays, who are an impressive 9-1 in one-run games. The D-backs’ 10-8 is about what you’d expect, the general consensus being that one-run games are close to a coin toss. Though the fact we’ve been playing the team with the worst record in the NL so close is concerning. Still, a win today would make for a 6-1 homestand, and that’s hard to complain about.

Right now, the team are 1.5 games back of the last NL wild-card spot, and with no other teams between them. That spot is currently held by the slumping Cubs, who have lost seven in a row. Arizona has been getting it done against weaker opponents: their 19-8 record against teams with losing records, is behind just the Padres (20-8) in the NL. The upcoming road trip (San Francisco and Seattle) gives them a chance to continue that trend, before the schedule turns somewhat tougher. And, finally, we welcome BogoJoe to the list of guest recappers, making his debut there this afternoon. May his duties this afternoon be pleasant!