The Arizona Diamondbacks started the 2023 season with one dream: making the playoffs.
As a medium-market, rebuilding team, the D-Backs knew that qualifying to October was the first goal.
Anything that happened after that was going to be considered a bonus.
They achieved their goal, making the postseason with an 84-78 record and narrowly leaving behind several teams in the Wild Card hunt.
When the 2023 campaign started, they were just one of 15 National League teams competing for glory.
Now, the D-Backs are one of three teams standing in the National League, as they just swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to make it all the way to the Championship Series.
Naturally, the fewer teams there are in contention, the higher their odds of winning the National League will be.
FanGraphs published the most recent odds to win the National League, posted by Codify Baseball via Twitter.
2023 Arizona Diamondbacks,
Daily Chances To Win National League: pic.twitter.com/Y4uVX87Xkn— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 12, 2023
Now, as of Thursday afternoon, their chances are close to 40 percent.
As you can see for yourself in the graph, they were close to zero at various points of the year.
On the strength of a really talented one-two punch in the rotation formed by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, and a historic rookie season by dynamic outfielder Corbin Carroll, the D-Backs are shocking the world game after game.
First, they swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round, and now they have swept the Dodgers.
They are awaiting for the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies – Atlanta Braves series: the one who comes out victorious will be the D-Backs’ foe in the Championship Series.
This is a good team with a special aura.
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