What stands between the Diamondbacks and the NL West crown?
Aug 26, 2011, 5:06 PM | Updated: 6:43 pm
The Diamondbacks are looking at a golden opportunity to shut the door on the San Francisco Giants’ season and wrap up an NL West title.
With 31 games remaining on the schedule, the Diamondbacks begin a 6-game homestand Friday where they host two teams who are already looking towards next season. The Padres followed by the Rockies come to Chase Field before they head to San Francisco for a pivotal 3-game set against the Giants.
The first place Diamondbacks lead the Giants by 3 games in the NL West. With the way their schedule is, they should have no problem increasing their lead as long as they take care of the teams they are supposed to beat.
The opponents remaining on the D-backs’ schedule have a combined winning percentage of .480, with the Giants being the lone team remaining to boast a winning record.
The only team the D-backs play that is outside of the division is the rest of the year is the Pittsburgh Pirates who have struggled since the All Star break.
Despite an easy schedule, the division title is still hangs in the balance. With six games remaining between the D-backs and the Giants, you can count on the fact that the defending champs won’t go down without a good fight.
Even though the Giants have only won one out of their last eight series, they have proven in the past that they are capable of getting hot at the right time.
One thing that will help the Giants make a push is that they’re looking at an even easier schedule with their opponents combining for a winning percentage of just .453.
Thursday night’s 8-1 win against the Nationals hopefully is a sign of an offense finding its groove at the perfect time.
The D-backs control their own destiny. A nine game homestand to close out the season for a team with the best home record in the division could prove to be the difference between winning and losing the West.
