Looking back: How have D-backs teams done after 60 games?

The Major League Baseball season in 2020 will only be 60 games long. That leaves a lot less room for error and a lot less time to make up lost ground if a team gets off to a slow start.

On the other hand, it also means that teams can get hot early and it may be enough to boost them into a playoff berth.

So how have the Diamondbacks done in this regard over the years? We look back on some of their past teams and what would have happened if the season were only 60 games long.

Granted, some of the dynamics of this 2020 season make it slightly apples-and-oranges. For example, 40 of the 60 games will be against division opponents, but the first 60 games in past seasons most likely did not include 40 divisional games.

Under manager Torey Lovullo…

Lovullo has completed three seasons as the Diamondbacks’ manager and made the playoffs only once, back in 2017 with a spot in the NL Wild Card game. Here’s how it could have gone differently in just 60 games:

2017

Record after 60 games: 35-25
Division standing: Tied for second with the Dodgers, two games back of Colorado
Wild Card standing: Tied for first with the Dodgers
Actual 162-game outcome: Made Wild Card

The Diamondbacks would have made the playoffs via the Wild Card, which is the same result they actually ended up with that year. Robbie Ray had made 12 starts by this point with a 2.85 ERA and a complete game shutout under his belt.

2018

Record after 60 games: 32-28
Divisional standing: First place, one game up on Colorado
Actual 162-game outcome: Missed playoffs

Arizona would have won the division, thanks in part to Patrick Corbin finishing the regular season with a 2.87 ERA and .188 opposing average through 13 starts.

2019

Record after 60 games: 30-30
Divisional standing: Fourth place, 11 games back
Wild Card standing: Sixth place, 2.5 games back
Actual 162-game outcome: Missed playoffs

Only at .500 after 60 games, the D-backs were well short of a playoff spot.

Other notable seasons:

2001

Record after 60 games: 36-24
Division standing: First place
Actual 162-game outcome: Won Division

Famously the year the D-backs won the World Series, Arizona was 36-24 after 60 games. That was good for first place in the division with a three-game buffer over L.A. and Luis Gonzalez batting .330.

2007

Record after 60 games: 36-24
Division standing: Tied for first with San Diego
Wild Card standing: First place
Actual 162-game outcome: Won Division

The Diamondbacks had a good year in 2007 with new uniforms and a young core that included the likes of Brandon Webb, Eric Byrnes, Orlando Hudson and Chris Young, to name a few. Even through just 60 games, they were already in a good spot.

2008

Record after 60 games: 32-28
Division standing: First place
Actual 162-game outcome: Missed playoffs

In actuality, the Dodgers acquired Manny Ramirez late in the year and went on to boot the Diamondbacks out of a playoff spot. But after 60 games, Arizona was in first place and had a 3.5-game lead over the Dodgers.

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