Crunch time has arrived in the MLB playoff races, and the NL Wild Card standings are tightening up with just three weeks of regular season action left to be played.
The San Francisco Giants (71-69) stumbled out of the All-Star break, but have turned things around over the past two weeks by winning 10 of their past 11 games.
Although the Giants have seemingly turned a corner, their chances of playing baseball in October will be determined in the coming weeks. If they want to defy the odds, they have to maintain this red-hot pace for a longer stretch.
Here’s a current look at those NL Wild Card standings, and a glimpse at what lies ahead for the Giants with 22 regular-season games remaining.
NL Wild Card Standings
The Giants have ascended the NL Wild Card standings, in recent days, climbing from over six games back to just four games behind the New York Mets for the third and final spot.
San Francisco will begin a crucial series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, a team that sits in a similar spot to the Giants–5.5 games behind the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings, while the Cincinnati Reds (five games back) and Arizona Diamondbacks (5.5 games back) also lurk.
With 22 games remaining, the Giants hold the eighth-easiest remaining strength of schedule in Major League Baseball, while the Mets have the ninth-hardest.
St. Louis faces the hardest remaining road of all teams, while the D-Backs (2nd-hardest) and Reds (third-hardest) also will have to navigate difficult final stretches of regular-season play.
Things are looking up for San Francisco, but continuing to take care of business against sub-.500 teams will be key–especially with seven matchups against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the horizon.
The NL Wild Card standings are getting tighter by the day, and the fun (chaos?) is just beginning.
Current Playoff Odds
More San Francisco Giants content from Sactown Sports
Matt Chapman went deep twice to extend the San Francisco Giants’ home run streak to 17 games as the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8 in Denver on Wednesday to sweep a three-game series.
Chapman, who earlier Wednesday appealed a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball for his actions in a benches-clearing incident a day earlier, also doubled and drove in four runs.
San Francisco’s Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, and Colorado pitcher Kyle Freeland were given fines for their part in the Tuesday scuffle.
San Francisco Giants reliever Joel Peguero (1-0) threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his first career win, and Ryan Walker got the last two outs for his 14th save.
Drew Gilbert also homered and Heliot Ramos and Patrick Bailey each had two hits and two runs for San Francisco (71-69), which has won four in a row and 10 of the past 11. Manager Bob Melvin was ejected at the end of the fifth inning by plate umpire Dan Bellino.
Appeal-ing result: Matt Chapman homers twice as Giants top Rockies
When is the next San Francisco Giants game?
Friday, September 5th – Sunday, September 7th – @ St. Louis Cardinals
Monday, September 8th – Wednesday, September 10th – vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Friday, September 12th – Sunday, September 14th – vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Monday, September 15th – Wednesday, September 17th – @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Thursday, September 18th – Sunday, September 21st – @ Los Angeles Dodgers
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