MLB Playoff Update: Giants keeping pace in NL Wild Card chase
Sep 12, 2023, 9:11 AM
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
After losing six straight games, the San Francisco Giants’ 2023 season was hanging in the balance entering last weekend’s series against the lowly Colorado Rockies.
The Giants needed to make a statement against the Rockies before looking ahead to a three-game set against Cleveland as they continued to slide in the National League Wild Card standings.
Monday night’s walk-off win over the Guardians at Oracle Park gave San Francisco (74-70) its fourth straight win as they inch closer to an MLB Playoff spot.
“Today was ultimately a really grindy win for us,” Giants catcher Sabol said following Monday’s win. “It took the whole team to win that. That was definitely a big win for us.”
San Francisco is getting hot at an ideal time as teams around them in the NL Wild Card standings–the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds–have slid behind them in the chase for October baseball.
While the Giants might be closing in on the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third and final Wild Card spot, there is still plenty of drama that could unfold during the final 18 games of the regular season.
Here is where things currently stand in the MLB’s NL Wild Card race.
What is the current state of the NL Wild Card standings?
Four teams. One spot. That’s the way that this race is going to unfold over the next three weeks.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs have increased their lead in the standings over those beneath them, although both teams have at least three games or more against the powerhouse Atlanta Braves during the final stretch.
San Francisco can’t look too far ahead, meaning that Arizona should be the only team in their sights.
At this point in the season, the Giants need to take advantage of the softer part of their schedule. San Francisco’s next six games take place agianst sub-.500 opponents (Cleveland and Colorado), meaning that now is the time to strike while Arizona deals with the Cubs this weekend.
Once the Rockies-Guardians portion of the schedule concludes, the Giants will have a tough final stretch.
Seven of San Francisco’s final 12 games will be against the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers, with a crucial two-game set against the D-Backs set to take place September 19th and 20th.
The playoff push is here. Are you ready?
Upcoming San Francisco Giants Schedule
- Monday, September 11th-Wednesday, September 13th – vs. Cleveland Guardians
- Thursday, September 14th-Sunday, September 17th – @ Colorado Rockies
- Tuesday, September 19th-Wednesday, September 20th – @ Arizona Diamondbacks
- Thursday, September 21st-Sunday, September 24th – @ Los Angeles Dodgers
- Monday, September 25th-Wednesday, September 27th – vs. San Diego Padres
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