NL Wild Card standings update: Giants inch closer to third spot

Sep 11, 2023, 9:26 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Mitch Haniger #17 of the San Francisco Giants hits a home...

(Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Coming into a weekend series with the Colorado Rockies, the San Francisco Giants desperately needed to get back into the win column after losing six straight games.

Not only did the Giants (73-70) end their losing streak, but they did so in sweeping fashion by taking three straight games from the Rockies at Oracle Park.

As the chaos surrounding the National League Wild Card intensifies by the day, San Francisco has brought itself within 1.5 games of the third and final spot with 19 games remaining in the regular season.

When the Joc strikes 🕰️ pic.twitter.com/ykMALMArsv

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 11, 2023

“Obviously, a crucial stretch coming down last 20 games or so,” Giants outfielder Mitch Haniger said following San Francisco’s 6-3 win over Colorado on Sunday night.

“We all know this, and we’re meeting the challenge head-on. The offense has been looking good.”

As we move into the final weeks of the regular season, the Giants find themselves on the outside looking at while teams even with or ahead of them in the standings–the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, and Cincinnati Reds–continue to push towards October.

Although the remaining games continue to dwindle, San Francisco will play its next seven games against sub-.500 teams (Colorado and Cleveland) before heading to Arizona on September 19th for a crucial two-game set against the second Wild Card holder, the D-Backs.

What is the current state of the NL Wild Card standings?

Now that teams like the San Diego Padres and New York Mets have waved the white flag for their 2023 seasons, six clubs continue to battle for three National League Wild Card spots.

The reigning National League champion Philadelphia Phillies have put themselves in a solid position to open up October as the top Wild Card, while the surging Chicago Cubs hold a two-game lead over Arizona in the second spot.

San Francisco holds the 15th-hardest remaining strength of schedule in Major League Baseball, putting them in a favorable position compared to teams like Miami (8th) in the race for the postseason.

Seven remaining games against the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers could be problematic during the final days of the regular season, but the Giants can put themselves in position for an NL Wild Card spot if they can take care of business against losing teams like Colorado and Cleveland.