NL Wild Card standings update: Giants slide further out of picture

Sep 7, 2023, 8:31 AM

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 06: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 of the San Francisco Giants removes Alex ...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

A lot can change over one week.

After losing six games in a row and seven of their past eight, the San Francisco Giants (70-70) have fallen 2.5 games behind the third and final National League Wild Card spot with 22 games remaining in the 2023 regular season.

Wins have been tough to come by for the Giants, as San Francisco has posted a 24-34 record since the start of July.

While the Giants have been in control of an NL Wild Card spot for most of the summer, they will now move into the final three weeks of the regular season looking in from the outside of the playoff picture.

"This is a time where your toughness is tested."

Kap is urging the Giants to remain mentally tough through this rough patch pic.twitter.com/gKUodlNRAI

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 6, 2023

Although San Francisco has lost six in a row and has fallen back to .500 for the first time since June 10th, the road ahead is much more feasible than the Giants’ recent buzzsaw of a schedule.

Over the past four weeks, San Francisco has played eight-straight series against teams that are either in the playoff mix or firmly in possession of postseason spots.

Now, the Giants will open up a 10-game stretch against Colorado (seven games) and Cleveland (three games)–two teams below .500 and all but out of the playoff picture.

After facing the Rockies and Guardians, the schedule heats back up for San Francisco, with a significant two-game set against the Wild Card hopeful Arizona Diamondbacks set to take place September 19th through 20th.

Here’s the breakdown of how many games the Giants have against teams around them in the Wild Card race as we enter the final weeks of the regular season:

3 vs. San Diego
2 @ Arizona

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

With 22 games remaining, time is running out for some teams in the NL Wild Card mix.

San Diego, Pittsburgh, and New York all have slim chances of playing postseason baseball, but one good or bad week for any of these teams in the mix can make things interesting down the final stretch.

The main picture remains to be decided by six teams aiming for three Wild Card spots.

Philadelphia and Chicago are beginning to run away with the top two spots, meaning that Miami, Arizona, and San Francisco will likely determine the third and final National League Playoff spot.

Of those three teams, the Giants (23rd) have the easiest remaining strength of schedule, while Miami (5th) and Arizona (16th) have tougher remaining matchups during the final weeks of the regular season.

Miami, the third Wild Card holder, still has three matchups against the World Series favorites, the Atlanta Braves, and one game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by seven games against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

San Francisco must take advantage of its seven matchups against Colorado, starting with Friday night at Oracle Park. The road to the Wild Card rides on these coming series, and the Giants need to prove that they deserve to play past October 1st.