NL Wild Card Standings Update: SF Giants on outside looking in

Aug 24, 2023, 10:14 AM

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 20: Casey Schmitt #6 of the San Francisco Giants tags out Elly De La Cruz #...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Next week’s three-game series between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds just got a lot more interesting.

After losing two of three games against the National League Wild Card-leading Philadelphia Phillies, the Giants (66-61) have dropped out of a postseason spot as the surging Reds continue to climb the standings.

San Francisco will have a tall task of facing the World Series-favorite Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park this weekend before playing a crucial three-game set against Cincinnati.

Two SPECTACULAR catches on back-to-back pitches in the bottom of the 9th 😱 pic.twitter.com/FtlEgjprWC

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 24, 2023

All of San Francisco’s next four series are against teams in the mix for a postseason spot: Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego, and Chicago.

Here’s the breakdown of how many games the Giants have against teams around them in the NL Wild Card race:

7 vs. San Diego (4 at home, 3 on road)
3 vs. Cincinnati
3 @ Chicago
2 @ Arizona

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

As we move closer to September, it’s becoming clear that this race is coming down to three spots between six teams: Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Arizona, and Miami.

San Diego can climb back into the race if they can string together a winning streak, but the disappointing Padres have yet to prove that they have what it takes to make a run at October baseball.

For the Giants, there is no shortage of important games on the horizon.

As long as San Francisco is mathematically alive in the NL Wild Card race, every one of the team’s remaining 35 games has immense importance, starting with this weekend’s series against the powerhouse Braves.

If the Giants fall flat and lose two of three or even get swept, it could have dire consequences in the always-changing state of the Wild Card race.