Why it matters the D-backs are in a wild-card spot

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesThe Diamondbacks have been doing a lot better of late. The 2024 season hopefully reached its low point with the 13-1 shellacking by the Padres at Chase Field on May 4, a defeat which saw the team drop to a record of 14-20. It saw their Fangraphs playoff odds drop below one in four for the first time this year, sinking to 24.3%. That probably felt optimistic, considering after the loss, Arizona were ahead only of the Marlins and Rockies in the overall National League standings. But since that crushing defeat, the D-backs are 7-3, a record trailing only the Phillies in the NL.

Now, any new-found optimism needs to be tempered. Five of those seven wins came…