MLB Playoffs 2017: Predicting the NL Playoff picture

NL WC 1

While many may have thought 2016 would be the big year for the Arizona Diamondbacks, here they are.

A sure playoff team for 2017, they will represent the Wild Card at home in Arizona, and they are set to make their first October trip to the postseason since 2011, and their first as a Wild Card entrant.

They are guided under the leadership of first-year manager Torey Luvullo, who will garner Manager of the Year votes.

How they got here

In the NL, they trail only the Cubs for home runs (91) for the second-half. A lot of that has to do with a couple of feared sluggers.

One of the best first baseman, and players, in the league, Paul Goldschmidt, is right at the top of most statistical leaderboards. He leads first baseman in RBI (117) and has 18 stolen bases. J.D. Martinez is the other part of the dynamic offense, acquired by Detroit before the deadline.

In 57 games played with the Tigers, the impending free agent had 16 home runs, 39 RBI. With Arizona in 54 games, Martinez has 25 home runs, 54 driven in.

Arizona’s starting rotation is also outstanding. They are 65-48 with a 3.52 ERA, second best in MLB. Zack Greinke has rebounded back into Cy Young form, after a miserable 2016 campaign. This year he is 17-6, 2.87 ERA.

Robbie Ray is 14-5, 2.95 ERA, and almost no-hit the Dodgers on Labor Day.

So who will the D-backs meet? Could still be a lot of teams.

Between the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies and even the Cubs should the Brewers or Cardinals actually overtake Chicago, we will uncover our pick later on.

How They Did

The season series tied at three, with each road team claiming a series. Highlights included a 16-4 Cubs win, Lester’s 2,000th strikeout, and a wild back and forth affair with Jose Quintana and Zack Greinke on Aug. 3.