Well, this will be a little short. Because I forgot that on Game #162, everybody starts at the same time – which for the D-backs, means an hour earlier than the usual West-coast Sunday first pitch. This does mean we get to do some top-tier scoreboard watching, and see how the Reds and Mets fare in their battle for the final wild-card spot. They enter play tied, but with the Reds owning the tiebreaker. In other words, the only way the Mets can make the playoffs will be if they win and the Reds lose.
My ideal scenario, after their role in last year’s bitter finish, would be the Mets winning, and the Reds coming from behind late to deny them, so New York can see what it feels like to have post-season baseball snatched away.
The honor of getting the year’s final start goes to Brandon Pfaadt. Remember when he was leading the National League in wins, with five victories before the end of April? Ah, good times. Been a bit harder for him since then, though if he takes the W today, he will end the year leading the team there (he’s currently tied with Zac Gallen on 13). Doing so – or getting a W by any other means – would also save the Diamondbacks from the first losing record since 2022. Hopefully Brandon can do what Eduardo Rodriguez failed to accomplish yesterday, and get his ERA back down below five. It’s exactly there right now, so any kind of Quality Start would be good enough. Four or more innings with 2 ER or less works too.
