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  • AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

    MLB power rankings: 'Dangerous' Arizona Diamondbacks rising in National League, NL West

    By Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic,

    7 days ago

    The Arizona Diamondbacks are on fire.

    They have won nine straight series. They are 44-21 since June 1.

    And they just took six of seven games against the Cleveland Guardians and Philadelphia Phillies and then swept the Colorado Rockies.

    Where are the Diamondbacks in the latest MLB power rankings after their impressive week? What are MLB writers saying about the team's chances now?

    Check out where Arizona's red-hot baseball team standings in the latest MLB power rankings as of Aug. 15.

    The Diamondbacks, at 69-53, currently sit just 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and are currently tied with the San Diego Padres for the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the 2024 MLB Playoffs in the National League.

    NL MVP odds 2024: Can DBacks' Ketel Marte catch Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani in National League?

    ESPN : Diamondbacks climb three spots to No. 6

    Alden Gonzalez writes: "Gabriel Moreno is out with an adductor strain, Ketel Marte is nursing an ankle sprain, Christian Walker has an oblique injury -- and none of that seems to matter. The D-backs swept the last-place Rockies on Wednesday, giving them 18 wins in their past 21 games -- not to mention nine consecutive series victories -- and finding themselves tied atop the wild-card standings with the division-rival Padres. Despite currently missing three key pieces from its lineup, Arizona boasts a major league-best .888 OPS since the All-Star break. "It's been awesome," outfielder Jake McCarthy said after delivering a walk-off hit on Tuesday. "But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this and take this into September and the postseason."

    MLB.com : Diamondbacks rise six spots to No. 9

    Will Leitch writes: "Ketel Marte has been so hot the Diamondbacks had to give him a day off on Sunday just so he didn’t set the stadium on fire. (He also had a minor ankle contusion.) Over a stretch in which the Diamondbacks went 20-6, Marte put up the following line: .367/.443/.811, 13 homers, 30 RBIs."

    MLB playoff picture 2024: Division, wild card standings entering baseball games today

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2X1smU_0uvTUMTz00

    CBS Sports : Diamondbacks climb two spots to No. 5

    Matt Snyder writes: "The defending NL champs were 11½ games out heading to July 3. Now they have a shot at the division title. Incredible."

    Read Moore: Arizona Diamondbacks sizzling into August with Dodgers sitting in their sights

    Pitcher List : Diamondbacks go up six spots to No. 10

    Tanner McGrath writes: "Arizona is 36-20 since the start of June and 22-9 since the start of July. Thanks to a rough start, the Snakes have been overlooked all season, but they’re beginning to look like the reigning NL Pennant winners. Although the Snakes overpaid, I loved the deadline acquisition of A.J. Puk, a dominant left-handed reliever who was undervalued due to his disastrous start in Miami’s rotation. Over the past two weeks, the Diamondbacks rank third in bullpen fWAR (0.9), and Puk leads the way (0.3), allowing one earned run across seven appearances. He also takes some pressure off Joe Mantiply, Arizona’s only other southpaw reliever, who is having a rough year. Also, Josh Bell has been a timely addition, as he’s bashed four homers since the trade. The Diamondbacks and Padres are within three games of the Dodgers for the NL West lead, and both those squads are dangerous."

    Press Box Online : Diamondbacks up four spots to No. 7

    Stan Charles writes: "People forget the D-Backs got to the World Series last year. They got off to a horrid start that made all the experts get off the bandwagon, but a 17-5 mark since the break has the bandwagon filling up fast. Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez are back to help out the rotation. Justin Martinez has been super at the back end."

    Related: Diamondbacks pound Phillies but cost is heavy with injuries to Ketel Marte, Zac Gallen

    USA TODAY Sports : Diamondbacks rise two spots to No. 10

    Gabe Lacques writes: "Unbeaten in last 11 series, dating back to late June."

    Bleacher Report : Diamondbacks climb four spots to No. 6

    Joel Reuter writes: "The D-backs are 17-5 with a plus-51 run differential since the All-Star break, and they took down two of the top teams last week to push their way into baseball's upper echelon of contenders. Ketel Marte faces an uphill battle chasing down Shohei Ohtani in the NL MVP race, but the second baseman is hitting .299/.370/.563 with 30 home runs and 81 RBI and at least belongs in the conversation."

    More MLB: Diamondbacks get good start from Merrill Kelly, erupt on offense for big win over Phillies

    Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

    Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today .

    This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: MLB power rankings: 'Dangerous' Arizona Diamondbacks rising in National League, NL West

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