The Arizona Diamondbacks have the third-best record in the National League through the early part of the schedule, and the oddsmakers see some staying power.
After opening the season with +550 odds to make the playoffs, they are now an even bet to do so at -110 odds, per DraftKings on May 24.
The D-Backs have not made the postseason since 2017 but are currently in line to grab the first wild card spot.
They only sit 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, but their odds of winning the division still sit at +850 because L.A. is such a juggernaut. (That being said, the D-Backs were a 45-to-1 longshot to win the division at the start of the season.)
Arizona has gotten fine seasons at the plate from expected standouts like Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Corbin Carroll. The trade of Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays this offseason has netted great early returns, as Lourdes Gurriel has an OPS+ of 153 and a WAR of 1.7, while young catcher Gabriel Moreno has an OPS+ of 105 and a WAR of 1.2.
And young infielder Geraldo Perdomo has been fantastic, with an OPS+ of 156 and a team-best WAR of 2.1.
On the mound, Zac Gallen is in the middle of the Cy Young conversation after a dominant start, while Merrill Kelly is striking out more than a batter per inning and also has an ERA under 3.00.
Some of the hot hitting could cool down as the temperatures go up this summer, so the Diamondbacks will need to start getting better returns from the top prospects at the back end of their rotation.
But the sportsbooks certainly feel like this is a team on the rise. The Diamondbacks don’t have the same name recognition as the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in their division, but have an intriguing mix of young talent and in-their-prime stars that has resulted in a hot start.
Arizona is 8-2 in its past 10 games and has won four in a row heading into Wednesday’s afternoon matchup with the Phillies.
The Phoenix area is reeling from a second-round playoff loss by the Suns, one of the NBA championship favorites heading into the postseason, and doesn’t have any relief to look forward to in the fall when the woeful Cardinals take the field.
Add in the Coyotes’ uncertain future, and it felt like a tough time to be a fan in Arizona. But the Diamondbacks could change that this summer, as their early success has turned heads.
The oddsmakers give them a 50% chance at a playoff berth, and getting there would speed up a timeline that already looked promising because of so many talented prospects in the pipeline.
For those dreaming big, the Diamondbacks’ odds to win the World Series currently sit at +5500, which is 17th-best in the majors.
