D-backs Face Challenging Second Half Schedule

The Diamondbacks will have to earn a playoff spot against one of the toughest second half schedules in baseball.

The Diamondbacks (52-39) face a challenge when they begin the second half of the season. According to Baseball Reference, the D-backs have the most difficult remaining schedule of any of the teams in the National League competing for a playoff spot.  The weighted win-loss record of their remaining opponents for the final 71 games is 46-44, with an expected record (based on run differential) of 47-43. Full Schedule

The second half starts with a nine-game road trip against three teams who currently occupy a playoff spot between the Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, and Cincinnati Reds. This road trip very well could determine the team's plans at the deadline and possible direction of the season. 

They close out July with a three-game series each against the St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners. The Cardinals are in the NL Central cellar, but the Mariners are in a similar situation as the D-backs. Seattle has underperformed their expected win-loss record by three games, but have an enviable amount of young talent on their roster. For the D-backs to be more aggressive buyers at the deadline, they will likely need to win at least nine of their first 15 games out of the break. 

When the calendar flips to August, that's when the team will really be tested. Of the 27 games on the schedule, 16 are on the road and 18 are within the division. They will also play all four of their division rivals on the road, none of which should be expected series wins going in. The three teams that are not in the division are all within half a game of a playoff spot going into the All-Star break. If the D-backs can get through August either holding a playoff spot or within striking distance, which would be less than three games, they have a good shot of competing for a spot in the season's final month.  

September will open up with 17 games in 17 days. That alone is a problem, with Arizona's aggressive play style on offense and current lack of pitching depth and dependency on young pitchers making them vulnerable to fatigue. They will have two more roster spots to work with when rosters expand, likely one more hitter and one more pitcher.  But so will every other team. 

They had a similar stretch in June, playing on 17 straight days, going 10-7.  The schedule lightens up a bit in terms of strength of opponent between September 4-17  with 14 straight games against teams who are below .500 at the time of this writing. But eight of those are on the road, including four against the Mets who just swept the D-backs at Chase Field. Nonetheless that stretch will need to be where they can stockpile wins to make a push towards a playoff spot.

This isn't the first time the D-backs had faced a difficult portion of their schedule. They were tested early in the season, as 20 of the first 23 games came against teams that were in the playoffs last season. They went 12-11 in their first 23 games, one game over .500, which is something this team will need to repeat in the second half if they want to end a six-year playoff drought.