The last home-stand of the regular season kicks off.
I hope this doesn’t turn out to be my last recap of 2024, though odds are it will be. Even if the D-backs make the post-season, next Monday is a travel day before the playoffs begin. I think the one after that is also a travel day, between Games 2 + 3 of the NLDS. So, for me to recap again, the D-backs must reach at least the NL Championship Series. Fingers crossed. At least my last recap is not yesterday’s one. That would be a bad note on which to finish the 2024 campaign. I am kinda glad it wasn’t some poor guest recapper who had to do it though, and it does continue my run of recapping memorable D-backs games, such as the longest by both innings and time. Add the biggest blown lead now, I guess.
The Padres, Mets and Braves all have an off-day today, starting their penultimate series tomorrow (things will even up after our off-day on Thursday). That gives the team a chance to get a jump on reducing their magic number. At least the author of Snake Bytes tomorrow will have a simple calculation with regard to magic numbers, as the hunt for 91 wins (at time of writing!) continues. The Giants have been on a bit of a roll of late, going 5-1 on this road trip. But they really are not that good. Getting a victory behind Eduardo Rodriguez tonight would be a strong statement that the team has bounced back from last night’s horror-show and is ready for the final week’s challenge.