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MLB Wild Card Standings: Yankees, White Sox, Diamondbacks in the race

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 30, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) scores in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (29) during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) scores in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (29) during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 30, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Daniel Descalso hits a walk off home run in the thirteenth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Daniel Descalso hits a walk off home run in the thirteenth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Wild Card Standings

Arizona Diamondbacks (16-11, .593, – GB, +1.5)

Few expected to see the Rockies atop the NL West, but even fewer predicted the Diamondbacks would end the first month of the season ahead of the Dodgers in the standings. Nevertheless, Arizona has started strong and appears to have staying power thanks to an explosive lineup that ranks second in the major leagues in runs scored (141).

Paul Goldschmidt remains one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, though Jake Lamb and Yasmany Tomas share the team lead with five home runs, and rank first and second with 21 and 20 RBI, respectively. Goldschmidt (19) sits in a tie for third in RBI with Chris Owings.

Zack Greinke (2-2, 3.19) appears to be in bounce-back form early in the season, and Patrick Corbin (2-3, 2.29) and Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.56 with 39 strikeouts in 30.1 innings) are also off to solid starts in the rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers (14-12, .538, – GB)

They may not be in first place, but the Dodgers are going to be just fine. After ending April with a 16-game hitting streak, Justin Turner is batting .404/.465/.562 – putting him second in the race for the NL batting title through the first month of the season. Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager and the surprising Andrew Toles share the team lead with five home runs.

Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.29) is as good as ever, and Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 3.10) has been Kershaw’s right-hand man through the early going. The club also dusted off lefty phenom Julio Urias (0-0, 1.59) to bolster the rotation.

Milwaukee Brewers (13-13, .500, 1.0 GB)

St. Louis Cardinals (12-12, .500, 1.0 GB)

Miami Marlins (11-12, .478, -1.5 GB)

Philadelphia Phillies (11-12, .478, 1.5 GB)

Cincinnati Reds (11-13, .458, 2.0 GB)

Pittsburgh Pirates (11-13, .458, 2.0 GB)

Atlanta Braves (10-13, .435, 2.5 GB)

New York Mets (10-14, .417, 3.0 GB)

San Diego Padres (11-16, .407, 3.5 GB)

San Francisco Giants (9-17, .346, 5.0 GB)

The Rockies and D-Backs have been the most surprising NL teams to date, but both will face stiff competition in the division as well as the Wild Card race. The Cardinals finished April strong and have one of the best starting rotations in baseball (despite Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez’s recent struggles).

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Also, the Brewers have hit a major league best 45 home runs through the opening month, led by resurgent star Eric Thames’ 11 bombs and nearly half as many drug tests. And, though both have been bitten hard by the injury bug, expect the Mets and Giants to put up a fight starting in May.

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