NL Wild Card 2017: 5 reasons Diamondbacks will win

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – August 23: A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks slides into third base during the Arizona Diamondbacks Vs New York Mets regular season MLB game at Citi Field on August 23, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

4. Manufacturing runs

The Diamondbacks stole 103 bases this year and were caught only 30 times. Both of those marks were good for fourth in the National League. Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock, their best baserunners, combined for 38 steals and were caught only 11 times. The Diamondacks know how to be smart on the bases and usually only run when they are confident in their chances.

They’ll go up against Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy who has only nabbed 23 percent of basestealers since being dealt by the Texas Rangers. His numbers behind the plate are down significantly from 2016 when he caught 39 percent of runners. Arizona has to push the issue with Lucroy and make him slow them down.

Arizona is also one of the best teams in the National League at drawing walks. Goldschmidt has a lot to do with that, but as a team, the Diamondbacks took nearly four free passes per game. They typically didn’t waste those free baserunners.

Even with both teams sending out their aces, this game feels like it will be a back-and-forth affair decided by which team can score last (because really what’s the point of a Rockies-D’Backs playoff game if it’s not). If the game is going to come down to which team does a better job getting ’em on, getting ’em over and getting ’em in, take the Diamondbacks.

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