Josh Bell’s brief tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks has already made a significant impact. Just over a week ago, Bell was acquired from the Miami Marlins in a deal just before the trade deadline. Stepping in to replace the injured Christian Walker, Bell immediately showcased his power by hitting two home runs in his debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 2.
He continued his impressive performance on Wednesday, where he hit another pair of home runs during the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians. The Diamondbacks not only swept the doubleheader but also surged to a tie for the National League Wild Card lead and moved into second place in the increasingly competitive NL West division.
This surge by the Diamondbacks has been notable, especially considering their recent performance. With the sweep, Arizona has now won 18 of their last 23 games, a remarkable turnaround from being two games below .500 to an impressive 11 games above .500. This winning streak has significantly enhanced their playoff chances. Their odds of making the postseason have nearly tripled in this period.
To illustrate this dramatic change, a comparison of the Diamondbacks’ playoff odds from early July to early August reveals a striking increase. On July 9, the team had a record of 45-47, with a 25.5% chance of making the playoffs. By August 7, their record had improved to 63-52, and their playoff odds had surged to 64.1%. This jump of 38.6% in playoff chances over the month reflects their recent success. The Diamondbacks’ 18-5 record in this span is the best in Major League Baseball, outperforming other teams, including the San Diego Padres who have a 14-6 record over the same period. Their performance has been impressive against a mix of strong teams like the Braves and Guardians, and weaker ones such as the Blue Jays and Cubs. Additionally, the Diamondbacks have managed to reduce the Dodgers’ division lead to just three games, their closest since April 24, which has further boosted their playoff prospects.
A visual representation of the Wild Card odds for NL teams not leading their divisions shows a significant rise in the Diamondbacks’ odds starting from July 10, coinciding with their recent winning streak. This upward trend, evident in the graph, demonstrates the growing competitiveness of the Diamondbacks in the Wild Card race.
Josh Bell, who has been traded at the deadline for three consecutive years, has had a remarkable turnaround in performance. The 31-year-old switch-hitting first baseman was struggling with a .224/.287/.349 batting line and nine home runs with the Marlins before July 21. However, he caught the attention of teams by going 11-for-24 with five homers in his final six games with Miami. Following Walker’s injury, the Diamondbacks acquired Bell for a modest return, taking on $2.25 million of his remaining $5.9 million salary. Bell made an immediate impact, homering from both sides of the plate in his debut and contributing to the team’s success with key hits in subsequent games. On Wednesday, he hit two home runs against the Guardians, demonstrating his power and versatility with long balls from both sides of the plate.
