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3 Keys to the Arizona Diamondbacks September Collapse

By Casey Pazzalia

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks can't make the catch on a pop fly by Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park on September 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks can't make the catch on a pop fly by Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park on September 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Infielders Eduardo Escobar #14, Nick Ahmed #13, Ketel Marte #4 and Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks react on the field during a break from the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on September 18, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Infielders Eduardo Escobar #14, Nick Ahmed #13, Ketel Marte #4 and Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks react on the field during a break from the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on September 18, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Looking at the main reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks fell apart in September.

It’s a sad time for all fans and supporters of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Playing in their final homestand against the Chicago Cubs, the D-Backs have lost the first two games of the series to put them six games back in the NL West with only 10 games left to play. As it stands now, Arizona has less than a one-percent chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs.

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How did this happen exactly? I mean, this team was in first place for over 100 days this year, including almost all of August. Here, we’ll look at what went wrong.

(#1) Tough Schedule

Everything started going downhill at the end of August. At the end of the month, they were in first place among NL West teams with a one-game lead. Now, however, they’re six games back with virtually no shot at October baseball.

Of course, this happened because they played poorly, but also because of who they were actually playing.

So far, the Arizona Diamondbacks have played 11 games against first-place teams in September, with more to come. Additionally, they played four games against Colorado, a potential playoff team. The only reprieve they had was a quick two-game series against San Diego (which they split).

Overall, the D-Backs took just one game apiece from Houston and Atlanta in September while losing all games against the Dodgers and Cubs (as of 9/19).

As of September 19th, Arizona has gone 4-13 since August.

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