For the first time in more than a half-decade, the Arizona Diamondbacks will take part in the MLB playoffs, making the field as one of the National League’s three Wild Card teams.
When the D’backs square off against NL Central champion Milwaukee in the best-of-three Wild Card series on Tuesday, it’ll mark the team’s first foray into the postseason since 2017, when Arizona was swept by the L.A. Dodgers in the NLDS.
Arizona enters Game 1 against Milwaukee as a 1.5-run underdog per BetMGM Arizona, with a +155 moneyline. BetArizona.com broke down how the D’backs have performed in their previous six playoff appearances between 1999 and 2017 to get a sense of where the franchise stands entering the series against the Brewers.
Arizona D’backs Recent Playoff History
- 2017: Lost NLDS to Dodgers, 3-0
- 2011: Lost NLDS to Brewers, 3-2
- 2007: Won NLDS over Cubs, 3-0/Lost NLCS to Rockies, 4-0
- 2002: Lost NLDS to Cardinals, 3-0
- 2001: Won NLDS over Cardinals, 3-2/Won NLCS over Braves, 4-1/Won WS over Yankees, 4-3
- 1999: Lost NLDS to Mets, 3-1
- Total: 19-20 record
Arizona sports betting sites list Atlanta as the World Series favorite at +225. The L.A. Dodgers are second at +425, while Houston is third at +500. The Diamondbacks are tied with Florida for the worst odds at +5000.
D’backs Have Faced Slew of Playoff Issues
Besides the franchise’s lone World Series championship (over the New York Yankees in 2001), the D’backs have seen their share of playoff blues since first qualifying for the postseason 24 years ago. In total, Arizona’s six playoff squads have posted a 19-20 record in the postseason, with four series wins against five defeats (four in the NLDS and one in the NLCS).
The D’backs’ last playoff series victory came in 2007, when Arizona swept the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS before facing eventual NL champion Colorado. That best-of-seven series did not go well, with Colorado sweeping the D’backs, en route to a World Series rout at the hands of the world champion Boston.
Fast forward 16 years, and the 84-78 D’backs of 2023 will look to shock the baseball world and energize Arizona sports betting apps, beginning with the team’s series against the Brewers. Based on how Arizona played down the stretch, with the D’backs going 14-12 between Sept. 1 and Sunday’s 8-1 regular season finale loss to the Houston Astros, it seems like any result could occur this week.
