Diamondbacks Slithering Through MLB Playoffs – Oct 10

We’re only a week into the 2023 MLB Playoffs – but there has been A LOT going on! The biggest story has to be the Arizona Diamondbacks. We’ll get into that in a second, but what an exciting day in sports for a Tuesday! Not only do we have playoff baseball, but the puck drops on the 2023/24 NHL season tonight too!

With even more wagering opportunities, our database of picks continues to grow. With that growth, my algorithms get even more finely tuned. Sign up for a free Sports Hub membership to get in on the action.

Are the Diamondbacks This Good?

The simple answer … yes. The Arizona Diamondbacks are this good.

The Diamondbacks swept through Milwaukee and now hold a commanding 2-0 lead versus the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.

A quick check back through my database shows a lot. The Diamondbacks have traditionally been a winning franchise. They won the World Series in only their fourth year of existence in 2001.

However, the Arizona Diamondbacks have not made the playoffs since 2017 when they got swept by the Dodgers in the NLDS. They beat the Rockies in the single elimination Wild Card game.

In 2019, the Diamondbacks barely missed the playoffs finishing with an 85-77 record. That year, the NL Wild Card race was a tight one with the Nationals, Brewers, Mets, and Diamondbacks finishing as the top for National League wildcard teams.

Been a Few Rough Years for Dback Fans

We couldn’t talk all good about the Diamondbacks with a straight face. There were some lean years, but it helped them build to why we think the Dbacks are actually this good.

With only 74 wins last year and a terrible year in ‘21, winning only 52 games, the rebuild was kicked into overdrive. The shortened year of 2020 saw the Diamondbacks go 25 and 35 however the three years prior to that – 2019, 2018, 2017 – they won 85, 82 and 93 games, respectively.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been quietly competitive in the NL West. While their 7 appearances in the playoff won’t show it, the Diamondbacks are hovering around .500 in their all-time Win-Loss record.

Why Are the Diamondbacks a Tough Out?

When I look through this year’s collection of information in our database, it shows the Arizona Diamondbacks are a middling team. You will find them around 14th to 17th on the list for any significant offensive categories. This includes 14th in batting average, runs, OBP and walks.

There is one stat that does stand out though. The Diamondbacks do not strikeout often. They put the ball in play, they grind out at-bats, they make the opposing pitchers work. The Diamondbacks are 27th on the list of strikeouts.

The same can be said when you look at the pitching stats for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They’re essentially a middling team that are well coached by Torey Lovullo. They’re getting the big hit when they need it and they’re getting shut down innings from their pitching staff that has some of the league’s best young arms.

Zac Gallen anchors a staff with both experience and youth. Vets like Merril Kelly help youngsters like Brandon Pfaadt get going. General Manager Mike Hazen has made some shrewd moves. Including ripping the Blue Jays off, getting a young stud catcher in Gabriel Moreno that has been a big part of the Diamondbacks run.

Woah – what happened there? I think I shorted out and my reboot got caught in the Matrix. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Exclusive SportsHub.com Handicappers Continue to Shine

Before I get started into analyzing yesterday’s picks, can we give a round of applause to the SportsHub handicappers? No matter which time frame you search on my sortable leaderboard, it’s loaded at the top with Sports Hub exclusive handicappers.

You’re automatically defaulted to 30 days when you click LEADERBOARD. Geovanny Araya, Mario Deluca, Mike Kelly, Patrick Doyle and Logan Wilson top the list. They are all SportsHub.com guys – with the exception of Mike Kelly, but he’s like family anyways.

If you were taling just those 5 guys over the past month, you’d be up $6477! Go to the last 14 days, the top 5 are all our guys. Last 7 days, 7 of the top 10 are Sports Hub exclusive cappers. We’re so excited that our vision is happening right before our very eyes. Register for free today, and start winning.

Here are some of the highlights from yesterday and beyond.

• The Perfect Threesome: We had three guys go 3-0 yesterday – Tonni Ricci, Robert Jones & Sports Central. Tonni tops the profit list, up $345 on the day. The Diamondbacks cashed his +145 ML wager, as well as the Raiders -1.5 and some NBA preseason action, nailing Spurs +5.5.

• Got My Eye on You: Keep your eye on two other Sports Hub guys – Diego Garcia and SWJ Sports. Diego is 6-2 on his last 8 picks, including a $245 bankroll banger last night. He was also on the Diamondbacks. SWJ went 3-1 last night, absolutely crushing his CFL picks. He had the Alouettes -6 (they won by 26) and the UNDER at 47.5 (32 points were scored). These two guys have been firing.
• Always Be Ups & Downs: One of the things my job is here is to identify who’s hot and who’s not. Cappers will always go on streaks – both winning and losing. Once you learn the ins and outs, you’ll be able to identify more winners for yourself.
• Finishing Moves: Whether you’re a minuteman or a marathoner, the NHL is sure to provide some great finishing moves this season. Did you know that our Computer Picks crushed its National Hockey League bets last year? Be sure to bookmark their page and follow along all season.

Diamondbacks Are Trending in the World of Sports

As we transition from Week 5 to Week 6 of the NFL, teams have already made some moves. Soccer highlights the schedule early, with MLB and NHL action starting earlier than usual..

Here’s what fans have been following:

• Mookie and Freddie: We mentioned earlier that the Diamondbacks are getting timely hitting. The other side of the coin is that the Dodgers’ superstars are cold. Betts and Freeman are a combined 1-13 in the opening 2 games of the NLDS. That one hit was Freddie busting it down the line, finishing with a safe slide into 1st. The two did each earn a walk and a run in Game 1.
• JJ & Other to IL: The consensus #1 fantasy football player for 2023 has been placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City. Justin Jefferson will now be out at least 4 weeks. Sources are also saying that Dolphins rookie running back Achane will be out multiple weeks with a knee injury.
• Arizona Diamondbacks: Of course we had to add them here. Their story is one that should be talked about. Can they continue their postseason dominance, or will the mighty Dodgers wake up and make a series of it? Their run would have profited $100 unit bettors almost $600 through their first 4 playoff games.

• Monday Night Football: Las Vegas was the site for MNF last night. It was a profitable one for UNDER bettors, with only 30 points scored. The victory for the home favorites moved both the Raiders and Packers to 2-3.
• Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer: With most of the major soccer leagues on an International break, a packed soccer schedule is trending around the world. This week will see action everywhere, including North and South America. Some interesting matches to watch include UEFA European Championship Qualifying and FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
• Big Ten & Pac-12 Looking for Respect: The Big Ten currently has 3 of the top 6 ranked teams in the nation – Michigan (2), Ohio State (3) & Penn State (6). Meanwhile, over in the Pac-12 Conference, there’s 7 teams inside the top 19.
• Questions Surround Popular NFL Teams: A hurricane of questions are swirling both the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Is it time for Bill Belichick to step down? Can Dak bring the Cowboys to where Jerry wants them? Stay tuned to the Soap Opera that is the NFL.

Not Bad For a Tuesday 

As we make our way through the week, there’s a lot going on today, even though it is Tuesday.

What will you be watching today?

1. MLB Playoffs: There’s two playoff games on the diamond today. Things get started at 4PM ET in Minnesota, when the Twins host the Astros. This series is tied 1-1. Then, at 8PM ET, the Rangers will try to close out their series against the Orioles at home. After sweeping the Rays in Tampa, Texas has a chance to punch their ticket to the ALCS tonight. The Rangers are a -140 favorite.
2. NHL Season Opener: The Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning get the 2023/24 NHL season underway, with puck drop coming from the Amalie Arena around 5:30PM ET. Hockey fans get to see the next Sidney Crosby play him when Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks play the Penguins. The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights begin their season, rounding out the day’s schedule with a 10:30PM ET puck drop vs. the Seattle Kraken.

3. Note the Early Starts: With puck drop set for 5:30 local time in Tampa, fans should note with puck drop normally at 7:30. As well, the start in Minnesota, while normal in the playoffs, is a bit earlier than regular season games.
4. Rolex Shanghai Masters: The quarterfinals of the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters are right around the corner. Check out our SportsHub tennis expert picks.

We can’t believe that after four sweeps in the Wild Card series’, that the Arizona Diamondbacks are one win away from eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers. We’ll have to wait at least one day for that to happen, but we hope you enjoy and profit from today’s action. Don’t forget, a membership here at SportsHub.com is free.