9* Arizona (9:10 ET): Even though eight playoff spots are available in both leagues this season, don’t look for the Rangers or Diamondbacks to be any sort of factor in the postseason hunt this final week of the regular season (other than “spoiler.”) These two also-rans open up a series Tuesday in Chase Field, both simply hoping they won’t finish in last place in their respective divisions. Arizona has had a slightly better season as Texas checks in with the worst record (19-35) and run differential (-79) in the American League.

The Rangers played yesterday. Arizona did not. It was an 8-5 loss in LA (to the Angels) for the visitors Monday, their fifth loss in the last seven games. One of the two wins during that stretch was 1-0. This is a team hitting a collective .214 for the year and they’re down to .183 those L7 games. Making matters worse for Texas is that Jordan Lyles is on the mound today.He is 0-4 in four road starts with a 7.59 ERA. His season ERA is 7.82. The team has lost his L4 starts overall.

While just 7-23 in their L30 games, Arizona does have the NL Player of the Week among their ranks. Kole Calhoun homered six times last week and hit .458 overall with a 1.250 slugging percentage. As a team, Arizona has hit much better than Texas has in 2020. Caleb Smith starts for just the 4th time tonight for the D’backs. I think this will be the best outing yet, given the opposition. For what it’s worth, the D’backs do NOT have the worst run differential within their own division (Colorado does) and I think there’s a chance they end up ahead of the Rockies by season’s end. 9* Arizona