MLB Standings: D-backs Still Alive In Wild Card Hunt Despite Series Loss To Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their first two games to the San Francisco Giants at home this past weekend but avoided the sweep with a 10-2 win on Sunday.

Despite popular belief to the contrary, the D-backs (72-74) still have an outside chance of securing the second Wild Card, as they trail the St. Louis Cardinals (77-70) by 4½ games. With the Atlanta Braves (84-63) having the top wild card spot all but clinched, the Los Angeles Dodgers (76-71), Milwaukee Brewers (74-72), Pittsburgh Pirates (73-72), and Philadelphia Phillies (73-74) are all essentially fighting for one spot along with the D-backs and Cards.

If Arizona is serious about its playoff chances, then it could make up some serious ground this week. Following a three-game home series with the suddenly resurgent San Diego Padres, the D-backs head to Colorado to take on the bottom-feeding Rockies for four games.

Arizona still has 16 games left on their 2012 slate but they'll have to hope the Cardinals start losing soon if they're to climb any higher. That might not happen much in the upcoming days either with the next three series for St. Louis being the following: Houston at home, at Chicago and at Houston.

For additional D-backs coverage, head on over to AZ Snake Pit.