How The Giants Can Still Make The Playoffs

The San Francisco Giants enter Tuesday night's match-up against the Seattle Mariners with a record of 21-21.

While a winning percentage of .500 may seem unimpressive, it's certainly notable for a team that's won 13 of its last 18 games to climb out of an 8-16 hole.

Their recent hot streak reached its pinnacle in a historic victory over the Colorado Rockies last week.

Due to this year's expanded postseason format (featuring 16 teams instead of 10), the resurgent Giants have a legitimate shot at qualifying for the 2020 MLB Playoffs.

As of Tuesday morning, the National League playoff picture looks like this:

1. Dodgers (30-12) W-1
2. Braves (24-17) E-1
3. Cubs (24-18) C-1
4. Padres (26-17) W-2
5. Phillies (20-17) E-2
6. Cardinals (17-16) C-2
7. Giants (21-21) WC
8. Marlins (18-18) WC

While the Giants would undoubtedly like to distance themselves from the rival Rockies (20-21) to solidify their Wild Card positioning, this team certainly has a chance to achieve even greater things down the stretch.

Though San Francisco has only 18 games remaining in its 2020 campaign, seven of those match-ups come against the San Diego Padres, a team they trail by merely 4.5 games.

In other words, the four-seed is still within sight.

Their remaining 11 contests come against three additional opponents: the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and Oakland Athletics. 

Two of these opponents are currently below .500, and though the A's remain a tough draw, there's a definite score to settle in the "Bay Bridge Series" following the events of mid-August. (It seems unnecessary to reminisce about such a disastrous weekend.)

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how things shake out between now and September 27.

Amidst the chaos of 2020, one thing remains true: it's an even year.

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