Hot start has Cards’ Diaz among NL leaders

PHOENIX — There was a moment earlier this week when, as Aledmys Diaz stepped into the batter’s box, Adam Wainwright turned to his teammates and asked them to set the odds that Diaz would get a hit. Fifty percent, one responded.

Incredibly, those odds were rooted in fact.

Diaz, who was hitting .500 after his first 52 career at-bats, woke up on Thursday and, for the first time this season, could see his name listed among the league leaders. It took five plate appearances on Wednesday for Diaz to register enough to qualify for inclusion. Once he did, he soared to the top.

Diaz entered Thursday ranking first in the Majors in average (.468), on-base percentage (.500), slugging percentage (.823) and OPS (1.323). He is the only hitter to rank ahead of reigning National League MVP Award winner Bryce Harper of the Nationals in the latter two offensive categories, and his batting average was 77 points higher than the second player on the list, Washington’s Daniel Murphy.

Keep in mind, too, that this sensational start has come from a player who wasn’t even on the Opening Day roster. It took an injury to outfielder …

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