MLB: Where Do Teams Stand As The Regular Season Winds Down?
We’ve almost reached the apex of the sports year. Football season is in full swing. College stadiums are packed around the country and Tom Brady is looking like an MVP candidate. All is right in the world.
And it’s about to get even better.
For those of us that love the game of baseball, the month of October holds a special place in our hearts. As the leaves begin to change and the weather cools, the prospect of playoff baseball warms the soul.
After 162 games, baseball fans are given a fresh start, with a phenomenal month of baseball ahead.
MLB’s postseason begins October 5th with the American League Wild Card game, followed by the National League Wild Card game on October 6th.
There is still much to be settled before October baseball, however. Let’s take a look at where both leagues stand as the regular season winds down.
American League
All three divisions in the American League are essentially wrapped up. The Tampa Bay Rays have a six-game lead over the Boston Red Sox and a 6.5 game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the East. The Chicago White Sox are 10.5 up in the Central Division and the Houston Astros are eight games ahead in the West.
But it’s the Wild Card spots where things get interesting.
American League Wild Card
Boston Red Sox: 87-65, +1.5
Toronto Blue Jays: 85-66
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New York Yankees: 85-76, 0.5 games back
Seattle Mariners: 82-69, 3 games back
Oakland A’s: 82-69, 3 games back
Boston, Toronto, and New York have been jockeying for the final two playoff spots the past month in the American League. After going on a 13-game winning streak in August, the Yankees have collapsed. New York has gone 9-15 in their last 24 games, dropping them out of the first Wild Card spot to currently being out of the playoffs. Most would think that Aaron Boone’s job is in serious jeopardy if the Yankees do in fact miss out on the playoffs, but don’t put anything past Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office.
The Yankees schedule for the last weeks of the regular season is brutal, starting with a three-game series against Boston this weekend.
Boston has won six straight games as they’ve surged to the top spot in the Wild Card race. They have a chance this weekend to accomplish what every Red Sox fan craves the most — putting Yankees fans out of their misery. They finish the regular season against the Baltimore Orioles — the worst team in baseball — and the Washington Nationals, who had a fire-sale at the trade deadline.
Toronto will look to take two of three in their series against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, then play a four-game series at Minnesota before their three-game series at home against the Yankees, and finish their season at home against Baltimore.
National League
The National League is a little more congested, with only one of the divisions all but wrapped up. The Milwaukee Brewers have clinched a playoff spot and are 9.5 up in the Central with 11 games to play. Things are much more interesting in the National League East and West divisions.
National League West
Both the San Francisco Giants and the LA Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot, but who will be playing in the Wild Card game is now the key question.
The Giants have quietly been the best team in baseball all year long, yet only have a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the West. Unfortunately, the two teams have finished their regular-season meetings and won’t play each other again.
The Dodgers have two games left in their series with the Rockies and end the year with series against the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Brewers. The Giants have two games left in their series with the Padres and will finish their regular season with series against the Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Padres.
One of the two teams will be a 100-win Wild Card team.
National League East
The East has been an interesting watch all season long, with the Braves currently holding a three-game lead over the Phillies in the division, with series against San Diego, Philadelphia, and the New York Mets remaining. The Phillies are hoping to stay within three games before their series against Atlanta next week.
National League Wild Card
Los Angeles Dodgers: 97-54, +15.5
St. Louis Cardinals: 81-69
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Cincinnati Reds: 78-74, 4 games back
Philadelphia Phillies: 77-74, 4.5 games back
San Diego Padres: 76-74, 5 games back
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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