Updated Playoff Races – 10/17 Every week I will update you on the playoff races going on in the majors along with who those teams will face in the upcoming week. (Take note, All GB are based on loss column ONLY. I don’t believe in the ½ game stat because those are games that can be controlled by a team.
AL East
The Yankees and Orioles both went 4-2 last week allowing New York to keep a one-game lead. Tampa Bay has fallen off the pace and is five back.
1. NY 83 – 63 — (Off Day, 3 vs. Tor 66 – 79, 3 vs. Oak 84 – 62)
2. Bal 82 – 64 1 (3 @ Sea 70 – 77, Off Day, 3 @ Bos 66 – 81)
3. TB 78 – 68 5 (4 vs. Bos 66 – 81, 3 vs. Tor 66 – 79)
AL Central
Chicago defeated Detroit earlier today (makeup of last Thursday’s rain-out) to take a three-game advantage in the AL Central.
1. Chi 80 – 66 — (3 @ KC 66 – 80, 3 @ LA [AL] 80 – 67)
2. Det 77 – 69 3 (3 vs. Oak 84 – 62, 3 vs. Min 60 – 87)
AL West
It’s looking like it will be a two-team race for the AL West. Angels fans should start looking for the wild card.
1. Tex 87 – 59 — (Off Day, 3 @ LA [AL] 80 – 67, 3 @ Sea 70 – 77)
2. Oak 84 – 62 3 (Off Day, 3 @ Det 77 – 69, 3 @ NY [AL] 83 – 63)
NL East
Washington still holds a six-game lead on the Braves who are in solid shape to take the 1st wild card. This race can’t be called yet due to the decent schedule Wash has to end the season.
1. Was 89 – 57 — (Off Day, 3 @ LA [NL] 76 – 71, 3 @ Mil 74 – 72) Magic Number: 11
2. Atl 84 – 63 6 (3 @ Mia 65 – 82, Off Day, 3 @ Phi 73 – 74)
NL Central
The Reds will win the NL Central (sigh) and be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NL.
1. Cin 88 – 59 — (Off Day, 3 @ Chi [NL] 58 – 88, 3 vs. LA [NL] 76 – 71) Magic Number: 5
NL West
The Giants are in cruise control and should take the NL West. The Dodgers have some work to do if they want to make the postseason as a wild card.
1. SF 83 – 63 — (4 vs. Col 58 – 87, 3 vs. SD 71 – 76) Magic Number: 9
2. LA 76 – 71 8 (Off Day, 3 @ Was 89 – 57, 3 @ Cin 88 – 59)
AL Wild Card
The AL WC picture remains the same as there are still five teams fighting for two spots.
WC1. Oak 84 – 62 — (Off Day, 3 @ Det 77 – 69, 3 @ NY [AL] 83 – 63)
WC2. Bal 82 – 64 — (3 @ Sea 70 – 77, Off Day, 3 @ Bos 66 – 81)
2. LA 80 – 67 3 (Off Day, 3 vs. Tex, 3 vs. Chi [AL] 80 – 66)
3. TB 78 – 68 4 (4 vs. Bos 66 – 81, 3 vs. Tor 66 – 79)
4. Det 77 – 69 5 (3 vs. Oak 84 – 62, 3 vs. Min 60 – 87)
NL Wild Card
The Braves will be in the postseason, most likely as the No. 1 wild card. As for the second, nothing has really changed. Five teams are within four games of a postseason birth. The big mover over the last week was the Brewers who are now only two back. They will be in Pittsburgh starting tomorrow night for a three-game set.
WC1. Atl 84 – 63 — (3 @ Mia 65 – 82, Off Day, 3 @ Phi 73 – 74)
WC2. StL 77 – 70 — (Off Day, 3 vs. Hou 48 – 99, 3 @ Chi [NL] 58 – 88)
3. LA 76 – 71 1 (Off Day, 3 @ Was 89 – 57, 3 @ Cin 88 – 59)
3. Pit 73 – 72 2 (Chi [NL] 58 – 88, 3 vs. Mil 74 – 72, 3 @ Hou 48 – 99)
5. Mil 74 – 72 2 (Off Day, 3 @ Pit 73 – 72, 3 @ Was 89 – 57)
7. Phi 73 – 74 4 (3 @ NY [NL] 66 – 80, Off Day, 3 vs. Atl 84 – 63)
6. AZ 72 – 74 4 (Off Day, 3 vs. SD 71 – 76, 3 @ Col 58 – 87)
Photo Credits: TSM Interactive
