Hey kids, it that time of the year again where I go over the MLB playoff races. (Yay!) Every Monday I will update the divisional and wild card races and set you up for the week to come. With that, let’s get started.
NOTE: All Standings in the update are by loss column as at the end of the season each team in contention will have played the same number of games.
AL East
The Yankees are hanging around in the race after taking 2-of-3 from the Red Sox and 7 of their last 10. Tampa Bay and Baltimore are ready to pounce at any second, as well.
Bos 73 – 53 — (3 @ SF [55 – 68], Off Day, 3 @ LAD [72 – 51])
TB 70 – 52 1 (@ Bal [67 – 56], Off Day, 3 vs. NYY [64 -59])
BAL 67 – 56 3 (3 vs. TB [70 – 52], Off Day, 3 vs. Oak [70 – 53])
NYY 64 – 59 6 (Off Day, 4 vs. Tor [57 – 67], 3 @ TB [70 – 52])
AL Central
The Kansas City Royals have to be one of the feel good stories of this season. They make a first week appearance on the update after taking 2-of-5 from Detroit. They, like the Indians, have a better shot at the Wild Card.
DET 73 – 51 — (Off Day, 3 vs. MIN [54 – 68], 3 @ NYM [56 – 66])
CLE 66 – 58 7 (3 @ LAA [55 – 68], Off Day, 3 vs. MIN [54 – 68])
KC 64 – 59 8 (Off Day, 3 vs. CHW [49 -74], 3 vs WAS [60 – 63])
AL West
This is starting to look like a carbon copy of the final stretch in last year’s AL West race. These two teams meet six more times (three in both parks) with each tied in the loss column. This one will come down to the final days, again.
TEX 71 – 53 — (3 vs. HOU [41 – 82], Off Day, 3 @ CHW [49 – 74])
OAK 70 – 53 — (3 vs. SEA [57 – 66], Off Day, 3 @ BAL [67 – 56])
NL East
The Braves are pretty much a lock for the division title. Only question remaing will be if they finish the regular season with the best record in the NL, or will the Pirates, Cardinals or Dodgers overtake them?
ATL 76 – 48 — (+15) (Best record in baseball) Magic Number : 24
NL Central
This is the best race in baseball as the top three teams are seperated by 2.5 games and all hold a playoff spot by at least 5 games. This one should come down to the final days like the AL West race. Can the Pirates hold off the Cards and Reds? Stay tuned.
PIT 72 – 51 — (3 @ SD [56 – 68], 4 @ SF [55 – 68])
STL 71 – 52 1 (3 @ MIL [54 – 70], 4 vs. ATL [76 – 48])
CIN 70 – 54 3 (4 vs. ARI [64 – 58], 3 vs. MIL [54 – 70])
NL West
The Dodgers, who were 47 – 47 at the break, have busted out of the second half gates to an astonishing 25 – 4 pace and a comfortable lead over Arizona.
LAD 72 – 51 — (4 @ MIA [47 – 75], 3 vs BOS [73 – 53])
ARI 64 – 58 7 (4 @ CIN [70 – 54], 3 @ PHI [54 – 69])
AL Wild Card
The Yankees have a shot at the postseason. This was not even a thought about a month ago, but somehow they’ve found themselves in the mix. Kansas City has a shot if they can avoid the long losing streak that they’re used to in the past.
WC 1: TB 70 – 52 + 1 (@ Bal [67 – 56], Off Day, 3 vs. NYY [64 -59])
WC 2: OAK 70 – 53 — (3 vs. SEA [57 – 66], Off Day, 3 @ BAL [67 – 56])
2. BAL 67 – 56 3 (3 vs. TB [70 – 52], Off Day, 3 vs. Oak [70 – 53])
3. CLE 66 – 58 5 (3 @ LAA [55 – 68], Off Day, 3 vs. MIN [54 – 68])
4. KC 64 – 59 6 (Off Day, 3 vs. CHW [49 -74], 3 vs WAS [60 – 63])
4. NYY 64 – 59 6 (Off Day, 4 vs. Tor [57 – 67], 3 @ TB [70 – 52])
NL Wild Card
This could also be the “other” NL Central race as STL and CIN look to have things situated in here. Arizona can crash the party if they can win their 4-game series in Cinci starting tonight. Washington needs to go streaking to have a real shot.
WC 1: STL 71 – 52 + 2 (3 @ MIL [54 – 70], 4 vs. ATL [76 – 48])
WC 2: CIN 70 – 54 — (4 vs. ARI [64 – 58], 3 vs. MIL [54 – 70])
2. ARI 64 – 58 4 (4 @ CIN [70 – 54], 3 @ PHI [54 – 69])
3. WAS 60 – 63 9 (4 @ CHC [53 – 70], 3 @ KC [64 – 59])
(Photo Credit : Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2012)
