The Diamond Fan

As we are heading into the last month of the season, this seems like a good time to review the various pennant races and races for Wild Card spots to see who still has a change for the postseason and what their prospects really are.

NL West

Arizona leads Los Angeles by 3 games.

This is still a race, but despite the front office having done what it can to find the right pieces for a playoff run (and perhaps damaging the club’s long-term prospects in the process … but I digress) the Dodgers’ inability to win on the road, and more specifically their inability to get timely hits, has put them in a difficult situation. They need to win at Washington and take two out of three at Arizona this week, or this race could turn into a “no race” very quickly.

NL Central

Chicago leads Milwaukee by 5; St. Louis by 8 1/2

Still a race for sure, especially since the Cubs still have 6 games each with the Brewers and the Cardinals. Realistically the Cardinals are playing for the Wild Card more than the division title, but this could still get interesting down the stretch.

NL East

New York leads Philadelphia by 1/2; Florida by 5 1/2

Very much up in the air. The Phillies looked good in sweeping the Dodgers over the weekend.   It’s amazing to see the Marlins hanging in, but I expect it will come down to Philly and New York just like last season, and it should go down to the wire.

NL Wild Card

Milwaukee leads St. Louis by 3 1/2; Philadelphia by 4

I think this comes down to the Brewers and the Cardinals. If either the Phillies or Mets get hot they will win the division; its seems unlikely they will both get hot in September.

AL West

Angels lead by 16

No race. The Angels are in.

AL Central

Chicago leads Minnesota by 1

Perhaps the hottest race of all, with the lead see-sawing back and forth, seemingly day by day.  Unfortunately the teams play each other only three times in September.

AL East

Tampa Bay leads Boston by 4 1/2; New York by 9 1/2

The Rays have six games each remaining with the Red Sox and Yankees so they control their own destiny. If they win it, nobody can say they didn’t earn it.

AL Wild Card

Boston leads Minnesota by 1 1/2; New York by 5

Wouldn’t it be something if both the Yankees and the Red Sox missed the playoffs this year?  It could happen, as Tampa Bay and Minnesota are legitimately good teams who are entirely capable of holding off their better financed rivals for thee AL East and Wild Card spots respectively.   I still think the Red Sox will get in there one way or the other, but it is looking like a real long shot for the Yankees.