Into the Final Month We Go!

Playoff Races

Here we are, the month of September! The final full month of the regular season for Major League Baseball. The race for the Wild Card in the American League is still up for grabs for many teams including the Twins, Angels, Rays, Indians, Orioles, and even the White Sox. The National League Wild Card has been locked down for a while now between the Pirates and Cubs. The Giants are 5.5 games back, and may could make a second Wild Card berth, but have a better shot at winning the division than for that to happen. Other than the NL West, it's clear to see who will take the division in each division.

-The Yankees are well in reach of the Blue Jays for the division, and have to play them 7 more times before the season is over.

-Texas sits 4 games back of the first place Houston Astros in the AL West, and they meet up 7 more times as well.

-The best team in baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals shouldn't feel too comfortable in the final month of regular season play. Pittsburgh is only 5 games back. The two teams meet up a total of 6 more times before it is all said and done.

-Last but not least, the NL West. As I said earlier, the Dodgers have the lead in the division. The Giants, who are in second, only trail by 4.5 games. San Francisco has created a dynasty of players and a winning reputation for the past 5 years, winning 3 World Series in that span. This is an organization that knows how to not only play in October, but to win as well. Los Angeles plays San Francisco 6 more times before the season ends. Will the Giants add to their excellence of post season play by beating out the Dodgers in the division?

Prediction Time

 In the American League, there are a possible 44 different combinations American League teams to make the 1st and 2nd Wild Card spot. I did not calculate this in order of 1st and 2nd Wild Card spots, however. These teams include the division leaders Blue Jays and Astros because there is a possibility of then teams in second to take the division from them, making them Wild Card eligible. Other teams included are the Wild Card leaders, the Yankees and Rangers, and the teams that follow them down to the White Sox, who sit 6.5 games back.

AL East: Toronto Blue Jays
AL Central: Detr- Ha, just kidding! Kansas City Royals
AL West: Houston Astros
1st AL Wild Card: New York Yankees
2nd AL Wild Card: Cleveland Indians

I have predicted the Cleveland Indians to win the 2nd Wild Card Spot in the American League. Cleveland has been down most of the season, but has shown signs of late life after the All-Star break. Corey Kluber has been pitching lights out after the break. The other pitchers of the Indians pitching staff have been stellar as well. Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, and Salazar are all ranked in the top 10 most strikeouts in the American League. This team has also entered the month of September winning 8 of their last 10 games. Francisco Lindor has been hitting the ball well over his last 15 games, along with Lonnie Chisenhall,  Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis, all hitting over .300. This team has some weapons offensively and pitching wise. They are one of the hottest teams going into the final games of the regular season, and that is why I pick them to capture the second Wild Card spot.

NL East: New York Mets
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
NL West: San Francisco Giants
1st NL Wild Card: Pittsburgh Pirates
2nd NL Wild Card: Chicago Cubs

San Francisco to me is a sneaky team. They have players they are sneaky and streaky, and find a way to win games with those players. These players include Brandon Crawford, Matt Duffy, Joe Panik, and Kelby Tomlinson. Crawford doesn't really fit the sneaky category before since he was an All Star this year, but he has been kind of cold after the All Star Break. He is a player than can be streaky, and since people haven't been thinking too much of him since he's gotten cold, he could sneak up and get hot, thus making him sneaky and streaky. I like the players the Giants added over the Trade and Waiver Deadline more than I like the players who the Dodgers added. Marlon Byrd and Mike Leake were great fits for the Giants. Chase Utley was a good fit for the Dodgers, but I don't think Mat Latos and Alex Wood will continue pan out as the season concludes. Also, Joc Pederson has been struggling majorly after the All Star Break, and he was a big part to the Dodgers success in the 1st half. Yasiel Puig has had a down year. Justin Turner, who's been fantastic this year for LA, has not hit the ball exceptionally well lately, hitting under .200 his last 15 games. Plus the Giants schedule for September includes playing teams such as the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres (2 series each), Reds, and Athletics (1 series each), all teams that are below .500. They do play the Dodgers 6 more times however. Los Angeles plays some of the same teams, but not all. They play the Pirates and Angels, teams that are above .500. It will be interesting to see who will take this division. I picked the Dodgers to win it all in my predictions I made in March, and I may regret this decision by not sticking with them.