ouleaf
9/20/2011, 10:34 AM
I know we've kicked off football season, but the MLB playoffs are only a couple of weeks away and the race for playoffs has really heated up. What seemed like the makings of a very boring September, a few teams have made things pretty interesting with only about 10 games left to play.
The Red Sox have gone in a nose dive this month. They were actually the AL East division leaders on September 1st and have only won 5 games since then. The Rays have made a strong push and are now only 2 games behind Boston for the AL wild card spot. We'll really find out what the Rays are made of as they have 2 series with the Yankees remaining and a home stand against Toronto to make up those two games. The Red Sox have a much easier schedule playing Baltimore twice and the Yankees once. I think if there were 20 games left the Rays could catch them, but with only 10 or so left, it doesn't look as likely.
Not to be outdone over on the NL side, the Braves also struggled down the stretch, and what was an 8.5 game lead on September first is now only a 2.5 game lead over the Cardinals who have made a really come on strong of late, and the reigning World Series Champs, the Giants, are 3.5 back. The Braves last series is against the Phillies who have long since clinched the division crown and more than likely will have secured homefield advantage throughout the playoffs by then. So I think fortunately for the Braves they will probably run into a bunch of spare Phillies players while they rest their stars for the playoffs.
Barring any giant collapses by the Brewers, Yankees, Rangers, Diamond Backs, they should all pretty much have their respective divisions locked up by the end of the week. They'll still want to keep competing for seeding and homefield advantage for at least the opening round though.
All in all, the next week should be very exciting baseball.
The Red Sox have gone in a nose dive this month. They were actually the AL East division leaders on September 1st and have only won 5 games since then. The Rays have made a strong push and are now only 2 games behind Boston for the AL wild card spot. We'll really find out what the Rays are made of as they have 2 series with the Yankees remaining and a home stand against Toronto to make up those two games. The Red Sox have a much easier schedule playing Baltimore twice and the Yankees once. I think if there were 20 games left the Rays could catch them, but with only 10 or so left, it doesn't look as likely.
Not to be outdone over on the NL side, the Braves also struggled down the stretch, and what was an 8.5 game lead on September first is now only a 2.5 game lead over the Cardinals who have made a really come on strong of late, and the reigning World Series Champs, the Giants, are 3.5 back. The Braves last series is against the Phillies who have long since clinched the division crown and more than likely will have secured homefield advantage throughout the playoffs by then. So I think fortunately for the Braves they will probably run into a bunch of spare Phillies players while they rest their stars for the playoffs.
Barring any giant collapses by the Brewers, Yankees, Rangers, Diamond Backs, they should all pretty much have their respective divisions locked up by the end of the week. They'll still want to keep competing for seeding and homefield advantage for at least the opening round though.
All in all, the next week should be very exciting baseball.