September is just a few days away, and the MLB playoff race will start to heat up as the weather starts to cool down. Here are the current National League and Major League Baseball standings entering today’s action:
National League
NL East
Atlanta Braves (74-57)
Philadelphia Phillies (70-62) 4.5 GB
Washington Nationals (67-66) 8.0 GB
New York Mets (58-73) 16.0 GB
Miami Marlins (53-80) 22.0 GB
NL Central
Chicago Cubs (77-53)
St. Louis Cardinals (74-58) 4.0 GB
Milwaukee Brewers (73-60) 5.5 GB
Pittsburgh Pirates (64-68) 14.0 GB
Cincinnati Reds (57-75) 21.0 GB
NL West
Colorado Rockies (72-60)
Arizona Diamondbacks (72-60)
Los Angeles Dodgers (71-61) 1.0 GB
San Francisco Giants (67-67) 6.0 GB
San Diego Padres (51-83) 22.0 GB
American League
AL East
Boston Red Sox (91-42)
New York Yankees (84-48) 6.5 GB
Tampa Bay Rays (70-62) 20.5 GB
Toronto Blue Jays (60-72) 30.5 GB
Baltimore Orioles (39-94) 52.0 GB
AL Central
Cleveland Indians (75-56)
Minnesota Twins (61-70) 14.0 GB
Detroit Tigers (53-79) 22.5 GB
Chicago White Sox (52-80) 23.5 GB
Kansas City Royals (41-91) 34.5 GB
AL West
Houston Astros (81-51)
Oakland Athletics (80-53) 1.5 GB
Seattle Mariners (74-58) 7.0 GB
Los Angeles Angels (64-69) 17.5 GB
Texas Rangers (58-75) 23.5 GB
A lot can and will happen between now and the end of the regular season, but this is who I believe is realistically in and out of the National League division and wild-card races among teams at .500 or better. In the American League, it would be a surprise if the playoff teams are not the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Athletics.
Atlanta Braves: IN
20-10 in their last 30 games with a 4.5-game lead in the NL East—with the Nationals still lagging behind and the Phillies going through a mini collapse—the Braves are clearly serious playoff contenders and the heavy favorites in the division.
Philadelphia Phillies: OUT
Maybe they were due for a regression either way, but it seems like the trades the Phillies made—along with the trades they did not make (like getting Cole Hamels)—is a cause of their woes. Team chemistry is not where it was after the moves, and they are under .500 the last month including 2-8 the last ten games.
Washington Nationals: OUT
The Nationals are hanging around, but despite the high expectations heading into the season, they haven’t shown anything that makes you believe they’ll finally flip the switch in the final month of the season. They’ll probably remain around .500.
Chicago Cubs: IN
The Cubs are probably the best team in the National League, and former NL MVP Kris Bryant is inching closer to a return.
St. Louis Cardinals: IN
Mike Shildt has done such a good job getting the Cardinals to play well and turn this season around that he’s been named the full-time manager. They should make a strong push for a wild-card spot if they don’t push the Cubs for the division.
Milwaukee Brewers: IN
The Brewers currently hold the second wild-card spot, and their talented offense should keep them in the race throughout the start of fall.
Colorado Rockies: IN
The Rockies have gone on some hot stretches in the second half, and they’ve climbed up to a tie for first in the NL West. This could be the year Colorado gets back to the postseason.
Arizona Diamondbacks: IN
Arizona’s offense is in a major cold stretch, including two straight shutouts. However, they are still tied for first in the division and should get out of this offensive funk soon.
Los Angeles Dodgers: IN
I, and many others, would argue the Dodgers are the favorites in the NL West. They are a potentially scary team if they catch fire in September heading into the postseason.
San Francisco Giants: OUT
Gorkys Hernandez’s walk-off single might give the Giants a jolt over the final few weeks of the season, but it’s hard to see them seriously contending for a wild-card spot in such a crowded National League.
So of the ten teams realistically in the mix for a playoff spot, I believe seven of them will remain involved to the wire. And maybe the Phillies, Nationals, and Giants will surprise me and make September even more exciting than I think it will be.
I don’t think we are completely out of it but this is frustrating.
Were already in September, I see Giants out, Oakland A’s would love to see as contenders