The only two races that are close are the NL Central and the second NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs have a 3.5 game lead and the Colorado Rockies have a 2.5 game cushion in the second NL Wild Card spot. The team chasing the Cubs and the Rockies is the Milwaukee Brewers who, at this point, are the only NL team who could upset the apple cart at this point. Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins did look promising at times in August. As recently as August 18th, the Cardinals were only 1.5 games back of the Cubs but the Cards have lost 7 out of their last 10 games and are now 6.5 games back. There was also excitement in South Beach as Giancarlo Stanton blasted 18 home runs in August and now has 51 for the season. Even more exciting was the Marlins were winning and by August 27th had come within 4.5 games of the Rockies. But the Marlins have come back down to earth after being swept by the Nationals and losing to the Phillies last night are now six back of the Rockies.
Unless the Brewers step up in September, the NL playoff picture is all set.
The same, however, cannot be said in the AL. To be sure, the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians have virtually locked up the AL West and AL Central, respectively. Although the Astros were a subpar 11-18 in August they still have an 11.5 game cushion over the Los Angeles Angels. In light of what has happened in Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Astros will play a much larger role in lifting the city's morale. The team's morale certainly got a boost with the last minute acquisition of Justin Verlander from the Detroit Tigers. As for the Tribe, they finished August with seven straight wins and victories in 8 of their last 10 games and have a comfortable 6.5 game lead on the Minnesota Twins.
Although the Boston Red Sox went 18-9 in August their 4.5 game lead over the New York Yankees is too close for comfort for many in Red Sox Nation considering the Yankees finished the month under .500. Should the Yankees sweep the Sox this weekend they will be within 1.5 games of the division. But if the Red Sox rebound, the Yankees still have the top seed in the AL Wild Card race.
It is the second AL Wild Card spot where things get really interesting. At the moment, the Minnesota Twins have this spot following a 20-10 August. But hot on their heels are the Los Angeles Angels (18-10) and the Baltimore Orioles (17-12) who are 1.5 and 2.5 games back of the Twins, respectively. Despite having sub .500 records the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners cannot be counted out just yet. However, the odds are strongly against the Mariners who have lost five in a row and seven of their last 10 games in no small part due to nearly the entire starting rotation being on the DL. The Mariners had to get a struggling Mike Leake from the Cardinals just to find a healthy arm. Nevertheless, they cannot be counted out. After all, the Twins, Angels and Orioles began August with sub .500 records and look where they are now.
Of course, what counts is where they will be on October 1st.
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