This years wild card race doesn't look like it's going to be as good as it was last year, the NL wild card teams, wit the exception of the NL Central, appear to be set. The AL race appears to have some life though.
Division Races
This year is the first year in a while where every division leader, if they lost their lead would be in a wild card spot. Don't underestimate the value of winning your division though, Atlanta learnt that the hard way.
AL East: With just one game separating Boston from Tampa Bay, this race could be the most exciting in the AL. Despite their one game lead though Boston may be a bit of a long shot: Tampa Bay has played four fewer games. Both teams are going to have a tough series ahead of them against red hot teams. Boston is visiting the Dodgers who... you know, while Tampa Bay is hosting a no longer injured Yankees team that has won 11 of their last 14 games. Both Baltimore and New York are long-shots for receiving a first round bye at 5.5 and 6 games back.
AL Central: Cleveland at 5 games behind isn't out of this division, but they're a long shot to win the central. They do have 3 games left against the Tigers though, so you never know. It will take great baseball though, and a 3-game sweep in their Tigers series.
AL West: Oakland has made a habit of losing the game 5 in the division series, they're 0-5. It would say that there is a good chance that that would carry over into the wild card game. They might have a bit of motivation to get the 2.5 games they're behind Texas back. The A's can do it though, just look at last year.
Wild Card: There are two pivotal weekend series going on: Baltimore vs. Texas and New York vs. Tampa Bay. For Oakland and Tampa Bay they can knock two teams that appear as if they could be threats, or make them even more threatening. For New York and Baltimore their seasons are on the line. Along with Cleveland those teams could be more dangerous than ever or they could be forced to forget their postseason dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment