Written by Andrew Robbins
San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been above and beyond the very best team in baseball this season. They have led the NL West almost the whole season, leaving all but the Dodgers fifteen games away from the lead. The Giants are guaranteed a play-off spot and they are likely going to make it to the NLCS.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are quickly running away with the AL East division and are all but guaranteed a play-off spot come October. The next closest team, the Yankees, starts this week 6 games behind the Rays. The AL East is one of the only divisions in baseball that is still open. The Rays would need a significant losing streak to not come out with the AL East Title.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are slightly over-shadowed by the Giants this season. While they have put up an impressive 82 wins coming into September, they are still 2.5 games behind the Giants coming into the week. Unfortunately for them, the Dodgers will only be able to secure the first wild card slot for the NL, barring an epic collapse in San Francisco.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have also been guaranteed a playoff spot, as it will be nearly impossible for either the Reds or Cardinals to beat them out for the division. While the last ten games coming into the week haven’t been all that impressive, they still have a decent enough lead on the Reds of 8.5 games.
Houston Astros
The Astros have been leading the AL West since almost the beginning of the season behind their bats. While their relief pitching has left something to be
desired, they have the second-best run differential in baseball at +176. While the AL West is not all wrapped up yet, it is highly unlikely that the next best team, the A’s, can catch up to the Astros.
New York Yankees
The Yankees, while also almost guaranteed a playoff spot, are most likely going to wind up with the first AL Wild Card spot. Their last ten games coming into this week have been very strong, but it is unlikely they will be able to catch up to the white-hot Rays in time for the end of September.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have led a mediocre campaign this season, coming into September only halfway through the standings and only a few games over .500. The Cardinals will need a miracle to make the playoffs this season. The only good news bits are that Yadi is coming back for his final season next year, and that the cards are only 3.5 games out of the second NL Wild Card slot
Kansas City Royals
This season will mark yet another losing season for the Royals, whose last great season was in 2015, when they won the World Series. Since then, it’s all been
downhill. The Royals continue to suffer the consequences of trading away all their talent 6 years ago.
