CAROLYN MULLARKEY
Special to The Leader
With just one week left in the regular season, the MLB postseason is getting intense.
The race for wild-card spots is heating up both in the National and American Leagues. The postseason game schedule has been released and it will be the second year in a row without November baseball.
With Sept. 29 closing the regular season, postseason begins promptly Oct. 1, kicking off with the Wild Card games. The seventh and final game of the World Series, if needed, will take place Oct. 30.
What is postseason looking like at the moment?
Currently in the AL, Tampa Bay face a crucial eight-game spread against the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers that could make or break their wild-card chances. The A’s remain two games ahead of them.
While in the NL, this week the Cubs just swept Pittsburgh in a four-game series, but still remain four games back behind the Brewers for the coveted wild-card position.
One week in baseball is both a lot of time and no time at all. More and more is being determined each day what October will actually look like.
The East and West Division titles have officially been clinched.
The Yankees secured the AL East Division title for the first time in seven years. The NL West division title, as well as the home-field advantage for the NL series round, was clinched by the Dodgers. Will they make it for a third year in a row to the World Series, though? Their chances at the moment are looking pretty great.
Other teams clinched so far include the Braves, Astros and Cardinals.
The Central Division title race continues with the Indians climbing behind the twins, 4.5 games back. Although the Indians only sit a half game back behind the Rays for the second wild-card.
The Wild Card race in the National League right now has the Nationals ahead for the first spot and the second spot has the Brewers. The Cubs, Mets, Phillies and the Diamondbacks are all still trying to knock the Brewers out of that spot to secure for themselves.
In the American League, the A’s hold onto the first Wild Card spot tightly with the Rays and Indians battling it out.
As of right now, the projected look of odds at winning the World Series (according to mybookie.ag on 9/22/19) have the top contenders as the Astros (+190), Dodgers (+250) and Yankees (+350.)
With injuries unfolding left and right, this next week will be unpredictable and exciting to watch.
The games for this week are as follows:
| Thursday 9/26 | Friday 9/27 | Saturday 9/28 | Sunday 9/29 |
| Phillies at Nationals Marlins at Mets Brewers at Reds Red Sox at Rangers Dodgers at Padres Twins at Tigers Rockies at Giants Cubs at Pirates Indians at White Sox Astros at Angels A’s at Mariners | Orioles at Red Sox Tigers at White Sox* Indians at Nationals Rays at Blue Jays Yankees at Rangers Brewers at Rockies Twins at Royals Braves at Mets Marlins at Phillies Reds at Pirates Cubs at Cardinals Tigers at White Sox Dodgers at Giants Astros at Angels A’s at Mariners Padres at Diamondbacks | Orioles at Red Sox Tigers at White Sox Indians at Nationals Rays at Blue Jays Yankees at Rangers Brewers at Rockies Twins at Royals Braves at Mets Marlins at Phillies Reds at Pirates Cubs at Cardinals Tigers at White Sox Dodgers at Giants Astros at Angels A’s at Mariners Padres at Diamondbacks | Orioles at Red Sox Tigers at White Sox Indians at Nationals Rays at Blue Jays Yankees at Rangers Brewers at Rockies Twins at Royals Braves at Mets Marlins at Phillies Reds at Pirates Cubs at Cardinals Tigers at White Sox Dodgers at Giants Astros at Angels A’s at Mariners Padres at Diamondbacks |
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