With about two weeks left in the regular season, there is still a lot up for grabs for the postseason. The American League East should come down to the wire. The Yankees and Orioles have been battling for the division lead all season. The two have traded places atop the division quite often this season, and as of Sept. 16, the Yankees hold a three game lead in the division. Whichever team finishes on top of the AL East will be in a fight for the number one seed with the AL Central Leading Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have exceeded expectations this year due in large part to elite closer Emmanuel Clase, who has given up just five earned runs all season, while recording 45 saves. Two of the AL wildcard spots are still up for grabs. The Kansas City Royals, another team who has blown away expectations, holds the second spot.
Superstar Bobby Witt Jr.’s MVP caliber season is a big reason for the Royals surprise success this season.
In the National League, the Phillies and Dodgers are fighting for the number one spot and home field advantage. The Phillies won five of their six games against the Dodgers this season, meaning if the two teams finish with the same record, the Phillies would win the tiebreaker.
The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamonbacks are in possession of the first and second wild card. Both teams have played excellent baseball throughout the second half of the season and have rosters that are built for a deep playoff run. The two play at Arizona for the final series of the weekend. It goes without saying that the series will have substantial playoff implications.
The final wild card spot in the National League is poised to come down to two division rivals, the Mets and the Braves.
The New York Mets got off to a slow start to the season, but took off in the second half due to the performance of MVP candidate Francisco Lindor. Lindor has picked up an injury at the worst time and New York is now hoping to tred water until their star comes back. The two teams will meet in Atlanta for a three game series Sept. 24 to 26, with the winner of the series likely earning a postseason trip.
One other storyline in these final two weeks will be a team looking to avoid making history. That would be the team from the southside of Chicago. As of Sept. 13, the White Sox sit at a horrific 35-115, just a .233 winning percentage. They hope to avoid setting the record for the most losses in a single season since 1900, when the Mets recorded 120 losses in 1962. Gear up for an exciting final two weeks and postseason.