Day 15

Fresh Start_15: MLB Wild Card Race
Man, is this a trip down memory lane or what? I started this blog talking about the game I love the most back in 2014. My two-year anniversary of this blog is coming up very soon and what better way to celebrate then getting back to my roots. This year is another log jam, just like every year.
Let’s start in the AL first, and it is an absolute mess and very interesting. To begin, the AL East will determine who will get the first wild card spot. Whether that is Boston or Toronto that will be a fun story to watch. Next is the battle between Baltimore and Detroit… they are currently tied at 74-62. The schedule advantage goes to Detroit just based on the fact that the Tigers will face Minnesota seven more times and Atlanta three more times. Not saying Baltimore is completely out of the picture because they certainly are not, however it will be an uphill battle. For the teams behind the eight ball chasing those three teams it gets even more interesting. Houston is only two back with a very powerful lineup that seems to have found their stride just like late last year. The Yankees have an extremely tough schedule and with all of those rookies I don’t know how much longer the bombers will stick around. The defending champs have caught fire in the last month or so are four back and will Kansas City being the most battle tested you cannot count them out until it is mathematically impossible. Ultimately, I see Toronto winning the AL East, which would mean that Boston and Detroit would meet in Boston for the one game playoff for the AL Wildcard.
In the NL, things are a lot less complicated just based on the fact on the fact that two of the three divisions are completely locked up. The Nationals and Cubs have comfortable leads in their respected divisions and don’t have to worry about making the playoffs. The Giants or Dodgers will have the first spot in the Wild Card based on how the Dodgers react with getting Kershaw back, and how he pitches once he is back. The second spot is where the money will be focused for the big spenders of Vegas. The St. Louis Cardinals currently hold the second spot by a game and a half. The team directly behind them is the New York Mets. And I believe that the Mets will snatch the second spot from the Cards, again based off the schedules. The only hard part of the remaining part of the Mets schedule is three games against the Nationals. The rest of that schedule includes the Marlins, Phillies, Twins, and Braves. For St. Louis, they have to play two series against Pittsburgh, two series against the Cubs, and a four game series against the Giants. Even with the injury bug fully wiping out the Mets, the schedule is way too favorable not to make the playoffs. Plus, with the two bats in Bruce and Cespesdes, the defending National League champs will taste October baseball for the second straight year.
Sources:( mlb.com, espn.com)

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