In some seasons, the final days of the Major League Baseball season can be kind of a dud. Other than deciding home field or maybe the last Wild Card spot, everything becomes clear weeks in advance.
This is not one of those years. There are 12 postseason spots across the sport: six division titles and six wild-card spots. The NL East, AL Central and NL West are either already or close to being officially decided. The NL Central is a little more nebulous, although the Milwaukee Brewers are in solid control with a six-game lead. Two AL East teams are battling for the division and the first Wild Card. But everything else is wide open. There are dogfights for almost every Wild Card position and several division spots as well.
AL East
The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays have been two of baseball's best all season. It's no surprise that they're two of the four clubs who have already punched their postseason tickets. But they're going head to head for not just the AL East, but also the No. 1 seed in the American League.The teams split a critical four-game set in Baltimore last weekend. The Orioles, one of the most exciting young teams in all of baseball, currently sit two games ahead of the Rays as they search for their first division title since 2014. While Tampa Bay's pitching depth may make them a tougher team to eliminate, it would be disappointing for the Rays not to win the division after starting the season 13-0.
AL West
This division contains a three-headed monster headlined by the defending World Series champion Houston Astros. The Astros are currently in position to win the division for the third straight season. But the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers aren't making it easy on them.The former has been one of the hottest teams in baseball for the last two months and are looking to wash away last October's sour taste, when their first postseason appearance in 21 years ended in a frustrating sweep against Houston. The latter is trying to overcome an August slumber and a litany of injuries, including to their two star pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. The Rangers led the division for most of the season but are now just trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 2016.
AL Wild Card
The AL East loser will occupy the first of these spots, but it's another three-team race for the last two. In Addition to the Astros and Mariners, the Toronto Blue Jays sit in solid position as well. They currently hold a slight half-game edge on Texas and Seattle. Toronto has been one of the most talented teams in baseball for the past couple of seasons, but hasn't quite been able to put everything together at the right time. They have one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball, which is usually a sign of postseason success.The Mariners and Rangers play seven times before the season ends, which could decide each team's fate. Texas has won five of the first six head-to-head matchups, giving them a critical tie-breaker edge.
NL Wild Card
A whopping six teams currently sit in either a wild card position or within 3.5 games of one. It's the definition of a wide-open race, with both seeding and just making the dance at stake. The defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies currently sit in the best spot, sitting pretty in the first Wild Card spot with a three game cushion. Their spot isn't secure yet, but the Phillies are close enough to be able to taste another Red October.There are only 3.5 games between the Arizona Diamondbacks, who currently occupy the No. 2 wild card slot, and the San Francisco Giants, the last team with a legitimate postseason shot (apologies to the San Diego Padres and their +81 run differential). Arizona leapfrogged the Chicago Cubs by sweeping them in a three-game series last weekend. The Diamondbacks have an incredibly athletic team punctuated by a 1-2 starting pitching punch of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
Chicago is being chased by several teams for the final spot, including divisional rival Cincinnati Reds. Both are hoping to emerge from their rebuilds a bit earlier than expected. Excluding the 60-game 2020 season, the Cubs haven't reached the postseason since 2018 and the Reds since 2013. The Cubs bulked up considerably at the trade deadline, so it would certainly be a disappointment for them to miss. Cincinnati has a bright future but is trying to secure one last postseason run for veteran slugger Joey Votto.
Those droughts pale in comparison to the Miami Marlins, who have gone longer without playing a postseason game in front of fans than any other team in the four major North American sports leagues. Miami could be a tough task to knock out if Sandy Alcantara returns to last year's Cy Young form and Jorge Soler doesn't miss a beat in his return from injury.
The plucky, veteran San Francisco Giants, two years removed from posting baseball's best record, are still hanging around. The Giants have been piecing things together for months now. But the back end of their bullpen and starters Logan Webb and Alex Cobb are no joke.
Less than two weeks remain until the postseason begins. Time will tell which teams find themselves there. But no matter who does, it should be a thrilling journey. Even better, it's only just the beginning.
Sign up for our Observer Sports newsletter!Have an Irish sports question? Ask it for our Observer Sports mailbag!
