It is the middle of September and once again the Major League Baseball season is wrapping up. The final day of the regular season is September 28. It is about October and that means that the playoffs will be starting up again. Already, the Anaheim Angels have clinched a spot in the postseason by winning the American League West division. Also, the Washington Nationals have another spot by winning the National League East. Currently, they are the only teams that have guaranteed a spot to move on into the playoffs. A few teams are very close to clinching as well.
The American League West was won by the Anaheim Angels (94-56) after defeating the Seattle Mariners 8-1 this past Monday night. The Angels, led by manager, Mike Scioscia and players Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, and former St Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols, posted a division record of 39-25. The Angels had a rather large lead in the division followed by the Oakland Athletics (83-66, 10.5 games back) and the Seattle Mariners (80-69, 13.5 games back).
The AL Central division has not yet been claimed. It is one of the more competitive playoff races. Currently, the Detroit Tigers (84-66) are in the lead, closely followed by the Kansas City Royals (82-67, 1.5 games back). The Detroit Tigers, led by 1st year manager, Brad Ausmus, and the Royals, led by manager, Ned Yost, have gone neck and neck all year. Detroit is currently winning the battle. However, there are many more games left to determine a winner.
The AL East was won by a landslide. Even though it is not official, the Baltimore Orioles (92-60) are 14.5 games up on the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles are led by the MLB home run leader, Nelson Cruz, and famed manager Buck Showalter. The other teams in the division are not currently in a spot to even make the playoffs.
The National League West is still pretty much undecided. The Los Angeles Dodgers are nursing a 2.0 game lead over the San Francisco Giants which is surprising because the Dodgers have the highest payroll in the league at $235,295,219. It is also very likely that both the Dodgers and the Giants will make the playoffs.
The NL Central will be another surprising race. As of right now, the St Louis Cardinals are atop the division by only 2.5 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates followed by the Milwaukee Brewers at 5.0 games back. The Cardinals, foreboding a fluke, should make it into the playoffs as well as the Pirates.
In the NL East, the Washington Nationals led by pitchers Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg have already secured a spot to play in October with an 88-64 record. Following the Nats, the Atlanta Braves are 12.0 games back. The Mets should be the only NL East team in postseason play.
The MLB season ends on September 28. Already two teams have won a spot to play in the postseason. Come the end of September, it will be interesting to see who will move on and who will be playing golf all throughout October.