What does a division lead entering September mean?
Since 1996 (the first full season with at least one Wild Card) 95 of 120 division champions (79%) held at least a share of that division lead entering September 1st.
It’s good to be in first
At least four of the division leaders on September 1 have ultimately won their division every year during the wild card era.
The last time in this span that all six division leaders on the morning of September 1 went on to win those divisions was 2014. It’s happened four times, overall, also in 2002, 2001 and 1999.