Which Playoff Contenders Have The Best Shot At The Title
The National League has all but chosen its playoff representatives. The AL? Less so. But how do all those teams stack up against each other?
Only nine teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention at this point. But, even though nine of those remaining 21 teams are still mathematically alive, not a single one of those (the Orioles, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Mariners, Nationals, and Giants) will qualify for the postseason with just 11 days left in the regular season.
That leaves us with:
Two teams that has already secured a playoff spot (the Cardinals and Pirates)
Four teams that are just a few short days away from doing the same (the Blue Jays, Royals, Dodgers, and Cubs)
Three teams who I feel confident will reach the postseason one way or another (the Yankees, Rangers, and Astros)
Two teams that are hanging in there and could steal a wild card spot thanks to Houston’s fall from grace (the Twins, and Angels)
And one team that I want to say will easily reach the postseason, and belongs in my second category, but I can’t make such a statement after witnessing its historic 2007 collapse (the Mets)
So, of those 13 teams that can or will contend for the Commissioner’s Trophy, how do they stack up against each other?