MLB Playoffs: AL East Race Peaking Here in September
The American League East is shaping up to go right down to the wire. How do teams stack up for September as we head toward the MLB Playoffs?
As we head into Labor Day weekend, four of the five teams in the American League East have a shot making the MLB postseason.
With around 30 games to go in the 2016 season, The Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles are within four games of each other. Another 2.5 back of the second Wild Card sits the New York Yankees.
It is possible that three playoff spots come out of the East, or only the division winner. With the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and defending world champion Kansas City Royals in the mix, anything can happen.
As play turns back into the division, there is a decent chance we could see clarity in a couple weeks. Or, this wacky pennant race can churn down to the last week of the season. Imagine the other division winners giddy with joy as their starting pitchers are lined up and rested for the playoffs as the East teams devour each other hoping to play meaningful October baseball.
We know these teams can hit. Fans of the division hope they can pitch. Whether you are a fan of the resurgent Yankees or are hoping the Red Sox bullpen gets their act together, September promises to provide a bumpy ride where the winner will go into the Fall bruised, but not beaten.
All along the East Coast this month, buckle up and enjoy. Some of us might enjoy it.
Here is a look at the craziest month of the regular season from Tampa to Boston.
Next: Last, But Not Least
TAMPA BAY RAYS
At 19.5 games out of first place, the Tampa Bay Rays are the lone team in the division playing out the string.
Although they can mash the ball as well as anyone, the team struggles hitting singles. How else can you explain a league-worst batting average of .243 and the seventh-highest slugging average of .427? After years of contending for the playoffs, the Rays are a legitimate cellar-dweller with no easy answers on how to improve.
The pitching staff is not horrible, just average with a 4.15 ERA on the ledger. Chris Archer sports an ERA of 4.10 and an 8-17 record. In St. Petersburg, it has been that kind of summer.
The defense is not stellar, now 13th in the league in fielding percentage. Yet, it is the offense that has the club waiting for next year. Evan Longoria and Brad Miller are solid at the plate with Longoria already hitting 30 homers and doubles. Aside from that, another offseason of uncertainty awaits.
They can play spoiler. The Orioles have six more games with the Rays. Boston has three. Toronto with six and the Yankees have seven big ones left. From this weekend through September 25, every game is in the division.
Next: Having Fun In The Bronx
NEW YORK YANKEES
Who would have thought the departure of Alex Rodriguez and the imminent retirement of Mark Teixeira would bolster the New York Yankees into the playoff race.
Yes, they are 6.5 behind Toronto for the division lead. Although not completely out of the AL East race, they could be part of some sort of crazy finish and steal the guaranteed best-of-five AL Divisional Series. Within four of the Wild Card, New York has a real chance to contend for either slot.
Who would have thought trading most of your dynamite bullpen for prospects and shoving Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers would turn 2016 into a season to remember.
Gary Sanchez’s morphing into Babe Ruth, Aaron Judge getting the chance to play every day and Didi Gregorius emerging from Derek Jeter’s shadow are big reasons. Dellin Betances can be a closer, thank you. If you thought Masahiro Tanaka would truly be an ace with a bad elbow and a fastball that can barely hit 90, then you should go to Las Vegas.
In what has turned into an incredible Cinderella story, New York has seven games left with Boston and Toronto. Baltimore has six left and Tampa draws seven. Outside of a mid-September weekend series at the Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it is all AL East the rest of the way.
Next: Bashing In Birdland
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
How is a team sporting an ERA of 4.48 tied for a Wild Card spot and four back in the division? Hit home runs as if they are out of style.
Yes, Earl Weaver would love this year’s Baltimore Orioles—well, not the bullpen or the pitching—but the 209 balls that left Camden Yards and other parks this summer. With a month to go, Mark Trumbo smashed 40 dingers already with Chris Davis and Manny Machado at 32.
Stolen bases? Weaver hated them and so does Buck Showalter. In 133 games, the Orioles have attempted 25 and swiped 15. Joey Rickard, on the 60-day disabled list, leads the team with four.
The need all that power as the pitching leaves a lot to be desired. Chris Tillman has won 15 this year, but is on the disabled list. Maryland hoped his projected return of September 9 or 10 holds. No other starter has a winning record except Dylan Bundy. Kevin Gausman and Ubaldo Jimenez are a combined 11-21 with an ERA north of 4.50.
How on Earth are the Birds still in this thing? Zach Britton.
The closer is putting up an MVP year with 39 saves and an ERA of 0.67—that is four earned runs in 54 innings—is keeping the Orioles in the race. With impeccable control, walking 16 and fanning 61, Britton is slamming the door. Along with Bundy, Vance Worley and Brad Brach are anchors in the bullpen.
Score six and hope the starter can hold the other team to five. That is working in Baltimore. With seven left against the Red Sox and Rays, there is a good chance to hold or gain ground. The Yankees will be in the other dugout six more times. The Blue Jays are on the schedule for only three. Aside from the AL East, the O’s travel to Detroit for three and host Arizona for three.
Next: Pessimism In New England
BOSTON RED SOX
After two last-place finishes in a row, the fact the Boston Red Sox are two behind Toronto and in control of their own destiny should make fans happy.
If you follow sports in New England, unless the Duck Boats are on Boylston, the fans are never happy.
With a bullpen injured and overused, the Red Sox offense has carried the team this far. Mookie Betts blossomed into a five-tool monster poised for yearly bouts of MVP speculation. David Ortiz will retire on top of his game as both hitters have over 30 homers. Dustin Pedroia is healthy. Sandy Leon and Hanley Ramirez are sensational.
Clay Buchholz is now the eighth inning setup option. Uh-oh. Steven Wright stumbled his first start after jamming his shoulder pinch-running in Los Angeles. Ouch. Did anyone think with David Price on the team that Rick Porcello and his 18 wins would be the ace?
Like Baltimore, Boston can depend on their closer Craig Kimbrel and score at will. Unlike the Orioles, they have decent starters; it is the bullpen that keeps fans up late.
Boston has six left with Toronto. Win four and they make up the two games they need. Seven more with Baltimore and New York are in the cards. A midweek struggle against Tampa means they play only three more times. The Red Sox play six on the West Coast against Oakland and San Diego before going all-AL East the rest of the way.
Next: Oh, Canada!
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Take a deep breath, Ontario.
With a two-game bulge on Boston and four on Baltimore, the Toronto Blue Jays are in good shape to return to a meaningful October.
Jose Bautista is back in the lineup. Josh Donaldson is on another MVP run. Edwin Encarnacion has 36 homers and Russell Martin has found his swing. In a division full of hot offense, the Blue Jays can mash with the best of them. Along with everyone else, the question is how will the pitching hold?
Well, they lead the AL in ERA at 3.79. Aaron Sanchez, J.A. Happ and Marco Estrada boast winning records and ERA’s under 3.37. Happ is a 17-game winner. Roberto Osuna may not be in the same class as Britton or Kimbrel, but he has 29 saves and 71 strikeouts in 58 innings. Joe Biagini and the ageless Jason Grilli are healthy and productive. On paper, the division and playoff berths are Toronto’s to lose. Third in fielding percentage and fourth in errors, the Jays are not beating themselves.
Yet, there are 30 games left and most are high-leverage. Like the Red Sox, they have a West Coast trip coming up with games against the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners on the dock. The rest are all in the division. With seven against New York, six against both Boston and Tampa and three with Baltimore, Toronto is in the best position to set up their rotation for the playoffs. Yet, they have 16 road games compared to 13 at Rogers Centre left.
Next: Jays' Steib Gets His No-No
Buckle up, folks.