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MLB playoffs: Is the American League in line for a wake up call?

By Benjamin Chase |
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: The 1998 World Series trophy is seen during a ceremony prior to a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 11-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: The 1998 World Series trophy is seen during a ceremony prior to a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 11-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The American League has the top four teams in baseball in record, but could they find themselves overpowered by the National League in the MLB playoffs?

For the first time in 14 seasons, the American League will not defeat the National League in interleague play. However, when looking at the top teams in the league, it’s hard to argue with the possibility of a situation where four 100-win teams could come out of the American League and none would come out of the National League. However, could the imbalance of the league lead to the National League actually being stronger and better prepared for the MLB playoffs?

The MLB playoffs field is nearly set after the Oakland Athletics clinched a spot last evening, setting the five teams for the American League as Boston, Houston, New York, Oakland, and Cleveland. Oakland still has a shot to take the American League West crown, and the home team for the American League Wild Card game to open the MLB playoffs could still be in the air, but the five teams are defined.

The National League field is more in the air, though it is down to six teams for five spots. The Atlanta Braves are the only team that has clinched their postseason position. However, the Cubs, Milwaukee, the Dodgers, St. Louis, and Colorado are jockeying for four spots among the NL Central title, NL West title, and NL Wild Card spots.

With no National League team to reach 100 wins and possibly four teams in the American League to reach that number, many have discussed the imbalance of the AL vs. the NL.

What is that imbalance is wrong, though?

Here are the records for the American League MLB playoffs teams against the six MLB playoffs competitors for the National League:

  • Boston: 5-1 (all vs. Atlanta)
  • Cleveland: 7-4 (3-1 vs. Cubs, 3-1 vs. Milwaukee, 1-2 vs. St. Louis)
  • Houston: 4-3 (2-2 vs. Colorado, 2-1 vs. Los Angeles)
  • New York: 2-1 (all vs. Atlanta)
  • Oakland: 2-5 (0-3 vs. Colorado, 2-2 vs. Los Angeles)

That looks pretty good – a 20-14 record, .588 winning percentage. That’s a 95-win pace.

However, looking at overall records for the American League contenders against teams above .500 and below .500, there’s a notable difference:

  • American League teams vs. teams over .500 = 177-170 (.510)
  • American League teams vs. teams under .500 = 307-128 (.706)
  • National League teams vs. teams over .500 = 300-266 (.530)
  • National League teams vs. teams under .500 = 230-143 (.616)

As you can see, the dreadful nature of the bottom of the American League this year has propped up the American League records, and frankly, it’s allowed the teams headed to the MLB playoffs from the American League to play, on average, 69 games against teams over .500 on the season. Potential MLB playoffs teams from the National League have averaged 92 games against teams over .500.

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That sort of running through the gauntlet has brought down the overall records of the National League teams while boosting the records of their American League counterparts. Could it also have prepared the NL teams better for success in the MLB playoffs?

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