*Photo from stevetheump.com*
We are entering the month of September, the final month of the regular season in baseball. With the playoffs nearing, we'll look at where every contender in the American League stands.
AL East:
*Photo from Sporting News*
New York Yankees:
Despite all the injuries, the Yankees are currently tied with the Dodgers for the best record in baseball, with 88 wins. Gio Urshela, Mike Tauchmann, and Luke Voit are some names that come to mind that have been playing spectacularly this season. There are some questions that the Yankees face however, such as how is their rotation going to perform in October? July was a hot mess for them, but they seem to be picking back up. Another dilemma is how are they going to rotate everyone in when the members of the team on the IL return? I believe the Yankees will make the postseason, but how their games are managed will really determine how far they will go.
*Photo from Bleacher Report*
Tampa Bay Rays:
The Rays have looked solid all year, and they are favorites to lock up a wild card spot thanks to a complete hitting game. Charlie Morton has been their best pitcher as of late due to Blake Snell having a down year and Tyler Glasnow being on the IL for quite some time now. There aren't much questions with the hitting game, but the pitching corps, both in the rotation and the bullpen, will determine whether this team can hold off Oakland and Boston and play postseason baseball.
*Photo from NBC Sports*
Boston Red Sox:
The Red Sox have struggled all season to find consistency with the pitching. In the beginning of the season, the bullpen was carrying the load the starters couldn't, and now it's the other way around. The pitching has looked better recently, and the return of David Price on Sunday will be much-needed reinforcements. The hitting game is destroying everything in sight, led by Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and JD Martinez. Oh yeah, Christian Vazquez is having a career year too. They currently sit 5 1/2 games back of a wild card spot thanks to winning 9 of 12, and maybe who they call up on September 1(Bobby Dalbec anyone?) could help them down the stretch. If they make the playoffs, Eduardo Rodriguez will start the wild card game, as he's been their best pitcher. The pitching definitely needs to step up for Boston to get a shot to defend their title. Who knows what will happen if they make the playoffs.
*Photo from ESPN*
Cleveland Indians:
The Indians surged not long ago, even leading the AL central briefly. Since then they have regressed, but they seem to have strong footing on the first AL wild card spot. They did just lose Jose Ramirez to the IL, but Carlos Carrasco is coming back, as he will be activated on Sunday. No word on Corey Kluber yet. There still is a chance for them to win the division, but I find it hard to see that happening, not with how Minnesota is playing. If the starting pitching keeps up the dominance, they should be set to host the wild card game.
*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*
Minnesota Twins:
Anyone who saw the Twins being this good in 2019, you are clearly a person with superior intellect. The Twins burst onto the scene this year, with one of the best hitting games, powered by the home run, and a dominant pitching corps led by Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, and Kyle Gibson. They have a 3 1/2 game lead over Cleveland in the AL central, and seem to be a shoe-in for the playoffs. The bullpen has been the greatest concern for them, as it has been up-and down all year. Taylor Rogers does seem to have the closer's role figured out. Maybe Sam Dyson will step up for once. Barring a collapse, the Twins should be all set to win the AL central this year.
*Photo from the Houston Chronicle*
Houston Astros:
All I can say is wow. The Houston Astros are probably baseball's most complete team. A hitting corps led by Jose Altuve, George Springer, Alex Bregman, and hotshot rookie Yordan Alvarez, a pitching rotation that has 3 Cy Young candidates in Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke, and basically a lockdown bullpen, this team is loaded. Oh yeah, Aaron Sanchez is basically a brand new pitcher too. They are without Carlos Correa, but this team is humming along as usual. It looks to be Astros vs Yankees in the ALCS, and this team is probably Houston's best shot at another world series. This team is murderer's row scary. If they keep pushing the right buttons, it could be two titles in 3 years for Houston.
*Photo from Sports Illustrated*
Oakland Athletics:
You can never count Oakland out, can you? They are currently in possession of the second wild card spot, and they have the hitting corps to take on the Indians if they face them in the wild card game. Matt Olson and Matt Chapman are franchise faces, Khris Davis keeps crushing homers, Ramon Laureano has been amazing with his cannon arm in center field, and Marcus Semien is having a career year. The pitching has been suspect, with no true ace in the rotation or stud in the bullpen. Getting Sean Manaea back will help with that, but Oakland will need more from the pitching if they want to make the postseason.
Current Division races:
AL East.
1. New York Yankees(88-47)
2. Tampa Bay Rays(77-58, 11 GB)
3. Boston Red Sox(72-62, 15 1/2 GB)
AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twins(82-51)
2. Cleveland Indians(79-55, 3 1/2 GB)
AL West:
1. Houston Astros(87-48)
2. Oakland Athletics(77-56, 9 GB)
Division winners predictions
New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros
Wild card game: Boston Red Sox @ Cleveland Indians
We'll see how these predictions work out, I could end up being completely wrong. NL edition is coming out tomorrow.
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