Fall Frenzy: The Playoff Picture 📸

08/29/2023 Fall Frenzy: The Playoff Picture 📸

By: Jeff Yoder

MLB Enters Final Month: Here’s Where They Stand, Plus HR Race, Awards Favorites & More

The end of August means baseball season is nearly 5/6 complete (roughly 83 percent). We should know who’s who by now, but a lot can change in a month. Four teams are essentially locked into the postseason barring a catastrophic collapse — Braves, Orioles, Rays, and Dodgers. There’s a struggle for AL and NL Central supremacy, but the Brewers and Twins are starting to pull away. Wild Card races should be interesting down the stretch, too. Only 12 teams reach October (postseason), but 23 teams are still mathematically “alive” in our eyes, even the Yankees, somehow. Let’s prep for the final month of baseball with a look at the playoff picture:

 

MLB Playoff Picture

 

American League

AL East: Orioles (82-49)

AL West: Mariners (75-56)

AL Central: Twins (69-63)

Wild Card: Rays (80-52)

Wild Card: Rangers (74-57)

Wild Card: Astros (75-58)

 

In the Hunt: Blue Jays (72-60), Red Sox (69-63), Yankees (63-68), Angels (63-69) & Guardians (62-70)

 

National League

NL East: Braves (85-45)

NL West: Dodgers (81-49)

NL Central: Brewers (74-57)

Wild Card: Phillies (73-58)

Wild Card: Cubs (69-62)

Wild Card: Diamondbacks (69-63)

 

In the Hunt: Giants (68-63), Reds (68-65), Marlins (66-65), Padres (62-70), Nationals (61-71) & Mets (60-72)

 

Home Run Race

1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA): 44 HRs

2. Matt Olson (ATL): 43 HRs

3. Pete Alonso (NYM): 39 HRs

4. Kyle Schwarber (PHI): 36 HRs

T5. Mookie Betts (LAD): 35 HRs

T5. Jorge Soler (MIA): 35 HRs

 

Award Favorites

  • NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL), Mookie Betts (LAD), Freddie Freeman (LAD)
  • AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), Corey Seager (TEX), Kyle Tucker (HOU)
  • NL Cy Young: Zac Gallen (ARI), Blake Snell (SD), Spencer Strider (ATL)
  • AL Cy Young: Gerrit Cole (NYY), Luis Castillo (SEA), Kevin Gausman (TOR)

Read More

MLB: 5 Series to Watch to Close Out August

CBS Sports: MLB Power Rankings: Brewers, Mariners Surging at Right Time

FOX Sports: MLB Power Rankings: Mariners End 20-Year Drought Atop AL West

 

Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images