Today: Mar 28, 2024

Playoffs on the horizon for Major League Baseball

Bobby MartinezSports Writer

After a very disappointing 2013 season, highlighted by the signing of all-star Albert Pujols, the Los Angeles Angels (80-53) are tied for MLB’s best record at the end of August.

To no one’s surprise, the Oakland Athletics (78-55) have been the most consistent team all season and are fighting the Angels for the league’s best record. After a slow start to the season, tallying up a record of 15-10, the A’s, have been leading each power rankings due to their powerful bullpen and hitting.

Despite having the league’s highest payroll this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have dominated the win column since the all-star break. At one point, the San Francisco Giants had a very comfortable lead, but over time, have fallen 4.5 games behind the dodgers with 28 games left in the regular season.

One divisional race that is heating up and looks to have a very good ending is between the Kansas City Royals (yes, the Royals who haven’t made a playoff appearance since 1985, the year they won their only World Series title) and the Detroit Tigers.  Both teams are separated by 1.5 games in favor of the Royals.

Then we have the American League East. The Baltimore Orioles (76-56) have a large seven game lead on the New York Yankees (69-63) who are without their top two pitchers, CC Sabathia who had season-ending knee surgery last month and Masahiro Tanaka. Unlike Sabathia, Tanaka might pitch this season after doctors found a tiny tear in his ulnar collateral ligament back on July 9.

The Boston Red Sox are currently in last place (58-75) and have major decisions to make in the off-season if they plan on winning another title in the near future. However the biggest question that remains again this year is, can the Dodgers finally get over the hump and cash their payroll in for their sixth World Series title?

Photo Credit: Keith Allison 

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