Surging D’backs gear up for playoff run
Dodgers, Astros, Yankees have division titles wrapped up • Wild-card races full of drama
With less than three weeks remaining in the Major League Baseball regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are cruising with an 18.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West and punched their playoff ticket on Tuesday night by clinching the division title for the seventh consecutive season.
In the American League, it’s only a formality until the New York Yankees and Houston Astros clinch their division titles. The Yankees eliminated the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox from winning the AL East on Monday after a 5-0 win in Boston. Meanwhile, the Astros continue to clobber opponents.
There’s considerably more drama remaining in the NL when it comes to the wild-card race. It’s become a six-horse race – led by the Washington Nationals – in the NL and a three-horse race – led by the Tampa Bay Rays – in the AL.
Trading your best pitcher in July certainly isn’t something that contenders do regularly, but the Diamondbacks have won 11 of 13 games and find themselves in the thick of the National League wild-card race.
After a four-game series with the Mets in New York this week, the Diamondbacks play 12 of their final 15 games at home, and only three games against teams above .500.
The Milwaukee Brewers have a similarly light schedule the rest of the way, but the Philadelphia Phillies (17 of 20 vs contenders) and Chicago Cubs (seven vs St. Louis Cardinals) both have to run a gauntlet over the season’s final three weeks.
These Diamondbacks may have an inside track, which something few could have predicted when they traded Zack Greinke at the deadline.
Here’s how our panel voted this week:
1. Houston Astros
Top prospect Kyle Tucker will be a huge boost for this team in the postseason.
2. New York Yankees
Dellin Betances on rehab assignment, almost ready to make his 2019 debut.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Adam Kolarek hasn’t given up a run in his first 17 outings with Dodgers.
4. Atlanta Braves
The offense gets even better with Austin Riley’s return from injury.
5. Minnesota Twins
Avoiding a sweep in Cleveland this weekend all but guarantees division title.
6. Tampa Bay Rays
Tyler Glasnow returned Sunday, while Blake Snell starts rehab assignment.
7. Oakland Athletics
Jesus Luzardo gets the call-up and will be expected to help in the wild-card chase.
8. St. Louis Cardinals
After mid-week series vs Rockies, their final 16 games are against contenders.
9. Washington Nationals
Getting Max Scherzer to full strength for the wild-card game should be top priority.
10. Cleveland Indians
Bullpen had a 6.08 ERA in the first week of September
11. Chicago Cubs
Javier Baez’s injury comes at the worst time possible.
12. Boston Red Sox
Won a game last week using seven pitchers who weren’t on the opening day roster.
13. Milwaukee Brewers
Christian Yelich, who somehow was having an even better season than when he won MVP last year, was lost on Wednesday with a fractured kneecap.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks
With that favorable schedule, don’t be shocked to see them reach wild-card game.
15. Philadelphia Phillies
Corey Dickerson had 28 RBI in his first 30 games with Phillies.
16. New York Mets
Playoff hopes almost gone, Pete Alonso’s run at 50 homers makes them interesting.
17. Texas Rangers
Rougned Odor vs the Mendoza Line (.203 through Tuesday) worth watching.
18. San Francisco Giants
Evan Longoria (.262/.328/.456) has exceeded expectations this season.
19. Cincinnati Reds
Luis Castillo becomes first Reds pitcher with 200 strikeouts since 2014.
20. Los Angeles Angels
Shohei Ohtani isn’t getting enough attention for what he’s doing as a hitter (.288 BA, 17 HRs, 61 RBIs).
21. San Diego Padres
Can it be spring already so we can watch Fernando Tatis Jr. again?
22. Chicago White Sox
Tim Anderson could be team’s first batting champ since Frank Thomas in 1997.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates
Kevin Newman and Bryan Reynolds have established themselves as building blocks.
24. Toronto Blue Jays
Lefty Anthony Kay (Stroman trade) impresses in MLB debut.
25. Colorado Rockies
Wade Davis (7.02 ERA) is making $18 million this season.
26. Seattle Mariners
Justin Dunn (Cano trade) averaged 10.8 K/9 in Class AA this season.
27. Miami Marlins
Starlin Castro boosting his free agency stock with a big second half.
28. Kansas City Royals
Ryan McBroom has the best name in baseball right now.
29. Baltimore Orioles
Hanser Alberto hitting .420 against lefties.
30. Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera is owed $124 million through 2023. (USA Today/TNS)