WILD DREAMS
Yanks in thick of it, but face tough road to reach playoffs
BALTIMORE — Aug. 1 wasn’t just the non-waiver trade deadline, it was also the start of the Yankees’ best month of the season — after Carlos Beltran, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman were dealt and Alex Rodriguez was shown the door shortly thereafter.
“We were never really out of it,” CC Sabathia said of the playoff race. “We look at this stretch run the same as we would any other, no matter who’s here. It’s the only way to be. We want to be standing at the end.”
They have considerable work to do, starting Friday in Baltimore against the Orioles, who are tied with the Tigers for the second wild-card spot in the American League, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees.
The Blue Jays, Indians and Rangers lead their respective divisi ons, l eaving seven other teams battling for the two wild-card spots. Here’s how those teams look in the final month of the regular season.
YANKEES
Recent play: Coming off a season-best 17-11 month, the Yankees have matched their high-water mark of six games over .500, sparked by the roster turnover.
Rest of the way: They have 30 games left and 27 are against teams in the AL East, but they are 21-28 against their division foes this season. Twentythree of their 30 games are against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended Friday.
Odds: FanGraphs projects the Yankees’ chances of making the postseason at 5.2 percent, but they already have won series on the road in Kansas City and Seattle, both teams they trailed at the time and have since leapfrogged.
RED SOX
Recent play: Boston finished August with a 17-13 record, but hasn’t won consecutive games since Aug. 22-23. Rest of the way: Boston begins September with a nine-game road trip to Oakland, San Diego and Toronto. Later in the month comes a 10-game trip. The Red Sox are 33-29 away from Fenway Park.
Odds: A lot will depend on how they handle the two lengthy trips. Perhaps the arrival of third-base prospect Yoan Moncada will help. FanGraphs has the Red Sox at 85.9 percent to make the
playoffs.
ORIOLES
Recent play: August was their worst month of the season at 13-16. They were in first place in the AL East on Aug. 12, but are four games back of Toronto.
Rest of the way: Adam Jones (hamstring) and Chris Tillman (shoulder) are expected back soon. The Orioles play the Diamondbacks and Rays, but the rest of their schedule is daunting — including six games in Toronto and The Bronx to end the season.
Odds: Their rotation is struggling, but FanGraphs gives the O’s a 30.8 percent chance to make the postseason.
TIGERS
Recent play: Detroit won eight of 10 games to finish a 15-13 August.
Rest of the way: They’re banged up, as well, and open September on the road against the Royals. They’ve got 13 games against the woeful White Sox, Twins and Braves.
Odds: The Tigers have been inconsistent much of the season, so it depends which version shows up, but FanGraphs gives them a 50.4 percent chance to make the playoffs.
ASTROS
Recent play: Houston has won 10 of 12 to close a 16-13 August.
Rest of the way: The Astros’ first four series of September come against teams in first place in their division. They also play the A’s and Angels 10 times.
Odds: FanGraphs has them at 27.1 percent chance to make the playoffs, but that 13-game stretch to open the month will be tough for them to survive.
ROYALS
Recent play: The defending World Series champs were 53-59 on Aug. 9, but won 12 of 13 to propel themselves back into the postseason mix as they finished August 20-9.
Rest of the way: The Royals can get healthier during a 14-game stretch in which they face Oakland, the White Sox and Minnesota.
Odds: Despite having reached the World Series each of the past two seasons, FanGraphs has Kansas City at a 4.6 percent chance of getting back to the playoffs.
MARINERS
Recent play: Seattle has lost eight of nine and is fighting to stay in the playoff conversation after a 16-14 August.
Rest of the way: They have 13 games ahead against the Twins, A’s and Angels.
Odds: The Mariners are at the back of the pack, with Detroit, Baltimore, Houston, the Yankees and Royals all ahead of them. FanGraphs gives them a 5.1 percent shot of making the playoffs.