Baseball Pennant Races Nearing the End

Two Weeks to Go and AL and NL and Playoff Berths are Up in the Air

Sep 12, 2008

With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, baseball's post-season lineup is starting to take shape.

With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, baseball's pennant races are heading towards the finish line. Here's a quick synopsis of what to look for from the teams that still have a chance to play in October

AL East

The only mystery coming out of the American League East is where the Red Sox and Rays will finish. Barring the worst collapse in the history of the sport, both teams will qualify. Its just a matter of who will win the division and who will qualify as the Wild Card winner.

If both clubs do make it, they cannot play each other in the Divisional round, so the Division winner will likely play the winner of the American League Central Division, either the White Sox or the Twins

AL Central

The Chicago White Sox are in the midst of a ten game road trip which has them playing three more in New York against the Yankees, three at Kansas City and they finish off the trip with three in Minnesota.

The Twins have two more games at Cleveland and then four huge games in Tampa Bay. They return home to finish the season with a six game homestand against the White Sox and the Royals.

The head-to-head three game series will go a long way towards deciding who wins the Central but many times, a pennant race is decided by the games against teams that are already out of the race.

AL West

The Angels have already clinched and will likely wrap up homefield advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

NL East

The Mets have seen their lead over Philadelphia shrink to a half game, one in the loss column. New York is on the road with three more in Washington and then a weekend series in Atlanta before returning home for four with the Cubs and three with the Florida Marlins.

The Phillies close out their road schedule with three in Atlanta and three at Florida before returning home for a six game homestand against Atlanta and Washington.

If you focus on the strength of both teams, its their starting pitching, with the Mets having a slight edge in that department.

The Mets' bullpen has been the sticking point as they have no real closer and are trying to "mix and match" their way through the season. Philly's bullpen is not much better but they have a legitimate closer in Brad Lidge.

One more advantage for Philadelphia. The Mets collapse in 2007 is starting to rear its ugly head once again but this time around they've got an "ace" in the hole in Johan Santana. It will be paramount for the Mets to win each of Santana's remaining starts because the Phillies have an "ace" as well in Brett Myers.

Unlike last year, the Mets have a safety net in that the Wild Card spot is within reach.

NL Central

The Cubs will win the Central division but the Brewers and Astros are battling for the Wild Card along with the NL East clubs. Milwaukee made a desperation move in firing Mgr. Ned Yost but two straight collapses prompted that decision. Houston has made a commendable run but it appears as if they've run out of gas.

NL West

The Dodgers have grabbed the division "by the throat" and will not let go. Arizona is too inconsistent to overcome Joe Torre's "magic".

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