MLB Playoff Standings 2014: NL, AL Central Division Races Down to the Wire; Who Will Win? [Poll]
The 2014 Major League Baseball season is coming to an end. With less than seven games remaining this year, playoff spots are becoming limited and chances of winning a division are decreasing.
While most of the attention is being focused on the East and West Coast, the middle of the country is producing the closest divisional races. Both the American and National League division leaders are up by less than two games.
American League Central
The Detroit Tigers currently lead the AL Central with an 87-70 record. The team is in the middle of a three game home series against the Chicago White Sox, having split the first two games. After that, the Tigers finish their season with a four-game home series against the Minnesota Twins, who are a putrid 67-90.
The Tigers offense ranks third overall in runs scored only behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Colorado Rockies.
Just one game behind Tigers in the AL Central are the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are presently 86-71, mostly because of their defense. The Royals are the only team in baseball with fewer than 100 home runs hit, but they rank fourth overall in the AL in pitching. This franchise hasn't made the playoffs since 1985, the longest drought in baseball today.
The Royals have won their last three games and have tied the Oakland Athletics for the first wild card spot in the AL. A wild card spot would be nice, but the Royals have their sights on the AL Central crown.
National League Central
The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the American League West by five games, and the Washington Nationals lead the National League East by 16 games. Thankfully, baseball fans get a tight race in the NL Central between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates recently clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. It's been a long time since the long ball Barry Bonds days of the '90s, but the Pirates are now contenders. The Pirates finish their season with seven consecutive road games against the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, two of which they've already won.
Leading the NL Central once again is the St. Louis Cardinals at 88-70, two wins ahead of the Pirates. Fortunately for the cardinals, they hold the upper hand, because they went 11-8 against the Pirates this year. The schedule also favors the Cardinals as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago cubs to close their season.
The Cardinals are the reigning NL Champions, and they did eliminate the Pirates last postseason in the second round three games to two. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright won his 20th game in a season for the second time in his career.
Even if the Cardinals surrender their division lead to the Pirates, they still have a three-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for a wild card spot.
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