As we all know, the 2014 Major League Baseball season is more than two-thirds of the way though its season. MLB baseball is the only major sport currently going on with NBA and NHL in their offseasons and the NFL preseason just beginning.
But which teams are looking strong heading into the Wild Card race with barely two months left in the regular season before the playoffs start? Latin Post takes a look at some of the top contenders in the 2014 MLB Wild Card race:
American League The leader of the American League East is the Baltimore Orioles, who are 63-48. The Detroit Tigers lead the American League Central by four games, and the Oakland Athletics are in front of the American League West with the best record in all of baseball, 68-43.
In addition to three division winners, we will see two wild card qualifiers. This has been in effect since 2012.
The leading team in the driver's seat for the first AL wild card spot is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This team has been overlooked all season because they play in the AL West, with the Athletics. The Angels are just one game back of the Athletics for the division. There's no doubt the Angels will get a wild card spot at the very least. The Angels and Athletics still play each other 10 more times this season.
The second wild spot is where things get tricky. The Toronto Blue Jays currently hold that spot with a 60-53 record. The Dominican duo of Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera lead this high powered team with home runs and total hits. Following right behind the Jays, are the New York Yankees. The Pinstripes are just two games behind the Blue Jays, and they're barely alive. They've struggled to hit home runs, but there is a chance that Masahiro Tanaka could return sooner than later.
Other teams that are in the American League wild card chase include; the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians. All three of those teams have 57 wins.
National League The National League has been just as exciting and close as the American League. Pitching has been the name of the game in the NL. All three divisions are close with no team even having more than a three-game lead. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the National League Central, just a game ahead of the defending NL Champions Saint Louis Cardinals. The NL East has been back and forth between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves, with the Nats having a three-game advantage. The Los Angeles Dodgers currently lead the NL West at 63-50.
That in mind, the Wild Card race should be quite exciting.
The San Francisco Giants have the best chance of getting into the postseason of any National League non-division leader. They're in second place in the NL West. Madison Bumgarner leads this team with 13 victories , even four ahead of teammate and two time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
The St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are all battling it out for the second wild card spot. Unfortunately, the Pirates will be without Andrew McCutchen for at least 15 days because of an oblique injury. As crazy as it may seem, the New York Mets and Miami Marlins are still alive.
The final one-third of the season is where the best hitters, fielders, and pitchers shine. It's unfortunate that we only get a one game playoff in the first round, but that's just how it's set up.
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