As the calendar turns to August this year it means two things for Major League Baseball. The trade deadline is set for this evening being the first.
The last chance for each team to improve at their weakness before the second thing that August means; the Playoff Push.
Some teams and fans and announcers alike call the days of August the “dog days” of baseball. Yet, this is when those teams that have been underachieving look at the schedule and say, “We got 55 games to make up X amount of games for a wildcard spot”.
National League
Outside of the Atlanta Braves, who have been a bit cold as of late, nobody has the divisions sewn up just yet. The Braves hold a 12.5 game lead over the Phillies as of now.
As a matter of fact, it is as up in the air as it can be who will be crowned the division winners in both the NL West and NL Central.
The Brewers and the Reds have been trading spots at the top of the NL Central all season. Seemingly taking turns week by week for division lead. Right behind them are the hot Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are only 2.5 games back from the division and only 2 games back from the wildcard. The north side of Chicago can smell the playoffs.
National League Wild Card
Now this is a crazy race with a ton of dogs in the fight. With only three spots open and over 10 teams with a chance at them, throw out the sticks boys and let’s fight until death.
Miami, Arizona, San Diego, and the aforementioned Cubs are all less than 5 games out of a wild card spot. Then you have teams like the Mets, Pirates, Cardinals, and surprisingly the Nationals still with a swinger’s chance. Not to mention the Rockies who mathematically have a shot as well at 14 games back.
Just looking at these teams since the all-star break, you can find which ones are trending upward and which ones are ice cold.
San Diego and the Cubs have been on an absolute tear the last month of baseball and look to climb into a wild card spot come October.
While teams like the D-Backs and the Mets have shown that they are not ready to compete. Then you have the Cardinals who have all the talent in the world, yet have not shown up to even throw a punch this season.
Teams in Right Now
The San Francisco Giants for the last few seasons have surprised people with what they have achieved, this year is no different. Currently they hold the number one wild card spot with a 3 game lead.
The reigning NL Champions, the Phillies are behind the Giants and look to hold a strong spot with a lot of confidence as of late. They are getting healthy and starting to look like their self of last season.
As I alluded to earlier in this article, the Reds and the Brewers have had a game of musical chairs going that a second graders birthday party would be jealous of. I can only assume which ever one of these teams does not win the division will hold that final spot.
Who will be there after September, when it really matters? This race is going to be a fun one.
Rowan Donaghey is a Sports and Betting insider, and breaking news reporter for Stare Down Sports.You can follow him ontwitter via @RowanDonaghey
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