In simply three weeks, we’ll be staring down the ultimate weekend of the 2024 Main League Baseball season. Are we going to get some down-to-the-wire division races? 

Properly, I’ve excellent news and unhealthy information. The excellent news is we’re nearly assuredly going to have one shut race to the tip. The unhealthy information is that very properly is perhaps the one one. In fact, it is nonetheless potential just a few others get shut and there is at all times the wild card, now with three spots in every league (here is the most recent MLB playoff image).

Let’s dive in on these potential division races and look at every one final time earlier than the house stretch kicks into overdrive.

AL East

This may be the race I discussed that can go right down to the wire. The Yankees and Orioles have been duking it out since just about the start of the season, although at this level it is extra a slap struggle, if even that.

The Yankees have led by as many as 4 1/2 video games and have by no means trailed by greater than three. They’ve additionally gone 30-38 since a 50-22 begin. Solely the Angels, Mariners and, clearly, White Sox have been worse amongst AL groups and 68 video games is not precisely a tiny pattern. 

The Orioles have led by as many as three video games and have by no means trailed by greater than 4 1.2. They have not bottomed out practically as a lot because the Yankees, however they’re 24-27 since their high-water mark on July 7. The largest crime right here will not be taking higher benefit of the Yankees’ woes. In addition they have not received a sequence towards a staff at the moment with a successful file because the center of June. That was towards, you guessed it, the Yankees. 

The Orioles lead the season sequence, 6-4, although the Yankees received the final sequence between these two groups in the course of July. Three extra video games stay (Sept. 24-26) within the Bronx. The Orioles have a harder remaining schedule, although it’s extremely shut and neither is straightforward. 

I would not wager on both proper now, however considered one of these two has to win it. Decide your individual poison for those who so select. I had the Orioles earlier than the season began and recommended Yankees final week. Pressured to decide right here, I am going to go together with the Yankees just because that three-game sequence is in New York.

AL Central

The Guardians let a nine-game lead dwindle all the best way right down to a tie heading into Aug. 28, however they’ve swung issues completely again of their favor and now they could run away with it. They now lead the Royals by 4 1/2 video games and there aren’t any head-to-heads left between the 2 groups to sweat. The now-second-place Twins path the Guardians by 4 video games and there are 4 video games left between the 2, so maybe there’s a gap for Minnesota?

The well being of Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton remaining in query is an issue, although, and the Twins have misplaced 11 of 17. The Guardians even have three video games left towards the White Sox whereas neither the Twins nor the Royals get to play the traditionally atrocious Sox. 

The Guardians are taking this factor, in all probability comfortably. 

AL West

Hopefully you futures gamblers received in on this one whereas the Astros have been down a whole lot of video games. 

Everyone knows the story by now. The Astros began the season 12-24. Novice baseball followers may’ve written them off. They have been down 10 video games after a loss to the pitiful White Sox on June 18. They now lead the Mariners by 4 1/2 video games and Rangers by 7 1/2.

The Astros did simply get swept in Cincinnati and noticed their lead shrink a bit from six video games. The Mariners have three extra video games towards the Astros (in Houston, Sept. 23-25), however have a a lot harder schedule general. The Astros get the Angels seven extra occasions. I nonetheless assume this one is over. 

The Astros take the West. 

NL East

It feels just like the Phillies have been in first all yr, however they really by no means took the lead on this division till Could 3. It is simply how wonderful a marathon the common season is. The Phillies by no means appeared again, although, as soon as in first. The lead reached 10 video games on June 11 and whereas it hasn’t gotten greater than that, they have not let anybody nearer than 5 video games. 

Proper now, the lead is eight video games over each the Braves and Mets, who’re tied for the third wild-card spot collectively. 

If anybody is on the lookout for a longshot play, it would properly be the Mets. Positive, they’re eight video games out, however there are seven video games remaining between the Mets and Phillies. The Mets turned issues on with a win on June 2. Who knew how scorching they’d get? They’ve the very best file in baseball since (52-29). They’ve outplayed the Phillies by 8.5 video games in that span. In fact, they should outplay them in related trend now in roughly three weeks as a substitute of three months. The seven head to heads would assist, after all, if they may go nuts and win all seven. 

The sensible cash, nonetheless, is on the Phillies holding this one relatively simply. 

That is the place I’m. The Phillies cruise. 

NL Central

Since April 10, the Brewers have had a minimum of a share of first place all however someday (they have been a half-game out on April 29). They’ve constructed a lead as excessive as 11 1/2 video games. It’s a nine-game lead proper now over the Cubs, who’re higher served to deal with making a miracle wild-card run. Ditto for the Cardinals, who’re 10 video games out right here. 

The Brewers have no video games left towards the Cubs or Cardinals, not that it could matter. This factor is over. In reality, we do not have the chances listed as a result of the division is not listed at a number of on-line sportsbooks. 

Brewers by a mile. 

NL West

The Dodgers received the primary sport of the season again on March 20 in South Korea. Although they misplaced the second sport to fall right into a tie atop the NL West and have been tied for first the subsequent 4 video games, they have not trailed anybody all yr within the NL West. The lead has grown to 9 video games, but it surely fell to 2 a number of occasions in August with each the Padres and Diamondback scorching on their path.

The Dodgers stepped up, although, regardless of a pitching employees completely in shambles. From Aug. 18-Sept. 3, the Dodgers received 12 of 15 video games to push that two-game lead again up into somewhat-comfortable territory. It is now 5 over the Padres and 5 1/2 over the D-backs. 

Additionally, judging by opponent successful proportion, the Dodgers have the best remaining schedule in baseball amongst contenders. They’ve six video games towards the Rockies and three towards the Marlins. They do have three remaining towards the Padres (zero vs. D-backs), so it is potential there is a San Diego-sized opening there, however the overwhelming chance now’s the Dodgers wrap this up earlier than the final week.