MLB
MLB Update: The N.L. Wild Card Race Update In The First Half
So with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game almost here, nine days to be exact, we can already see the playoff picture coming together. While there are a lot of teams that are out of playoff contention, there are possibly just as many teams still with a chance to sneak in that wild card spot. Today we will be looking at the teams in the National League and how they may fit into the playoffs.
Division Leaders
Before we look at the wild card teams, here are the division leaders.
N.L. East: Philadelphia Phillies
N.L. Central: Milwaukee Brewers
N.L. West: Arizona Diamondbacks
Note: The Phillies and Braves are tied for the division lead, but the Phillies winning percentage is better by 0.2%, so they have the first place right now.
The Wild Card Standings Right Now
Ok so now here is how the wildcard race looks right now, with GB standing for games back.
Chicago Cubs 50-36 +1
Atlanta Braves 50-38 —
L.A. Dodgers 48-40 2 GB
St. Louis Cardinals 46-42 4 GB
Colorado Rockies 46-43 4.5 GB
Washington Nationals 45-43 5 GB
San Francisco Giants 46-45 5.5 GB
Now I am briefly going to talk about every team in the list in order from last to first.
Giants 5.5 GB
I think that the Giants are out right now. At 5.5 games back, I don’t see them making that second spot. If they had one thing going for them, it’s that they can go on a big run at any point. It’s also an even-numbered year, so they also have that. Although if they don’t get that big win streak in there, I don’t see it happening.
Nationals 5 GB
The Nationals are in an interesting spot. They have made the playoffs a lot in recent memory, but they haven’t made it past the NLDS. This also could be Harper’s last year with the club. They need to get together and rally the troops to make a push at five games back. However, they will have the toughest road to do that. They have two major contenders in their division, Philly, and Atlanta, and if the Phillies get Machado, they are screwed. That all being said, if Harper gets hot and their pitching holds their own, they could be in that second wild-card spot.
Rockies 4.5 GB
If there is any team that I think will fall out of the race quickly, it’s Colorado. Don’t get me wrong, they have great bats, and Nolan Arenado is a fantastic player. The pitching is where I see a glaring problem. They don’t have a clear ace, and they are very inconsistent. You need pitching to get to the playoffs, and the Rockies don’t have that.
Cardinals 4 GB
St. Louis has flown under the radar this season. Having not made that much news, I haven’t heard much about them. That all being said, I think the Cardinals have a decent chance to sneak in. Only being four games back, St. Louis can make a push. The one major problem is their division. They are with the two best teams in the N.L., the Brewers, and Cubs. Which may hurt the Cubs and Brewers down the stretch?
Dodgers 2 GB
Now we are getting to the real contenders. L.A. is only two games back and very much in the race. The defending N.L. champs are back to defend their title. They are just one game behind Arizona for the division lead, which can be made up in a day or even less. Even with Cory Seager out the entire year, they still haven’t lost a beat. Max Muncy has come out of nowhere, and Kemp is an MVP possibility. The Dodgers will be back in October to defend their N.L. crown.
Braves —
Here we are, the two teams that hold the two wild-card spots. The team on the bubble is Atlanta, but that bubble is very thick. The Braves are built to stay. With a tremendous young core, led by Ozzie Albies, they are tearing it up. Nick Markakis is on fire with a .324 batting average. Albies and Freeman have been outstanding, and we still haven’t fully seen Ronald Acuna Jr. They are currently tied with the Phillies, as stated earlier, and I think they will pass them sooner than later. Trust me, the Braves are here and will be here for a while.
Cubs +1
And finally, we have the 2016 world champs, the Chicago Cubs. Out of all these teams, the Cubs have the most experience. A lot of these teams have just gotten into the playoff race, while the Cubs have been here waiting. Believe me; this Cub team is just as good as the 2016 club. They have mostly the same guys, along with a better Baez, and Almora instead of Fowler. The Cubs will be back
Well, I hope you enjoyed this article. If you want me to do this for the A.L., email me at quincybell42@gmail.com. Everyone, have a great day.
