MLB
We are coming down the home stretch of the 2018 MLB season, and the National League playoff picture is as crowded as ever. There are five available NL playoff spots, and 8 teams are right in the thick of it. Let’s break it down:
National League West
This has been a three-horse race most of the season. While many experts thought the Dodgers would pull away, they have yet to do so with three weeks left. The Rockies, as of this writing, have a 1.5 game lead on LA, and the Diamondbacks linger 3.5 games behind. The Rockies and Diamondbacks are in the middle of a crucial 4 game set at Coors, the outcome of which could determine whether Arizona remains in contention.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are struggling against the lowly Reds, who have now beat them 5 times without a loss this year. This includes a stunning 4 game sweep by the Reds in LA back in May, and they took game one last night at home.
While the Dodgers have the easiest remaining schedule and the Diamondbacks the toughest of the three, each team can control their own fate. The Dodgers host the Rockies next week for a three game set. Then, Arizona hosts Colorado, before LA comes to Arizona for another three game set. It’s gonna be a fun ride.
Prediction: the Dodgers will narrowly beat out the Rockies for the division. This may come down to the very last day of the season.
National League Central
This division has turned into quite a doozy. The Cubs were seemingly running away with it, but Milwaukee has stormed back to within a game of the division as the Cubs have slumped, and now even the Cardinals are only 3.5 games back. The Brewers are in the middle of a three game set with the Cubs (who they’ve beaten 3 of the last 4 games), so there may be a changing of the guard here in the next couple of days.
The Cardinals hold the second wild-card spot, but are eyeing the division crown. They end the season with three vs Milwaukee at home, then three in Chicago.
Prediction: Feels like the Brewers to me, even though they’re down a game and the Cubs are still the favorites. Milwaukee has been red hot, and the back end of that bullpen is as lights-out as it gets. This division could come down to the very last day, and I sure would like to see that.
National League East
I’ll keep this brief. Once a tight race, the Phillies have suffered a quite frankly pathetic collapse. They have lost repetitively to sub-par teams, including 2 of 3 to the Mets without having to face deGrom. The Braves haven’t been on fire by any means, but three straight gutsy wins have put them up 5 games with 18 to go.
This race isn’t over, though. The Phils and Braves play a whopping SEVEN TIMES in the last ten games of the year. So, technically, no one will be out of it until those games are played.
Prediction: Atlanta takes this division, I expect it to be drama-free. They’re simply the better team and the 4 game set at home vs Philly will be the end of the line for the Fightin’ Phils.
National League Wild Card
This gets tricky with all the tight division races. One team could lose their division lead, then suddenly appear atop the Wild Card standings. Currently, Milwaukee has a handy +2.5 game lead on the Cardinals, who hold the second spot. The Dodgers are two games behind them, and the Diamondbacks and Phillies linger at 4 and 5 back, respectively. As mentioned above, everyone is playing each other – including a key 4 game series between the Dodgers and Cardinals this weekend, to go along with all the divisional contenders playing each other.
Prediction: If the Brewers snag the NL Central Crown like I predict, then the Cubs would be my pick to end up atop the Wild Card. I think we may get three NL Central teams, as the second Wild Card spot seems likely to come down to the Cardinals and the Rockies. My heart says the Rockies, but my gut is that the Cardinals end up the victors.
Conclusion
The National League playoff picture is quite a mess. A lovely mess. If my predictions are right, that would put the Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals in the playoffs for the NL. I’m not even sure the NL should bother playing their half of the postseason bracket. Why? Because I see all of these teams getting demolished by whoever represents the AL. Whoever wins the NL, my advice to you is to simply forfeit to save face.
Photo credit to Rough Tough, Real Stuff via Flickr
