20 Weeks In: MLB: Power Rankings, Matchups, Highlights and more

Last week, I said that I expected the Boston Red Sox to take three out of four games against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. I went on to say that I didn’t believe either team was capable of sweeping their opponent in a four-game series. I’d like to formally apologize for this take, as it was irresponsibly misleading. I’m sorry to the Boston fans, the 2018 AL MVP Steve Pierce, and the Red Sox organization as a whole. I should never have doubted you. I’m also sorry for spotlighting the “rivalry” between the Yanks and the Sox. There clearly isn’t one. Great rivalries require evenly-matched teams and the Red Sox are up 9.5 games in August. That’s the biggest margin between the first and second place team of any division in baseball.

In all seriousness, the Yankees are in a bit of trouble here. There’s plenty of time to right the ship but there’s also a narrowing window in the wild card race with the Oakland A’s continuing to string it together. Following back-to-back sweeps of the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers, the A’s are suddenly one win back from the Yanks. Adding salt to the wound, the Mariners are only two games behind the A’s leaving three teams fighting for two elusive wild-card spots. But there’s still a lot of baseball to be played, and the A’s and Mariners will likely knock each other out before it’s over. I fully expect to see the Yankees in the wild card game against a team from the AL West, but who will it be? The playoffs are on the horizon and getting closer every day. It’s going to be quite the race.

Top Three Plays

Yankee Hat Trick Club

The Career Year Continues

Shohei Still Doing Stuff

What To Watch

We’re closing in on the end of the regular season, and we’re finally starting to get a better idea of the postseason picture. The AL East and AL Central seem to be locked up with the Sox ahead of the second-place Yankees by 9.5 games and the Cleveland Indians holding a 9-game lead over the second-place Minnesota Twins.

I’d be shocked if the Red Sox or Indians find themselves out of the playoffs, but every other division is dealing in razor-close margins. It then follows that the wild card race will be extremely competitive, since each team in the division-race has a backdoor opportunity to sneak into that play-in game.

For that reason, I’m focusing on a little interleague series between two of the most dangerous teams in said playoff race. The LA Dodgers head up to Oakland to kick of a two-game series against the A’s tomorrow night and both teams are looking to make a statement.

The Dodgers are in a dead-heat with the Arizona Diamondbacks, each holding a 62-51 record as of last night. Complicating their position, the third-place Colorado Rockies are only two games back and the fourth-place San Francisco Giants are three-games behind the Rockies. That leaves four ball clubs with a realistic shot at the NL West title and not a lot of breathing room for anyone involved.

The Oakland A’s are red hot of late, winning their last six in a row to sweep both the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. In the process, they outscored their opponents a combined 33-7, most recently blanking the tigers 6-0.

Currently sitting 4 games back from the lead, Oakland is currently poised to land that second wild card spot. With a 67-46 record, the biggest threat to knock the A’s out of playoff contention lies within their own division; the Seattle Mariners are 2.5 games back at 64-48. The A’s could end up being the dark horse World Series threat out of the American League, but they need to get to the show first.

If you’re an East Coaster, you’re going to have to stay up late for this one, but it’s worth it. Both games kick off at 10:05pm and both teams will likely be playing in October. Better start your postseason scouting reports now.

Power Rankings