The final month of Major League Baseball’s season is almost here, and the postseason picture is as crazy as ever. The top teams in four divisions are separated by four or fewer games, and both the American League and National League Wild Cards are anyone’s to win.
These next few weeks will be crucial in determining not only who makes the playoffs, but who avoids the Wild Card and gets the first-round bye. If the last few seasons have taught us anything, though, does that even matter?
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 27: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees on deck in the ninth inning during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. Soto and the Yankees fell this week.
Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
With all that being said, here’s where things stand on the second-to-last day of August.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (80-54)
2. New York Yankees (78-56)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (79-55)
4. Milwaukee Brewers (78-56)
5. Baltimore Orioles (77-58)
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (76-58)
7. Cleveland Guardians (76-58)
8. Kansas City Royals (75-60)
9. San Diego Padres (76-60)
10. Houston Astros (72-62)
11. Atlanta Braves (73-61)
12. Minnesota Twins (72-61)
13. New York Mets (70-64)
14. Chicago Cubs (68-66)
15. Boston Red Sox (69-65)
16. Seattle Mariners (68-66)
17. Detroit Tigers (68-67)
18. San Francisco Giants (67-68)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (67-67)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (66-67)
21. Cincinnati Reds (64-71)
22. Texas Rangers (63-71)
23. Toronto Blue Jays (66-70)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-71)
25. Washington Nationals (61-73)
26. Oakland Athletics (58-76)
27. Los Angeles Angels (55-79)
28. Miami Marlins (49-85)
29. Colorado Rockies (50-85)
30. Chicago White Sox (31-104)
Biggest Risers
Chicago Cubs (+4)
The Cubs aren’t going away just yet. Chicago is 16-8 in August and have won nine of their last 12 games. At one point nine games under .500, the Cubs are now just five games back of the third and final NL Wild Card spot. Crazier things have happened…
Detroit Tigers (+4)
The Tigers somewhat sold at the trade deadline, and appeared ready to focus on 2025. Then, they kept winning. The Tigers are 30-21 since July, 16-10 in August, and have won 13 of their last 17 games. On Aug. 8, they were eight games under .500. Now, they’re above .500, and just five games out of a postseason spot.
Arizona Diamondbacks (+3)
Since June 1, the Diamondbacks are an unbelievable 51-26. They’ve gone 18-7 in August and have not only catapulted to the top spot in the Wild Card race, bug they’re making a push for the NL West. The Diamondbacks are the hottest team in baseball, and are figuring things out at the perfect time. After making a surprise run to the World Series last season, they won’t be surprising anyone if they do it again this year.
Biggest Faller
Tampa Bay Rays (-3)
The Rays did an incredible job at the trade deadline of thinking ahead while still maintaining relevance for this season. While they’re hanging around in the Wild Card race — they’re six games back of the final spot in the AL — they are more focused on the 2025 season and beyond.
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