We’re now officially in the stretch run of the baseball season.
Nine days into September, we’ve still got some hot races that are far from through. We’ve seen some surprises as well as some disappointments. Regardless, the 2021 baseball season has been quite a treat, and we’re in for some more fun as we continue down the stretch.
Here are four pennant races that aren’t quite over yet and are sure to be interesting as we move towards October.
NL West
Nobody saw the Giants as a true contender heading into the season. No one could have expected them to be the best team in baseball by September. Lo and behold, here they are. Just a mere week after falling behind the Dodgers in the division, they’ve regained the top spot and sit 2.5 games ahead of Los Angeles.
But the Dodgers are still stacked. Not to mention they’ve won eight straight NL West crowns. It’s going to be interesting what happens down the stretch between these two teams. We may be headed to a tiebreaker. If that comes to pass, then the Giants would be at home by virtue of winning the season series, but these clubs are deep and neither are giving an inch here in September.
NL East
The Braves still hold the top spot, but the Phillies are right on their heels. Philadelphia hasn’t been to the postseason since 2011, and they’re hungry for a chance to end Atlanta’s three-year run atop the East.
Even the Mets are playing better. After a rough August that seemingly knocked them out of contention, they’ve come back and reached the .500 mark, now sitting just 4 ½ games out of first.
The East has been tight all year, and it’s about to get even tighter.
NL Wild Card
Whoever finishes second in the West will have the top Wild Card spot. The second Wild Card spot though, is still up for grabs.
We’ve seen some back and forth lately between the Padres and Reds, who are within a game of each other for that final spot. But like the East, this race is only tightening up. You’ve got the red-hot Phillies, who have their sights set on catching the Braves, but are just three out of the Wild Card chase.
The Mets are also making noise there as well, having come from well under .500 to climb back into the mix. St. Louis also has a shot, sitting three behind San Diego and two behind Cincinnati with a crucial series between the two NL Central rivals looming this weekend, as well as a rematch of the 2020 Wild Card Series when the Padres head to Busch Stadium.
AL Wild Card
If the postseason began today, the AL Wild Card game would be a sudden death matchup between the Yankees and Red Sox. But Boston has passed New York and the standings and now leads the race. With Gerritt Cole going down, the Yanks are suddenly in trouble, especially with Toronto right behind them, and red-hot.
You also still have the Mariners and A’s to worry about. These are teams who could take advantage of the Yankees losing Cole and potentially gain some ground.
Baseball is a strange game, and it’s about to get even more wild here in the stretch run. The best thing about it is that you never know what’s going to happen, and these four races are still very much alive.
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