AL wild-card race appears to be like like a large number. It might be numerous enjoyable

The center of the American League standings has became a medicore mess.

It would possibly make for an interesting playoff race.

There are seven groups preventing for the ultimate AL wild-card spot and all of them have a report beneath .500. The Baltimore Orioles would make the playoffs if the season ended Sunday, sporting a 61-63 report.

Right behind them: The Texas Rangers (61-64), Toronto Blue Jays (61-65), Detroit Tigers (60-64), Minnesota Twins (60-65), Cleveland Guardians (60-65) and Seattle Mariners (59-66). The Houston Astros might be within the combine as effectively with a 63-62 report that offers them a slender benefit within the AL West.

Many of these groups had been sellers on the commerce deadline this month. The Blue Jays traded outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Astros, the Orioles traded former No. 1 choose Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox and the Tigers dealt ace Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers and right-hander Casey Mize to the Padres.

Now not less than a type of groups would possibly discover itself enjoying baseball in October anyway.

Only three groups in MLB historical past have made the playoffs with a dropping report and all of them occurred throughout seasons when the schedule was a lot shorter than regular.

The 1981 Kansas City Royals (50-53) certified for the postseason because of a split-season format brought on by a gamers’ strike in the course of the center of the summer time. In 2020, the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers each squeezed into the playoff bracket with a 29-31 report in the course of the pandemic-shortened season that had an expanded playoff subject of 16 groups.

Trivia query

Joshua Báez grew to become the primary participant to hit three dwelling runs in his big-league debut, main the Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Only seven gamers have hit even two homers of their first regular-season recreation within the majors since 1900. Who are they?

The workhorse returns

Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara has had an important bounce-back season with a 13-7 report and three.43 ERA after struggling final yr following Tommy John surgical procedure that prompted him to overlook the 2024 season.

He’s additionally doing what he does finest — pitch deep into video games.

The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has already thrown 170 2/3 innings this yr, which leads the massive leagues by a big margin. If he continues at this tempo, he’ll throw roughly 220 innings in 2026.

Throwing greater than 200 innings has turn out to be more and more uncommon over the previous few many years as groups lean extra on their bullpens. Only three pitchers reached the mark final season — Logan Webb, Garrett Crochet and Cristopher Sanchez.

Just 20 years in the past in 2006, there have been 45 pitchers who hit 200 innings.

If Alcantara manages to make it to 220 this season, that shall be most within the huge leagues since — Sandy Alcantara. He threw 228 2/3 innings throughout 2022 when he received the Cy Young.

Dodgers within the dumps

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the two-time defending World Series champs and one of many favorites to win the title once more this season.

They certain aren’t enjoying like lately.

Los Angeles is 5-11 in its previous 16 video games, having been swept by the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs and dropping collection to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers in that span. Since July 1, the Dodgers are 18-21.

“I say this because it’s just been four or five, six weeks of below average production in our offense. It’s just the truth, and I think we have just haven’t played clean baseball for quite some time, and that speaks to the defense,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated.

The Dodgers have an opportunity to realize some momentum this week with three video games towards the Colorado Rockies and three extra towards the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rockies are in final place within the NL West whereas the Pirates have fallen to 61-65 after a promising begin to the season.

Trivia Answer

Jose Fernandez (D-backs, 2026), Chase DeLauter (Guardians, 2026), Trevor Story (Rockies, 2016), J.P. Arencibia (Blue Jays, 2010), Mark Quinn (Royals, 1999), Bert Campaneris (Kansas City Athletics, 1964), Bob Nieman (Browns, 1951)

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

David Brandt, The Associated Press