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MLB Standings Update: As August Wanes, So Do The Hopes Of Many Teams

As we get into this last weekend of August, many teams are seeing their hopes for the postseason start to dwindle, if they haven't already disappeared. And magic numbers for leaders in the playoff race now begin to take on real relevance.

Here is our look at the standings as the last weekend of the month is underway. We will show you the current standings, tell you who the contenders will be facing over the next three hurricane-affected days, and give you the magic numbers for such teams as the Tigers (which would of course translate to a "tragic number" for the Indians, as the current second-place squad). Any number in parentheses will be a team's magic number in the body of text:


AL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Detroit 71 59 .546 0 Won 1
Cleveland 63 64 .496 6.5 Lost 2
Chicago 63 65 .492 7 Lost 2
Minnesota 55 75 .423 16 Lost 5
Kansas City 54 77 .412 17.5 Won 1

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:39 AM EDT)


The Tigers (28) are looking pretty, having gained a full five games on their lead in the past seven days, Detroit is at Minnesota to take on the Twins this weekend, while the Indians entertain the Royals, and the White Sox head for Seattle to face the Mariners.


AL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Boston 80 50 .615 0 Won 3
New York 78 50 .609 1 Won 1
Tampa Bay 70 59 .542 9.5 Lost 1
Toronto 66 64 .507 14 Lost 1
Baltimore 51 77 .398 28 Won 4

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:41 AM EDT)


The Red Sox and the Yankees have the same amount of losses, and so technically there is no magic number in the East at present. Boston will play against the Athletics on Friday and Saturday, with two games being held on Saturday rather than even try to face Irene's wrath and get a game in on Sunday. Meanwhile, New York plays at Baltimore, and The Tampa Bay Rays -- marginally alive -- are in Toronto to face the Blue Jays.


AL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Texas 74 58 .560 0 Lost 3
Los Angeles 71 59 .546 2 Won 6
Oakland 59 71 .453 14 Lost 1
Seattle 56 73 .434 16.5 Won 2

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:44 AM EDT)


The West is strictly a two-team race, with the Rangers (30) and the Angels ready for a head-to-head showdown in Arlington this weekend.


American League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
New York 78 50 .609 0 Won 1
Los Angeles 71 59 .546 8 Won 6
Tampa Bay 70 59 .542 8.5 Lost 1
Toronto 66 64 .507 13 Lost 1
Cleveland 63 64 .496 14.5 Lost 2
Chicago 63 65 .492 15 Lost 2
Oakland 59 71 .453 20 Lost 1
Seattle 56 73 .434 22.5 Won 2
Minnesota 55 75 .423 24 Lost 5
Kansas City 54 77 .412 25.5 Won 1
Baltimore 51 77 .398 27 Won 4

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:46 AM EDT)


The Yankees (26) are just about assured an AL Wild Card, and as noted above, the Angels are at Texas this weekend while the Rays are in Toronto.

And now for the National League:


NL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Philadelphia 83 45 .648 0 Lost 1
Atlanta 79 53 .598 6 Won 1
Washington 62 67 .480 21.5 Lost 3
New York 61 68 .472 22.5 Won 1
Florida 58 72 .446 26 Lost 1

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:48 AM EDT)


The Phillies (27) are at present comfortably ahead of the Braves. Philadelphia entertains the Marlins this weekend in another series affected by Irene, while Atlanta takes on the Mets in New York in -- you guessed it -- another weather-affected series.


NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Milwaukee 78 54 .590 0 Lost 1
St. Louis 68 63 .519 9.5 Won 1
Cincinnati 64 66 .492 13 Won 1
Pittsburgh 61 69 .469 16 Lost 1
Chicago 57 74 .435 20.5 Lost 1
Houston 43 88 .328 34.5 Won 1

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:50 AM EDT)


This division is a true runaway, with the Brewers (22) having the smallest magic number in the Majors. Milwaukee is home this weekend to the Chicago Cubs, while the Cardinals are also at home to face the Pirates.


NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Arizona 72 59 .549 0 Won 3
San Francisco 69 62 .526 3 Lost 1
Colorado 63 68 .480 9 Won 5
Los Angeles 60 69 .465 11 Won 3
San Diego 60 71 .458 12 Lost 1

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:51 AM EDT)


This is a two-team race that, in fairness, should probably get at least one more weekend involving three teams, since the Rockies are hot and are capable of making up serious ground at the end of a season, as we discovered a few years ago. The Diamondbacks (29) are home to the Padres this weekend, while the Giants entertain the Astros. And those barely-in-it Rockies are in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers.


National League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta 79 53 .598 0 Won 1
San Francisco 69 62 .526 9.5 Lost 1
St. Louis 68 63 .519 10.5 Won 1
Cincinnati 64 66 .492 14 Won 1
Colorado 63 68 .480 15.5 Won 5
Washington 62 67 .480 15.5 Lost 3
New York 61 68 .472 16.5 Won 1
Pittsburgh 61 69 .469 17 Lost 1
Los Angeles 60 69 .465 17.5 Won 3
San Diego 60 71 .458 18.5 Lost 1
Florida 58 72 .446 20 Lost 1
Chicago 57 74 .435 21.5 Lost 1
Houston 43 88 .328 35.5 Won 1

(updated 8.26.2011 at 11:54 AM EDT)


The Braves (22) are looking excellent to claim the NL Wild Card, and as noted above are on the road to face the Mets this weekend, while the Giants are home to Houston.

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And there we have it. Please check back on Monday, when we will again update -- and perhaps have a team or two less to consider a contender.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.