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MLB Standings Update: The Season Winds Down With Very Little Drama

There is not a lot of drama left in Major League baseball's regular season, with a little less than three weeks to go. There is talk of perhaps adding another Wild Card sometime in the near future, and that is all well, fine and good -- unless you are a traditionalist and prefer not to see maybe 16 teams in the postseason, as there are in hockey and basketball.

However, we are not here to talk of the future, but the present, and here is another look at the standings, as well as the weekend schedule for those teams which are either pretty much in, or are still realistically alive.


AL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Detroit 81 62 .566 0 Won 6
Chicago 72 70 .507 8.5 Won 1
Cleveland 70 71 .496 10 Lost 4
Kansas City 60 85 .413 22 Lost 2
Minnesota 59 84 .412 22 Won 1

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:27 AM EDT)


Unfortunately for Indians fans, the Tribe needs to be counted out, painful as that is. The Tigers are at home this weekend vs. the Twins, while the White Sox continue their home series against Cleveland.

Detroit's magic number is 12, and the Royals and Minnesota are mathematically eliminated.


AL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
New York 87 55 .612 0 Lost 2
Boston 85 58 .594 2.5 Lost 2
Tampa Bay 78 64 .549 9 Won 1
Toronto 72 72 .500 16 Won 2
Baltimore 57 85 .401 30 Won 2

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:29 AM EDT)


Here is one race that is alive, but not with much drama. Why? Because the second-place finisher in the East almost certainly will be the Wild Card, and it may come down to a second-place team with a chance to win a division resting players down the stretch instead of "trying" to claim a division title.

The Yankees are out West to play the Angels, while the Red Sox square off with the Rays in Tampa Bay. Although I am inclined to say that the Rays are finished, a good weekend could keep them in the hunt.

New York's magic number to take the East is 18. We will discuss Boston's magic number for the Wild Card after the Wild Card standings.

Baltimore is the only East team that has been mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.


AL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Texas 81 63 .562 0 Lost 1
Los Angeles 78 65 .545 2.5 Won 1
Oakland 65 78 .454 15.5 Won 1
Seattle 60 83 .419 20.5 Won 1

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:33 AM EDT)


Although there is the same gap between first and second in the West, the drama is completely different, as the second place team will probably have no shot at a Wild Card.

The Rangers entertain the Athletics this weekend, while Los Angeles is at home vs. the Yankees. Texas has a magic number of 17.

The Mariners have been mathematically eliminated from all playoff contention.


American League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Boston 85 58 .594 0 Lost 2
Tampa Bay 78 64 .549 6.5 Won 1
Los Angeles 78 65 .545 7 Won 1
Chicago 72 70 .507 12.5 Won 1
Toronto 72 72 .500 13.5 Won 2
Cleveland 70 71 .496 14 Lost 4
Oakland 65 78 .454 20 Won 1
Seattle 60 83 .419 25 Won 1
Kansas City 60 85 .413 26 Lost 2
Minnesota 59 84 .412 26 Won 1
Baltimore 57 85 .401 27.5 Won 2

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:42 AM EDT)


The AL Wild Card race is a three-team battle, though Boston has a pretty healthy advantage, and has a magic number of 14 to clinch -- unless they overtake New York for the AL East crown.

Oakland, Seattle, Kansas City, Minnesota and Baltimore all have no shot at a Wild Card.

Now to the National League:

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NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Milwaukee 85 60 .586 0 Lost 3
St. Louis 76 67 .531 8 Won 2
Cincinnati 70 73 .489 14 Lost 1
Pittsburgh 66 77 .461 18 Won 1
Chicago 62 81 .433 22 Won 1
Houston 48 95 .335 36 Lost 1

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:37 AM EDT)


Yet another two-team race, and yet another race where there is really no drama.

The Brewers have lost three straight and might be showing a dent in their armor, but even so, Milwaukee's magic number is 11.

Milwaukee faces the Phillies through this weekend, while the Cardinals are at home against the Braves.

The Cubs and the Astros have both been mathematically eliminated from all postseason contention.


NL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Philadelphia 92 48 .657 0 Won 4
Atlanta 84 60 .583 10 Won 2
New York 70 73 .489 23.5 Lost 2
Washington 65 76 .460 27.5 Lost 2
Florida 63 79 .443 30 Lost 2

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:40 AM EDT)


Philadelphia just keeps rolling along and has reduced their magic number to 11. But the Braves have much to play for even though they will not catch the Phillies. Atlanta has a healthy lead for the NL Wild Card, which we will look at below.

Only the Marlins have been eliminated from playoff contention.


NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Arizona 83 61 .576 0 Won 2
San Francisco 75 68 .524 7.5 Lost 1
Los Angeles 70 72 .492 12 Won 2
Colorado 67 76 .468 15.5 Lost 1
San Diego 62 82 .430 21 Lost 1

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:45 AM EDT)


The final of the two-team races is in the NL West, where the Diamondbacks have reduced their magic number to 12. Arizona takes on the Padres at home this weekend, while the defending champion Giants try to hang on to flickering hopes as they face the Dodgers, also at home.

Only San Diego has been mathematically eliminated.


National League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta 84 60 .583 0 Won 2
St. Louis 76 67 .531 7.5 Won 2
San Francisco 75 68 .524 8.5 Lost 1
Los Angeles 70 72 .492 13 Won 2
Cincinnati 70 73 .489 13.5 Lost 1
New York 70 73 .489 13.5 Lost 2
Colorado 67 76 .468 16.5 Lost 1
Pittsburgh 66 77 .461 17.5 Won 1
Washington 65 76 .460 17.5 Lost 2
Florida 63 79 .443 20 Lost 2
Chicago 62 81 .433 21.5 Won 1
San Diego 62 82 .430 22 Lost 1
Houston 48 95 .335 35.5 Lost 1

(updated 9.9.2011 at 10:47 AM EDT)


As in the American League, the NL has a three-team race for the Wild Card -- and like the AL, the Senior Circuit has basically no drama here.

Atlanta's magic number for the Wild Card is 12. Florida, the Cubs, San Diego and Houston are all eliminated.

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We will be back on Monday for another update, Maybe something will happen this weekend to amp up one or two of the battles for playoff spots -- or maybe by Monday it will be down to just a few teams with any real chance.

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