National League
A couple of days ago I went over the American League playoff races with the only race still going being the wild card race. The National League is a different story. Along with the wild card, two of the divisions (Central and West) have some great races that should go all the way to the end of the season. The New York Mets currently have a six game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies, and I don’t see either the Phillies or the Atlanta Braves making any kind of run at the Mets. The Mets will win the NL East.
NL Central
This might be the best race going on in baseball right now.
Chicago Cubs 71-69 -
Milwaukee Brewers 71-69 -
St Louis Cardinals 69-69 1
Chicago Cubs
Earlier this season I wrote that Lou Piniella needed to get the Cubs winning or he might be looking for a new job. Piniella’s job is safe. Even though Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has had a shaky year, and has not pitched well recently the Cubs are getting good pitching from off season acquisitions Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. The Cubs strength is their lineup and when Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Derek Lee are all playing well this team is one of the best in the National League.
Milwaukee Brewers
One of the great stories of the season is the Brewers. A young and talented team with a lot of future potential that seems to have made its appearance a few seasons early. The lineup revolves around slugger Prince Fielder, but does have some good players in Bill Hall, Corey Hart, JJ Hardy and Ryan Braun around him. The pitching was dealt a blow when ace Ben Sheets went on the DL, but Sheets is back and the Brewers are going to need him if they want to win the Central.
St. Louis Cardinals
A couple months ago the 2006 World Series Champions were almost forgotten about, but you can never count out a Tony LaRussa team. The whole lineup is Albert Pujols, and with another down year from Scott Rolen and the only other big bat being Chris Duncan the Cardinals don’t scare too many people. The pitching has not been great all season long, and with no shut down ace it’ll be tough down the stretch for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals just don’t have the firepower to overcome the Brewers or Cubs, and the only way I see them making the playoffs is with a stumble from those clubs. The Brewers haven’t been the same since Ben Sheets went down, and he didn’t pitch great in his first start back. The Brewers need Sheets to make the playoffs. The Cubs still have Carlos Zambrano and sure he has been real bad lately, but he still might be the best pitcher in the National League. With the combination of pitching and hitting I think the Central champ will be the Chicago Cubs.
NL West
It seems like every year this division provides an intriguing playoff race, and this year is no exception.
Arizona Diamondbacks 79-63 -
San Diego Padres 76-64 2
Los Angeles Dodgers 74-67 4 1/2
Arizona Diamondbacks
Another young club, but with a smattering of veteran leadership to help the Diamondbacks become a well rounded club. Randy Johnson was supposed to support club ace Brandon Webb, but Johnson pitched in only ten games this season before season ending back problems arose. The bullpen does have some holes, but the team recently acquired Bob Wickman to help. With young players with nothing to lose the Diamondbacks have a fun, fast team with a lot of potential.
San Diego Padres
Pitching, pitching, pitching. With the three headed monster of Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux, and Chris Young the Padres might have the best rotation in baseball. Add closer Trevor Hoffman to the mix, and you can see why the Padres are winning baseball games. This batch of veteran players might not wilt under the pressure of playing down the stretch.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are a club that I often wonder how they’re winning games. They have a lackluster offense, and aside from Brad Penny the pitching is nothing exciting. They are 4 1/2 games back, and will probably have a tough time leaping over the Padres and the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks have not played well on the road, and with 12 of their last 20 games on the road the Diamondbacks may be in trouble. Their youth will also come into play during these last 20 games. The Dodgers are a couple of losses away from being out of this race, and the wild card race as well since both of these teams are ahead of the Dodgers in that race. With their great pitching staff and veteran team the NL West champ will be the San Diego Padres.
NL Wild Card
Many of the teams I just wrote about are in the Wild Card race also with the exception of the Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves. This race may end up with the second place NL West team winning the Wild Card.
San Diego Padres 76-64 -
Los Angeles Dodgers 74-67 2 1/2
Colorado Rockies 73-67 3
Philadelphia Phillies 73-67 3
Atlanta Braves 72-69 4 1/2
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are five games back in the NL West so the Wild Card is their best shot at getting into the postseason. They do have some great hitters in Matt Holliday and Todd Helton, and play a majority of their games down the stretch at Coors Field. Their pitching is a bit soft outside of Jeff Francis which might make it difficult for the Rockies.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have been hanging on all season long. The Mets finally seem to have the Phillies out of their rearviewmirror, and the Phillies postseason chances hang on the wild card. With the pitching a bit suspect the Phillies hopes land solely on the offense. It is an awesome powerhouse lineup with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, but everyone knows pitching wins in the end.
Atlanta Braves
A very slim chance for the Braves, but they are still only 4 1/2 games back here. The one-two punch of Tim Hudson and John Smoltz along with the Joneses and Mark Texieria should win the Braves a few games down the stretch. A weak schedule could be a help as well.
The team to like here for me is the Atlanta Braves, but I feel the 4 1/2 games might be too big a hill to climb. They do play some weaker clubs, and still have Bobby Cox managing. The Rockies and Phillies may have to think about next season, and with their pitching weak I think they’ll be on the outside looking in. I have the Padres winning the NL West which also adds the Diamondbacks to this equation, but with a lot of road games and a young club I’m worried about a stumble. The Diamondbacks will stumble out of the NL West lead, but right into the Wild Card lead and will win it barely over a surging Atlanta Braves club.
Other News:
- St. Louis Cardinals OF Rick Ankiel reportedly was supplied with HGH during the 2004 season. The same day Sports Illustrated reported that steroids were sent to Toronto Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
- Detroit Tigers OF Curtis Granderson hit his 20th HR last night to become only the sixth player since 1900 with 20 homers, 20 doubles and 20 triples in a season. The last player achieve the feat was George Brett in 1979.
