The sizzling hot Arizona Diamondbacks (four game win streak and 9-1 in their last ten games) will not catch the Dodgers, but they are keeping the pressure on the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs for the wild card playoff spots, trailing the Cubbies for the second spot by only 2 1/2 games after they beat Cincinnati on the road.
The Atlanta Braves are currently the hottest team in baseball, winners of eight consecutive games, including two in a row over the Nationals to boost their N.L. East division lead to nine full games after a 4-3 win over the Nats on Friday night. The Phillies and Mets continue to chase the Cubs (along with Arizona and Milwaukee) for the last wild card spot in the National League. The Mets held off the Phillies rally on Friday night, winning 5-4 after the Phils ahd tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth inning.
The Milwaukee Brewers rebounded from a 10-5 trouncing against the Cubs on Thursday to win, 7-1 on Friday night as they hammered Cubs starter Cole Hamels, which included Christian Yelich belting his 44th home run this season. The Brewers trail the Cubs by four games in the wild card race and are 6 1/2 games back of the front-running St. Louis Cardinals in the N.L. Central race.
In the American League, it's still all about the New York Yankees and Houston Astros as they battle for the top record. Both teams are 92-50 after Friday's games. The Yankees were pasted, 6-1 against the Boston Red Sox while the Astros beat the Seattle Mariners, continuing a big week that saw pitcher Justin Verlander throw a no-hitter last Sunday (2-0 win) against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. Verlander had 14 strikeouts and walked one batter while getting his third career no-hit game.
The Minnesota Twins took two out of three in Boston before falling at home, 6-2 in 11 innings on Friday against the Cleveland Indians. The Twins still enjoy a 5 1/2 game cushion over the second place Indians despite the loss. The Tribe split a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox prior to the huge three-game set in Minneapolis this weekend.
In the A.L. wild card race, the red hot Tampa Bay Rays (winners of three straight and 8 of 10) now have a one game lead over Oakland for the top spot while the Indians trail the A's by just a half-game for the second spot.
AL STANDINGS (through September 6) NL STANDINGS (through September 6)
East East
New York 92-50 Atlanta 88-54
Tampa Bay 84-59 Washington 78-62
Boston 76-65 Philadelphia 72-68
Toronto 55-87 New York 72-68
Baltimore 46-95 Miami 50-90
Central Central
Minnesota 87-54 St. Louis 79-62
Cleveland 82-60 Chicago 76-64
Chicago 62-79 Milwaukee 72-68
Kansas City 52-90 Cincinnati 66-76
Detroit 42-98 Pittsburgh 62-79
West West
Houston 92-50 LA Dodgers 92-51
Oakland 82-59 Arizona 74-67
Texas 70-73 San Francisco 68-73
LA Angels 66-76 San Diego 64-76
Seattle 58-84 Colorado 60-82
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