It's the annual All-Star break around Major League Baseball for the 2024 season and it's time for a brief look at how teams have fared so far and a sneak preview as to what might happen the last two months or so leading into October and the post-season.
In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees have been going back and forth in the American League East division for first place and so far it's been a two-team chase. However, the surprising Boston Red Sox are within 4 1/2 games of first place at the break and manager Alex Cora has to be the front runner for the A.L. Manager of the Year for their effort.
A close second behind Cora for that individual honor would be Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt (first year manager) as they have the best record in the junior circuit to this point. They are equally surprising to Boston as not too many people expected them to be doing this. But baseball is a funny game and the unexpected always seems to pop up. The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals will look to keep the pressure on the Guardians in the A.L. Central race while also contending for a wild card spot.
Out west, the Seattle Mariners have a slim lead over the surging Houston Astros for the division lead and the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers are still trying to prove last year wasn't a fluke as they look to get closer for the wild card chase in the American League.
In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat as they have the best record in all of baseball and are the only team with 60-plus victories to this point. They are way out in front of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East division with the New York Mets sneaking up and contending for a wild card spot.
The Milwaukee Brewers lead the N.L. Central and their manager Pat Murphy should be considered the N.L. Manager of the Year to this point as the Brew Crew has surpassed many expectations after losing three top notch pitchers this year. Their ace starter Corbin Burnes was dealt to the Orioles in the off-season and Brandon Woodruff is out for the year (Tommy John surgery) while All-Star closer Devin Williams has been out with injuries as well. Kudos to the Brewers as they lead the second place St. Louis Cardinals by 4 1/2 games.
In the West, the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers lead the way and Arizona is in second with San Diego and San Francisco looking to stay relevant (along with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs) in the wild card chase.
Many things could happen and it should be fun to watch as Pittsburgh Pirates rookie ace pitcher Paul Skenes attempts to continue his domination at the big league level. Also, can Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford continue to show progress and help them back to the post-season? Will Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (34 HR to lead all of baseball so far) shatter his own A.L. single season record of 62 home runs (set in 2022) to help the Bronx Bombers get to the playoffs after missing out last season?
So many possibilities and it remains to be seen how the last ten weeks or so will play out, but it should be exciting as the pennant races continue. So here is a take on how things could be looking once the playoffs start in October.
American League
Wild Card playoffs teams
NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox; Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins
Bye teams - Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians
National League
Wild Card playoffs teams
Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals; Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Bye teams - Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers
WORLD SERIES PREDICTION - Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies
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