It’s that time of the year again when Major League Baseball teams are fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs. For those who don’t lead their divisions, their only chance of making the postseason will be through a Wild Card spot. Let’s take a look below at each league’s Wild Card contenders, as we’re in for one hell of an entertaining race.
Don’t wait ‘til the postseason before getting some Major League action. Check out the complete preview for the crucial NL West game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
[sc:MLBArticles ]American League and National League Wild Card Race Preview
American League
New York Yankees
[sc:MLB240banner ]The New York Yankees have a solid grasp of their Wild Card spot with a 5.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers. The Yankees’ hopes of winning AL East aren’t over though, as they trail the Toronto Blue Jays by just 1.5 games. The Bronx Bombers could make a run for the AL East title with their big bats, ranking second in runs (630), fifth in on base percentage (.326) and fourth in slugging percentage (.428).
Even if the Yankees can’t regain the division lead, they should still remain atop the AL Wild Card standings as long as their bats remain hot. New York is+1,200 to win the World Series.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are one of the surprise teams from AL West this season. Despite faulty pitching—the Rangers are 25th in the majors in team ERA (4.34), 24th in opponent batting average (.263) and 27th in WHIP (1.38)—they’re in the running to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
Texas has a resurgent Prince Fielder to thank for their success. Fielder leads the team with a .316 batting average and 71 RBIs. The rest of the Rangers aren’t too shabby themselves, helping Texas to rank sixth in runs (575) in the majors.
The Rangers are +2,500 to win the World Series.
Minnesota Twins
Not much was expected of the Minnesota Twins this season. They were doing what was expected, losing six of their first seven games of the regular season. But they pulled off quite a surprise as they turned their season around to be in the running for one of the Wild Card spots this postseason.
The Twins don’t look much like a winning team looking at their stats alone. They’re ranked in the bottom third of the majors in ERA, WHIP, opponent’s batting average, batting average and on base percentage. But they find ways to win. A trio of batters power the Twins’ order with Brian Dozier leading the team with 26 homers this season, Joe Mauer hitting .271 and Trevor Plouffe batting in a team-high 70 runs.
Minnesota is +5,000 to win the World Series.
Los Angeles Angels
One of the early favorites to win the American League, the Los Angeles Angels have stumbled and crawled toward that goal. They’re currently fourth in the race for a Wild Card spot and are 7.5 games behind the Houston Astros for the AL West lead. But the Angels are still a force to be reckoned with having two of the best AL batters in the club.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols fuel the Angels’ batting order. Trout leads the team in batting average (.296), on base percentage (.395) and hits (138), while Pujols leads with 34 homers and 76 RBIs. The two will be crucial in the remaining seven games against the division stablemates and current Wild Card spot holders, the Texas Rangers. Taking the series may be enough to send the Angels to the playoffs.
The Angels are +2,500 to win the World Series.
National League
Pittsburgh Pirates
The NL Central is having quite a year, as it owns two of the National League’s best teams. One of which is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who would be division leaders in any other division in the National League with their 79-50 record.
Pittsburgh has it all from the trusty arm of Gerrit Cole (15-7, 2.44 ERA) to the booming bat of Andrew McCutchen — who leads the team in batting average (.305) and RBIs (.405). It’ll be hard to turn a blind eye away from the Pirates, who are priced at +1,200 to win the World Series.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are the other team in NL Central that’s making some noise in the National League. The Cubs would be division leaders in either NL West or NL East with their smoking bats and excellent pitching. Jon Lester is a certified ace who could lead the team to victory, but Jake Arrieta is quickly making a case as an ace himself. Arrieta leads the Cubs with a 2.11 ERA, while his 17 wins are a majors-best.
It’s not all pitching for the Cubs though. They have an incredible batting duo of Kris Byant, who leads the team with 80 RBIs, and Anthony Rizzo, who has hit a team-high 26 homers. But the Cubs have a pretty tight schedule with six games against St. Louis and seven against Pittsburgh. Considering they escape that stretch with a winning-record, then it should be full sail ahead toward the playoffs.
The Cubs are +1,200 to win the World Series.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are currently third in the Wild Card standings, behind Chicago by 5.5 games. San Francisco will be better off served by winning NL West, though, as they the Dodgers by just 4.5 games. Considering they make it to the postseason, the Giants have it within themselves for another run at the World Series. They have an ace in Madison Bumgarner (16-6, 2.97 ERA) and a reliable hitter in Buster Posey, who leads the team with a .321 batting average and 80 RBIs.
The Giants are +1,200 to defend their World Series title.
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals were supposed to be the best team in the majors heading into the 2015 season. Today, they’re currently struggling to even get a Wild Card spot. If the Nationals are to make a run for the playoffs, they’ll do it with one big bat. Bryce Harper leads the National League in batting average (.329), on base percentage (.458) and homers (31).
The Nationals are +2,200 to win the World Series.
Create a betting account now and back your team in the exciting Wild Card race in Major League Baseball.
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