September: The Decisive Month in MLB
With the expansion of the postseason in MLB history, the value of divisional races has diminished. In the wild card era, it’s possible to finish second, third, or even fourth and still win the World Series. But, does this make September less exciting? Undoubtedly, it brings more teams and fans into the equation. A great game is still a great game, even if there’s less tension in series like Red Sox-Yankees or Mets-Phillies, where both teams already know they’re going to the playoffs. September offers us races for the wildcards and battles for the seeding, which generates a lot of fun and excitement. The month remains the best on the baseball calendar, and the tension remains when your closer walks two batters in the ninth inning trying to protect a one-run lead. With 12 playoff spots still to be decided, the excitement is palpable. Here are the most exciting races for the last month of the season.1. The Fight in the National League West Division
Positions: The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the San Diego Padres by 2 games.In Play: This is the best rivalry in the majors right now. The atmosphere is tense between the teams and their fans. The Padres are looking for their first divisional title since 2006 and their first World Series championship. The Dodgers have won three National League Division Series since 2020, and the home-field advantage could be crucial in a possible matchup.Do the Dodgers need to win the division? Probably not. Their focus will be on keeping their pitching staff healthy for October. The Padres, on the other hand, could benefit from a divisional title, especially against their rivals. San Diego could be better equipped for a short wild card series, thanks to their bullpen.Series to follow: Unfortunately, there are no direct matchups between the Dodgers and Padres in September. The Dodgers finish with a road trip in Arizona and Seattle, while the Padres close at home against Milwaukee and Arizona. The Dodgers won the season series and have the tiebreaker advantage.
Contents
September: The Decisive Month in MLB1. The Fight in the National League West Division2. The Exciting American League East Division3. The National League’s Fight for the Second Seed4. The Race for the Top Two Seeds in the American League5. The Fight in the American League West Division6. The Fight for the Wild Card in the American League7. The National League Wild Card and Division Fight8. The Fight in the National League Central Division9. The Fight in the American League Central Division
2. The Exciting American League East Division
Positions: Toronto Blue Jays lead by 3 games over the New York Yankees, and by 3.5 games over the Boston Red Sox.In Play: This has been the most contested divisional race of the season. The Blue Jays, who were eight games below .500 at the end of May, have led the division since July. The Yankees have come back, and the Red Sox are also in the fight. New York has a run differential of +134, but has not played well against Toronto and Boston (5-15).Series to follow: Blue Jays vs. Yankees (Friday to Sunday); Red Sox vs. Blue Jays (September 23-25); Yankees vs. Red Sox (September 12-14). The Blue Jays have already won the series against the Red Sox and Yankees, and the Red Sox against the Yankees, which could be key in case of a tie.Blue Jays key player: Shane Bieber, acquired at the deadline, has impressed in his first two starts. Don’t be surprised if he’s the Game 1 starter in the postseason.Key Yankees Player: Aaron Judge, despite a slight drop in his performance after an injury, remains a key player. Giancarlo Stanton could be an important piece as a pinch hitter.Key Red Sox Player: Roman Anthony, a 21-year-old rookie, has proven to be a rising star. His plate discipline and ability to lift the ball make him a player to watch.3. The National League’s Fight for the Second Seed
Positions: Milwaukee Brewers lead with a 5.5-game advantage; Philadelphia Phillies lead the Dodgers by 1 game and the Padres by 3 games.In Play: The Phillies have a comfortable lead in the East Division, but they are competing with the teams in the National League West for the second-best record. Home and away performance is an important factor for the Phillies.Series to follow: Phillies vs. Dodgers (September 15-17). The Phillies finish with a home series against the Marlins and the Twins.Phillies Key Player: Kyle Schwarber and Cristopher Sanchez, who takes on the role of ace of the rotation. The bullpen has been a problem, putting Jhoan Duran under pressure.4. The Race for the Top Two Seeds in the American League
Positions: Detroit Tigers lead, ahead by 0.5 games to the Blue Jays, 3.5 games to the Yankees, 4 games to the Red Sox and 4.5 games to the Astros.In Play: Home-field advantage and the postseason push are on the line. The Tigers have a notable difference in their performance at home and away.Series to follow: Tigers vs. Yankees (September 9-11); Tigers vs. Red Sox (September 26-28); Yankees vs. Astros (Tuesday to Thursday); Astros vs. Blue Jays (September 9-11).Key Tigers Player: The search for a second starter behind Tarik Skubal is crucial. Jack Flaherty has been inconsistent, and Casey Mize has struggled. Charlie Morton could be an option, but the bullpen will have an important role in the playoffs.5. The Fight in the American League West Division
Positions: Houston Astros lead the Seattle Mariners by 2 games.At Stake: The Mariners are seeking their first divisional title since 2001. Winning the division would increase their chances in the playoffs.Series to follow: Mariners vs. Astros (September 19-21). The season series is tied, so the winner takes the advantage in case of a tie. The Mariners need to improve their away performance.Astros’ Key Player: Yordan Alvarez, after returning from an injury, could boost the offense. If Alvarez produces, the Astros’ offense will improve.Key Mariners Player: Cal Raleigh, who is looking to maintain his home run production and contribute to the offense.6. The Fight for the Wild Card in the American League
Positions: Mariners hold the third wild card spot, leading the Kansas City Royals by 2.5 games, the Texas Rangers by 3 games, and the Cleveland Guardians by 4 games.In Play: The Mariners haven’t pulled away in the wild card race. The Royals and Rangers are in the fight.Series to follow: Mariners vs. Royals (September 16-18); Royals vs. Guardians (September 8-10); Rangers vs. Guardians (September 26-28). The series between Mariners and Royals is key.Royals’ Key Player: Bobby Witt Jr. is performing great. The team is playing well and has a favorable schedule.Key Rangers Player: With the absence of Nathan Eovaldi and possibly Marcus Semien, Jack Leiter must continue to pitch well.Guardians’ Key Player: Kyle Manzardo has brought power to the offense.7. The National League Wild Card and Division Fight
Positions: Phillies lead the Mets by 6 games in the division; Mets lead the Cincinnati Reds by 4 games in the wild card.In Play: The Mets lost ground and need to improve. The Reds are still fighting.Series to follow: Mets vs. Phillies (September 8-11); Mets vs. Reds (Friday to Sunday). The series between Mets and Phillies is crucial.
Mets’ Key Player: Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong, the team’s young starters.Reds’ Key Player: Elly De La Cruz, needs to regain his power.
