2016 Season: Four Things To Watch With Four Days Left
Barring the possible need for tiebreakers on Monday, October 3, the thrilling 2016 MLB regular season is set to conclude this Sunday, October 2. Here are four things to watch for over the remaining four days of the season:
1. The Six-Team American League Wild Card Race (Blue Jays, Orioles, Tigers, Mariners, Astros and Yankees)
While it would be a long shot for the two teams that faced each other in last season's AL Wild Card game (Houston Astros-3.5 GB and New York Yankees-4 GB) to qualify for the post season again this year, they remain mathematically alive in a six-team race that also features the Seattle Mariners (two games out of a playoff spot), the Detroit Tigers (one game out of a playoff spot), the Baltimore Orioles (second American League Wild Card berth holder) and the Toronto Blue Jays (first AL Wild Card berth holder by one game over the Baltimore Orioles).
This afternoon, the Detroit Tigers will wrap up a four game series with the 2016 AL Central Champion Cleveland Indians before traveling to Atlanta to face the Braves in their final series of the 2016 regular season. As for the other five AL Wild Card hopefuls, the Blue Jays play the Orioles at home tonight before traveling to Boston to face the Red Sox at Fenway for a three game series that starts Friday. As for the Yankees, following the completion of their series with the Red Sox tonight, they will host the Baltimore Orioles in their final three game series of the regular season. Depending on who wins tonight's Jays-Orioles' game, the Orioles could find themselves in a tie with the Blue Jays atop the AL Wild Card Standings. However, since the Blue Jays have already won their season series with the Orioles (10-8), they would host any potential wild card game with the Orioles next Tuesday on TBS. As for the Mariners and Astros, the former team begins a four game home series with the Oakland Athletics tonight while the Astros (off-day) will finish their season at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Predictions: Look for the Astros and Yankees to drop out of the AL Wild Card race before they begin their respective final series of the season against the Angels and Orioles. As for the Orioles, their 3-2 come-from-behind victory last night against the Jays at Roger's Centre has all but assured them that they will be in possession of a post-season berth by the end of the season. However, the O's and Jays can ill-afford to lose any additional ground to the Tigers, especially in light of their opponents this weekend (in comparison to Detroit's). As for the M's, they could end up squeaking in as the top four teams in the AL East continue to beat themselves up this weekend. Look for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles to win the two AL Wild Card berths.
2. The Three-Team National League Wild Card Race (Mets, Giants, Cardinals)
For all of their injuries, the New York Mets (first NL Wild Card berth) hold a comfortable one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants who, in turn, hold a one game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for the second spot. While it is all but impossible for the Mets, who receive an off-day today as they travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies this weekend, to miss the 2016 playoffs, either the Cardinals or Giants will end up missing the playoffs this year.
Predictions: After the Giants and Cardinals complete their current series with the Rockies and Reds respectively, they will each travel home: the SF Giants will host the LA Dodgers while the STL Cardinals will host the Pirates. Based on who each team is playing this weekend, one would think that the advantage would go to the Cardinals (though both teams have struggled recently). Considering that the Giants currently hold a one game advantage over the Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card, look for them to maintain that lead throughout the 2016 season.
3. Home Field Advantage Throughout the Playoffs (Rangers, Red Sox and Indians)
While the Chicago Cubs (101-57) have long since secured the best record in the National League (they will host the winner of the National League Wild Card Game that will be played Wednesday, October 5 on ESPN in the first of two NLDS match-ups while the Washington Nationals and LA Dodgers will play each other in the second series), the race for the best record in the American League is still very much up for grabs. Since the AL won the 2016 All-Star Game at San Diego, the eventual AL Champions will have home field advantage in the World Series.
Coming into play on Thursday, the Texas Rangers (94-65) hold a one-and-a-half game lead over the Boston Red Sox (92-66) for the best record in the American League. The AL Central Champion Cleveland Indians are at 91-67.
Predictions: While the Rangers sit back and enjoy an off-day today before hosting the Tampa Bay Rays starting on Friday, Indians will conclude their series against the Tigers while the Red Sox will finish up with the Yankees. While the Red Sox could pull to within a game of Texas with a win tonight, the Rangers will likely finish first. As for the Cleveland, who likely play Boston in the ALDS, they will conclude their 2016 campaign against the KC Royals.
4. The Head-to-Head American League Runs Batted In Race Between Edwin Encarnacion and David Ortiz
As retiring New York Yankees' first baseman Mark Teixeira reminded us last night with his walk-off grand slam at home against the Boston Red Sox, there is still time left for some memorable moments this year, including another memorable moment or two this weekend between fellow retiree David Ortiz and Edwin Encarnacion as it pertains to the AL RBI race. For the Blue Jays, their upcoming weekend series at Boston is much more important for them than it is the Red Sox (who clinched the AL East last night despite getting walked off). What better way would there be for Edwin Encarnacion to help his team make the playoffs than if he could drive in some big runs against the Red Sox? Coming into play today, Edwin Encarnacion has 127 RBI to David Ortiz's 124.
For two men who are receiving little, if any buzz, outside of their respective cities in the 2016 AL MVP race (this is due to the fact that both men are regarded more as designated hitters than they are first basemen), what better way is there to showcase their value to their respective teams than by putting on an RBI clinic this weekend?
Prediction: Edwin Encarnacion will hold onto his slight lead in the American League RBI race this weekend.
