A 10-game winning streak has all but assured the Braves of their first NL East title since 2005. Last year when they were a wild-card team, Atlanta had a heartbreaking loss to the Cardinals after an errant infield fly rule call.
With two months to go this season, the Braves only have seven games left against teams with an above .500, so they will have a chance to bolster that record. Finishing with the best record in the NL could be quite important since the Braves, who trail the Pirates by ½ a game, are a best-in-baseball 38-15 at home.
The pitching has been remarkable, ranking second in both ERA and quality starts, fourth in WHIP and fifth in batting average against. And the offense has heated up at the right time as well for the Braves, who have scored the seventh most runs in the majors.
Now the Braves hope the can play this well in October. Atlanta has made the playoffs two of the past three years, but they haven’t won a playoff series since 2001 – losing five times in the NLDS and in last year’s inaugural wild-card play-in game.
1) Rays (68-45) (1)
The Rays are now 11-0-1 in their past 12 series after two more series wins last week.
2) Braves (67-45) (5)
Start printing the “NL East Champions” gear now.
3) Pirates (67-44) (4)
Winning four of five games against the Cardinals was a huge boost for the Pirates, who own the best record in baseball.
4) Red Sox (68-45) (2)
Boston embarks on a 10-game road trip and plays 16 of its next 19 away from Fenway Park.
5) Tigers (64-47) (7)
Despite eight wins in a row and 12 of 13, the Tigers have been unable to pull away from the Indians, who are three games back in the AL Central.
6) Dodgers (61-49) (8)
The Dodgers are 14-2 since the break and haven’t allowed a run in two games. Oh, and they’ve also won 14 straight road games.
7) Indians (62-49) (9)
With two months to go, the Indians hold the second wild-card spot. Kudos to manager Terry Francona for what he has done to this team.
8) Cardinals (65-45) (6)
Lost four of five to the Pirates last week which could go a long way in determining who wins the NL Central.
9) Athletics (64-47) (3)
Losers of four of five, Oakland is nursing a 2 ½ game lead in the AL West.
10) Rangers (62-50) (10)
Took two of three from the Athletics this weekend to cut Oakland’s AL West lead to 2 ½ games, but lost slugger Nelson Cruz for the next 50 games in Biogenesis suspension.
11) Orioles (61-51) (11)
Chris Davis returned to form, bashing three home runs last week. He is now batting .300 with 40 homers and 102 RBIs.
12) Reds (61-51) (12)
At 2-7 in their past nine games, Cincinnati has fallen 6 ½ games behind the Pirates in the NL Central, but still hold the second wild-card spot.
13) Royals (56-52) (15)
The poor Royals are 9-1 in their last 10 games, but have gained no ground in the AL Central since both Cleveland and Detroit are also 9-1 in their past 10 games.
14) Yankees (57-53) (14)
The Yankees have scored the fewest runs in the American League since the All-Star break and their third basemen have hit four home runs. Welcome back, A-Rod!
15) Diamondbacks (56-55) (13)
The Diamondbacks are reeling and the first-place Dodgers are still surging in the NL West.
16) Mariners (52-59) (18)
Seattle spreads the offense around. The Mariners have eight players with 10 or more home runs.
17) Nationals (54-57) (16)
Any playoff chance the Nationals have would probably need to involve sweeping the Braves this week.
18) Rockies (52-61) (17)
Home run derby participant Michael Cuddyer has one home run since the All-Star break.
19) Angels (51-59) (21)
Barring a miracle run, the Angels will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year, which isn’t what they had in mind when they gave a combined $379 million to Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton the past two offseasons.
20) Cubs (49-62) (19)
The Cubs have won only once in seven games but perhaps playing the Phillies this week (losers of 13 of 14) will turn things around.
21) Blue Jays (51-60) (22)
That 11-game winning streak seems like years ago as Toronto has gone 13-24 since.
22) Padres (52-60) (25)
In his first start since being traded from the Diamondbacks to the Padres, Ian Kennedy beat his former team, the Yankees, Sunday, 6-3, despite a shaky outing which included four walks.
23) Phillies (50-61) (20)
The Phillies have looked nothing like the team that won five straight NL East titles from 2007-2011.
24) Brewers (47-64) (27)
Former closer John Axford has fallen on hard times. He has allowed runs in four of his last five outings.
25) Marlins (43-67) (28)
Rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez hasn’t allowed more than three runs in his past 11 starts and has won three in a row.
26) Mets (49-60) (23)
The reeling Mets could be without David Wright for five weeks. Can Matt Harvey pitch every game?
27) Twins (48-60) (24)
The Twins swept the Astros this weekend, but unfortunately for them, only play them three more times this season.
28) Giants (49-61) (26)
The World Series winners were held largely in tact for 2013, but the results have been nothing like a year ago.
29) White Sox (40-69) (29)
The White Sox have lost 10 games in a row, and scored four runs in their past four games.
30) Astros (36-74) (30)
Houston has pretty much locked up the No. 30 spot for the rest of the season.