With the trade deadline tomorrow (and no more second weird deadline), here are some interesting sagas to watch in my opinion:
The National League standings in basically everything except the AL East:
The Braves have the best record in baseball, have an 11.5 game lead on the Marlins (who have the second wild car spot but sport a -21 run differential and a pretty dramatic split in home vs road record), and have a +151 run differential. The rest of the league is interesting though. Unlike in the AL, where all the top teams and WC chasing teams have positive run differentials, the NL does not.
The NL Central is lead by the Reds who are just a game up on the Brewers and 4 up on the Cubs, but the Reds have just a +3 run differential, the Brewers have a -14, and the Cubs have a +57. The Brewers are clinging on to the last wildcard spot, but there are 5 talented teams below them in the standings all within 5 games.
The NL West is a roller coaster. After having the best record in baseball just 2 weeks ago, the DBacks are now out of the playoffs, going 2-8 in your last 10 will do that. The Dodgers have taken over first place in that division, but the Giants (first in the WC) and the aforementioned Dbacks are both within striking distance. The Padres are also playing well, having won 6 of their last 10 and just 8 games back, they also have a +63 run differential. The Dodgers have a +88 RD, and the Giants are at +24 and the DBacks at -1
The American league, all the way around:
In the East, every team is 5+ games over .500. The O's and Rays are tied for the second best record in baseball, but Baltimore has a +1.5 game lead due to head to head. Every team but the Yankees (+9) have a huge run differential, with the Rays way out in front at +135.
The Central is a rock fight between the 1 game over 500 Twins and the 500 Guardians. Both teams are relatively mediocre. But could be fun to watch who pulls that one out and if they can take down someone in the playoffs.
The West is fun. The Rangers picked up Scherzer, have a 1 game lead on the defending champion Astros, and a +145 run differential (they're +14 wins at home). The Astros are just good, +55 RD. And the Angels and Mariners aren't out of it. The Angles have made moves to make a run and try and keep Shohei, and the Mariners are 7-3 in their last 10 and just 5.5 back on the Rangers.
ETA: Just a funny little stat, you could give the A's the Braves entire league leading positive run differential and the A's would still have a run differential beyond -100.
The National League standings in basically everything except the AL East:
The Braves have the best record in baseball, have an 11.5 game lead on the Marlins (who have the second wild car spot but sport a -21 run differential and a pretty dramatic split in home vs road record), and have a +151 run differential. The rest of the league is interesting though. Unlike in the AL, where all the top teams and WC chasing teams have positive run differentials, the NL does not.
The NL Central is lead by the Reds who are just a game up on the Brewers and 4 up on the Cubs, but the Reds have just a +3 run differential, the Brewers have a -14, and the Cubs have a +57. The Brewers are clinging on to the last wildcard spot, but there are 5 talented teams below them in the standings all within 5 games.
The NL West is a roller coaster. After having the best record in baseball just 2 weeks ago, the DBacks are now out of the playoffs, going 2-8 in your last 10 will do that. The Dodgers have taken over first place in that division, but the Giants (first in the WC) and the aforementioned Dbacks are both within striking distance. The Padres are also playing well, having won 6 of their last 10 and just 8 games back, they also have a +63 run differential. The Dodgers have a +88 RD, and the Giants are at +24 and the DBacks at -1
The American league, all the way around:
In the East, every team is 5+ games over .500. The O's and Rays are tied for the second best record in baseball, but Baltimore has a +1.5 game lead due to head to head. Every team but the Yankees (+9) have a huge run differential, with the Rays way out in front at +135.
The Central is a rock fight between the 1 game over 500 Twins and the 500 Guardians. Both teams are relatively mediocre. But could be fun to watch who pulls that one out and if they can take down someone in the playoffs.
The West is fun. The Rangers picked up Scherzer, have a 1 game lead on the defending champion Astros, and a +145 run differential (they're +14 wins at home). The Astros are just good, +55 RD. And the Angels and Mariners aren't out of it. The Angles have made moves to make a run and try and keep Shohei, and the Mariners are 7-3 in their last 10 and just 5.5 back on the Rangers.
ETA: Just a funny little stat, you could give the A's the Braves entire league leading positive run differential and the A's would still have a run differential beyond -100.
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