A baseball season that’s lasted nearly six months is coming down to the wire, with playoff teams yet to be determined. Due to the relatively new two team wild card format, sixteen teams are still “in it” which in my book is a team that is either in a playoff spot or four games out of one. With that being said, almost all of the excitement is centered around the wild-card race since all of the divisions have essentially been locked up. Today we will take a look at the teams in contention in the American League and tomorrow we will analyze the National League.

AL East: Boston Red Sox: Having pulled away from both the Orioles and Blue Jays within the last ten days, the Sox now have a four game lead on their AL East rivals. At this point with only twelve games remaining, anything but a division crown for the Mookie Betts led Sox would be a disappointment.

Prediction: Red Sox win AL East

AL Central: Cleveland Indians: The Tribe sit comfortably in the Central with a seven game lead over the Tigers. While the lead is large it might not be that secure. The Indians have lost two of their best starters, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco to injury, and the Tigers still have four games against Cleveland to try and make up ground. Even with that threat, Cleveland will hold onto their lead and win the central.

Prediction: Indians win Central

AL West: With nearly a ten game lead on the rival Astros, the Rangers can throw it into cruise control until October. Barring one of the greatest collapses of all time, the Rangers can sit back until the division series begins.

Prediction: Rangers win the West

AL Wild Card: The wild card race in the American League is where things get interesting. Right now the Orioles and Blue Jays sit tied atop the standings as far as the wild card is concerned. While both teams should feel comfortable, they can’t get complacent because teams like Detroit, 2.5 games back, as well as Seattle and Houston sitting three games out of the picture. The team that should be concerned the most is the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have the worst record of any team in September and is a team that relies on their offense, yet it’s last in baseball when it comes to runs scored this month.

As far as teams on the outside looking in, Seattle is in the best position. The Mariners have a relatively easy schedule with two of their final three series against the lowly Twins and Athletics. With that being said they have to take advantage of their two remaining games against the Jays. If they don’t win both of those the Mariners can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.

Prediction: Orioles and Mariners win the two AL Wild Card spots