.png)
Blood is sheddin' on the diamond but teams refuse to fold to the pain. The NL Wild Card race is turning into Rocky vs Apollo among 5 teams. Haymaker after haymaker, damage after damage. The Snakes went into Wrigley; took three of four; and completely elevated the Wild Card race.
Let's get to the report. With a swap in the power rankings; key matchups for the week; and a fiery update to the Wild Card races- I got all the juice for you.
Toronto is October HUNGRY. The AL Wild Card race has been flipped in the last couple of laps. The Jays hit a pit stop and have come out speedin' in September to gain the second spot in the Wild Card. They were the bubble team looking in just a week or two ago, now with the Rangers and Mariners hittin' major speed bumps, they take the slipstream and overtake both in the race. A pure rollercoaster of a race: the only way we fans like it.
The Rangers have completely fallen apart as they only have won 4 games in the past 20, yet they still see themselves .5 games back of the final spot. The Mariners had too much flame in their fire and are starting to lose that hot momentum they had going into September. Here are the standings now going into the week:
Today, the Blue Jays and Rangers start a monstrous 4-game set up north that is set to scramble the standings again this week. Both teams need to consider the series a playoff series- it's that important. Mariners get that mojo in the last week(+) of the season as their final ten games are against Texas (7gms), and the AL West leading Astros (3gms). Seattle HAS to take advantage of their California road trip this week and next. They can't afford to lose any games against the A's or Angels, as the Dodgers set will be tough, and with what looms to wrap the season. Telling times for the three clubs. This race is going to be far better than what it looked to be a few weeks ago. Buckle up ladies and gentlemen. The noise is LOUD.
The NL Wild Card race has been electric since August. Shivering Timbers of races, as it's been a rollercoaster ride with some STEEP drops and climbs. The Reds; Giants; Marlins; and Diamondbacks will go on losing skids but refuse to be buried as they storm back- EVERY time.
Arizona's resurgence since a terrible July/August has been surreal. Their play last week has altered the entire Wild Card standings and put the second spot in the mix again. D-backs went 5-2 including takin' 3 of 4 in Wrigley that puts the Cubs out of comfortable waters and in with the rapids. Check the standings going into the week:
Philadelphia is still in the comfortable waters, but losing 2 of 3 to Miami this past weekend could be an interesting note, as the Phillies' meet with the NL leading Braves in seven of their next ten games. Tough schedule for them coming up. The Marlins have it tough this week too, as they have the Brewers then the Braves over the weekend.
Reds and Giants have an easy week that they each need to take advantage of. All contenders play teams outside of the race, except for another weekend series between the Cubs and Diamondbacks. That series has a huge circle around it. Good chance the Cubs/Snakes alter the race in back to back weekends. Bang-bang finish is in sight, this race is HOT.
Strike 1:
Major Leaguers collectively reached 3K stolen bases altogether for the first time since 2012. Mike Trout is the only active player that was ranked in the top ten of steals that year (1- 49). The pitch count may help, but the talent; speed; and agility across the league's youth is at a high we haven't seen in awhile.
The league-wide stolen base rate was 0.71 per team game. That, over the course of a 162-game season, would project for 3,457 steals. If MLB reaches that total, it would be the second highest of the Live Ball Era (since 1920), trailing only 1987 (when there were still just 26 MLB teams).
Strike 2:
Zac Gallen is hungry for that NL Cy Young. After a lackluster August on the hill, Gallen pitched the best game of his season in a huge Wild Card race game versus the Cubs, last Friday. A win that Arizona needed, and their ace came through.
Gallen pitched his first complete game of his career in a 1-0 dub at Wrigley, only giving up three hits while striking out 9 in a masterclass. Gallen heard people switching their Cy Young votes to the Cubs' ace, Justin Steele, and that angered Gallen. ZG is looking to lift himself to Cy Young honors and lift his team to a Wild Card berth. Won't be easy, Both Steele and Gallen should have starts in the huge series rematch this coming weekend between Arizona & Chicago.
Strike 3:
We have some more key matchups on the diamond across the league, this week. Two massive series with Wild Card implications and a slug fest between the two hottest teams in baseball that could flip the AL East leader:
My MLB Power Rankings has some changes as we near the final turns. Blue Jays; Rays; and Diamondbacks all move on the rise. Tampa Bay ending the Mariners heatwave in a possible playoff preview created their climb. They take on the O's this week for supremacy and possibly the AL East crown. Expect more changes by next Monday's release. The current PRs:
Follow our Socials and my personal Twitter:
Twitter: @SpittinCap & @djp_spittincap
IG: @spittin_cap
XXII is available for download and streaming NOW on all streaming services!
Make sure to click the heart and leave a like... share for others to read
Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.
Comments