Sep 18, 20235 min read

Diamond Report

Do we ask who wants it more, or who will choke the worse regarding the Wild Card races? I'm not sure at this point, thanks to the Rangers; D-Backs; and Blue Jays! Twist and turns define the diamond in the past week, which has baseball fans on the edge of their seat; rippin' their eye lashes, and yelling at the telly.

With two weeks left of action, expect those twist and turns to continue- especially for those clubs fightin' for the Wild Card. Report is hot: records being broken; Wild Card updates, and a few headlines that add fuel to an already large fire on the diamond as we wrap up the 2023 season. Lets take a quick dive into the quick hits.

Shohei Ohtani is out for the remainder of the season

Braves & Dodgers their clinch divisions

Braves' Matt Olson breaks Andrew Jones' franchise single-season homerun record (52)

O's and Rays split 2-2 in AL East supremacy warfare series over the weekend

Diamondbacks sweep the Cubs- now sit in the 2nd NL WC chair (+.5)

Acuna Watch: 37/66 with 13 games left

Marlins SWEEP the Braves... hold the 3rd NL WC spot

The Wild Card races are a complete rollercoaster. I feel like I have said that on the past handful of reports, both races just continue to ride the tracks. The AL has a Triple-Threat runnin' & the NL has things squared with a Fatal-4-Way. With two weeks left, the clubs are going to need to beat each other to the punch. Time is runnin' out,

AL:

The AL Wild Card saw a major twist with the Rangers pullin' an Undertaker get up as they went on a 6 game winning streak including a pivotal sweep of the Blue Jays, last week. When I say pivotal, I am talkin' VITAL. The sweep ushered in immediate impact to this race:

The Rays are basically clinched, and continue to battle Baltimore for that AL East crown. They sting in comfortable waters. The other three: Texas; Seattle; and Toronto- are nowhere NEAR comfortable. Stressed to the max as all three are in for a FIGHT.

Rangers are home cookin' this week in Arlington as they welcome the Red Sox for a 3-game set & then go to war in a giant 3-game set with the Mariners to fill the weekend. A series that could cause another turn in the race by next Monday. The weekday series for both the Rangers and M's are huge prior to their marque weekend matchup.

The Mariners travel to Oakland prior to the set with Texas- a series in which they need to have a sweep mindset. Same mindset that Texas needs to have when they play Boston. Those are huge give me games that helps the clubs prep for back to back weekends of warfare that very well will decide their playoff fate. That's right. Back to back weekends starting Friday. Seven of the last thirteen games for the M's are against Texas. Arlington for three this week, and Seattle for the final four to end the season.

Despite the intense comp, the M's sit in the best seat. The third team they play in the middle of the A's & Rangers is the AL West leading Astros who only hold a 2.5 lead over Seattle as of today. Mariners can not only win a Wild Card spot, they could one up and steal the AL West division title instead. Monumental games on the Rangers and Mariners schedule as they each hold their own fate.

Blue Jays will have to dig down deep in order to contain that second WC spot. They finish their season schedule with six games versus the Yankees and six versus the Rays. Those cats in Tampa being far ahead in the WC lead and still fighting for the division gives them a nothing to lose mindset to wrap the season. Making them a very tough team to play. The Yankess? New York could pull one of the greatest get-ins of all-time if they were to win out or just sweep the Jays. Knowing baseball, and this year's Wild Card races- anything is possible.

NL:

I have trouble defining this NL Wild Card race. There just isn't enough words to fully describe it. This thing is NUTS. The Snakes put their balls on the table and swept the Cubs over the weekend, finishing off a 7-1 masterclass of Chicago in a 11 day span. The Marlins came up huge with a sweep of the mighty Braves that followed a tough series in Milwaukee. Now we start the week with a fresh look in the NL Wild Card- just adding more heat and intrigue to this wild race. Here is how the standings look as of today:

Cubs got stuck in the woods and can't find mama. Chicago has the Reggie Miller goin' on with a September choke-fest forming. This week may be due or die for them to be quite frank. They HAVE to take advantage of this week's schedule of games. Cubs have a six game homestand, welcoming the Pirates and Rockies, before they finish the season on the road at Atlanta and Milwaukee. Must take advantage or they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Cincy caught a slipstream and hit the throttle with intent gettin' right back into the pack. Reds, like the Cubs, are also on a final homestand this week as they host the Twins and Pirates. The teams know what is at stake. Time to accelerate to that white flag.

The atmosphere felt like playoff atmosphere inside Camden Yards this past weekend when the O's took on the Rays in a control battle for the AL East with two weeks remaining in the season.

The atmosphere and the play on the field in the first game was ELECTRIC. Rays took a 4-3 dub behind the save of Pete Fairbanks. The flamer entered a sea of orange just to steal the night, shutting the door by striking out the side with INTENT. Game 4 was also electric and a perfect wrap to the weekend. The game went to the 11th frame, delivering playoff atmosphere; two out gritters; and pure comp.

The Orioles refused to lose the series, as they dug down deep and clutched up arguably the best bullpen in baseball scoring twice with two outs and facing their final out:

Camden Yards was rockin'. Cedric Mullins won the game with a SAC Fly to split the series with Tampa. How amazing would it be if they ran this series back in the playoffs. I want it. The Orioles winnin' Sunday avoids the sting and keeps them in first place of the AL East.

The Rays/O's series was a great teaser as we now have just three weeks until the quest of the Fall Classic begins. I am filled with intrigue! Will this week move tectonic plates the way last week did? Big leaguers turn that noise up, we are officially on the final turns. White flag is in sight... let's get this thing rollin'.

Diamond Report

AL:

NL:

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