Stretch Run-NL

With 20+ games remaining in the regular season, I think now would be a good time to take a look at the division races heading in to the final turn.

NL North

This division has long been decided with Fargo building an early lead and never really letting up. As I predicted, this team has wrapped up the division. They are going to be hard to beat in the post season. This division doesn't even have another contender for post season admission. The second place team, Cleveland is well under 500. The division will only get one team in the post season, but that team is a major threat to take it all this season.

NL East

Cincinnati, and Jacksonville have been battling it out in this division for the better part of the season. As of the time of this writing, it's Cincinnati with a small lead in the division and Jacksonville the number one wild card team. The two of them have an important 3 game series coming up that could very well decide the division. Both teams have fairly easy schedules down the stretch and both should be able to get over 95 wins due to that. In the closest of division races right now it should be a very interesting finish in the East. As a consolation prize, the team that finishes in second has a very good shot at the top wild card spot.

NL South

This is another division that has seen the top 2 teams share the lead throughout the season. Monterrey has pulled away and have a 7 game lead right now and it appears as though the division title is theirs to lose. Charleston has been a contender for a big part of the season but it seems like it is getting late to make the run at the top. While it's not impossible for Charleston to take the top spot, I'm going to guess that they are better off shooting for the top wild card spot. The schedule favors Monterrey, as they only have 7 games left against teams with winning records and 3 of those are to close out the season against Charleston. Charleston on the other hand has 10 games left against teams with winning records. My guess is Monterrey winning the division and getting a 1st round bye and Charleston getting the number 2 wild card spot.

NL West

What a wild season it's been in the Wild West. Heading down the stretch, their are still 3 teams with chances at the division title. Seattle has led for the biggest part of the season, with Colorado Springs on their tail for just about the entire time. Scottsdale has led the division for a period of time and have been in the race for a big part of the season, even though early on they fell a good distance back of the leaders. At this time both Scottsdale and Colorado Springs are 6 back and need some help and key victories to jump ahead of Seattle. The biggest advantage for them is that they each have series left against Seattle, but the disadvantage is that they have to beat each other as well. Colorado Springs has a very tough schedule to end the season and most of those games are on the road. Scottsdale also has a tough time ahead although they finish with a majority of home games. Seattle has a tough schedule as well, but the finish with 17 straight home games. The winner of this division will be the divisions only playoff team and right now my pick, although I hope I'm not jinxing myself, is Seattle.

Playoff Predictions

1st round
Jacksonville over Seattle 3-1
Charleston over Cincinnati 3-2

2nd round
Fargo over Jacksonville 3-1
Monterrey over Charleston 3-2

NLCS
Fargo over Monterrey 4-2