MLB: Predicting September playoff races in each division

It’s the beginning of September, the final month of the MLB season, and the playoff races are in full swing. Even with the wealth of advanced statistical knowledge available, baseball is still notoriously hard to predict, and its playoff races remain crazy fun. The last month of the MLB season will feature plenty of intra-divisional play, so teams in the hunt should have chances to make a run.

Here are predictions for how each playoff race will shake out by the time the Wild Card games are played in October. Most factors are considered in these predictions, including, but not limited to: remaining schedules, statistics, health, managers and September roster expansion.

However, all predictions are ultimately dependent on the gut feel of the author, and this author is hungry. So here are the hungriest teams, the ones who will make the playoffs. Each division will be analyzed, as well as the two Wild Card spots in both leagues. Included will be the division leader as of August 31, who you should bet on winning the division, and the rational behind the madness.