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MLB: Predicting September playoff races in each division

By Ed Carroll

Aug 29, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starter Jon Lester (31) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starter Jon Lester (31) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (38) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy (38) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

AL East

Current leader: Baltimore Orioles
Bet on ’em to win: New York Yankees

Rationale: Baltimore is a strange bird of a team. Chris Davis, arguably the team’s best player in 2013, has hit home runs again (24 HR this year) but is having a brutal year otherwise, slashing .188/.292/.399 entering August 31. Yet Baltimore still has a commanding lead of eight-and-a-half games over the Yankees. Don’t expect that lead to last.

The Orioles have been ravaged by recent injuries (including third baseman Manny Machado and earlier this season, catcher Matt Wieters), and the team’s big offseason signing, starter Ubaldo Jimenez, might not start another game this year due to ineffectiveness. Adam Jones is a stud, but Nelson Cruz has plummeted back to Earth in the second half (slashing .177/.250/.347).

New York struggled early, but have really turned up the pressure lately (seven wins in its last 11 games) and Brandon McCarthy has been a godsend to the New York rotation. Maybe he didn’t like the Arizona heat. The Yankees have a huge hill to climb, but other than games against the battered Orioles and Royals, none of the teams on its remaining schedule are major threats. Derek Jeter could see his final season extended just a bit longer.

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