MLB Wild Card Standings: Twins take AL lead; Rockies holding on in NL

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HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 24: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

National League Division Leaders

NL East

Washington Nationals (78-51, .605)

The Nationals put up a winning record for the week after taking two of three games in Houston and splitting four games in D.C. with the Mets. The Washington lineup continues to be productive even without Bryce Harper available as three players – Wilmer Difo, Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon – had at least eight hits in seven games. Adam Lind led the club with two homers and five RBI.

On the mound, Stephen Strasburg allowed just three hits and one walk in six shutout innings against the Astros in the top pitching performance of the week. A.J. Cole allowed one run in six innings of work, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson each made quality starts and Tanner Roark led the NL with 16 strikeouts and picked up two wins in two starts.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs (69-60, .535)

The Cubs won the first two games of a three-game weekday series in Cincinnati to push their winning streak to five, which in turn increased their division lead to 3.5 games. However, after three losses in their final four games of the week, including a series loss in Philadelphia over the weekend, brought the cushion down to just two games over the Brewers.

Jake Arrieta continued his outstanding work, and allowed one unearned run on four hits and three walks against the Reds. Arrieta is now 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA in five starts in the month of August. Mike Montgomery has a 1.89 ERA this month after posting six scoreless innings in Cincinnati, and earned a win in his first start in more than a month.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (91-38, .705)

The Dodgers lost to the Brewers Saturday and Sunday, which gave Los Angeles its first back-to-back losses since July 20-21. The series loss was the first for the Dodgers since a three-game set against the Nationals June 5-7. Los Angeles was 54-11 between its two most recent series losses.

Of course, the story of the week was Rich Hill, who pitched took a no-hitter into extra innings against the Pirates Tuesday night, but got the loss after he allowed a walk-off home run in the tenth.

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