Let’s take a way too early look at the MLB Wild Card standings

It’s only the start of May, but we’re starting to get a look at some of the teams that could be fighting for a Wild Card spot at the end of the season.

May has finally arrived, and with that it brings us some decent weather and we start to get a real look at the teams that might be fighting for a playoff spot come October. By this point we know that the all important second Wild Card spot has made a big difference in how teams approach the home stretch of the season.

Teams that haven’t been to the playoffs in quite some time like the Seattle Mariners or Oakland A’s now have a reason to actually make that deadline deal to try and get them over the hump and into that coveted Wild Card game.

With that we’ll dive right into what the Wild Card standings look like at the start of May.

Speaking of the Seattle Mariners and their increasingly long playoff drought. They currently hold the second Wild Card spot. While it’s only a half game over teams like the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays, it’s a start for a team that in the past has looked solid to start but faltered down the home stretch.

After starting the season 9-9 including a 14-1 drubbing at the hands of their biggest rival the New York Yankees are winners of nine of their last 10, and currently hold the first Wild Card spot by a game and a half. Of course the Yankees have their sights set on a division title this season, nevertheless the Wild Card game is where they started during their ALCS run last season.

As for teams like the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays, they’re right there only sitting two and half and three games back respectively. The Rays are winners of nine of their last 10 games, and have turned a dreadful start into something positive.

As for the National league there’s a surprise atop the standings. The Atlanta Braves currently lead everyone. As winners of six of their last 10 games the Braves have shocked everyone with their start to the season. Whether or not its sustainable is the big question that remains to be seen.

The Pirates who can never seem to actually win the NL Central own the second Wild Card spot by only a half game over the Milwaukee Brewers and the new look Philadelphia Phillies. The National League Wild card is really bunched up with five teams within two and a half games, and that not including the struggling Washington Nationals who sit four games back.

This years Wild Card race is definitely going to be wild in both leagues.