As the regular season comes to a close, there are still several storylines to follow in the world of baseball. With all six divisions now clinched, the focus shifts to the National League wild-card race, where the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets are vying for two spots.
The Mets, who had won eight consecutive games started by Sean Manaea, suffered a tough loss on Friday, which means they’ll have to play a doubleheader against the Braves on Monday. This could lead to a travel nightmare, with the possibility of flying from Milwaukee to Atlanta for the doubleheader and then back to Milwaukee for the wild-card series.
The Braves, meanwhile, made a strategic decision to skip Chris Sale’s start on Friday, instead opting to go with Max Fried, who delivered 8⅔ scoreless innings. This move could pay off, as Sale is now lined up to start the first game of the wild-card series, which would give the Braves a significant advantage.
The Diamondbacks, who lost to the Padres on Friday, are in a precarious position, having lost the season series to both the Mets and Braves. They’ll need to win out and hope for some help from other teams to secure a wild-card spot.
In the American League, the Tigers and Royals have clinched the final two wild-card spots, with the Tigers holding a one-game lead over the Royals for the fifth seed. The Orioles, meanwhile, have clinched the fourth seed and will host the wild-card series.
Shohei Ohtani continues to make history, reaching 99 extra-base hits on the season, the most since 2001. He’s also closing in on the Triple Crown, just four points behind Luis Arraez’s.313 batting average.
Other statistical races to watch include Aaron Judge’s pursuit of 60 home runs, Sale and Tarik Skubal’s bids for the pitching Triple Crown, and Bobby Witt Jr.’s attempt to hold on to the AL batting title.
As the season comes to a close, several veterans are saying goodbye, including Joey Votto, Kevin Kiermaier, and Charlie Blackmon, who have all announced their retirements. It’s been an incredible season, and the final weekend promises to be just as exciting.
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