MLB Playoff Standings Begin to Take Shape
The 2024 MLB season is heating up as the playoff picture starts to become clearer. With the All-Star break and trade deadline behind us, teams are now focused on securing their spots in the postseason. The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies are leading their respective leagues, while the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are close contenders aiming to overtake the top spots.
American League Playoff Picture
In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles hold the No. 1 seed with a record of 70-49, earning them a first-round bye. The Cleveland Guardians follow closely as the No. 2 seed with a 69-49 record, also securing a first-round bye. The Houston Astros (62-55) will face the Kansas City Royals (65-53) as the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees (70-49) will compete against the Minnesota Twins (65-52) as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.
National League Playoff Picture
In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies lead with a 69-48 record, securing the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. The Los Angeles Dodgers follow as the No. 2 seed with a 68-49 record, also earning a first-round bye. The Milwaukee Brewers (67-50) will face the Atlanta Braves (61-55) as the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. The San Diego Padres (66-53) will compete against the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-53) as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.
Key Races to Watch
One of the most exciting races to watch is the battle for the No. 1 seed in the American League between the Orioles and the Yankees. The Orioles have recently held the top spot, but the Yankees, who had a mid-season slump, have recovered and are now in contention. A crucial series between these two teams in the second-to-last week of the regular season could be decisive.
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves are in a vulnerable position due to injuries to key players like Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr.. This has put their postseason hopes at risk, with the Mets, Giants, and Cardinals close behind. The Los Angeles Dodgers might face a wild-card series despite being preseason favorites for the NL West due to inconsistent performance since July. The Dodgers are only slightly ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks, who could potentially steal the division if the Dodgers falter at season’s end.
World Series Odds Update
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the favorites to win the 2024 World Series with odds of +360. Their recent acquisition of Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers is seen as a positive move to keep them on track. The Atlanta Braves have experienced a significant drop in their odds, now at +2000, down from +1200 over the last two weeks. At the beginning of the season, their odds were as short as +450. From August 3 to August 11, the Braves lost seven out of eight games.
Updated odds for other teams as of August 12 include the New York Yankees at +500, the Philadelphia Phillies at +600, the Baltimore Orioles at +800, and the Cleveland Guardians at +1100. The Houston Astros are at +1200, the Minnesota Twins at +1400, and both the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers at +1600. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves are both at +2000, while the Seattle Mariners are at +2500. The Kansas City Royals are at +2800, the New York Mets at +5500, the Boston Red Sox at +7500, the St. Louis Cardinals at +10000, and the San Francisco Giants at +12000.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled Jordan Walker from Triple-A Memphis. Walker had an impressive rookie season in 2023 and was hitting .349 with three home runs and five RBIs in 10 games in August before his recall. He started the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Cardinals but struggled initially, hitting just .155 over his first 20 games. After being sent back to Triple-A, he ended his rookie season with a .276 average, 16 home runs, and 51 RBIs over 117 MLB games.
The Cardinals have also placed Matt Carpenter on the 10-day injured list due to a lower back strain. The move is retroactive to August 9, and Carpenter is expected to return around August 19. Lance Lynn is dealing with right knee inflammation after landing awkwardly during a start on July 23. He was placed on the injured list on July 31 but has been making progress by throwing long tosses and playing catch off the mound as of August 9.
The Kansas City Royals have placed Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list due to mid-back tightness, retroactive to August 7. Harvey has not pitched since last Sunday against the Tigers. The Royals avoided using him this week after he felt a tweak in his back. Michael Massey was scratched from the lineup due to back tightness on August 10. Massey has dealt with back issues throughout his career, requiring two IL stints this year.
Atlanta Braves’ Struggles
The Atlanta Braves experienced their worst stretch of baseball since becoming relevant again in the 2018 season. They failed in multiple aspects of big league baseball over the past week, sometimes shockingly and other times predictably. This poor performance began with a close 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins last weekend. Despite expectations that Max Fried’s return from the IL would lead to a win, the Braves lost 7-0 to the Marlins.
The goodwill from a series win in Milwaukee evaporated after losing a series to a historically dominated and diminished Marlins team post-All-Star Break. The Braves then suffered one of their worst three-game beatdowns at Truist Park since it opened in 2017, losing all three games against Milwaukee (10-0, 8-5, and 16-7). Positives included signs of life at the plate after being shut out for two consecutive nine-inning games for the first time in a decade.
A trip to Colorado seemed perfect for offensive recovery but was disastrous for the pitching staff due to Coors Field’s extreme environment. The Braves’ offense showed flashes of life with notable performances from players like Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler, Sean Murphy, Travis d’Arnaud, and Matt Olson during the Colorado series. However, any offensive goodwill was wiped out by poor pitching and defense as they gave up 23 runs over the weekend.
Hot MLB Prospects to Watch
Several hot MLB prospects are making waves in the minor leagues. Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs is a well-rounded prospect with a strong swing, capable of hitting for contact and power. He has recently been promoted to Triple-A after a nine-game hitting streak. Brandon Sproat of the New York Mets has an advanced repertoire, including a fastball touching the upper ’90s. He recently pitched five scoreless innings with thirteen strikeouts.
Dalton Rushing of the Los Angeles Dodgers has decent contact skills with major power potential. He went nine-for-twenty-three with four home runs and nine RBIs last week. Travis Sykora of the Washington Nationals has exceeded expectations with a fastball touching triple digits, complemented by a solid slider and splitter. He recently pitched five hitless innings with eight strikeouts. Mikey Romero of the Boston Red Sox is productive at the plate with a high K/BB ratio. He recently went twelve-for-twenty-five with three home runs and eleven RBIs.
In summary, the past week in MLB has been filled with significant developments, from playoff standings and World Series odds to injury updates and hot prospects. As the season progresses, fans can expect more exciting moments and crucial games that will shape the postseason landscape.
