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With action set to begin again after the AS break, we’re just around the corner from the deadline, dog days and the stretch run, so it may be a good time to take a look at what may or may not be in store regarding the races for the six division titles.
In the NLC, I’d have to sat that the Brewers have asserted themselves as the team that in all likelihood will win the division. They completely outclassed the Cardinals in the games played this season between the two teams so, having watched all those games, I was really impressed with their team.
In the NLE, I fully expect the Phillies to take command of first place in that division before too very long and then go on to secure their third consecutive division title.
The NLW is a tough call, but I’m sticking with the Dodgers…
In the ALE, I continue to expect that the Yankees will eventually overtake that Rays and hang on to win that division. The Rays resume action with four games at Fenway with the Red Sox who’ve reeled off 9 consecutive W’s to lift themselves into contention for an ALWC after a horrendous start to the season. The Yankees won’t get any bargains either as they get 3 games at home with the Dodgers to get underway after the break.
The ALC continues to be wide open with the Twins emerging to make it a three team race. I wouldn’t at all mind seeing the surprising White Sox win that division, but I still think the Indians will take home their third consecutive division title.
And finally, the ALW is up for grabs, but I still think the Astros will eventually occupy first place and then outlast the Rangers and Mariners to win that division. Obviously, they’ll need to get some quality pitching to do so, but I think that Yordan Alvarez is the most dangerous hitter in the game right now. In my estimation, he’s the sort of hitter that can carry a team on his back for weeks at a time and I think there’s a good chance he’ll do that down the stretch run.
In any case, everyone’s welcome to consult with their favorite baseball gypsy and then offer up what the clear or not so clear visions of the future are around the league…
I’m in agreement with all your picks except for the NL East. I think the Braves will get some of their guys back from the IL and pull out the division.
I also am soooper impressed with the Brewers. For a small/midmarket team what they do consistently amazes me.
Those are pretty close to being right in line with my guesses, gscottar. I neglected to pick any WC’s simply because I was concerned that my brain would explode if I thought about the countless WC possibilities this early…I decided to wait ’til a little later on to consult with the baseball gypsies on the WC’s. I’ll most likely come to some sort of a definite conclusion on the last day of the regular season…Haha!
I think the Crew, Boys in Blue, and Braves take their NL divisions. The Phillies could certainly sink Atlanta, but I am going to hold on the Bravos.
I will be attending a White Sox – Yankees tilt in a couple of weeks and am hoping the surprising Pale Hose can win the ALC. But those Guardians are a bit like the Brewers, in that they just seem to have a winning culture. My heart goes to the Sox, but my head says the Guards will take command.
My heart goes with Seattle in the ALW, abs I am going to put my mind there as well and say their pitching will put them at the top.
“I also am soooper impressed with the Brewers. For a small/midmarket team what they do consistently amazes me”
Cub fan here, agree, and at least up until the last few years I would say the same for the Cardinals, not that St. Louis is a small market but not Chicago either.
And for Cardinal fans still thinking PCA is overrated, his WAR is now ahead of Ohtani. Carry on.
Tough to say if PCA has another huge prolonged slump in him this year, but rest assured another one is most likely coming. He’s already experienced two in his short career. And these are not your garden variety slumps. They are so prolonged in length that “slump” really doesn’t adequately describe them. Now if he could just limit his yearly “super slump” to just a “slump”, his offensive numbers would literally be off the charts. Being a Cardinals fan, I hope this never occurs.
As far as a PCA-Ohtani comparison goes, right now I’d rather have Ohtani. This is as long as Ohtani keeps pitching. The future is bright for PCA though. I’d revisit my thoughts the next few years because eventually Ohtani will decline, or discontinue pitching.
I’m a little surprised that Alvarez isn’t getting more press coverage as he leads the AL in all three TC categories and he’s nowhere near to slowing down. In his last 5 games he’s 9 for 20 with 3 HR’s, 5 RBI’s and 6 runs scored. The Astros are 4-1 in those 5 games. He’s been doing all the heavy lifting for the Astros for the last 9 weeks.
The hottest team in baseball lately have been the Boston Red Sox. They are going to have to be reckoned with over in the weak AL.
I don’t think PCA is overrated. He is by far the best player the Cubs have. The problem the Cubs have is they don’t have enough talent around him to deal with the Dodgers or the Brewers in the playoffs unless they pull off something big at the deadline. The Cubs are a good team but not a great team. At least right now.
I’d have to say that it remains to be seen whether or not he’s overrated. He’s still well below 1500 AB’s and has yet to play in 400 Big League baseball games.
Yeah, at 22-2 the Red Sox have been blistering hot a lot longer than lately and it’s safe to say that the Cardinals have stoked that intense heat with Contreras and Gray.
Those Red Sox have moved into an AL wild card slot, tied with the Guardians.
Also our club is playing the worst of any NLC team right now and the Bucs have jumped just above us. Arenado’s D-Backs have the last NL wild card spot at this point. We have certainly helped them along.
And the White Sox continue to be the overwhelming surprise success story of the ’26 season. Over in the NL, the Braves have pulled out of a steep dive and back to a reasonably comfortable 5.5 game lead after it looked like the Phillies were ready to overtake the top spot in the NLE. I don’t know how many head to head games they still have with the Phillies, but it now looks more like the Braves have a decent chance to hang on to 1st place in that division. And a little closer to home, despite an extended stretch of lackluster baseball, the Cardinals remain the only team in the entire Big Leagues that have avoided a W/L record below .500 at any point of the ’26 season thus far. They’ll have to hang a W up on the board tonight to stave off being in a position to sink below sea level during this 3 game series vs. the Reds.
“The problem the Cubs have is they don’t have enough talent around him to deal with the Dodgers or the Brewers in the playoffs unless they pull off something big at the deadline. The Cubs are a good team but not a great team. At least right now.”
I would agree with that, no illusions here.
“Yeah, at 22-2 the Red Sox have been blistering hot a lot longer than lately and it’s safe to say that the Cardinals have stoked that intense heat with Contreras and Gray.”
I just noticed the other day Contreras is having a massive year, maybe due to the Green Monster, did the Cardinals get anyone good for him?
“Tough to say if PCA has another huge prolonged slump in him this year, but rest assured another one is most likely coming. He’s already experienced two in his short career. And these are not your garden variety slumps. They are so prolonged in length that “slump” really doesn’t adequately describe them. Now if he could just limit his yearly “super slump” to just a “slump”, his offensive numbers would literally be off the charts. Being a Cardinals fan, I hope this never occurs.”
I know you guys don’t want to hear this, but PCA just keeps getting better. His BBs this year have gone from terrible to above average, he was NL Player of the Month last month, and is a legitimate MVP candidate. On track for 30+ HRs, 100 RBIs, 40+ SBs, and doing things defensively nobody has ever done before. 4 for 5 tonight include 2 2Bs and a HR, now hitting .291. Taking some of the sting out of the disastrous Bregman signing.
Paul – They got Dobbins, Fajardo, and Aita for him. I have Fajardo as our number 3 best pitching prospect – he’s at least top 5. Aita has had a good season as a starter as well, but probably projects as an up and down starter or reliever long term. Dobbins is the team’s current up and down starter. They also got the Red Sox to take most of Contreras’ remaining salary. A pretty fair deal all around.
As for PCA, I think he’s legit. The guy can flat out play, and does everything well. I hope Wetherholt is our version of PCA in a couple of years. JJ seems like that same type of player.
I’ll continue rooting against the Mets. I have never liked them but how poor their management is is just fun to root against. They make bone headed decisions like handing the Cubs a gift in PCA.
My predictions
NLE – Braves
NLC – Brewers
NLW – DodgersWild Cards – Phillies, Cubs, Dbacks
ALE – Red Sox
ALC – Guardians
ALW – MarinersWild Cards – Rays, Yankees, Astros
The Mariners talent wise feel like the best in the AL West, but they just can’t seem to put it together. I’m going with the Red Sox staying hot with former Cards leading the way.
NL East should be a good competition between the Braves and Phillies. Talent wise in the NL the top 4 is Dodgers, Brewers, Phillies, Braves.
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