There are about 30 games or so remaining in the 2021 MLB regular season. There are a few teams like the Brewers and White Sox that have solidified their spot in the playoffs by dominating their divisions. There are still some good divisional races plus the Wild Card spots that have yet to be decided. The final 30 game stretch will be exciting and thrilling, and it should be filled with amazing baseball.

The American League divisional races are not that close especially with what little of the season is left. The Rays hold an 8 game lead in the East, the White Sox have a 10 game lead in the Central, and the closest race has the Astros leading the West by 5 games. I see all 3 teams staying on top of their respective divisions to finish the season. Rays, Astros, and White Sox will be the 2021 American League Division Champions setting up an awesome race for the 2 Wild Card spots. The Yankees and Red Sox are currently on top of the Wild Card standings, the Yankees hold a 2 game lead over the Red Sox. The Athletics lost their spot to Boston but are still only 1 game behind for the second spot. The Mariners and Blue Jays are within 5 games of the Red Sox but unless they put together an outstanding September should be on the outside looking in. I see the Yankees and the Athletics playing in that Wild Card with a shot at playing the Rays in the Divisional.

The National League has two pretty close races and one that is pretty much over. The Brewers lead the Central by 10.5 games and are one of the best teams in the league so I expect them to finish out the season as division champs. The East and the West are wide open. The East has 3 teams all within 5 games of each other with the Braves currently leading by 2.5 games over the Phillies. The West is where the real action is as the two best teams in the league battle it out for the division title. The Giants currently sit a half-game ahead of the Dodgers and both clubs have 84 wins to lead the National League. I see the Braves pulling it out in the East but with the Phillies giving them a hard time all the way to the end of the season. Both teams will need to stay focused or they will cost themselves a playoff spot. I think the Dodgers will eventually surpass the Giants and it could happen tonight or this weekend. The Giants will be cast off to the Wild Card game so they should end up meeting up in the Divisional round. The NL Wild Card is full of contenders trying to get into that final spot. The Dodgers are currently leading by 13 games so the loser of the West will be in the top spot. The Reds, Padres, Phillies, Cardinals, and Mets are all within 5.5 games of each other and should provide an exciting battle down the stretch with the Reds ultimately prevailing and playing the loser of the West.

Next week we will talk about who will win the MVP and Cy Young awards in each league. The standings and Power 8 Rankings are down below.

American League

East Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
Tampa Bay Rays 84 48 9-1 W9
New York Yankees 76 56 6-4 L4
Boston Red Sox 75 59 5-5 L3
Toronto Blue Jays 69 62 5-5 L1
Baltimore Orioles 41 90 3-7 W1
Central  Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
Chicago White Sox 76 56 5-5 W2
Cleveland Indians 65 64 7-3 W2
Detroit Tigers 62 71 4-6 L4
Kansas City Royals 59 72 6-4 L2
Minnesota Twins 58 74 4-6 L1
West Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
Houston Astros 78 54 6-4 L1
Oakland Athletics 73 59 4-6 W3
Seattle Mariners 71 62 5-5 W1
Los Angeles Angels 66 67 4-6 W3
Texas Rangers 47 85 5-5 W3
Austin Meadows has helped the Rays to the best record in the AL and tied for best record in the Majors.

National League

East  Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
Atlanta Braves 70 61 5-5 L2
Philadelphia Phillies 68 64 6-4 W5
New York Mets 65 67 4-6 W3
Washington Nationals 55 76 2-8 L4
Miami Marlins 55 78 4-6 L1
Central Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
Milwaukee Brewers 81 52 7-3 W3
Cincinnati Reds 71 63 4-6 L4
St. Louis Cardinals 68 63 6-4 W2
Chicago Cubs 58 75 4-6 W1
Pittsburgh Pirates 48 84 5-5 L1
West  Wins Losses Last 10 Streak
San Francisco Giants 84 48 6-4 L3
Los Angeles Dodgers 84 49 7-3 W2
San Diego Padres 71 62 4-6 W2
Colorado Rockies 60 72 4-6 L2
Arizona Diamondbacks 44 90 3-7 L5
Walker Buehler has led the Dodgers to the brink of returning to first place in the NL West.

Wild Card

AL Wild Card Record GB NL Wild Card Record GB
New York Yankees 76-56 +2 Los Angeles Dodgers 84-49 +13
Boston Red Sox 75-59 - San Diego Padres 71-62 -
Oakland Athletics 73-59 1 Cincinnati Reds 71-63 0.5
Seattle Mariners 71-62 3.5 St Louis Cardinals 68-63 2
Toronto Blue Jays 69-62 4.5 Philadelphia Phillies 68-64 2.5
Rafael Devers has helped Boston get into that second Wild Card spot for now.

League Leaders

Batting Average Home Runs RBI
Nick Castellanos-CIN .317 Shohei Ohtani-LAA 42 Jose Abreu-CHW 102
Michael Brantley-HOU .315 Vladimir Guerrero Jr-TOR 39 Rafael Devers-BOS 97
Yuli Gurriel-HOU .313 Salvador Perez-KC 38 Vladimir Guerrero Jr-TOR 96
Vladimir Guerrero Jr-TOR .313 Fernando Tatis Jr-SD 36 Salvador Perez-KC 94
Jesse Winker-CIN .307 Marcus Semien-TOR 32 Austin Meadows-TB 93
ERA Wins Strikeouts
Walker Buehler-LAD 2.05 Julio Urias-LAD 15 Zack Wheeler-PHI 208
Corbin Burnes-MIL 2.27 Kyle Hendricks-CHC 14 Robbie Ray-TOR 202
Brandon Woodruff-MIL 2.35 Walker Buehler-LAD 13 Gerrit Cole-NYY 200
Kevin Gausman-SF 2.49 Adam Wainwright-STL 13 Corbin Burnes-MIL 189
Max Scherzer-WSH/LAD 2.51 Gerrit Cole-NYY 13 Max Scherzer-WSH/LAD 188

#1 Tampa Bay Rays- 84-48; The defending American League Champs have the best record in the Majors, have won 9 straight games, and look ready to avenge their World Series loss.

#2 Los Angeles Dodgers- 84-49; The defending World Series Champs look back to form as they have caught the Giants and are on the brink of 1st place and the best record in the NL.

#3 Milwaukee Brewers- 81-52; The Brewers have won 3 straight games and 7 of their last 11 and continue to show they are one of the best teams in the NL with solid pitching.

#4 San Francisco Giants- 84-48; The Giants have been on top all season, maybe they falter as the Dodger are only a half game back with a huge weekend series coming up at home.

#5 Houston Astros- 78-55; The Astros have been playing well all season, they are somewhat quietly gearing up for another World Series run.

#6 New York Yankees- 76-56; Trying to hang on to the American League Wild Card lead, but teams are gunning for their spot, they need to stay the course.

#7 Chicago White Sox- 76-56; The White Sox have a double digit lead in the division, they need to get ready for the playoffs and start playing well again.

#8 Boston Red Sox- 75-59; They regain their spot in the Wild Card, but in the American League anything can happen; plus they were just hit by Covid-19.