3-way tie for final two AL Wild Card spots
The Houston Astros, Athletics and Kansas City Royals enter September with identical 75-64 records, creating a three-team race for the final two AL Wild Card spots.
Around the league: standings, stat leaders, rankings, injuries…
For Houston and the Athletics, the path to the postseason likely begins and ends with a Wild Card berth. Both sit a distant 13 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.
Kansas City still has a chance to catch the Detroit Tigers or even overtake the Cleveland Guardians if things fall into place. The Royals will have an opportunity to control their fate with games against Cleveland and Houston down the stretch.
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has helped lead the charge, earning AL Player of the Month honors after batting .364 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 107 at-bats.
Brewers retake control of NL Central
The Milwaukee Brewers closed August on a 9-1 run while the Chicago Cubs stumbled to a 4-6 finish, allowing Milwaukee to take a two-game lead in the NL Central.
The Cincinnati Reds have begun to fade from the division race, falling five games out of first, but remain just two games back of the third NL Wild Card spot.
Chicago won 14 games in August, but Milwaukee won 17, fueling the Brewers’ surge back to the top of the division.
Yankees can’t separate from Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles ended August where they started — just one game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.
New York’s inability to create separation included a five-game losing streak early in the month and another three-game slide midway through August. The rivals are headed toward what could be a pivotal series beginning Sept. 17, when the Yankees host Baltimore for three games.
New York could use more production from center fielder Mike Trout, who has struggled mightily since joining the club in an offseason trade. Trout is batting just .091 over his last 33 at-bats with one RBI.
NL East winner could finish with losing record
The Miami Marlins carry a three-game lead over the Atlanta Braves into the stretch run, but neither team has been able to take firm control of the NL East.
Miami sits just three games above .500, while Atlanta is three games below, creating the possibility that the division champion could finish with a losing record.
The race could swing quickly when the two teams meet for a three-game series beginning Sept. 6.
Injury alert: Ronald Acuna, Jr. will miss the rest of the season after suffered an arm fracture on August 22 in Atlanta’s 1-0 win over the Phillies. It is a big blow to the Braves’ offense and chances of reaching the playoffs as Acuna was leading the team in homers (26), 1st in OBP (.398), 1st in slugging (.556) and OPS (.954).
