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MLB: Here are the teams fighting out for the last Wild Card spots in MLB

darren cooper
By:
Darren Cooper
15/09/2023/
MLB
MLB Sports News

Highlights

  • The Atlanta Braves became the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff spot. The last day of the MLB regular season is Oct. 1.
  • In the American League, the Rangers, Mariners and Blue Jays are fighting for the last two wild card slots.
  • In the National League, there are five teams fighting for last two spots, the Cubs, Reds, Diamondbacks, Giants and Marlins.

In Michigan, it’s been a long baseball season. The only reason to watch the Detroit Tigers for most of the season was to see the final year of Miguel Cabrera’s career. Barring a shocking turnaround, the Tigers will finish under .500 for the seventh straight season.

But American online sportsbooks are popping because there are great playoff chases brewing in both leagues. While just about every division title has been settled, the race for the three Wild Card spots in MLB has never been hotter.

Remember, MLB expanded the playoffs to include six teams apiece in each league: the three division winners and three wild cards. Let’s not even think about what might happen if there’s a tie or two in there.

The National League Race

The wildest race is in the National League where there are five teams fighting for the last two spots. We will assume the Phillies are getting back to the playoffs as the wild card behind the Braves.

Then it gets wild.

The Cubs have a tenuous lead for one of the remaining two spots, then it gets interesting. The Reds (+190 to make playoffs at BetRivers) have been led by rookie Ely De La Cruz and TJ Friendl at the plate. There final four series of the year are against the Twins, Pirates, Guardians and Cardinals. None of those four are in the playoff mix.

The Diamondbacks (+158 at Caesars to make the playoffs) haven’t made the post-season since 2017, but they have a tough final stretch with the Giants, Yankees, White Sox and defending World Series champion Astros.

Speaking of the Giants (+220 at BetRivers) they have a big series with the Diamondbacks starting next week and then have seven games against the Dodgers. The Dodgers will have clinched a spot, but they’ll be thrilled to knock out the Giants if they can.

The Marlins (+170 at BetRivers) have been a sleeper all year, led by Luis Arraez. The pitching has been so-so, but they have an easy finish with the Mets, twice, Brewers and Pirates.

Sizing Up The American League Race

It’s not quite as wild in the American League where there are three teams deadlocked for the final two spots. The Blue Jays (-125 at Caesars) have three pitchers with at least 10 wins, but close with a tough stretch of the Yankees and Rays twice.

Seattle (-380 at Caesars) are looking for a playoff spot for only the sixth time in franchise history. The close with the A’s and Astros.

The Rangers (+340 at Caesars) are a sentimental favorite having not made the playoffs since 2016. Star pitcher Max Scherzer just got hurt. Down the stretch they play Seattle seven times, so you know it’s coming down to that.

They Can Print Playoff Tickets

The Braves have already clinched a playoff spot in the National League, and it looks like the Brewers have enough to win the NL Central. The Dodgers are just a couple of days away from clinching the NL West.

In the American League, Baltimore has a slim lead on the Rays for the AL East, but both are going to make the playoffs. The Twins have a big lead in the AL Central and the Astros have finally put a little distance between themselves and the rest of the AL West.

darren cooper

Born and raised in Louisiana, Darren Cooper has a fond appreciation for bayous, Mardi Gras beads and the sports betting industry. Darren has worked for multiple print and online publications since 1998, primarily as a sports columnist in the Northeast. He’s covered a Super Bowl (it was a blowout), the World Series (same) and the NBA Draft (man, those guys are tall). For the last few years he’s dug deep into the sports gambling industry as it exploded across America, learning how the legal sausage is made and how while all the sportsbooks look the same, they all have different identities and styles. He’s learned to always bet within his means -- and take the under. When not in front of his computer creating, Darren spends time with his three boys. He runs, reads and is always looking for the next big thing to write about.