[ThePundit]

As of today (sunday a.m.) this is what the wild card races look like. Looks like it's a 2 team race in the AL. Although the Tigers now only lead the division by 4 games. If I had to choose, I say the Tigers are the odd team out. The Twins will win the division and the ChiSox the Wild card.

National: What a disaster this race is - I say the Phillies win the wild card and SD overtakes the Dodgers for the division.

What does everybody else think?

American League
W L GB
Minnesota 76 52 --
Chi White Sox 75 54 1.5
Boston 71 58 5.5
LA Angels 69 61 8.0
Toronto 68 61 8.5

National League
W L GB
Cincinnati 67 63 --
San Diego 66 63 0.5
Philadelphia 65 64 1.5
San Francisco 64 66 3.0
Arizona 63 66 3.5
Florida 62 66 4.0
Milwaukee 62 67 4.5
Houston 62 68 5.0
Atlanta 60 68 6.0
Colorado 60 69 6.5

[Lefty Noob]

In the NL, I think the Reds win the Central and the Cards take the Wild Card. Meanwhile, the AL playoff will definitely involve two Central division teams as well - and a lot of it will depend upon Thome's health, I think. Minnesota will lock up one of the spots, with the other doing to Detroit or Chicago.

[MJHMarc]

I think that plenty of these teams have the potential to make the Playoffs this year, but only a few will go. I think the Tigers should make the Playoffs this year, along with the White Sox. The Twins have had too many injuries and I don't think they would advance far even if they did make the Playoffs. Thome is currently injured, but he should be powerful when he returns. As for the NL West, it is a close division. The Dodgers are neck-to-neck with the Padres, but I think that the Dodgers deserve the West. They have succeed while riding their roster with rookies and some veterans. I remember in 2001, when they had both Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield. That was an incredible team, although the Diamondbacks did the best in their division. The Padres can make it through the NL Wild Card, while they battle the invincible Phillies and the surprising Reds. I don't think we will see the Marlins or the Braves (!) in the post-season.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I am a Reds fan...so here is hoping . But I really like to see what Ryan Howard and company can do in a playoff. This kid has had a fantastic year...he could use the post season play to get a bit more recognition.

[MJHMarc]

I was going to see Ryan Howard today at Shea Stadium, but the game was rescheduled for tomorrow, due to the rain shower. Howard is one of the league's most powerful batters totalling 46 homeruns thus far this season. I am pretty sure that he will win the NL MVP Award, despite the incredible numbers that Carlos Beltran has achieved this year.

[EmpireWF]

It's amazing the Marlins are just 4 games out of a potential playoff spot. But the teams I see contending for the NL WC down the stretch include the Reds/Cardinals, Phillies and Padres. Unless a team like the Giants, DBacks, Marlins or Braves can rack off a good sized winning streak.

In the AL, it's only down to the Twins and ChiSox. I'm rooting for the Twins because it'd be great to see Santana/Liriano/Mauer/Morneau in the post-season.

[MJHMarc]

What about Boston? They have two big sluggers who are possibly the AL-MVPs and they don't make the cut. I would consider that very odd since teams with hardly any sluggers make the post-season.

[MLBNY]

Here are my predictions:

AL East Central West Wild Card
Yankees Tigers Athletics White Sox

NL
---Mets Reds Padres Dodgers

AL: I see the Tigers and Twins cooling off while the White Sox get hot come late September, though the Tigers will barely hold on to the division. Yankees will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

NL: The Reds' pitching is what will propell them to the playoffs. The Padres will overtake the West, but the Dodgers will win the wild card just behind them.

World Series: Mets vs. Yankees, Mets win in 7. MVP is David Wright.

[MJHMarc]

That is a great post, MLBNY. I think you have predicted an interesting Subway Series that is hopefully more entertaining than last time! As long as the Dodgers and the Mets get into the Playoffs, I am pleased with your predictions.

David Wright is a stunning player and it is hard to believe how young he is. He always comments how much he loves New York and the fans so I would expect him to finish up his long career with them. I don't see him becoming a huge power-slugger but one who could lead the way with decent numbers at 30+ homeruns.

I simulated his whole career figuring he would play for 18 seasons using an accurate baseball program called, SBS. According to the simulation, David Wright would finish his career off with 538 HRs and close to 1,900 RBIs but of course the last update I have is from alst year. Those are still extremely good numbers to hope for in his lengthly career.

[MVB]

NL Wildcard:

Marlins- A great pitching staff ( Willis, Oleson, etc...), good offense ( Cabrera, Ramirez, Uggla), and a splendid coaching staff ( Girardi). They're my pick!

AL Wildcard:

Tigers- Because the Twins will take over first place in the Central.