The MLB Standings show chess matches in all the divisions. The Boston Red Sox are pulling away, limiting teams in the A.L. East to make a playoff run solely through the Wild Card. The Oakland Athletics continue to take advantage of an unproductive Texas Rangers team in the A.L. West. Here are all the standings entering Thursday morning as the month of September is almost half way done.
A.L. East: Red Sox 9.5-Game Lead
After going 8-2 in their last 10 games, the Red Sox are setting themselves apart from the pack. They almost have a double-digit lead over the second-place Rays, trimming their magic number down to eight. The New York Yankees are making a run, surpassing the Baltimore Orioles in the standings and taking over third place. The Yankees are now just a game behind the Rays.
A.L West: Athletics 3.0-Game Lead
The Rangers offense is struggling and the A's are taking advantage. The Rangers were swept by a hungry Pittsburgh Pirates team trying to make the playoffs. The good or bad news for the Rangers is that they host the Athletics over the weekend in a three-game series that begins Friday. This could be a division-changer depending on the results.
N.L. East: Atlanta Braves 11-Game Lead
It can't be happening again... can it? The Braves are 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Washington Nationals are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Their 16-game lead is now down to 11. Will the Braves choke once again and repeat their 2011 season? Their magic number is currently seven, but they might have to win all those games because the Nationals are on a five-game winning streak. The good news is that the Braves' schedule lightens up. They have the series against the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
N.L. West: Los Angeles Dodgers 12-Game Lead
The Dodgers are winning some and losing some nowadays. They are six games away from clinching their division, but the Arizona Diamondbacks prevented their elimination number from decreasing after the defeating the Dodgers 4-1 behind Patrick Corbin.
A.L. Central: Detroit Tigers 6.5-Game Lead
The Tigers are taking advantage of the Cleveland Indians' struggles, but the Kansas City Royals are making a run. The Royals are the hottest team in the division, going 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are just half a game behind the Indians and though their chances of catching up the Tigers are pretty slim, the Royals have hope in the A.L. Wild Card.
N.L. Central: St. Louis Cardinals 85-60 1-Game Lead
The tightest division in baseball is the N.L. Central. The Cardinals are just one game up on the Pirates, while the Cincinnati Reds are just two games behind the Pirates. This race might go down to the wire as both teams are chasing after the Cardinals in the division.