The MLB regular season only has two more months remaining. This means teams will have less than 60 games to catch fire and make a run in their divisions if they intend on making the 2013 MLB Playoffs. Here are the standings with leaders, contenders and pretenders as the month of August kicks off the penultimate month of baseball.
St. Louis Cardinals
At 62-44, the Cardinals have truly fallen from their glory. They are losers of seven straight, surrendering first place in the N.L Central. Teams will have their chance to make a move on the Cardinals as Yadier Molina is now on the disabled list with a sprained right knee. He's their leader on offense and the other half making the Cardinals' starting rotation as great as it has been in 2013.
Cincinnati Reds
At 60-49, the Reds are eyeing the Cardinals. They trail by 3.5 games, holding the second spot in the Wild Card race. They haven't played much better than the Cardinals, but at least they haven't lost seven straight games. The Reds did not make a move before the trade deadline. It will be interesting to see if they have enough talent to take over the Wild Card or even remain in the race.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The D'Backs are four games back of the Reds. Their 55-52 record is far from impressive as the D'Backs play in a N.L. West division that lacks dominance. The Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the division by 2.5 games. Unless the D'Backs can improve their pitching, their best chances of making the playoffs in 2013 will be by winning the division. The Reds look too strong, so their best hope might lie in the Cardinals completely choking as the season comes to a close.
Washington Nationals
A lot of people in baseball believe in the Nationals. They think they can somehow recuperate their form and once again be the great team that won 95 games last season. At 52-56, however, the Nationals' playoff chances are dimming. They are 7.5 games behind the Reds and 11 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East. They are young, talented and fairly healthy. Do they have what it takes to complete a comeback?
Start the clock. Will the Cardinals play in their second straight N.L. Wild Card game or will they overtake the Pittsburgh Pirates? Can the Reds hold on to second place for a dramatic N.L. Central matchup in the N.L. Wild Card Game?
