The National League Wild Card is getting more intense as the season winds down. That's the point, no? Get a bunch of teams who can't finish in first, but have performed well enough throughout the year and give them a chance to get into the playoffs. Who are the teams trying to write their 2011 Cinderella story? Check out the top dogs and contenders in the N.L. Wild Card entering Friday's games.
Pittsburgh Pirates 2.5 Game Lead
Cincinnati Reds: 75-59
Arizona Diamondbacks: 6 GB
Washington Nationals 6.5 GB
Okay, so the competition isn't really there yet. However, it's interesting to look at the Nationals as they hold the fourth and final truly competitive spot in the Wild Card. The month of August has treated the Nations very well. They are 16-9 in August, while winning eight of their last nine. The problem with the Nationals is that they dug themselves in a huge hole. Despite their success, they are still 13 games back in the N.L. East and the Atlanta Braves haven't been the most dominant team in August as their players are falling like flies.
The N.L. Central looks like the favorite to walk out with both Wild Card spots this year. The Reds have been struggling as of late, but they are 16 games above .500 and their team looks stronger than both the Diamondbacks and the Nationals.
The Pirates are certainly happy to be in the playoffs, but they're gunning for first place in the N.L. Central division. They trail the St. Louis Cardinals by just a game and both teams hook up for a nice little three-game series at PNC Park. What happens over the weekend could tilt the division one way as the month of September is less than 72 hours away.
