September in the NL

By Justin Raley

It is time for September baseball. They say heroes are made in September and legends are made in October. Here is where we find out who is going to step up and lead their team into the playoffs. Every division in the NL is within grasp by multiple teams. The wild card is like a raffle. 5 teams are within 3 games or less of a wild card spot. This final month of the season is going to be absolutely crazy. So many different outcomes can happen and none of the division leaders as of September 1st could be still standing at the end of the month. Get ready for one crazy ending.

Starting off in the NL East. As of August 31st, the Atlanta Braves lead the Philadelphia Phillies by 3 games. The Nationals are out of the picture, so it is a clear fight between the Braves and the Phillies. The Braves have a brutal schedule in September. They start at home with series against the Pirates and the Red Sox, then go to Arizona and San Francisco. Not to mention, matchups against the Cardinals and Nationals. The Phillies will have a little lighter schedule with highlights against the Cubs, Nationals, and Rockies. The big finisher will be the last two weeks of the season. The Braves and Phillies will play each other 7 times. With those games, any deficit can be erased between the two teams. It will be one heck of an ending.

The NL Central is the most separated of the NL divisions. The Cubs lead the Cardinals by 4.5 games and the Brewers by 5 games. I don’t think the Cubs will give up the lead in the central, so if the Cardinals or Brewers want a spot in the playoffs they will have to do so in the form of the wild card game. The Brewers and Cardinals will only play each other 3 times in the month. Both teams will have to have a great month in order to secure a spot. As of August 31st, both teams hold a wild card spot. Although, neither of those spots are secure. The Cardinals have been on fire recently and whoever plays them needs to watch out.

The NL West is like an overcrowded airport. Everyone is trying to get on a flight, but there is only so much room on that plane. There are 3 teams within 2 games of the NL West lead. The Diamondbacks sit at the top with a 1.5 game lead over the Rockies and a 2-game lead over the Dodgers. The division is by no means over. The Diamondbacks have a treacherous September schedule. The will play the Dodgers 5 times, the Rockies 7 times, and the Braves 4 times. The Rockies also have an awful schedule. They will play the Dodgers 6 times, the Diamondbacks 7 times, the Phillies 4 times, and the Nationals 3 times. Of the 3, the Dodgers have the easiest schedule playing the Cardinals 4 times, the Dbacks 5 times, and the Rockies 6 times. There is little room for error in this division. Although, the bright side is that whoever doesn’t win the division, stands a chance to earn a wild card spot. If you enjoy crazy baseball, the NL West is a division to watch this month.

My Predictions

NL East:  The Braves will come out of the NL East and win the division. They will ride the hot bat of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman will heat back up. The struggling Phillies defense will cost them in the end.

NL Central: The Cubs will hold onto the Central lead.

NL West: The Diamondbacks will ride their excellent rotation and bullpen to a NL West title. Not to worry though as the Rockies will show up in October as well.

NL Wild Card: The Cardinals, who have been playing at a ridiculous level lately, will ride their hot streak into the top wild card spot. The Brewers will regret not getting any pitching at the trade deadline as they will fall out of the wild card spot. That spot will be taken by the Rockies, who have been playing well lately with a nasty lineup and a surprisingly good rotation.