With just four days left in the regular season there are some exciting playoff races shaping up.
NL West - It looks like Dunn won't to get experience playoff baseball again this season after the D-Backs blew a 4.5 game lead in the division with just a month to go. The D-Backs now trail the Dodgers in the NL West by four games with just four games remaining. The Dodgers would have to lose their final four games and the D-Backs win their final four just to force a one game playoff.
NL East - The Phillies lead the Mets by 1.5 games. The Mets host the Cubs today while the Phillies are off. A Mets loss drops them two back with three remaining while a win moves them to just a game back. The Phillies play the Nationals over the weekend.
NL Wild Card - The Mets and Brewers are tied in the WC. The Mets will host the Cubs today and then the Marlins over the weekend. The Brewers play the Pirates tonight and then host the Cubs over the weekend. The question is will Sweet Lou play his starters or rest them up for the playoffs?
In the American League three teams have already clinched playoff berths. The Angles clinched the AL West a couple weeks ago. The Rays and Red Sox have both clinched playoff berths as well. The Rays lead the Sox in the AL East by three games with four remaining - one more Rays win or one more Red Sox loss means the Rays clinch the East. The last time the Red Sox or Yankees didn't win the Al East was 1997 when the Orioles won it.
The AL Central is perhaps the most exciting race of the bunch. Just two days ago the White Sox led the Twins by 2.5 games with six remaining and had a big three series coming up in Minnesota. If the Sox were to win just one of those games it would pretty much lockup the Central. Fast forward to today and the Twins have taken the first two and now trail the White Sox by only a half game in the Central. A Twins win today moves them into first place and puts Griffey and the Sox in danger of missing the playoffs. The remaining schedule favor the Twins - the Twins will host the Royals over the weekend while the Sox would play the hot Indians. The White Sox also have a makeup game they may have to play Monday against the Tigers.
About a month ago it looked like Dunn and Griffey would both get to experience playoff baseball this season but now Dunner and the D-Backs are all but eliminated and Griffey and the Sox are in danger.