Of the 15 teams in contention for playoff berths, only 10 will make it to the post season. Sure the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers look like shoo-ins for October, but which teams will be looking in from the outside?
If you consider strength of schedule, then the Oakland A’s definitely have the toughest road to the playoffs.
After this weekend’s series in Seattle, the Green and Gold will be playing the Yankees, Rays and White Sox in the weeks ahead, plus seven games against the Texas Rangers.The A’s opponents have a .548 winning percentage, which is tops in the American League. Add in the likely season-ending injuries to Brandon McCarthy and Brandon Inge — and the Oakland Athletics look like a long-shot to make the playoffs — but these guys have been overperforming all season long, so you can never count them out.
By contrast, the Detroit Tigers have the easiest schedule of all playoff contenders.
Their opponents have a winning percentage of just .474, which is significant down the stretch.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the toughest schedule, as their opponents have a .534 winning percentage.
The San Francisco Giants have the fourth toughest schedule ahead, facing teams with a .472 winning percentage.
By contrast, the St. Louis Cardinals have the easiest schedule, playing 9 straight games vs. the lowly Chicago Cubs and hapless Houston Astros in mid-September.
Here’s how Sports Illustrated ranks the playoff contenders in terms of strength of schedule:
American League:
Team SOS
1. A’s 0.548
2. Angels 0.533
3. Rays 0.525
4. Rangers 0.520
5. Orioles 0.506
6. Yankees 0.485
7. White Sox 0.477
8. Tigers 0.474
National League
Team SOS
1. Dodgers 0.534
2. Nationals 0.500
3. Braves 0.494
4. Giants 0.472
5. Pirates 0.469
6. Reds 0.467
7. Cardinals 0.464
I’m picking the Yankees, Rangers and Tigers to win their divisions and I like the White Sox chances for the Wild Card in the American League, along with my dark horse pick, the Angels for other slot.
In the National League, I’ll take the Nats, Reds and Giants as division winners, with the Braves and Cardinals for the Wild Card slots.
I’d love to hear your thoughts…