Stretch run towards the MLB play-offs has arrived

With two weeks to go for the regular season, Paul Freelend looks at how the divisions are shaping up.

The Kansas City Royals were ahead of the Detroit Tigers, but the tables have turned in the AL Central division. Duane Burleson / Getty Images

After almost seven months, the finish line of the Major League Baseball season is within sight.

For some teams, this is the start of something great; for others, it is a deadline coming all too soon.

Some divisions are all but done and dusted, but as many as four could go down to the wire. Here is a look at the play-off picture with two weeks of the regular season remaining:

American League East

This division is the Baltimore Orioles’ to lose. They are more than 10 games clear of the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees with 14 to play. It would take an epic collapse for Baltimore to miss the play-offs.

Their plans have been complicated by slugger Chris Davis being suspended for 25 games after testing positive for amphetamines, ruling him out of the rest of the regular season and at least one round of the play-offs.

American League Central

A week ago, it looked like the Detroit Tigers were gassed and the Kansas City Royals were on their way to the division title. Now, it looks like the Royals started their finishing kick too soon.

The Royals trail the Tigers by a half-game and have one three-game series in Kansas City to take control of the division. The problem for the Royals is that the Tigers have just as many games against the dregs of the division.

American League West

Even more settled than the AL East, the Los Angeles Angels have left the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in the dust. Oakland have faded fast since trading away big hitter Yoenis Cespedes.

National League East

The Washington Nationals are cruising as the Atlanta Braves, their long-time nemeses, collapse down the stretch and trail by nine-and-a-half games. The Nationals are mashing the ball and pitching well. Their run differential of 115 is the best in the NL.

National League Central

The St Louis Cardinals have rounded into the form most expected of them this season. Shaking off months of indifferent form has coincided with the Milwaukee Brewers plummeting like a stone, while the Pittsburgh Pirates quietly threaten to return to the post-season. The Brewers have three-game series against the two teams ahead of them and must catch fire to make up the five-game gap.

National League West

The Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer the fun-loving, bubble-blowing juggernaut of the early summer. They are near-certainties for the play-offs, but how well they do there is now in question.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants have revived their offence after months of struggle. They sit two games behind the Dodgers, but have all but secured at least a wild-card berth.

REVIEW Teams of the week

Los Angeles Angels – Taking the mantle of best team in baseball and running with it. Won six in a row to end August and have taken 10 of 12 in September.

Houston Astros – Looking revived since Bo Porter was fired as manager on September 1. Are they playing with no pressure, or was something seriously wrong?

Players of the week

Albert Pujols, LA Angels – Struck out four times on Thursday to earn his first career golden sombrero. At a time when nearly every batter strikes out consistently, going 14 years without a four-strikeout game is pretty impressive.

Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox – Eight shutout innings against Oakland lowered his earned-run average to a league-best 1.99. Could emerge as a sneaky alternative to Felix Hernandez for the American League Cy Young Award.

Duds of the week

Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles – With his team winning their division at a canter and on course for the AL Championship Series, slugger gets banned 25 games for amphetamine use. How stupid can you be?

Jeff Wilpon, New York Mets – Executive faces a lawsuit for allegedly harassing the head of marketing and ticket sales, a woman, before firing her last month. Anyone who can get people to buy tickets to Mets games deserves a medal, not unemployment.

PREVIEW

Series of the week

Seattle Mariners at LA Angels, today to Thursday – Mariners must at least split the series in Anaheim to stay in the running for the second AL wild card.

Milwaukee Brewers at St Louis Cardinals, Tuesday to Thursday – Despite their abysmal run of form, Brewers can still squeak into the play-offs, but they must act fast.

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