Playoffs Take Shape

MBL 2006 Enters Its Final Week

With six games to play, many of the playoff races have been decided with the Gateway Division the lone holdout. The Dodgers are a near certainty to clinch early this week, however, needing only a win or a Cardinals loss to get it done. The Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians have already clinched their divisions.

In the National League, the Cardinals still have an outside shot at the wildcard, but it would require a near total collapse by the Marlins or Senators to get in. St. Louis trails those teams by five and four games, respectively, but concludes the season with a six-game set against the worst team in the league--the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Florida faces rebuilding Houston while the Senators conclude against their hometown rivals, the Nats. The Mariners--at home against Toronto--have already clinched home field advantage through the NLCS.

In the American League, the New York Yankees have clinched home field for the playoffs and can to some degree control their first round opponent because they face the Athletics at the Stadium this week. Oakland currently leads the New York Mets by five games for the final playoff spot and could overtake Boston--currently leading the Athletics by four games--for the top Wild Card. The Red Sox close hosting the Mets at Fenway Park. The Indians, with their fate assured, will probably rest up against the Padres this week in preparation for the playoff opener next week.