October is right around the corner. This is one of the most exciting times of the year for baseball fans. But before the playoffs, many teams’ fates will be decided in the last few months of the season. In the American League, there are a few playoff spots yet to be decided.
Here are three teams who will have the best final stretch to their season.
Houston Astros
This team, who had arguably the most productive trade deadline, definitely deserves to be in the top three. Before the trade deadline, the Astros looked great, but now they look almost unstoppable. They dealt three of their top five prospects to Arizona for a former Cy Young pitcher in Zack Greinke. Whether or not this was a good long-term move will be determined in the future, but for now, it seems like a good one to help Houston sweep the postseason.
With a stacked team of hitters, led by Alex Bregman’s 29 home runs and .404 on-base percentage, the Astros seem to keep advancing in the standings. The Astros have Bregman, a star in his third full season of MLB play, and 2019 All-Stars George Springer and Michael Brantley to back up the hitting and fielding side of baseball.
On the pitching side, the Astros have three other All-Stars. Gerrit Cole received his third selection, while Justin Verlander was picked for the eighth time. Along with the two veterans was Ryan Pressly, playing in his first All-Star game. Verlander leads the team with 15 wins and a 2.81 ERA, while Pressly has a team-best 24 holds. Cole has produced good work as well this season with 226 strikeouts in 156.2 innings.
If this World Series-ready team can keep it together, they have a very realistic shot at being baseball’s 2019 champs.
New York Yankees
The Bronx Bombers have one of the most successful histories in baseball, and they seem to be in a good position to make some new history this year. With players like Domingo German, the virtually unknown pitcher who is making a fair case for American League Cy Young, the Yankees have their strength from unlikely places. German, who is having a magical season, leads MLB in wins with 16 — despite starting only 20 games so far. This year is by far his breakout season, and German is pitching with a .889 win percentage.
They have players like D.J. LeMahieu, who is batting .338 with 154 hits and 83 RBI. The Yankees also have Gleyber Torres, who is especially known for his hot hitting against the Orioles this season. As a matter of fact, the entire Yankees lineup has done particularly well against Baltimore.
This season, the Yankees have gone 17-2 against the Orioles, inlcuding an active stint of 16 straight wins. The Yankees have hit 43 home runs in only 10 games at Camden Yards this year, and the team is collectively batting .320 in Baltimore.
The Yankees’ starting pitching staff has been doing a good job setting the bullpen up for wins. With last year’s ace, Luis Severino, and big-time reliever, Dellin Betances, nearing their returns, the pitching in the Bronx can only get better.
The Yankees are already on pace to have a historic season, and now they are focused on having a long and successful run in the postseason.
Los Angeles Angels
This is a slightly surprising one, as the Angels are currently in fourth place in the American Leauge West. They are 18.5 games behind the first-place Astros and almost fully out of playoff contention. With a once-in-a-generation player in Mike Trout, you would think that Los Angeles would be at least fighting for a place in the postseason.
As the six-time Silver Slugger leads the AL with 41 home runs, he seems to be holding up more than his weight for the team. Batting .298 with a 1.112 OPS, Trout is making a good case for his third AL MVP award.
Pitching is a struggle for the Angels, as their arms currently own a 5.10 ERA. Having lost one of their big signings, Shohei Ohtani, to Tommy John Surgery, they need some of their other players to step up big time. Ohtani is doing fairly well as a hitter with 15 home runs and 50 runs batted in over the course of just 308 at-bats.
On top of that, they were plagued with the tragic death of their starter, Tyler Skaggs. After that tough moment for the team, they have gone 18-21, which is about on-point with their 2019 season.
