For two teams, the 2008 season has mathematically come a time to play spoiler and a chance to look at younger players. Those teams of course are the Mariners and the Nationals, who are eliminated in both the Wild Card Race and the Division Race. (The Nationals already have starter their spoiler role by beating the Phillies 2 of 3 games). The Pirates and the Reds are also out of their division, and the Padres are out of the Wild Card. Here are the next few teams expected by elimination number, to fall out of the Wild Card Race:
Royals, 2
Braves, 3
Giants and Pirates, 4
Reds and Orioles, 5
These are the next few teams expected to be out the Division Race:
Orioles, 3
Athletics, Braves, 4
Royals, Padres, 6
The Orioles find themselves on the top of the Division list and gaining ground on the Wild Card Race because of a nice streak they started to build. They are in the midst of a 6 game losing streak, and they play the Wild Card leading Red Sox, so if their losing streak continues, that number should start to free fall. The Padres have been out of the Wild Card for a while, their relatively high Division elimination number just goes to show how bad the NL West is.
Another team joined the three teams that have guranteed themselves winning seasons yesterday. Tampa Bay, Los Angelos (AL), and the Chicago (NL) all have those guarenteed winning seasons, and yesterday's win of the Red Sox over the Orioles have landed the Red Sox in that list with 82 wins.
