MLB Pennant Race 2024: 14 Days Left and So Much on the Line

We are now in the heart of the month of September; two weeks left in the 2024 MLB season, and still, not one of the 12 postseason berths has been snatched up. However, three additional teams have seen their seasons come to an end: the Los Angeles Angels, the Washington Nationals, and the Oakland Athletics. The A's last postseason came during that COVID-affected 2020 campaign, while the Nationals haven't played October baseball since winning the World Series in 2019. As for the Angels, they have the longest drought among the three teams; this is their tenth straight year without a postseason.

As for the rest of the teams in the hunt, it's getting very interesting. The Magic Numbers are shrinking...some faster than others.

First to Ninety

The Philadelphia Phillies finally appear to have a bit of a stranglehold on National League East, as their latest series win over the New York Mets has increased their division lead to nine games--a lead they have over the Mets and the Atlanta Braves. In addition, the Phillies became the first team to reach 90 wins this season, though they and the Dodgers are the only teams who are eligible to win 100 games, though it doesn't look like we'll see a 100 win team this year. The Phillies have 59 losses, meaning that they can't lose more than three games. The Dodgers have 61 losses, meaning that they can't lose more than once. Not counting the shortened 2020 season, the last full season to have no 100 win teams was 2014.

The Phillies lost the season series to the Braves, but they currently lead the season series over the Mets, 6-3. Their magic number to clinch the NL East is five.

What's Next: The Phillies will spend the penultimate week of the season on the road, beginning with three games in Milwaukee, followed by a final regular season series against the Mets. The team can lock up the division before the upcoming weekend ends.

Start Spreading the News

Part of an amazing sports day for this fan included the New York Yankees winning the last game of this year's season series against the Red Sox, and that win not only clinched the season series for the Bronx Bombers, the win eliminated Boston from the division race (not that the Sox had a chance in hell of winning it anyway). The Yankees that we know, the team that strikes fear in the hearts of the other 29 fanbases, are here to stay. We are winning games left and right, we're winning series, and most of all, Aaron Judge's HR drought is over.

Thanks to the Baltimore Orioles continuing to slip, the Yankees have a three game lead in the American League East. Our magic number to lock up the division is down to 10, but regarding just getting in, the Yankees can lock up a spot in just a matter of days.

What's Next: The Yankees will head west this upcoming week, playing three in Seattle followed by three in Oakland. As for the Orioles, they'll host the Giants and Tigers this upcoming week. After they finish their respective series, the two teams will face each other one more time this season at Yankee Stadium, and that could decide the AL East.

A 50/50 Chance?

The aforementioned Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a close race in the National League West, but before I talk about that, I want to talk about Shohei Ohtani. You know, there have been many members of the 30/30 club, and there have been a few 40/40 guys as well. However, 50/50? Never been done. Ohtani has a chance to become the very first player to rack up 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, in his very first year with the Dodgers. The team has 13 games left, still enough time for Ohtani to hit two more homers and steal three more bags.

As for the team, the Dodgers have a 3.5 game lead in the NL West over the San Diego Padres, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have an outside shot at the division. The Dodgers won the season series against the D'Backs, but lost the series to San Diego. As a result, the Dodgers' Magic Number to win the NL West is 10.

What's Next: The Dodgers will finish their series in Atlanta, but after that, they have quite the cushy remaining schedule. Three games in Miami, followed by a weekend home set against the lowly Rockies, then a home series against the Padres before ending their regular season in Denver.

We have two weeks, that's 14 days, left in the 2024 MLB season. There is still a lot left to decide, and we should see some of it locked up and decided during this penultimate week of the season. I know I'll be excited, especially since part of that goodness could include the Yankees getting in!

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