MLB Pennant Race 2024: Seven Days and Six Nights

Well, baseball fans, this is it. We have reached the final week of the 2024 MLB season. Baseball, for over a century, has always been a marathon, but it's now about to end. We have just seven days left in the regular season, but there is still quite a bit to piece together.

First, let's talk about the eliminations. A lot of teams saw their seasons come to an end in the last week, but one big one was the Texas Rangers. The Rangers entered this season as the defending World Champions, having won last year's Fall Classic. On September 20, the Rangers were one of three teams who were eliminated on that very day, bringing an up-and-down campaign full of injuries and faulty play to an end. So the repeat drought continues; no back-to-back champions since the New York Yankees' three-peat from 1998-2000.

As for postseason clinches, there are seven days left, and that's also how many postseason spots remain. In the American League, the Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians locked in spots, with the Guardians later winning the American League Central on September 21. In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers are officially in, with the Brewers winning the National League Central on September 18. As for seeding, nothing is locked in, but we know the Brewers and Indians will host their first series.

As for the rest, here goes:

Magic Number One

The Yankees continue to capitalize on the Baltimore Orioles' slide, and we enter the final week with a whopping six game lead in the American League East. It was close entering the month of September, but the Yankees have been winning at the right time, all while the O's have been losing games at the wrong time. Regarding our Magic Number to win the AL East, it's one. One sweet win away from taking the East. Here's the kicker. The Yankees have also clinched a better record than the Houston Astros, so we will also get a first-round bye with our next win. As for having the best record in the American League, our Magic Number for that is three.

What's Next: The Yankees' final week will be spent at home; a three-game set against the aforementioned Orioles, followed by a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates to end the regular season. The Yankees can clinch the AL East with just one victory over the O's.

The Wonderful Thing About Tigers

I am ashamed that in my previous four weekly recaps, I've never once mentioned the Detroit Tigers. They have really made some waves in the last month or so. How many waves? They are above the playoff line. It's amazing what is happening in Detroit sports. The Lions are damn good, the Red Wings are up and coming, and here come the Tigers, passing the Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card race. Detroit is one game up on the Twins, and they are tied with the immensely struggling Kansas City Royals--who have lost seven straight games. So what's the Tigers' Magic Number? It's six. I sense that number shrinking quickly. Here's why:

What's Next: The Tigers will spend the final week of the season at home, and they have quite a cushy schedule. A three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays, and a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox--the same White Sox who have lost one hundred and twenty games this year. Oh boy. Methinks the Twins are screwed.

Head-to-Head

It's the final week of the season, and despite the drama, the faulty play, and the insanity, the New York Mets are in the thick of the postseason race. The Wild Card race is basically the only bit of excitement in the National League right now, but even then, it's not all of the teams snagging all of the intrigue. The San Diego Padres are definitely October-bound; their Magic Number is one. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, and the aforementioned Mets are in a tight race, and as it stands, the Mets and D'Backs have the same record, while the Braves are the only team left who is behind the playoff line. The Mets' Magic Number is five, and they have a very important week ahead of them.

What's Next: The Mets will start the final week in Atlanta for a very pivotal three-game set with the Braves, and then they will end the regular season with a weekend set against against the Brewers in Milwaukee. If the Mets sweep the Braves series, they will be in the postseason.

We are down to the final week of the regular season. It will be a spectacular end to this amazing regular season, and I am all ready for final week. Regarding the title of this recap, it's because on the final day--September 29--will see all of the games start at the same time: 3PM Eastern/Noon Pacific. So no night games on that final day. The final seven days will be absolutely spectacular, and that's a fact!