Tracking the American League Wildcard Race
By: Tobey Schulman
The American League Wildcard is heating up. With the regular season heading into its final month, the most important push for each team involved is just ahead. Here’s the current list and landscape of teams involved, a bit about what they bring to a possible postseason push, and how they can win this hectic race.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles were for many a favorite to win the American League East, and still very well could. However as of right now, the Yankees are playing some great baseball and have a much easier schedule the rest of the way. They stand as the first wildcard team right now, with the Royals currently trailing behind.
They’re headlined by their young core of homegrown studs. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday are among the most notable names on this Orioles roster for their flashy style of play at such a young age. Combine that with their biggest power threat in Anthony Santander who’s hit 38 home runs so far this season, and other pieces like Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle and Colton Cowser, you have a very tough young team to beat in Baltimore.
The pitching is headlined by former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, and features solid middle of the rotation starters like Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez. If the bullpen holds up and they get Kyle Bradish back to the rotation by October, this is a very solid pitching staff heading into the postseason.
Kansas City Royals/Cleveland Guardians
One of the most interesting teams in this Wildcard race, the Royals have played some incredible baseball at times, and very bad baseball at others. The lineup is certainly now postseason ready. They have an MVP candidate in Bobby Witt Jr., power threats like Vinnie Pasquantino and Hunter Renfroe, alongside leadership from previous World Series champion Salvador Perez.
If their rotation is on, it’s one of the more underrated units across the entire league. Cole Ragans and Brady Singer are two great young arms that have done great things this season, but the highlight is Seth Lugo. The reliever turned starter is currently leading all qualified pitchers on the Royals in ERA and wins with 14 on a 3.19 ERA.
The Guardians are very well known for what they bring to the table. Stars like Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan, Josh Naylor, and David Fry headline a phenomenal lineup that now includes rookie power threat Jhonkensy Noel. If the pitching can hold up until they get to Emmanuel Clase, this division should be Cleveland’s and they certainly have the depth for a deep postseason run.
Minnesota Twins 72-58
The Twins are right in the race and not that far off the division lead for the AL Central. The injury bug hit the Twins this season, and if it hadn’t, they may have been off in a better spot. Star utility-man Willi Castro, catcher Ryan Jeffers and first baseman Carlos Santana helped hold down this Twins unit when injuries struck stars like Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Royce Lewis.
The rotation is solid with Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan. With Simeon Woods-Richardson in the back end of the rotation as well, this is another very underrated rotation. The bullpen features some solid arms but is headlined by Jhoan Duran, who has a phenomenal high velocity fastball and splitter combo.
Boston Red Sox 67-63
The Red Sox are more than likely not going to make the postseason this year, but they have some pieces to build on for next season and beyond that should excite their fans. There’s obviously their All Star bats in Raphael Devers and Jarren Duran, and the Red Sox have a very exciting young core on the rise.
Highlighted in the big leagues by Cedanne Rafaela, prospects like Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, and Roman Anthony should soon usher in a new era of Red Sox baseball. With a solid rotation in Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello among others, the end of the Boston rebuild is near.
Seattle Mariners 66-65
The Mariners continue to hit this wall at this point in the season, and they’re still not out of it. They have a tough schedule left, but if they can put it together, they should be able to cover the ground they need for a postseason berth.
With a healthy lineup with Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Justin Turner, Victor Robles and others, they’re not a team to sleep on if they get in. With a solid rotation of Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and George Kirby, they are certainly built for a long postseason series, and would match up fairly well with anyone.