[Sylvanfan]

So we're down to anywhere between 34-37 games left for most teams and in a lot of cases these teams are looking at 1 or 2 more off days for the rest of the season.

AL East

Boston currently holds a 5 game lead on the Yankees. Although the Sox have faltered a bit a 5 game lead is still pretty substantial. IMO the Sox are still good enough to post a 19-16 record in their final 35 and that means the Yankees would need to be 25-12 to beat their mediocre record. It could end up being close and go down to the last 3-4 days of the season but the BoSox still win this division.

AL Central

Detroit and Cleveland continue to wage a pretty good battle. The Tigers pitching has gone AWOL and the Tribes offence has been the same way lately until last night. This is a tough call as the Tribe is going to need Jake Westbrook to step up and provide a good third starter behind Carmona and Sabathia to help the struggline offence down the stretch. The Tigers really should be well ahead in this race given how the Indians offence has been lately but their pitching has been terrible. At this point in time I still think the Tigers have the better lineup and that their pitching will come around enough to allow them to take the division. But this will go to the end, and the loser won't get no Wild Card.

AL West

Anaheim currently holds a 2 game lead over Seattle in the division. The Angels have a pretty solid all around team and their offence is starting to kick into gear. They have 4 good starters and Colon might get healthy and figure out how to pitch again. The Mariners are probably the surprise of the AL this season and have been scorching hot since July 1st. The Mariners starters are pretty mediocre, but they have 3 relievers having great years and that lineup is actually pretty solid. I don't think they can take the Angels though, but I'm pulling for them.

AL Wild Card

Mariners currently lead, but I don't think they can hold off the Yankees with that 1.5 game lead. I think they'll stay in it but ultimately the Yankees lineup is deeper and their starting pitching is better. That Jobba the Hut or whoever he is also gives the Yankees that set up man they've needed to help get the game to Rivera.

NL East

I still think the Mets have the best team in the NL even if they're record doesn't bear out. The lineup is solid and they have better pitching than the rest of the division. Philly and Atlanta continue to run neck and neck but both teams have pretty weak pitching but solid lineups. Philly should get Utley back pretty soon but just lost Hamels. Considering that Taguchi has been pretty good in place of Utley I think they'll miss Hamels too much to keep going like they have. Atlanta has two good starters in Hudson and Smoltz but the rest of the rotation and the bullpen is AWOL. But they have a solid lineup that might just help them to the WC.

NL Central

Mediocre again the division leading Cubs are 5 games over .500. Amazingly the Cards who are under .500 are actually making a charge and stand a good chance to come back to win the division. I personally think the Brewers are done and that the inevietable choke job has happened there. The Cubs should be better once Soriano gets back and they have better starting pitching than the Cards do. Should be enough to hold them off, but it will be a last 3 games thing until the Cubs clinch.

NL West

Well if Arizona isn't the surprise of MLB I don't know who is. Brandon Webb has found a big time groove and looks to be inline for a second straight Cy Young. Their lineup isn't that dangerous but they seem to do enough to win games. The Padres have good pitching at the top of their rotation and Maddux is good as the 3 guy, but their lineup is too weak to make up for it, also Young has hit some health issues. I'm a bit surprised how the Dodgers fell off, I personally thought they had the best lineup, but for whatever reason just can't get it together (It's probably the presence of Shea Hillenbrand that makes them suck). Arizona will likely choke up a bit here down the stretch but I don't think the teams behind them will do enough to over take them. Bob Melvin is manager of the year.

NL Wild Card

Well it will come down to pitching vs hitting I think. Can San Diegos pitching staff hold off the bats of the Braves and Phillies? Although 8 teams are within 5 games of the spot. I think it will be a 4 team fight between the Cards, Phillies, Braves, and Padres in reality. My pick is the Braves to keep getting the hitting and to get just enough pitching at the backend of the rotation to push through.