Who will live to see October baseball? | Lucas

In the iconic baseball film, “Moneyball,” Billy Beane and “Peter Brand” tell their owner that their goal to contend is to remain within seven games of first place at the All-Star Break. It may be well past that deadline, but it is an even better time to gather the best championship arguments for each team within seven games of…

In the iconic baseball film, “Moneyball,” Billy Beane and “Peter Brand” tell their owner that their goal to contend is to remain within seven games of first place at the All-Star Break.

It may be well past that deadline, but it is an even better time to gather the best championship arguments for each team within seven games of a playoff spot.

Red Sox: They have the best record in baseball. They have the two leading American League MVP Candidates in J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts.

Yankees: They have the second best record in baseball, and the Red Sox will not win the World Series simply by finishing with the best record at the end of September.

Rays: Kevin Cash deserves to win the American League Manager of the Year Award.

Indians: Corey Kluber is the most clutch pitcher in the game today, and he is far from being the Indians’ only great starting pitcher this year.

Astros: They are the defending World Champions, have an absolute workhorse in Justin Verlander, and, despite his off-the-field behavior, Roberto Osuna provides the closer the Astros desperately needed.

Athletics: They upgraded an already solid bullpen by essentially stealing Jeurys Familia from the Mets, and many teams will underestimate them.
Mariners: Felix Hernandez has an ERA over five, yet their rotation got better, not to mention they have the best closer this season in Edwin Diaz.

Braves: They have arguably the best 1-2-3 starting pitching staff in all of baseball, and they have two potential Rookie of the Year candidates in Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna, Jr.

Phillies: They have a major Cy Young candidate in Aaron Nola.

Nationals: They have one of the league’s best starting pitchers in Max Scherzer, and Bryce Harper is still playing for a contract.

Cubs: Their long championship drought is over, and Javier Baez may win the National League MVP Award.

Brewers: Their powerful lineup, strong bullpen, and decent rotation are quite reminiscent of their only pennant-winning team of 1982.

Cardinals: The Cardinals have done a complete 180-degree turn since Mike Schildt took over for Mike Matheny, and nobody has carried a lineup this year as much as Matt Carpenter has.

Rockies: Nolan Arenado has quietly been an MVP contender for at least the last three years. Wade Davis leads the National League in saves this year.

Dodgers: They came within one victory of a World Championship last year, and then they got Manny Machado at the trade deadline. Also, Clayton Kershaw would be a Cy Young candidate were it not for his competition this year.

Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt has been the most underrated player in this league for maybe the last decade. Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin both look like aces.

At the most, 10 of these 16 teams will live to see October this year. Roughly half of these teams seem like serious championship contenders, while the other half of teams are likely to see golf earlier in the month, or teams that will spend the entire month golfing. With three and a half weeks to go in the MLB regular season, the final stretch is finally here.