As explained in the last post, the purpose of these blogs will be to analyze the remaining two weeks of the Major League Baseball season and attempt to make accurate predictions as to which teams will play on into October and make a run at the World Series championship. Today's post will be specifically analyzing the six remaining teams in the American League and making predictions based on their schedules this week.
Texas Rangers - 81-67, tied with Tampa Bay for the Wild Card lead. The Rangers have hit their roughest patch of the season thus far, coming off of an 0-6 week, having been swept by both the Pirates and the Athletics. Getting swept by the Athletics at home all but ended their hopes of a division title, and they are now clinging to hang on to a Wild Card position. Unfortunately, this week may be their most difficult challenge yet. The Rangers have a week-long road trip, playing seven games in seven days, all against other wild card contenders. They will start in Tampa for four games with the Rays and then travel to Kansas City for three games over the weekend against the Royals.
Prediction: Not good. Two wins and five losses, one win against each the Rays and Royals. The Rangers have lost six games in a row and 13 of their last 16. With no off-days left on the schedule and this rough upcoming road trip, the Rangers may be playing their way out of postseason position.
Tampa Bay Rays - 81-67, tied with Texas for the Wild Card lead. The Rays have recently seemed to break out of their recent slump, going 3-3 this past week and winning the weekend series against Minnesota, despite blowing a late lead and losing on Sunday. This coming week will also be a test for them, with back-to-back four game series' at home against fellow Wild Card contenders Texas and Baltimore. They played well agaisnt Baltimore three weeks ago before hitting their slump, so this week may be a different story. Something has to give between Tampa Bay and the Rangers, and I expect the Rays pitching to be the deciding factor in a winning series for the Rays.
Prediction: Five wins and three losses. Winning three out of four against the Rangers and splitting the two game series with the Orioles.
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