Photo Credit: Gallery Hip
All Star week was marked by a blockbuster trade that saw the Chicago Cubs bolster their starting staff, and another transaction that saw the Nationals improve their bullpen. The race to the MLB trade deadline is now on.
Washington has the second best record in the National League, but they’re bullpen has been the Nats achilles heel. So general manager Mike Rizzo acquired Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the Oakland Athletics in a trade that sent right-hander Blake Treinen, minor league left-hander Jesus Luzardo and minor league third baseman Sheldon Neuse to the A’s. It’s a move that makes sense for both teams, Oakland needs to restock while Washington needs to improve its weak bullpen.
The White Sox and Cubs kicked off the trade deadline fever when the Sox agreed to send their former ace Jose Quintana across town for four prospects. To obtain Quintana, the Cubs had to give up the No. 5 prospect in (according to Baseball America’s midseason rankings) in outfielder Eloy Jimenez, pitcher Dylan Cease, first baseman Matt Rose and middle infielder Bryant Flete. It was a prospect hall that will allow the Sox to begin the rebuild process.
For the Cubs, this trade helps them shore up their shaky starting rotation in an attempt to chase down the Brewers in the NL Central division — at this time, the Wildcard spots are pretty much out of reach.
DIVISION LEADERS
| (DIVISION)
LEADERS |
WINS-
LOSSES |
PROJECTED
W-L |
DIVISION
ODDS |
WILDCARD
ODDS |
PLAYOFF
ODDS |
| (AL East)
Red Sox |
52-41 | 90-72 | 78.1% | 16.2% | 94.3% |
| (AL Central)
Indians |
47-43 | 90-72 | 90.7% | 4.6% | 95.3% |
| (AL West)
Astros |
62-30 | 104-58 | 100% | 0% | 100% |
| (NL East)
Nationals |
55-36 | 95-68 | 98.7% | 0.7% | 99.4% |
| (NL Central)
Brewers |
52-42 | 83-79 | 14.7% | 17.2% | 31.9% |
| (NL West)
Dodgers |
64-29 | 107-55 | 99.9% | 0.1% | 100% |
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILDCARD
| TEAMS | GAMES
BACK |
WINS-LOSSES | PROJECTED
W-L |
WILDCARD
ODDS |
DIVISION
ODDS |
| Rays – X | 0.5 | 49-44 | 82-80 | 30.0% | 7.3% |
| Yankees – X | 0 | 47-43 | 83-79 | 37.8% | 11.9% |
| Twins | -1.5 | 46-45 | 79-83 | 9.9% | 2.4% |
| Royals | -2 | 45-45 | 80-82 | 16.8% | 5.0% |
| Mariners | -2.5 | 46-47 | 80-82 | 0% | 16.7% |
| Rangers | -2.5 | 45-46 | 81-81 | 0% | 26.3% |
| Angels | -3.5 | 46-49 | 79-83 | 0% | 12.6% |
X-Currently holds a wildcard spot
NATIONAL LEAGUE WILDCARD
| TEAMS | GAMES
BACK |
WINS-LOSSES | PROJECTED
W-L |
WILDCARD
ODDS |
DIVISION
ODDS |
| Diamondbacks– X | 1.0 | 53-39 | 88-74 | 78.2% | 0.1% |
| Rockies – X | 0 | 53-41 | 85-77 | 56.4% | 0% |
| Cubs | -5.5 | 46-45 | 88-74 | 11.0% | 71.2% |
| Braves | -6.0 | 45-45 | 78-84 | 4.6% | 0.2% |
| Cardinals | -7.5 | 44-47 | 82-80 | 14.1% | 11.0% |
| Pirates | -8.0 | 44-48 | 79-83 | 5.5% | 3.1% |
| Mets | -9.5 | 41-48 | 79-83 | 7.9% | 0.7% |
X-Currently holds a wildcard spot
Playoff odds are courtesy of Fangraphs, as of 7/17/2017
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Categories: MLB
