The MLB Postseason is just over a week away, and yet, there are still a number of things to figure out before the regular season comes to a close on Sunday.
Heading into play on Monday, only six of the 12 spots in the MLB Postseason have been secured. And only three of the six division winners have been crowned.
The Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and Milwaukee Brewers will also be participants in this year's MLB Playoffs, but there are some intriguing storylines starting to emerge with less than a week left in the 2023 season.
MLB Postseason news: The Houston Astros are in trouble
The Houston Astros inexplicably let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers this past weekend, and it may cost them dearly. The defending World Series champions were swept by the Kansas City Royals - a team that has lost over 100 games this season.
Dusty Baker's squad is in trouble. At the moment, Houston is a half-game better than their AL West rival, the Seattle Mariners, and the Astros travel to the Pacific Northwest to battle the M's in what could totally tank their season.
The Toronto Blue Jays are two game up in the AL Wild Card standings and the Astros already have a losing record against the Mariners this season. With MLB's new postseason rules, should the Astros and Mariners have identical records at the end of the regular season, Seattle would get the nod over Houston.
Tonight's game will feature two of the best in the business with Luis Castillo toeing the rubber against Justin Verlander. After the three-game series against the Mariners, Houston then goes on the road to face an Arizona Diamondbacks' team that is also fighting for their playoff lives.
If they can't rally during the final week of the season, the Astros are in danger of missing the MLB Postseason entirely. Houston has won just three of their last 10 games.
MLB Postseason news: The Chicago Cubs are still in the NL Wild Card hunt
After dropping 2-of-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, the Chicago Cubs were in trouble. But David Ross seems to have gotten the attention of his ball club, and the Cubs are back from the dead with six games left in their season.
Chicago dispatched of the Colorado Rockies over the weekend and look poised to make return to the MLB Postseason. They'll face a tough task this week, however, with the Atlanta Braves ready to welcome the North Siders to Truist Park.
The Cubs maintain a slight edge in the NL Wild Card standings over the Miami Marlins. But, much to the Cubs' chagrin, the Fish old the tiebreaker over Chicago. In fact, every team in the NL Wild Card holds the edge over the Cubbies.
Chicago will send Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Marcus Stroman to the bump versus the Braves this week. And with the hot-hitting of Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson, the Cubs are hopeful to maintain that slim edge in the NL Wild Card standings.
The schedule makers didn't do the Chicago Cubs any favors during the final week. With a three-game visit to the Atlanta Braves followed by three games in Milwaukee to finish the season, the Cubs will have to knock off two division winners in order to secure a spot in the MLB Postseason.
MLB Postseason news: The Atlanta Braves are beaten up
The Atlanta Braves notched their 100th victory of the 2023 season on Sunday, but there was a somber note that accompanied the club's NL-leading win.
Starter Charlie Morton has been placed on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right index finger. This will definitely affect the Braves starting rotation for the NLDS, as Morton was the team's likely No. 3 starter behind Spencer Strider and Max Fried.
The will likely thrust Bryce Elder in the starting rotation for the Braves opening series. While the right-hander had a ton of success early on this season, Elder has slipped of late. Elder was pulled without getting out of the fourth inning in his last start after issuing five free passes and two round trippers to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves have seen 16 different starting pitchers this season, with a dozen getting more than one start. Morton had starter 30 games for Atlanta and owned a sparkling 3.64 ERA. There's also no way to quantify the playoff experience that the veteran brings to the table.
Atlanta also has Kyle Wright available, but injuries and ineffectiveness have seen the right-hander post an atrocious 7.22 ERA in less than 30 innings of work this season. Look for Elder to get the ball in place of Morton until the 39-year-old is able to return.
