1. Cubs (85-50) Highly likely to win 100 games for first time in 73 years
2. Rays (82-51) Sept. call-ups to include franchise legends Fred McGriff, Wade Boggs
3. Angels (82-52) Only intrigue now is Francisco Rodriguez’s chase of saves record
4. Red Sox (78-56) Paul Byrd pick-up huge with Josh Beckett on disabled list
5. Brewers (78-56) Last post-season berth was in 1982. Ryan Braun wasn’t alive.
6. White Sox (76-58) INF Alexei Ramirez is baseball’s best 125-pound player
7. Twins (76-59) Imagine if they’d held onto Johan Santana and Matt Garza
8. Mets (75-60) Fernando Tatis is really a key cog? What is this, 1998?
9. Phillies (73-62) Reportedly in running for Mike Lamb. Reportedly only ones running.
10. Cardinals (74-61) Would be leading the West. Bad year to be in the Central.
11. Yankees (72-62) Joba Chamberlain close to return. Boston closer to playoffs.
12. Diamondbacks (69-65) Would be about 15 games back in NL Central.
13. Dodgers (65-70) OF Andruw Jones at first base? Don’t they have 11 first basemen?
14. Marlins (68-67) Nice find in Ricky Nolasco (51 Ks/3 BB in last 43 IP)
15. Astros (69-66) Wild stat: 267 career HR by Lance Berkman before his first walk-off
16. Blue Jays (68-66) Looking to win the Spoiler World Series
17. Tigers (65-69) Armando Galarraga has been most consistent starter. That’s not good.
18. Rangers (66-70) Maybe president Nolan Ryan could sign himself to a contract
19. Indians (65-68) Finishing at .500 would be miraculous
20. Rockies (64-72) Closer to first place right now than they were at this time last year
21. Orioles (63-71) May be the best last-place team in baseball, if that means anything
22. Athletics (62-73) Nothing particularly “Athletic” about this group.
23. Reds (59-76) OF Corey Patterson + INF Jerry Hairston = bad baseball
24. Pirates (57-77) Closer Matt Capps returns from DL, learns saves no longer exist in Pittsburgh
25. Braves (59-76) Would only be six out if they were still in the NL West
26. Royals (56-78) Talented 3B Alex Gordon has been a disappointment
27. Giants (59-75) HR stat: Team close to 90. Barry Bonds hit 73 in one season.
28. Padres (51-83) Jody Gerut — yes, him — has re-appeared after career-long slump
29. Mariners (51-83) Jay Buhner and Chris Bosio would be upgrades right now
30. Nationals (50-85) Hawaiian Little League team could hang ten runs on them
KEY SERIES
Yankees at Rays (Tuesday-Thursday)
The Yankees are given a shot to climb back into the division and wild card races with three games against the American League East-leading Rays. Entering this week, the Yankees are 10.5 games behind Tampa Bay, and six games behind Boston in the wild card. The Yankees are scheduled to start Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, and Darrell Rasner, while Tampa Bay is slated to pitch Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, and Scott Kazmir.
