Brewers: @Phillies, @Cubs, @Reds, Pittsburgh, Cubs
Cubs: @Hou, Milwaukee, Cardinals, @Mets, @Brewers
Phillies: Milwaukee, @Braves, @Marlins, Braves, Nationals
Mets: Braves, @Nationals, @Braves, Cubs, Marlins
(Suffice to say I don’t buy the Cardinals or Astros as contenders.)
Just looking at the schedule the Phillies seemed poised to make a run at the end here as they have a pretty easy schedule, but the Mets play the same teams so anything they make up will be in the wild card race. Which could get interesting if the Cubs and Brewers continue to play badly. The Brewers basically control their own destiny. If they win the Phillies series they control the wild card as a four game lead this late is enormous and if they win both series’ with the Cubs they might have a shot at the division. Although 4-2 would still require them to make up two games (not completely impossible with the Cubs going to Houston). I’m rooting for both the Cubs and Brewers to make the playoffs because anytime the World Series has a chance to be played less than an hour from your house you have to root for it (unless, of course, said World Series is in Comiskey Park.)
Not the most exciting race of all time, but it’s better than the AL where the only things up for grabs are the central and who finishes first-wild card in the east.
