There is just under a month of regular season left. Very little time! For some teams, this final month will be the time to prepare for the postseason. For others, it will be an uphill struggle to make the playoffs. For another group, it will present an opportunity to put an end to disappointment or rebuilding campaigns. But for everyone, September will mean something.
So today in Los Treinta, we will try to set a goal for each team during the last month of the campaign. Everyone has a goal. Some will be easier to get. And some are more important than others. But everyone has a goal.
Blue Jays: Get to the AL Wild Card Game
Because the Red Sox and Yankees (and Rays) have monopolized all the drama over the past month, it’s been a bit forgotten that the Blue Jays really need to make the postseason this year. They invested a lot during the winter and we can assure that the plan was not to arrive from the quarters. Will they be able to come back?
Orioles: Don’t lose 116 games
That would be one more loss than they racked up in the 2018 season, which, honestly, everyone thought would be the low point of rebuilding. They need to win four more games the rest of the way to at least match the number of wins in 2018, which is also not a guarantee.
Rays: Define what the rotation will look like in the postseason
The Rays need to secure the divisional title first, obviously. But if they do, I really don’t have the foggiest idea what their rotation will look like in the LA Division Series. And I guess they don’t either.
Red Sox: Getting to the Wild Card Game with Chris Sale pitching
There isn’t a team in baseball that wants to face a healthy Sale in a game of life and death. All the Red Sox need to do is give Sale, and themselves, that opportunity.
Yankees: Win the LA East
They can still catch up with the Rays, and logically that’s what would suit them the most, because otherwise they would end up being that team that would have to face Sale in a game of life and death.
Cleveland: Continue preparing Cal Quantrill for next year
Quantrill has been fantastic lately and is positioning himself as Cleveland’s next big starting pitching star heading into 2021. He always seems to have a pitcher or two like that.
Royals: Trying to get pitchers for next year
The Royals moved last winter, but as many suspected, the pitching torpedoed their plans. Will it be better next year? They have a month to try to find pieces that can help.
Tigers: Get as close to .500 as possible
The Tigers are clearly gearing up to take a big leap in 2022 after having a solid 2021. They probably won’t end up playing for .500, but they could get close enough to consider this 2021 campaign a success.
Twins: Let the season come to an end
What will happen next year is still up in the air. But yes, without a doubt it would be great to leave this complicated 2021 in the past.
White Sox: Starting ALDS at home
The White Sox are riding the Central Division, but boy, would it be great for them to start their series – probably against Houston – at home. They may not end up catching up to whoever finishes as the Eastern champion, but they could outperform the Astros if they hit a hot streak.
Angels: Shohei Otnani hit 50 home runs
He would be just the fifth player in the last 10 years to hit 50 homers… and, by the way, the first to also be one of the best starters in the major leagues.
Athletics: Make the postseason anyway
They’re very close, so staying out – either in their division or in the LA Wildcard – would be a tremendous blow.
The Astros will be the most popular team to boo throughout the postseason. Things have reached a point where it seems increasingly clear that they are feeding off of it.
Mariners: Finish the year over .500
The cavalry is on the way and this could be one of the best teams in the LA in no time. This year, even if they stay out of October, it has been full of good feelings. They just need to make sure they keep that tonic for a few more weeks.
Rangers: Get more pitchers like AJ Alexy
The rookie was fantastic in his first start and that’s what the Rangers need: young players who show they can make an impact in the future.
Braves: Win the division
The Braves went very quickly from being “the team that everyone gave up for dead when their best player was injured” to “the team that would be on the ground if it does not win the division.”
Marlins: Tripping the rest of the division
The Marlins were smart not to overreact to last season’s success and they seem well positioned for the future. This seems like a perfect time to let the rest of the teams in the division know how good they are going to be for the next decade.
Augusto was terrible for the Mets. Will September be better? They have been playing well lately, so at least there is hope that they will finish well.
Nationals: Keep Juan José Soto happy
The Nationals and the Dominican will surely start talking about a contract extension at some point and having a young, exciting and hopeful team (like promises like Keibert Ruiz from Venezuela) is the kind of thing you want to build your club around. .
Phillies: Make the postseason
It’s been a decade since they last played in October, the second-longest postseason drought in baseball. If not now when?
Brewers: Follow as they are
The Brewers are perfectly positioned for the postseason: They would not face the Dodgers / Giants in the SDLN and will likely finish with a better record than the Eastern champion. It is the perfect territory: not to gain much or to lose much.
Cardinals: Get more support
In some ways, the Cardinals are still in the game for the postseason, even if their fans aren’t looking too excited about it. Some good vibes could go a long way: Adam Wainwright and Puerto Rican Yadier Molina would be an excellent source.
Cubs: Finding More Players Like Frank Schwindel
Some people made fun of the Cubs when they started putting Schwindel in the lineup, but no one is laughing anymore: He has been better this year than Anthony Rizzo. These are the kind of discoveries the Cubs need to make this month… and for many months to come.
Pirates: Have a great month Ke’Bryan Hayes
The “Future of the Franchise” has had a good year, but it has not been the spectacular Rookie of the Year candidate that everyone wanted to see. Can you spend this month showing off that future All-Star talent?
Reds: Get to the Wild Card Game the LN
A lot of the frustrations of the past few years could be buried coming to the Wild Card Game, even if it’s against the Padres or the Dodgers. The Reds are in the lead. Can they complete the mission?
D-backs: Madison Bumgarner keep up
Has anyone noticed that Bumgarner has a 2.97 ERA in the second half of the season? The D-backs have a lot of work to do, but getting their ace – signed through the 2024 season – back to the level of yesteryear would be an excellent starting point.
Dodgers: Win the division
The Giants have been a tremendous problem. But the Dodgers need to pass them. The last thing the Dodgers want is to put everything they’ve invested in this season into the hands of the Wild Card Game.
Giants: Contain the Dodgers
It will not be easy. The Dodgers come with everything. The Giants aren’t slowing down, but the difference between a free trip to the Division Series (and starting at home) and a potential game of life and death is truly immense.
Parents: Don’t miss out on the playoffs
We know that, unexpectedly, many things have gone wrong. But considering the expectations for this team before the season began, there is nothing more disastrous for the Padres than not playing in October.
Rockies: Keep Pitchers Like This
The Rockies have played better than many thought this past month, mostly thanks to their starting pitching. Did they discover something in Denver?
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