NATIONAL LEAGUE
At the start of Week 18, the Philadelphia Phillies have become the first team in baseball to reach 100 percent in the playoff probabilities this season. They went 6-1 on a road trip through the NL West, and are now forecasted to win 105 games. The Braves have just a 1.1 percent of catching Philadelphia for the East division title, but are still in the driver’s seat for the Wild Card. Atlanta is still reaching the postseason in 80.7 percent of simulations.
Arizona took two of three games from the front-running Giants and improved 15.6 percentage points in playoff probability. The Diamondbacks only trail San Francisco by half a game, and have a 36.3 percent chance to win the West. The Giants salvaged the finale Sunday against the Phillies, but lost three of four in the series. They dropped 19.1 percentage points in the forecasted standings. Arizona actually is the only team in the NL West with a positive run differential (+22).
Milwaukee meanwhile gained 16.9 percentage points with a 5-1 week including 2 wins against St. Louis. The Brewers have taken the mantle of Central favorites, and have a 79.3 percent chance of winning the division. This is all despite their complete lack of a competent infield. They will take on St. Louis in another three game series to start Week 19. The party is completely over for the Pirates as they have lost 10 games in a row and 12 of 13. Pittsburgh lost the little 0.2 percent chance of reaching the playoffs, and now no longer makes the postseason in any simulations.
| Milwaukee Brewers |
66.5% |
83.4% |
16.9% |
79.3% |
| Arizona Diamondbacks |
23.6% |
39.2% |
15.6% |
36.3% |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
99.9% |
100.0% |
0.1% |
98.9% |
| Washington Nationals |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Houston Astros |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Florida Marlins |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Colorado Rockies |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| San Diego Padres |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Chicago Cubs |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
0.2% |
0.0% |
-0.2% |
0.0% |
| New York Mets |
0.3% |
0.0% |
-0.3% |
0.0% |
| Cincinnati Reds |
1.2% |
0.4% |
-0.8% |
0.2% |
| Atlanta Braves |
82.5% |
80.7% |
-1.8% |
1.1% |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
41.0% |
30.7% |
-10.3% |
20.5% |
| San Francisco Giants |
84.6% |
65.5% |
-19.1% |
63.7% |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Zero teams in the AL Central have a positive run differential. That means Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, and Kansas City have all been outscored on the season. Still, somebody has to win the division and that team appears to be the Tigers. Detroit won a series against fellow contender Texas as part of a 4-2 week, and is 84.2 percent likely to make the postseason. All of those playoff appearances in simulations were via a division title meaning the Tigers have no shot at a Wild Card berth.
The fourth playoff team in the American League is almost a lock to come from the East via either New York or Boston. The Red Sox used a comeback Sunday night to take a one game lead in the division, and stay at 71.9 percent probability in the forecasted standings. The Angels and Rangers still have a very slight chance at the Wild Card, but it remains highly unlikely both can make the postseason.
| Detroit Tigers |
77.6% |
84.2% |
6.6% |
84.2% |
| New York Yankees |
96.1% |
98.6% |
2.5% |
28.0% |
| Los Angeles Angels |
12.8% |
13.5% |
0.7% |
13.0% |
| Kansas City Royals |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Baltimore Orioles |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Boston Red Sox |
99.8% |
99.8% |
0.0% |
71.9% |
| Seattle Mariners |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Oakland Athletics |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Minnesota Twins |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
0.1% |
0.0% |
-0.1% |
0.0% |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
2.0% |
0.8% |
-1.2% |
0.0% |
| Texas Rangers |
89.1% |
87.3% |
-1.8% |
87.0% |
| Chicago White Sox |
6.8% |
3.8% |
-3.0% |
3.8% |
| Cleveland Indians |
15.7% |
12.0% |
-3.7% |
12.0% |
