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Red Sox:

2 Games with Oakland

3 Games in Tampa Bay

3 Games in Baltimore

4 Games with Toronto

3 Games with Yankees

Overall you have to say that the schedule isn't too tough for the Red Sox.

Yankees

2 Games in Toronto, 3 games at home with Toronto

4 Games in Baltimore, 4 games at home with Baltimore

3 Games in Boston.

Yankees have an easy schedule and they are currently destroying weak pitching. I don't see them losing too many games here and I will go out on a limb and say that they'll win the division outright.

White Sox

2 games in Minnesotta, 4 games at home with Minnesotta

3 games in Cleveland, 3 games at home against Cleveland

4 games in Detroit.


White Sox have a nice lead for this late in the season. Obviously if they continue their winning ways against Cleveland (10-3 so far) they'll win the division. However the Twins are over 500 and the Indians are playing very well so their schedule isn't so easy. It is possible but not probable that they could blow the division and it's more remote but they still could miss the playoffs.

Cleveland

3 games at home with Chicago, 3 games at Chicago

2 games at home with KC, 4 games at KC

3 games at home with Tampa Bay

If they can at least split with Chicago (a big if) they're looking like they have a shot although they got swept in a 3 game series at home vs. Tampa Bay a month or so ago. Their record against KC this year is 8-5. They have to beat the tar out of the also rans and split with the Sox and that should put them close. If they have a debacle against the White Sox they're gone. Obviously if the Tribe can win 4 or 5 games from the White Sox they'll probably make it.

LA Angels

2 games at home against Detroit

3 games at home vs. Texas and 3 games on the road with Texas

3 games at home vs. Tampa Bay

4 games on the road against Oakland

The Angels have fallen behind the Red Sox, White Sox, Yankees and Indians. Looks like they probably have to win the division to make the playoffs. Fairly easy schedule as obviously the 4 game series with Oakland will be the key.

Oakland

2 games in Boston

3 games at home vs. Minnesotta

3 games at home vs. Texas

3 games on the road vs. Seattle

4 games at home vs. Angels.

Looks a bit tougher than the Angels schedule and it looks to me like Oakland will probably have to win the division to make the playoffs. If they can sweep the Angels they'll probably win the division.



For all the hand wringing about the Yankees this year, it looks like they're playing their best baseball of the season when it counts the most. They're thriving on weak pitching from their opponents. The Red Sox have plenty of punch in their lineup but their pitching is a little suspect. At least the Yankees have Rivera [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. However, both teams will probably destroy their opponents the rest of the way and they'll both be tough to beat out. If one sweeps the other in their last regular season series they might deny that team the playoffs.

The White Sox will probably win the division and even more likely will make the playoffs. I think their pitching will get them through. For the Indians how they do against the White Sox will be the key IMO. They need to split with the White Sox but winning 4 or 5 games from them would be sweet though.

The 4 game series between the A's and the Angels will probably determine the division. If they split I think the Angels have the schedule advantage. I don't see either being the wild card team.