On Your Mark: Get ready for baseball’s crunch time

Get ready, because baseball is just about to hit crunch time.

It can be easy to lose between the hubbub of NFL, college football and even local high school action, but there is a lot of intrigue, including the Mets ready to make their first playoff appearance since 2006.

So keep track. This month belongs to baseball. And with that in mind, let’s take a look at the playoff races as the season comes to a close.

Who’s in

The American League Central division ended up having a weak season, which led to the Kansas City Royals being the first team to clinch in the MLB. But don’t let that fool you, this team – behind possibly the best defense in baseball – is a legitimate contender to return to the World Series for a little redemption.

The Toronto Blue Jays have seem primed for the playoffs for several years now. This year, because of a dynamic offense that was jump-started when they swapped Jose Reyes for Troy Tulowitzki, they’ll finally get their chance. They still have some work to do to finish off the American League East, but they possess a four-game lead over the Yankees with just a week left to play.

The New York Mets. Yes, the Mets, have turned a stellar starting rotation into a postseason appearance. It may have come in a weak Nation League East division, but with the type of starting pitching this team can send out to the mound every day, they’ll always have a chance to win.

The National League Central division is a beast. The St. Louis Cardinals have the inside track to a pass by the wild card game, but the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs have both clinched playoff appearances. They’ll play each other in the first round, with the Pirates likely taking home-field advantage.

Who has a chance

The Houston Astros were the darlings of the American League for the first half of the season. If that’s the case, the Texas Rangers are the stampede. As of Sunday, they’d opened up a 3.5-game lead in the American League Central, a gap that will be difficult to overcome with just a week left in the season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers hadn’t clinched a playoff appearance as of Sunday, but don’t let that fool you. Led by possibly the best pitcher in baseball – a man by the name of Clayton Kershaw – the Dodgers will be in the playoffs, holding a 7-game lead with a week left.

And while the National League wild card is all done, the American League still has both spots up for grabs. Well, OK, with 4.5 games clearance, the Yankees seem to have that spot sewn up, but otherwise … it’s a free for all. The Astros currently have a slim hold on the second wild card spot, with the Los Angeles Angels breathing down their neck. Also with a chance are the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles, although the Orioles would need something like a miracle to make up a 4.5-game gap.

Of note

There have been many interesting and surprising story lines of this high school football season, and none more than Conway high school’s resurgence, coinciding with Myrtle Beach’s fall. After Conway took back the Victory Bell trophy with a 25-22 win on Friday, the Tigers have risen to 4-1, with their only loss coming to state power Hartsville. Myrtle Beach fell to 2-3. That said, region play is set to begin this week, which could change the picture for many area teams. … The final race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup’s Challenger Round will be held in Dover at the AAA 300. The race will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m., broadcast on NBCSN.

This story was originally published September 27, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "On Your Mark: Get ready for baseball’s crunch time."