September Drama

At the beginning of the month, it appeared that baseball fans would have plenty of time to adjust their fantasy football rosters since the MLB playoff scene appeared set. However, with 15 games left, two races have jumped into the picture.
In the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers are trying their hardest to relinquish what was once a commanding lead. Entering play on the 19th, the Tigers' lead had been cut to three games thanks to a loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. The Tigers pitching staff has been dreadful over the last month, which Jim Leyland able to count on ace Justin Verlander and no one else. The Detroit bullpen is terrible, Edwin Jackson has regressed and mid-season acquisition Jarrod Washburn has underwhelmed. The Twins still face an uphill climb without slugger Justin Morneau, who is out for the season with a back injury. It's been a season of disappointment for Minnesota as their once-vaunted pitching staff has been pedestrian at best. The Twins will need to split the weekend games and keep the margin at three games in order to have a chance. If the Tigers can win both - and stretch the lead to five - it's over.
In the National League, the Colorado Rockies recently enjoyed a six-game advantage in the Wild Card race. Pitching woes have haunted them as well and their lead over the San Francisco Giants has been whittled to a mere two and a half games. The Rox have the edge as they are a more-complete team than the Giants. The absence of closer Huston Street has thinned out the Colorado bullpen and pushed lefty set-up man Franklin Morales into the stopper's role. Ultimately, this race will come down to San Francisco's pitching. If they excel and keep the Giants in every game going forward, they may be able to sneak by the Rockies despite having an offense that has been on life support all season. My guess is the Rox have just enough to hold off the Giants and earn a playoff berth for the second time in three seasons.