AL Playoff Picture Update: Yankees Lead, Astros Surge Ahead

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00:00Let's take a look at where we sit now, Dubsy, and also, same thing we did with the National

00:06League.

00:07Let's start at the top of the standings.

00:09The New York Yankees are in first place by five games over the Baltimore Orioles.

00:14Champagne bottles not popped just yet.

00:16Maybe that happens in the Bronx tonight.

00:18The Cleveland Guardians, they clinched their division on their way to the playoffs.

00:22And as we saw last night, the Houston Astros popping bottles by clinching the division

00:26over the Seattle Mariners.

00:28So if we start with the Yankees and the Guardians and the Astros, the vibes heading into the

00:33playoffs for you, Dubsy.

00:34What are they?

00:35I'll tell you what, Houston, you know, lo and behold, they're back in October playing

00:40some fantastic baseball.

00:42Rookie, you know, Rookie Gaffer up on top there.

00:45I think they've been very impressive, though a little sluggish to start, but, you know,

00:49they've got some young weapons, some new faces that took a bit of time in trying to find

00:53a bit of rhythm.

00:54But I'll tell you what, they've absolutely got it in bunches.

00:56There was a point early in the season, Donnie, for Houston.

00:59They were just sitting at a 10% chance of making it into the playoffs.

01:03And here they are.

01:04So I think for me, that's probably the standout, you know, common theme.

01:07I feel like for the Yankees, Dodgers, a little interchangeable.

01:11There's disappointment after disappointment, and it really shouldn't be happening at this

01:15time of year.

01:16So a little underwhelming from the pinstripes up on top, the Guardians, they're going to

01:20be a force.

01:21But out of the three teams, divisional leaders, I think it's the Houston Astros that would

01:25be concerning in trying to play against.

01:28Here's the interesting part about the Astros, Dubsy, because in the past, I think the teams

01:32were more talented, as we say, like from a starting pitching perspective.

01:35A lot of it's still very good, but I do think there's some holes in that lineup.

01:39But say what you want.

01:40There's something about a team that's been there and done that before.

01:42Now, granted, I am a Philadelphia Phillies fan.

01:45They beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.

01:47Who knows if they cheated or not, because they do have that MO, but cheating or no cheating

01:51for the Houston Astros, that pedigree is they're used to being in spots where they go on the

01:55road.

01:56Everybody hates them.

01:57Not just rivalries.

01:58Everybody hates them.

01:59They're used to that.

02:00So they're used to playing in hostile environments and winning baseball games.

02:03It's an interesting look, because they are playing their best baseball at the end of

02:06the season.

02:07One of the worst baseball teams midway through the season, now one of the better teams, which

02:11is pretty incredible.

02:12And we've talked about it so many times already this morning, the Baltimore Orioles and the

02:14New York Yankees.

02:15They'll tee it up again today in the Bronx.

02:18A win for the Yankees will secure that division, and then they can officially go into the playoffs

02:22as a division winner.

02:23But the fun certainly here, Doves, is coming from those wildcard spots.

02:27It's been incredible to watch.

02:29You look at right now the standings.

02:30If it ended today, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers would be in

02:36the playoffs.

02:37Now granted, yesterday the Baltimore Orioles have already clinched their playoff spot.

02:41Now it's just up for three teams to battle for two spots, and a commanding lead it seems

02:45like now for the Royals and the Tigers with a two-game lead over the Twins.

02:49So if I ask you this question, before we look at the teams and their chances possibly to

02:53make a deep run, is that the playoffs right now for the wildcard?

02:57Is it the Orioles, Royals, and Tigers?

02:59Or is there any hope in your mind here, Doves, for the Minnesota Twins to sneak in?

03:03Well, look, the Twins, they've got the skids.

03:06The last three in a row, that's not the kind of momentum you want to be building off going

03:10through the final week here.

03:11I don't think there is.

03:12I think in terms of the wildcard positions, I think we're set here.

03:16The Orioles, obviously, they've got that top spot.

03:19Detroit Tigers, they're playing some really strong baseball.

03:22That was a big upset there yesterday.

03:23And for the Kansas City Royals, if you're taking a look at the teams out of the wildcard

03:27who could make a bit of a run, I mean, this is potent offense.

03:31They've got the pieces in all the right places to be stacked, to be built going through October.

03:36So for me, I think we're set, Donnie.

03:38Orioles, Royals, Tigers, we can shut the gates.

03:40We can call the season off now, give all the teams a bit of rest.

03:43And for Kansas City, that's who I'd be looking for in terms of that upset.

03:47You look, Cole Regan, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer, they've got the arms.

03:51Bobby Witt Jr., one of the most exciting, they're with the bat at the plate.

03:54So yeah, I think that's the way it finishes.

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