Closing in on the end of the season, here's how the playoff picture looks now (division by division)
NL East
Right now Atlanta (89-57) has a 4 game lead on Washington (85-61) and a 5 game lead on Trenton (84-62) for the division, although the Bandits have 2 more games with Trenton and a 3 game set with Atlanta still to go. Washington finishes with 3 games at Trenton, which could decide second place and have wild-card implications.
NL North
Could we have a below .500 division winner? Fargo has struggled lately, falling to 72-74 and yet still leading the division. Philadelphia just won't go away, as they're only two back at 70-76. Chicago, with all the drama surrounding the team earlier in the season, still has an outside shot at 67-79 (5 back).
NL South
Austin has pretty firm control over this division, with an NL best 91-55. Houston is 9 back at 82- 64, so unless they make up a lot of ground fast, their season-ending series with the City Limits won't mean much for the division title.
NL West
Salt Lake City, at 86-60, holds a ten game lead over Cheyenne. Like Houston in the South, Cheyenne needs to make up ground fast to make their season-ending series against the division leaders mean anything. Unlike Houston, it appears Cheyenne won't have the wild-card as a back-up plan.
Wild Card
Realistically, there are 3 teams competing for two spots. Right now, Washington leads the Wild Card race at 85-61, with Trenton one game back at 84-62. Houston is two back of Trenton at 82-64. All three of these teams still have to play each other (Houston plays back-to-back 4 game sets against Washington and Trenton, both at home. Washington finishes the season with 3 games at Trenton), so these series will likely decide how this race shakes out. Cheyenne is 8 back of the last playoff spot and is likely out.
Magic Numbers
Atlanta: 13 to clinch NL East
Fargo: 15 to clinch NL North
Austin: 8 to clinch NL South
13 to clinch 1st round bye
Salt Lake City: 7 to clinch NL West
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