With only three games remaining, the Cleveland Indians are on the verge of watching their postseason hopes slip away because they’re two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL wild-card race.
The Indians came into this week on a high note, winning seven out of their previous eight games. However, Terry Francona’s crew didn’t help their cause this week, dropping two games in a row to the lowly Chicago White Sox.
“We picked a rough time to go cold,” said Francona.
AL WILD CARD RACE:
Oakland A’s 96-63
Tampa Bay Rays 95-64
———-
Cleveland Indians 93-66
With three games to go, the Indians must scoop if they want a shot at the wild card. Both the A’s and Rays control their own destinies. Tampa Bay finishes the season in Toronto against the Blue Jays (65-94). The hot Oakland A’s fly up to in Seattle to take on the Mariners (66-93).
The Astros, Yankees, and Dodgers are the consensus three heavy favorites to win the 2019 World Series. According to William Hill, the Oakland A’s are 18/1 to win the title. The Tampa Bay Rays are 16/1 to win the championship. In case you were wondering, the Cleveland Indians are 33/1.
On Deck for Cleveland
The Cleveland Indians have to win three games on the road if they want an outside shot at the AL wild card. The Indians visit the nation’s capitol for a season-ending, interleague series against the Washington Nationals. The Nats locked up a wild-card spot, so they’re in coasting mode, which bodes well for the Indians.
CLE AT WASH ROTATION
Fri 9/27: Zach Plesac (8-6) vs. Austin Voth (1-1)
Sat 9/28: Plutko (7-4) vs. Corbin (14-7)
Sun 9/29: Clevinger (13-3) vs. ???
“We can’t let up,” said Francona. “Until somebody tells us we have to go home, we got to keep grinding.”
According to the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, the Indians are -138 favorites on Friday night with Zach Plesac on the mound. Ausin Voth and the Nats are +128 underdogs on the money line.
Cubbies Out, But NL Central Race Down to Wire
Meanwhile, out in the National League, the NL wild card is locked up after the Chicago Cubs went on an epic losing streak to end their postseason dreams. The Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers each locked up a playoff spot, while the Cubs dynasty has slowly come to a close.
The Brewers do not have Christian Yelich, yet they’ve been on a heater. The Brewers won seven games in a row, and won 18 out of their last 20 games. Since Yelich went down, the Brewers are 13-2 without their MVP.
The Brewers are so hot that they have a chance to actually pass the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. If the Brew Crew catch the Cardinals this weekend, then the Cards will become one of the NL wild-card teams with the Nats. Luckily for the Cards, they play the Cubs in the middle of a nine-game skid.
According to William Hill, the St. Louis Cardinals are 14/1 to win the World Series. The Washington Nationals and Milwaukee brewers are both 16/1 to win the title.
