We are in the home stretch of one of the strangest seasons we have seen from the American League in a while. Out of the two leagues, the AL has been much weaker this season, as only six teams are over .500. There is a decent chance that whoever wins the AL West and the last wild card spot could have records under .500. Something unheard of in Major League Baseball. But despite the poor play the league has seen, there are several storylines to monitor. Here is what to watch for in the final month of the season.
Can Yordan Alvarez Win the Triple Crown?
Without question, the biggest story in the MLB coming down the stretch will be whether Yordan Alvarez can win the Triple Crown. It will be the first time we have had a player win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera back in 2012. With how long it’s been since someone did it, plus how much the game has changed over the past few years, some thought Cabrera would be the last Triple Crown winner. Which makes Alvarez’s quest for one even more special. He is the runaway favorite to win American League MVP.
Currently, Alvarez is first in the American League in batting average and RBIs. He is tied with Junior Caminero for first place with home runs. Alvarez pretty much has batting average pretty much wrapped up, but home runs and RBIs will be the concerns. He and Caminero have been neck and neck for the American League home run lead for weeks now. Plus, Pete Alonso has gotten hot and finds himself only two RBIs behind Alvarez. The only way he can ensure he gets it is to be red-hot over the next few weeks.
Who Steps Up in the American League West
As mentioned before, there is a real chance that a sub-.500 team wins the AL West. The Houston Astros are currently in first place with a 69-68 record. Being only a game above .500 and leading a division is unheard of. Then you have the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, who are both under .500 but are within five games of first place. With how poorly the Astros have played over the past few weeks, it’s truly anyone’s game. It feels like one hot streak might be enough for a team to take the division.
Out of these three teams, the Rangers have the best shot to take the division. Sure, the Astros have the American League MVP in Alvarez and have the experience to make a push. But a big problem the Rangers had was injury. They were playing poorly because a lot of their key players were on the shelf. But they are getting a lot of these guys back, including Corey Seager. While he hasn’t been his usual self this season, one hot streak can help this team go on an extended winning streak. They can pass the Astros and win the division like this.
Can the Orioles Surprise Everyone?
Just a few weeks ago, the MLB world declared the Baltimore Orioles dead. With them being among the most active sellers at the deadline, many felt they would just fade out of contention during August. They would begin to struggle after losing key pieces and be towards the bottom of the AL. However, nearly a month later, they sit only one game back of the final wild card spot. Now part of the reason is how weak the American League is. However, it is very impressive that they kept fighting even though the front office waved the white flag.
The reason for this comeback has been their offense. Since the end of June, the Orioles have a 104 wRC+ as a team and 68 home runs. Both of these are among the best marks in baseball. Pete Alonso has also been on a tear, slashing .336/.409/.628 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs in the last 30 games. Guys like Coby Mayo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Gunner Henderson have also been solid contributors. Combine that with solid starting pitching, and the Orioles have what it takes to sneak into the postseason.
