MLB Watchability Rankings – 9/6/13

The biggest thing to keep an eye on over the last month will be the spoiler teams that are completely out of the playoff race but are playing good baseball lately, and have plenty of games left against contenders.

RANK	TEAM	CHANGE	SCHEDULE	COMMENT
1		— 0	@ CIN vs AZ	The only question left with the Dodgers is whether or not they'll win their division by the largest margin of any other team in the league.
2		— 0	@ PHI @ MIA	Atlanta is back to being the National League's run differential kings, even after trotting out Kameron Loe and an AAA lineup on Wednesday.
3		+3	@ NYY @ TB	The AL East is just about wrapped up at this point, and the rest of the division has to fight for the wild card.
4		+3	@ STL @ TEX	A .500 record has never been so celebrated.
5		-2	@ LAA  vs PIT	This battle between Texas and Oakland for the AL West is pretty intense, but the Rangers play a bit more of a difficult schedule down the stretch.

6		-1	@ KC @ CHW	The Tigers have actually struggled a bit lately, but since the Indians or Royals haven't really turned it on, their lead is safe.
7		-3	vs PIT vs MIL	St Louis' offense is just absurdly good at this point, but it's their pitching that might hold them back in October.
8		–– 0	vs LAD vs CHC	Cincinnati punched the Cardinals in the teeth, and they'll need to do the same with the Dodgers this weekend.
9		+3	vs HOU @ MIN	The A's are waking up at the right time to catch the Rangers. They can pick up some ground this week with a weak schedule.
10		-1	@ SEA vs BOS	Tampa Bay's 14-12 record against the AL West isn't good. That could be what keeps them out of the playoffs.
11		— 0	vs NYM vs KC	The Tribe needs to go on a nice run to close out the season, even though they're just three games out of a wild card spot.
12		-2	@ SF @ LAD	They're hot and cold. This is a team that's probably going to end up 83-79 with a negative run differential.
13		— 0	vs DET @ CLE	This stretch over the next two weeks is brutal, and the Royals need to play very well to keep their season going into October.
14		+1	@ MIA @ NYM	Washington is getting hot at the right time, but there might not be enough time left for them to make the playoffs.
15		+3	vs BOS @ BAL	New York is doing a pretty good job at trying to send Mariano Rivera out a winner.
16		-2	vs CHW vs NYY	Baltimore hasn't gone on a sustained streak either way lately, and that's put them in the position they're in now.
17		+2	vs ATL vs SD	Add another two one run wins to Ryne Sandberg's ledger…
18		+2	vs TEX @ MIN @ TOR	I'd be amused if the Angels ended the season with a record around .500 for as much of a disaster as 2013 has been for them.
19		-3	@ CHC @ STL	The Brewers couldn't spoil Pittsburgh's season, but they can still help the Pirates by beating up the Reds and Cardinals.
20		-3	@ OAK @ SEA	Right now, it's all about the future for the Astros.
21		+3	@ MIN vs LAA	Toronto's getting good, but no one cares anymore. They're stuck at the bottom of the AL East.
22		— 0	vs WAS vs ATL	Hey, the Marlins won three games in a row for just the second time in the second half! Celebrate!
23		+2	vs COL @ PHI	The Padres take two out of three from the defending champs, and might finish higher than them in the NL West. Unbelievable.
24		+1	vs MIL @ CIN	Chicago won a series. VICTORY!
25		-2	@ CLE vs WAS	Daisuke Matsuzaka is just a cruel practical joke to play on this fanbase.
26		-5	@ BAL vs DET	Remember what I said last week? Never mind.
27		+2	vs TOR vs LAA vs OAK	A 4-2 trip to Texas! Yay Twins!
28		-1	@ SD @ SF	This is a third place team.
29		+1	vs AZ vs COL	San Francisco is four losses away from clinching a losing season the year after winning the World Series. Sad.
30		-2	vs TB vs HOU	When Felix Hernandez isn't pitching well, things aren't good in Seattle.