Baseball: National League Update

With two weeks left to play, the Washington Nationals are certain division winners while the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals are very likely division winners in the National League.

The Nationals will finish first for the second time in three seasons but also only the second time in a non strike season, (they made the playoffs in strike marred 1981) in this the franchise’s 46th season. They originally were the Montreal Expos.

The Dodgers head into the final 2 weeks with a 3 game lead over the San Francisco Giants. In turn, S.F. has a 3 game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top wild card and a 4 and a half game lead for playoff qualification.

The Cardinals lead the Pirates by 3 and a half games in the NL Central and likely will win a second straight divisional title. They almost certainly will at least make their 4th straight playoffs appearance.