Post-Season Primer, sans the Dodgers

With less than a week left in the regular season, the post-season is quickly shaping up and taking form. Here's what we do know as of this post right now...

The Dodgers are out.

In the NL, the Phillies are in as the East champs again, and the Reds can clinch their division tomorrow with a win or Cards loss. The West is still up for grabs with the Giants, Padres and Rockies all still alive, though the Rockies took a big hit after their loss to the Dodgers tonight. The Giants lead is currently at ½ game over the Padres, and five over the Rockies. The Wild Card is still up for grabs, as well, with the aforementioned West trio and the Braves all still scrambling. Atlanta currently has a ½ game lead on the Padres, and a four game lead on the Rockies.

The AL is all but set as far as which teams are in. The Twins and Rangers have clinched their divisions, and the Yankees and Rays are still duking it out to determine the East and the Wild Card, though neither has officially clinched anything yet. The Red Sox are still mathematically alive as well, though they'll need a miracle at this point.

There's also a battle going on in the AL for best record, as the Ray, Yankees and Twins are all within a game of each other. The Rays currently hold the best record in the AL, followed by the Yankees at ½ game back and the Twins one game behind, while the Phillies have the overall best record in all of MLB. Teams with the best records in their respective leagues get home field in the LCS.

And for whatever it's worth, I'm sticking with my Tampa over Philly prediction from April...

Stay tuned!