2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Entering September

With one month remaining in the MLB regular season, the National League playoff picture is completely undecided. All divisions are up for grabs as one division still has four teams in the playoff hunt. Which National League playoff competitors will make the most of September baseball and home field advantage this season?

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents: Atlanta Braves (78-55, 1^st AL East)

1NYM, 3@FLA, 3@PIT, 4STL, 3WAS, 3@NYM, 3@PHI, 3@WAS, 3FLA, 3PHI

The Atlanta Braves are determined to give Bobby Cox a ride into the sunset this year. Alex Gonzalez and Derrek Lee are some of the additions the Braves made to boost the offense. They've held the Phillies off the NL East lead for months, but they've crept very close.

The Braves haven't had postseason play in a few seasons, but they do have many veterans who have postseason experience. Their final series of the year will be a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The NL East title could come down to this.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents: Philadelphia Phillies (75-58, 3.0GB AL East, NL Wildcard Leader)

1@COL, 3MIL, 4FLA, 3@NYM, 3@FLA, 3WAS, 3ATL, 3NYM, 3@WAS, 3@ATL

The Philadelphia Phillies have won the National League pennant for the past two seasons. This year's team has had offensive struggles, but a short-series rotation that includes Roy Oswalt and Roy Hallday is as good as it gets. The Phillies have torched the NL West, but they only have one road game remaining with a NL West opponent.

The Phillies have experience aplenty. They can use this to their advantage against most NL playoff hopefuls. The Phillies schedule includes series against the Brewers, Mets, and Nationals. They should be able to maintain a wildcard position easily enough, if not the NL East crown. Look for the race to dwindle down to the Braves, Phillies, and Giants.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents: Florida Marlins (67-65, 7.5GB Wildcard)

3ATL, 4@PHI, 3@WAS, 3PHI, 3CHC, 1STL, 2NYM, 4@MIL, 3@ATL, 4PIT

7 of the Marlins next 13 games are against the Philadelphia Phillies, who they trail by 7.5 in the wildcard care. With an abundance of teams fighting for a wildcard spot, it'll be extremely difficult for the Marlins to claw their way back in the wildcard race. However, If they win 5 of 7 against the Phillies, it's not impossible. If they can get hot, they have the Nationals, Cubs, Brewers, and Pirates to feast on.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:Cincinnati Reds (78-55, 1^st NL Central)

3@STL, 4@COL, 3PIT, 4ARZ, 3@HOU, 3@MIL, 3@SD, 3HOU, 3MIL

The Reds are the least surprising of the surprising teams. They've underachieved for years, but they've finally put together a World Series caliber ball club. With tons of offensive talent, respectable pitching, and a manager with World Series experience, the Reds are capable of making a postseason run. It's even more possible if they can steal home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs by sustaining the National League's best record.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:St. Louis Cardinals (69-62, 8.0GB NL Central, 5.0GB Wildcard)

3CIN, 3@MIL,4@ATL, 3CHC, 4SD, @FLA, 3@PIT, 3@CHC, 3PIT, 4COL

Starting September 3^rd, the St. Louis Cardinals will play an entire month of baseball without an off day. Yes... 31 straight days of baseball. They have one stretch where they'll have to play in St. Louis, Florida, and Pittsburgh in three consecutive days.

A current losing streak has put them 8 back in the division. Unless they sweep the Reds this week, the Cardinals only shot is the Wildcard. They have dug themselves into a big hole this September, and I don't believe they'll survive.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:San Diego Padres (76-56, 1^st NL West)

3COL, 3LAD, 4SF, 3@COL, 4@STL, 3@LAD, 3CIN, 4CHC, 3@SF

Has the San Diego Padres magic worn off? A seven game skid could suggest that. If not, their remaining schedule could decide it. With only one off day remaining, 26 of the Padres 30 remaining games are against teams who should have an over .500 record and be competing with the Padres for a NL playoff position. They also have 7 games against the Giants, 6 against the Rockies, and 6 against the Dodgers.

Young team with limited experience that has overachieved. Can they hold it together? They have a three game head start in the division and 4.5 in the wildcard, so they have a good comfort zone.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:San Francisco Giants (74-60, 3.0GB NL West, 1.5GB Wildcard).

3@LAD, 3@ARZ, 4@SD, 3LAD, 3MIL, 3@CHC, 3@COL, 3ARZ, 3SD

With 3 off days, the Giants could be the best rested club down the stretch. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito give the Giants a lethal combination of starters that'll keep them in the September race and make them a force in October despite their lackadaisical hitting.

The Giants have 7 games remaining with the Padres, including 3 at season's end. With 12 games against the Diamondbacks, Cubs, and Brewers, the Giants have things much easier than a young Padres team who could easily collapse back to reality this month.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:Colorado Rockies (69-63, 7.0GB NL West, 5.5GB Wildcard)

PHI, 3@SD, 4CIN, 3ARZ, 3SD, 3@LAD, 3@ARZ, 3SF, 3LAD, 4@STL

They stole the NL West from the Padres a few years ago. The Rockies have played well in September, and they're in position for another run. The Padres and Giants are inexperienced in playing meaningful September baseball. The Padres and Cardinals schedule could also prove overtaxing.

They play nearly every team that's still in the wildcard and NL West race. Destiny is completely in the Rockies hands, and a hot streak could certainly get them back-to-back postseasons for the first time in franchise history.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Race Opponents:Los Angeles Dodgers (68-66, 9GB NL West, 7.5GB Wildcard

3SF, 3@SD, 4@HOU, 3@SF, 3COL, 3SD, 3@ARZ, 3@COL, 3ARZ

After trading Manny Ramirez, all indications are that the Los Angeles Dodgers have given up. They seem to have too many teams to jump and management has lost faith. Joe Torre's final season will likely fail to merit a playoff berth.

However: They have the best divisional record (30-18), and 24 of their 28 remaining games are against NL West teams. Playoffs are very unlikely, but not impossible.

2010 MLB National League Playoff Overview

The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have too much overall talent to miss the playoffs. Since the Braves won't want Bobby Cox to go out without a chance at a championship, I believe the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies will represent the NL in the playoffs. The Reds current streak and Cardinals current woes will elevate Dusty Baker back into the playoffs for the first time since being manager of the Chicago Cubs.

The final playoff participant will be the NL West champion. The Padres schedule and inexperience will get the best of them, but they have proved everyone... including me... wrong all season. I'm looking at the Giants as the National League West champions for 2010. Their pitching, off days, veteran offensive players, and strength of opponents will elevate them past the Padres in the NL West race.

Giants, Reds, Phillies, and Braves are my picks to come out of the National League. The NL champion will depend heavily on match-ups. Look for a potential series between the Phillies and Giants: Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt versus Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

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REFERENCES:

All schedules and standings are from MLB and ESPN as of September 2, 2010.

Stephen Sullivan, "Colorado Rockies Postseason History." Associated Content. June 4, 2010. September 2, 2010.