As May ends, even some weaker groups have causes for hope in baseball’s playoff chase

The Detroit Tigers are 25-26 and haven’t spent a day above .500 all season. They’re additionally one sport out of first place.

The Chicago Cubs have the worst file within the National League, however are solely 4½ video games out of a playoff spot.

As Memorial Day arrives, among the weaker groups in baseball are nonetheless very a lot inside hanging distance within the postseason race. In reality, FanGraphs lists solely 5 groups within the main leagues with lower than a 5% likelihood of reaching the postseason: the Royals, Athletics, Nationals, Reds and Rockies. And even Cincinnati is simply 4 video games out of first within the NL Central.

On May 29 final yr, there have been 11 groups with lower than a 5% likelihood of a playoff berth.

There are a handful of things this yr which might be serving to groups keep in rivalry even after they’re not enjoying all that properly.

1. The worst groups are REALLY unhealthy. Oakland is 10-45, and the Athletics may very properly problem the trendy file of 120 losses by the 1962 Mets. Kansas City, presently at 16-38, isn’t significantly better.

That means extra wins for different groups who may use the assistance. Seattle, for instance, is perhaps in some vital hassle proper now if not for a 7-0 file in opposition to the A’s.

2. A whole lot of the mediocre groups are bunched collectively in the identical divisions. Minnesota leads the AL Central at 27-26, and which means the Tigers don’t even should be at .500 to be shut behind. Cleveland (23-29) is 7 1/2 video games behind the ultimate wild card, however solely 3 1/2 behind the division lead, and even the White Sox are solely six video games behind the Twins regardless of being 11 video games underneath .500.

It’s an identical story within the NL Central, the place solely 5 1/2 video games separate division-leading Milwaukee (28-25) and the last-place Cubs.

3. While it might take an excellent file to safe even the third wild card within the AL, there’s actual parity within the NL. Right now, the third wild card within the NL belongs to San Francisco (27-26) and there are 9 groups inside 4 1/2 video games of the Giants.

TRIVIA TIME

One of essentially the most fascinating stats in regards to the A’s is that of their 10 wins, 4 have are available walk-off vogue. Only one workforce has extra walk-off wins than Oakland. Who is that?

COMEBACK OF THE WEEK

The Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a 5-0 deficit within the sixth inning in opposition to Arizona on Wednesday. Trea Turner tied the sport with a two-run homer within the backside of the ninth, after which Alec Bohm’s single within the tenth gave Philadelphia a 6-5 win. The Diamondbacks’ win likelihood reached 98.6% within the ninth, in response to Baseball Savant.

LINE OF THE WEEK

Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out 12 in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta on Saturday. He allowed three hits.

With Aaron Nola sporting a 4.59 ERA, the Phillies may actually use extra performances like that from Wheeler as they attempt to make up floor within the NL East.

TRIVIA ANSWER

The Yankees lead the majors with 5 walk-off wins. They had two this previous week — Anthony Volpe hit a sacrifice fly to beat Baltimore within the tenth inning Tuesday evening, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s single within the tenth wrapped up New York’s win over San Diego on Saturday.