Pros and Cons: A look at the 8 AL wild card contenders
When baseball added a second wild card in each league this season, the thinking was it would keep more teams in the hunt as the season wore down.
So far, so good -- especially in the American League.
There are currently 8 AL teams that either occupy one of the two wild card spots or are within three games of the second one.
Each team has its own pros and cons that have landed it in this spot. Here's a look at a pro and con for each of those teams. After going through, take your best stab at picking which two teams will play in the inaugural wild card playoff in October. (NOTE: Stats through Tuesday's play.)
-- David Selig
So far, so good -- especially in the American League.
There are currently 8 AL teams that either occupy one of the two wild card spots or are within three games of the second one.
Each team has its own pros and cons that have landed it in this spot. Here's a look at a pro and con for each of those teams. After going through, take your best stab at picking which two teams will play in the inaugural wild card playoff in October. (NOTE: Stats through Tuesday's play.)
-- David Selig
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Oakland Athletics( Jason O. Watson, Getty Images / July 17, 2012 )
PRO: Pitching
The A's have utilized their spacious ballpark, pitching to the lowest ERA in the AL (3.43) despite having the second-fewest strikeouts in the majors (581). Bartolo Colon (above), Brandon McCarthy, Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker won't finish high in the Cy Young Award voting, but each have a WHIP of 1.26 or lower. |
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