The Road to the MLB Playoffs: Ranking Every Contending Team's Chances

Three weeks remain in the 2012 MLB regular season, and just as many expected, the addition of a second wild card has meant that more teams than ever are in the hunt for a playoff spot this late in the season.

As of Thursday morning, there were 18 teams within five games of either the division lead or a wild-card spot, and the races in the AL East and AL Central figure to come down to the final days.

With so many teams separated by so few games, each team's remaining slate of games becomes more important than ever.

So, on a scale of 1-10, here is a look at each contender's remaining schedule and its degree of difficulty.

Detroit Tigers (75-67, Second in AL Central)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Cleveland (60-84)
3-vs. Oakland (82-61)
3-vs. Minnesota (60-84)
4-vs. Kansas City (65-78)
3-@ Minnesota (60-84)
3-@ Kansas City (65-78)

Outlook

There may be no team in a better position for the season's final weeks than the Tigers, as they have just three games against teams with a winning record and have the benefit of playing the cellar dwellers in what is no doubt the weakest division in baseball.

That said, the team has not exactly dominated those cellar dwellers. The Tigers are 7-4 against the Royals, 7-5 against the Twins and a dismal 6-9 against the Indians. Still, I'd take their remaining schedule over perhaps any other contender's.

Difficulty: 2 

Atlanta Braves (81-63, First in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

3-vs. Washington (89-54)
3-@ Miami (63-81)
3-@ Philadelphia (72-72)
3-vs. Miami (63-81)
3-vs. New York (65-78)
3-@ Pittsburgh (72-70)

Outlook

The Braves have had a firm grasp on an NL wild-card spot for some time now, and they have a 5.5-game lead over the Cardinals for the top wild-card position.

They have a tough three-game series against the Nationals coming up, and still face the streaking Phillies for three games. But aside from that, their schedule is relatively easy. They have six games against the lowly Marlins, three against the Mets and close the regular season with a three-game series against the Pirates, a team that could well be out of contention by then.

Difficulty: 3

New York Yankees (81-62, First in AL East)

Remaining Schedule

3-vs. Tampa Bay (77-66)
3-vs. Toronto (65-77)
3-vs. Oakland (82-61)
3-@ Minnesota (60-84)
4-@ Toronto (65-77)
3-vs. Boston (64-80)

Outlook

The Yankees get to spent most of the rest of the regular season playing in Yankee Stadium, and they close out the season with 10 games against teams with losing records.

Things could get interesting if the AL East is still close entering the Yankees' final three games against the rival Red Sox. But aside from a three-game series against Oakland, the Yankees have an easy enough road the rest of the way, meaning they could very well have put the division title away before that final series.

Difficulty: 3

Baltimore Orioles (81-62, First in AL East)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Oakland (82-61)
3-@ Seattle (69-75)
3-@ Boston (64-80)
4-vs. Toronto (65-77)
3-vs. Boston (64-80)
3-@ Tampa Bay (77-66)

Outlook

The Orioles will spend the bulk of their remaining games on the road and will face two teams in the A's and Rays who will be vying for a wild-card spot.

They have six games against the Red Sox, who will be looking to play spoiler at this point, and seven games against the Blue Jays and Mariners, teams they should beat. They are  playing great baseball right now and appear to be in a good position to earn a postseason berth.

Difficulty: 4

San Francisco Giants (81-62, First in NL West)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Arizona (71-72)
4-vs. Colorado (57-85)
3-vs. San Diego (69-75)
3-vs. Arizona (71-72)
3-@ San Diego (69-75)
3-@ Los Angeles (74-89)

Outlook

Despite the loss of Melky Cabrera and the Dodgers' significant additions at the trade deadline, the Giants have remained atop the NL West and hold a sold seven-game lead over rival Los Angeles.

The Giants plays all of their remaining games against NL West foes. And while the Diamondbacks and Padres aren't exactly pushovers, the Giants should fare well enough against them that will have secured the division title by the time they meet the Dodgers in the final three games of the regular season.

Difficulty: 4

Cincinnati Reds (87-57, First in NL Central)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Miami (63-81)
3-@ Chicago (56-87)
3-vs. Los Angeles (74-69)
3-vs. Milwaukee (72-71)
3-@ Pittsburgh (72-70)
3-@ St. Louis (75-68)

Outlook

With an 11.5-game lead over the Cardinals, the Reds have the NL Central all but locked up. And that is a lead that should only grow as they play their next six games against the Marlins and Cubs.

They have a tough stretch to close out the season, but in all reality they shouldn't need to press too hard over the season's final two weeks to capture the NL Central crown. They've been among the best teams in baseball all season and will be one to watch in October.

Difficulty: 4 

Chicago White Sox (76-66, First in AL Central)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Minnesota (60-84)
3-@ Kansas City (65-78)
3-@ Los Angeles (78-66)
3-vs. Cleveland (60-84)
4-vs. Tampa Bay (77-66)
3-@ Cleveland (60-84)

Outlook

The weakness of the AL Central this season could well play in the White Sox's favor down the stretch. They have 12 games remaining against the bottom of the division and none against the Tigers.

The four-game series with Tampa at the end of September will be big, as both teams will likely be in a must-win situation given their current positioning. Still, the White Sox have to like what they see on their schedule the rest of the way.

Difficulty: 4

Pittsburgh Pirates (72-70, Fourth in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

4-@ Chicago (56-87)
3-vs. Milwaukee (72-71)
3-@ Houston (46-98)
4-@ New York (65-78)
3-vs. Cincinnati (87-57)
3-vs. Atlanta (81-63)

Outlook

Much like the Cardinals, the Pirates have a handful of games remaining against some of the worst teams in the league (Cubs, Astros, Mets), but also play a number of top-tier teams, including six games against what look to be sure-fire playoff teams in the Braves and Reds to close out the season.

They've fallen off a bit in the second half, but have managed to keep from falling too far out of contention. They still have a legitimate chance to make the postseason. If nothing else, they need to go 10-10 down the stretch to secure their first winning record since 1992. 

Difficulty: 5

Tampa Bay Rays (77-66, Fourth in AL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

4-vs. Boston (64-80)
3-vs. Toronto (65-77)
2-@ Boston (64-80)
4-@ Chicago (76-66)
3-vs. Baltimore (81-62)

Outlook

The Rays have stormed back into the playoff picture since the return of Evan Longoria, but they have an uphill battle to close out the season. Their final seven games are against teams that will likely be playing for their postseason lives.

They'll need to dominate their next 11 games against the Red Sox and Blue Jays if they hope to have a serious shot at claiming a wild-card spot. Still, if there is any team I wouldn't bet against, it's the Rays.

Difficulty: 5

St. Louis Cardinals (75-68, Second in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

4-@ Los Angeles (74-69)
3-vs. Houston (46-98)
3-@ Chicago (56-87)
3-@ Houston (46-98)
3-vs. Washington (89-54)
3-vs. Cincinnati (87-57)

Outlook 

You never hate to see nine more games against the Cubs and Astros on your schedule. Once they wrap up an important three-game series with the Dodgers, that should give the Cardinals a chance to distance themselves from the pack in the NL wild-card race.

They'll need to build a cushion, as they close the season against Washington and Cincinnati, the two best teams in the NL. With so many teams still vying for the NL wild card, they will no doubt need to win through the season's final day to capture the second spot.

Difficulty: 5

Milwaukee Brewers (72-71, Fifth in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

3-vs. New York (65-78)
3-@ Pittsburgh (72-70)
4-@ Washington (89-54)
3-@ Cincinnati (87-57)
3-vs. Houston (46-98)
3-vs. San Diego (69-75)

Outlook

The Brewers have rattled off an impressive stretch, going 18-5 in their last 23 games to pull themselves back into the NL wild-card picture. They've done it on the strength of a potent lineup that has backed a young, inexperienced pitching staff.

They have a rough 10-game stretch against the Pirates, Nationals and Reds that will likely decide whether they have any shot at contention. If they can manage to survive those games, they do close things out against the Astros and Padres, but they have their work cut out for them.

Difficulty: 6

Los Angeles Angels (78-66, Third in AL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Kansas City (65-78)
3-vs. Texas (85-58)
3-vs. White Sox (76-66)
3-vs. Seattle (69-75)
3-@ Texas (85-58)
3-@ Seattle (69-75) 

Outlook

The Angels have hung on the fringe of contention all season, and they find themselves just 3.5 games out of the second wild-card spot in the AL, though they are third in their own division.

Having six of their final nine games against the Mariners is nice, but their six-game stretch against the Rangers and White Sox could go a long way toward determining just how much those games to close out the season will mean.

Difficulty: 6

Philadelphia Phillies (72-72, Sixth in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

4-@ Houston (46-98)
3-@ New York (65-78)
3-vs. Atlanta (81-63)
3-vs. Washington (89-54)
3-@ Miami (63-81)
3-@ Washington (89-54)

Outlook

The Phillies have gone 15-5 over their last 20 games and had a seven-game winning streak snapped on Thursday. They have charged back into the playoff picture and sit just 3.5 games out of the final wild-card spot in the NL.

They have a great chance to keep things going with an upcoming three-game series against the Astros, but they'll have to earn it if they want to make the postseason. They have six games left against the Nationals and three against the Braves in what continues to be a very strong NL East.

Difficulty: 6

Texas Rangers (85-58, First in AL West)

Remaining Schedule

3-vs. Seattle (69-75)
3-@ Los Angeles (78-66)
3-@ Seattle (69-75)
4-vs. Oakland (82-61)
3-vs. Los Angeles (78-66)
3-@ Oakland (82-61)

Outlook

The Rangers have managed to hold off the Angles and A's thus far, but their lead in the AL West stands at just three games and they will play 13 more games against those two teams the rest of the way.

Even the Mariners are no pushover, as they are no doubt the best last-place team in all of baseball. While Texas remains the class of the division, the Rangers will certainly need to earn it down the stretch against two very good teams looking to make the postseason themselves.

Difficulty: 7

Washington Nationals (89-54, First in NL East)

Remaining Schedule

3-@ Atlanta (81-63)
3-vs. Los Angeles (74-69)
4- vs. Milwaukee (72-71)
3-@ Philadelphia (72-72)
3-@ St. Louis (75-68)
3-vs. Philadelphia (72-72)

Outlook

The Nationals have held a commanding lead in the NL East for some time, and they still maintain an 8.5- game cushion, so things will need to go horribly awry for them not to make the postseason.

That said, their remaining schedule is tough. They play 10 games against the streaking Brewers and Phillies, and face contenders Atlanta, Los Angeles and St. Louis in their other nine games. Even with that, however, I don't expect the Nationals to have any trouble reaching October.

Difficulty: 7 

Los Angeles Dodgers (74-69, Third in NL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

4-vs. St. Louis (75-68)
3-@ Washington (89-54)
3-@ Cincinnati (87-57)
3-@ San Diego (69-75)
3-vs. Colorado (57-85)
3-vs. San Francisco (81-62)

Outlook

The Dodgers face as tough a closing stretch as any team in baseball. They play four of the five teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended Friday, with three of those series next on the schedule.

They're only one game behind the Cardinals for the second wild-card spot, but they have a long road ahead if they hope to make all of their deadline wheeling and dealing pay off this season.

Difficulty: 9

Oakland Athletics (82-61, First in AL Wild Card)

Remaining Schedule

3-vs. Baltimore (81-62)
3-@ Detroit (75-67)
3-@ New York (81-62)
4-@ Texas (85-58)
3-vs. Seattle (69-75)
3-vs. Texas (85-58)

Outlook

No one has a tougher road to the postseason than the A's, as a three-game series with the Mariners is their only matchup against a non-contender. 

That they play the Rangers seven more times is bad enough, but they also match up against the Orioles and Yankees, who will likely be in the midst of battling it out for the AL East crown. It's been a phenomenal second half for the A's, but they have a lot of work ahead of them.

Difficulty: 10