MLB Playoffs: Who Needs Home Field the Most?

While there are still postseason spots up for grabs, teams that have already clinched still have plenty to play for as no one has claimed home-field advantage at this point.

Whether it is an offensive-minded team playing in a hitter's paradise or a pitching-led team playing in a spacious home park, home-field advantage can mean a lot in October. 

There are eight teams currently in the running for home-field advantage, and I looked at each team's home and road winning percentage as well as the Park Factor* of their home field. 

Here is a look at the results, ranking the eight teams who need home-field advantage the most.  

*Park Factor - A measure of whether a park favors pitchers or hitters, with 1.000 being neutral, anything over 1.000 favoring hitters and anything under 1.000 qualifying as a pitcher's park.

8. Baltimore Orioles

Overall Record: 92-67 (.579)

Home Record: 47-34 (.580)

Road Record: 45-33 (.577)

Win % Differential: .003

Despite playing in what has been the most home-run friendly park in baseball this season, the Orioles have as negligible a difference between their home and away record as any team in baseball.

Home or away, the stat to look at for the Orioles is their 28-9 record in one-run games. It has been their ability to win the close one that has led to their success.

As with any inexperienced postseason team, having an extra game at home is a plus, but statistically speaking, there is no postseason team who will be less influenced by whether or not they have home-field advantage than the Orioles.

7. San Francisco Giants

Overall Record: 93-66 (.585)

Home Record: 48-33 (.593)

Road Record: 45-33 (.577)

Win % Differential: .016

The Giants have the most drastic pitcher's park of any contending team, as their 0.726 Park Factor in runs makes it the second biggest pitcher's park in baseball, trailing only the Mariners' Safeco Field.

That said, they don't play all that much better at home than they do on the road, and with a sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles to close out the season, they could finish with identical records home and away.

With a fantastic pitching staff fronted by Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, the Giants can turn any park into a pitcher's park. Still, there is no question that playing an extra game in roomy AT&T Park would be an advantage.

6. Atlanta Braves

Overall Record: 93-66 (.585)

Home Record: 48-33 (.593)

Road Record: 45-33 (.577)

Win % Differential: .016

Turner Field is perennially among the more neutral parks in the league as far as Park Factor numbers go, so it is no big surprise that the Braves have not played all that differently on the road and at home.

In fact, if they can close out the season with a sweep of the Pirates in Pittsburgh, they would finish with the same record on the road as they have at home.

With that said, the Braves have a young team and a number of key players are headed to their first postseason, so playing in front of the home crowd  would no doubt be a benefit.

5. Washington Nationals

Overall Record: 96-63 (.604)

Home Record: 48-30 (.615)

Road Record: 48-33 (.593)

Win % Differential: .022

Nationals Park has played more or less neutral this season, and regardless of where they are playing, the Nats will go as far as their rotation can take them this season.

That is not to say their offense is not an asset, but their rotation has been the reason for their big turnaround this season, and they simply can't go out and outscore teams in October.

The team closes out their season with three games against the Phillies at home, and they are currently tied with the Reds for the best record in the National League, and all of baseball for that matter.

4. Cincinnati Reds

Overall Record: 96-63 (.604)

Home Record: 50-31 (.617)

Road Record: 46-32 (.590)

Win % Differential: .027

The Reds play their home games at Great American Ballpark, which ranks as the second most home run friendly park in baseball at a 1.558 Park Factor. That obviously goes hand-in-hand with the park's 1.092 mark in runs scored.

The team relies heavily on the long ball, and if someone like the Giants were to wind up with home field over them, it would be a big disadvantage to the way their team is built.

They'll close out the season with a three-game series against the Cardinals in St. Louis, and are currently tied with the Nationals for the best record in the NL.

3. Oakland Athletics

Overall Record: 91-68 (.572)

Home Record: 47-31 (.603)

Road Record: 44-37 (.543)

Win % Differential: .060

The A's have had a phenomenal second half, and despite the fact that they are two games behind the Rangers for the best record in the AL, they have yet to clinch a playoff spot.

The O.co Coliseum has been a pitcher's park this season with an 0.880 Park Factor in runs, and seeing how the A's are armed with an incredibly young and inexperienced rotation, playing at home could be huge for them in October for a number of reasons.

They'll have every opportunity to pass the Rangers, as they close out the season with a three-game series against Texas at home.

2. Texas Rangers

Overall Record: 93-66 (.585)

Home Record: 50-31 (.617)

Road Record: 43-35 (.551)

Win % Differential: .066

The Ballpark at Arlington has ranked as the fourth best hitter's park in the majors this year with a 1.187 Park Factor in runs, and it is no surprise the Rangers have won the offensive battles more times than not.

With a juggernaut offense and a rotation that has been inconsistent to say the least, the Rangers will continue to rely on their lineup and having an extra game in Arlington could be huge for them.

They currently have the best record in the AL by one game, and they'll look to seal home-field advantage with a three-game series against the A's in Oakland.

1. New York Yankees

Overall Record: 92-67 (.579)

Home Record: 48-30 (.615)

Road Record: 44-37 (.543)

Win % Differential: .072

Yankee Stadium has actually played as a pitchers park this season, with a 0.981 Park Factor in runs, and for a Yankees team that has endured questions surrounding their pitching staff all season they have understandably played better at home.

They close out the season with three games at home against the rival Red Sox, and currently trail the Rangers by a game for the best record in the American League.