Odds of Struggling Preseason MLB Contenders Making Miracle Second-Half

Now that the All-Star game is behind us, teams all over the league are getting ready for the final push. We are at that point in the season where there is plenty of time to get back on track and make a move for the postseason, but it needs to happen relatively soon.

Some of the teams that are in this position right now were definitely not planning on being there when the season began.

These five teams had high aspirations, but the execution has certainly been lacking. Of course, there is a chance that they can get into the playoffs, but I’m going to try to quantify that for you here.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays had an impressive off-season. They brought in more star power than any other team, and it seemed as if they were going to be ready for a division title. RA Dickey was supposed to lead the rotation to glory, and a new crop of hitters led by Jose Reyes was supposed to make a major difference.

Unfortunately, this season has not been friendly. At the moment, they are 11.5 games back in the American League East, and that puts them in dead last. Needing to climb over, at least, three of the four teams in front of them will definitely be a tall order.

They took a huge wager, and it does not seem to be working out so well. They are mostly healthy, so that is going for them, but I really don’t think it will be enough.

Odds of Getting a Playoff Position: 40 to 1

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are getting older, but they seem to still be expected to win the division every year.

Injuries have played a major part of the Phillies’ struggles this season, and I do not necessarily see that problem going away.

Roy Halladay was largely ineffective this year, and Ryan Howard wasn’t all that he had been in the past. Now, both of them are on the disabled list for a substantial amount of time, and that will hurt.

The Phillies are only 6.5 games out of first place, and they have been making gains recently. It will certainly be a challenge, and the odds are certainly against them, but this team does have some great players led by All-Stars Cliff Lee and Domonic Brown who are playing some great ball right now.

Odds of Getting a Playoff Position: 15 to 1

San Francisco Giants

I did not see this coming from the San Francisco Giants. They are a solid team led by last year’s MVP Buster Posey. Posey is even having a really good season, but he is not getting an awful lot of support from his teammates.

The Giants are particularly struggling on the mound where the typically strong Matt Cain is not looking so strong with an ERA of 5.08. Tim Lincecum has still not been able to find his old self, and the rest of the staff is struggling mightily.

They are only 6.5 games out of first place, so there is certainly a chance. In fact, if their starting rotation is able to play up to their potential, I see no reason why this team cannot make a run.

Odds of Getting a Playoff Position: 9 to 1

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

A lineup that is led by Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols should be able to do a lot of damage. If you add in Mike Trout and all of his dynamic potential, you would think that you would score enough runs to win most ballgames.

Unfortunately, when your team has the fourth worst ERA in all of baseball, it takes a lot of runs to come out on top. On top of that, Hamilton and Pujols are not playing as well as they need to. If the pitching staff cannot improve, the only answer is to get more offense.

An 11 game deficit is a lot to overcome, and it will be difficult. It is not impossible, but there are so many things that need changing if they’re going to do any damage down the stretch.

Odds of Getting a Playoff Position: 60 to 1

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are expected to make the postseason every year, but this year could be difficult. They are six games back right now, and there are three teams in front of them.

This year, injuries have been devastating for the Yankees. Right now, three quarters of their typical infield is injured with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira on the DL and Derek Jeter trying to return. On top of that, Kevin Youkilis, who was expected to be a kind of insurance policy against injury, is out as well, so the Yankees have had many of their weapons miss substantial time.

You never know, but I do not think the odds are that great on this one. The American League East is too competitive for a team that has a hard time putting keeping their entire lineup healthy.

Odds of Getting a Playoff Position: 25 to 1

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