Spoiler Alert: Teams That Will Affect Pennant Races

While some teams, like Texas, might be able to laugh their way into the postseason, many teams are going to have mighty struggles as they seek playoff berths.

And then there are the teams that are just playing out the stretch.

But be cautious! Some of those teams can cause big problems for teams relying on as many Ws as they can.

Here are this year's top spoiler teams:

Toronto Blue Jays

Believe it or not, there are four teams in the AL East with winning records, with the Jays being the fourth.

The home-run-happy blue birds have nine contests remaining against the Yankees, seven against Boston, and six against the Rays. As well, they end the season with a four-game set in Minnesota, home of the AL Central-leading Twins.

The Blue Jays, who themselves are a week-and-a-half back in the Wild Card race, have been hot since the All-Star break, have been hanging in all season, and don't look like they're going away anytime soon.

New York Mets

The Mets this year, have been, well, the Mets. They looked good on paper, but are flirting with .500. Needless, to say, it's been a disappointing season at Citi Field.

But hold on, Mr. Met. Don't go away just yet. Your ballclub has important games left this season.

The Braves have played .500 ball against New York with six games to go. The Phillies, looking to win another NL East crown, have gone 4-5 against the Mets with nine games to play.

The Mets could do serious harm to the Phils' hopes of another October by winning most of these key games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

In 1979, the Pirates and Orioles fought each other for baseball's ultimate championship. In 2010, they are last in their respective leagues.

The NL Central race is getting very interesting. The Cardinals have a two-game lead over Cincinnati. Both teams have winning records against the Pirates.

But here's where it gets interesting: The Reds have only three games left against the Bucs this year, while the Cardinals, who are 5-1 against Pittsburgh this year, have nine contests left.

The Reds need to sweep their final series against Pittsburgh, If the Cards really want to put distance between themselves and Cincy, they must play well against Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, if they can pull it together, could potentially cause problems for these clubs.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew is getting ready to call it a season and have a couple of cold ones. But not so fast..

Milwaukee plays five more games against St. Louis. The two clubs have been very evenly matched thie season.

On the other hand, Milwaukee has a 1-4 record against the Reds with nine more games to play, six of those at the Great American Ball Park.

Milwaukee could make the NL Central race very messy.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona has gone 4-8 against the Padres with six games to play.

They've also gone 2-7 (seven straight losses) against the Giants with nine more games to play, six at McCovey Cove.

The Diamondbacks have a great chance to ruin San Francisco's hopes of winning the NL West.

Then again, the Giants are 1-8 against the Friars this season with nine more to go.

Boston Red Sox

Lastly, the Boston Red Sox.

I know, many must be saying 'But the Sox are still in the AL East and Wild Card races!'. Yes, that's correct. But they're not leading either race and have a difficult hill to climb.

The Dark Hose have six games remaining against both the Yankees and Rays. Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, Boston has losing record against both of these clubs.

Boston also has six games left against Baltimore, who are playing .500 ball against the BoSox in 2010.

Things aren't looking so good in Beantown right now.

If Boston makes the playoffs, it means either New York or Tampa Bay won't.

So, to spoil the chances of the Rays or Yanks making it to October, and to make it there themselves, the Red Sox must win each of their home-and-home series against TB and NY (to be safe, they need to win all 12 of those games, plus the 6 against the O's).

Otherwise, it's over.

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