MLB 2024 Stretch Run Predictions Sports News

MLB 2024 Stretch Run Predictions: Who Will Secure Playoff Spots?

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 27 September 2024

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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As the 2024 MLB regular season enters its final two weeks, every game counts. Teams in contention are making their final push, while those on the bubble fight to keep their postseason hopes alive. The stretch run will determine not just playoff seeds but also which teams will even make it into October.

Teams in Control

A few teams have already cemented their places in the postseason or are on the verge of doing so. These division leaders have dominated throughout the season, and the final weeks are more about solidifying their seeding rather than scrambling for a spot.

Team	Wins	Losses	Run Differential	Last 10 Games	Magic Number
Braves	99	56	+227	7-3	3
Dodgers	94	61	+176	6-4	5
Orioles	95	60	+102	5-5	4

The Atlanta Braves have been the most dominant team this season, thanks to their high-powered offense led by Ronald Acuña Jr. and their deep pitching rotation. With a magic number of just three, they’re poised to secure the top seed in the National League.

Teams in the Wild Card Fight

The Wild Card race is shaping up to be just as exciting as any division battle. Teams like the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Seattle Mariners are in a tight race, and the margin for error is razor-thin. Here’s how the standings look in the final two weeks:

Chicago Cubs – A solid season sees the Cubs in the second Wild Card spot. Their consistent pitching, led by Marcus Stroman, has been a key factor, but they’ll need to keep winning to secure their place.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Sitting just behind the Cubs, Arizona is hoping their young core, including Corbin Carroll, can carry them over the finish line. Their upcoming schedule is manageable, but any slip-ups could prove costly.
Seattle Mariners – With a tough schedule ahead, including matchups against division rivals, the Mariners face an uphill battle. But with players like Julio Rodríguez heating up, they can’t be counted out.

Dark Horse Candidates

A few teams are sitting just outside the playoff picture but still have a chance to sneak in with a strong finish. One team to watch is the Miami Marlins, who have been on a late-season surge. Despite the absence of ace Sandy Alcantara due to injury, his leadership has been critical to the Marlins’ locker room presence. As he put it:

Everybody knows that I’m not gonna pitch this year, but I want to be supporting my teammates.

Series That Will Decide the Season

As we head into the last two weeks of September, several series will have massive playoff implications. Here are the matchups to keep an eye on:

Braves vs. Phillies (Sept. 25-27)

The Braves have all but locked up their division, but the Phillies are fighting for Wild Card positioning. Every game here will be critical for Philadelphia as they battle to stay in the playoff race.

Mariners vs. Rangers (Sept. 28-Oct. 1)

This series could determine who snags the last AL Wild Card spot. Both teams are fighting to stay in contention, and head-to-head matchups like these are must-win situations.

Diamondbacks vs. Astros (Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

Arizona faces a tough challenge in the reigning World Series champs. If the Diamondbacks want to stay in the Wild Card hunt, they’ll need to take at least two games in this series.