The climate is heating up and the baseball season is in full swing. As we enter June, it’s time to take a very good take a look at the standings. There’s nonetheless loads of baseball left, however developments that started in April have solidified additional in Could. Nearly a 3rd of the way in which into the season, it’s time to start out interested by whether or not our present division leaders are for actual.
Let’s check out these leaders and what the postseason area might seem like come October. Observe, all stats beneath exclude the shortened 2020 season and as an alternative take a look at full seasons for the impression and postseason implications.
What it means to be in first place
Since 1996 — the primary full season with no less than one Wild Card in every league after the ‘95 marketing campaign was restricted to 144 video games because of the strike that started in 1994 — 100 of 168 eventual division champions held no less than a share of their division lead coming into June 1. That’s 60 p.c of division winners.
Pay particular consideration, Yankees, Tigers, Mariners, Phillies, Mets, Cubs and Dodgers followers — these groups are our present division leaders heading into June, with the NL East tied up high.
Final season, 5 of the six division leaders on June 1 went on to win their divisions. Within the American League, the Yankees and Guardians each received their divisions, whereas the Mariners, who led the AL West coming into June, missed the postseason. Within the NL, the Phillies, Brewers and Dodgers every led coming into June and went on to win their divisions.
In case you had been questioning, there’s been only one season on this span the place all six division champions held no less than a share of their division lead coming into June 1: 1998.
Since 1996, 16 of the 28 World Sequence winners, excluding 2020, led their divisions coming into June. The Dodgers did so final yr.
These defending champion Dodgers are in first place coming into June. That’s rarer than you would possibly assume. Of the 28 groups to win the World Sequence since 1996 and play in Could the following yr, simply seven have discovered themselves in first place by means of Could that subsequent yr, together with these Dodgers. The 2018 Astros had been the final to do it earlier than this yr.
This yr’s leaders general
Of this yr’s present division leaders coming into June, every has had no less than a share of that lead coming into June no less than one different time since 2021, besides one. The Tigers are on this spot for the primary time since 2014.
The Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers received their divisions final yr. The Cubs final did so in 2017, the Mets in 2015, Tigers in 2014 and Mariners in 2001.
What’s subsequent
Even two months in, there’s nonetheless loads of baseball left to be performed. However followers of the seven division leaders, with that NL East tie, can take some consolation in realizing that traditionally, greater than half of these groups have gone on to win their divisions. And whereas 60% of groups with a share of the division lead coming into June win that division, lots don’t. Solely time will inform. That’s why they play the sport – and, fortunately, we get to comply with alongside.
