Cleveland Indians need to end August within three games of the Wild Card
As it currently stands, the Tribe are six games out of the Wild Card race in the American League. The Central seems out of reach after all the additions the Chicago White Sox made before taking nearly a double-digit lead in the standings, being 8.5 up. However, the Wild Card is still within reach and cutting that mark in half during August would be huge.
The 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday after holding their own against Chicago is what makes this point seem a bit more possible. Toronto and Chicago both were heavy buyers at the deadline to make a playoff push and, despite selling, Cleveland looked like a team that could contend with them.
A big boost in that regard has come from the starting pitching improving. That has taken pressure off the rest of the roster and has everyone settled in a bit more. That improvement paired with the easier schedule in August makes it seem possible to gain ground in the race.
We’re not asking to overcome the deficit. Clearing six games in one month is hard, but three games is doable. The current teams holding Wild Card spots are Oakland and Boston, both being on the August schedule for Cleveland. Between the Tribe and those spots are the Yankees, Mariners and Blue Jays who are all passable. It’s a bit of a stretch, but it’s not impossible.