As the Major League Baseball season enters its final stretch, attention is shifting from the current standings to the remaining schedules of contending teams. While every game counts equally in the standings, the difficulty of opponents over the last month can play a significant role in determining which teams make it to the postseason.
The New York Yankees are among those with a favorable schedule ahead. Their remaining strength of schedule ranks 30th according to FanGraphs, at .482. The Yankees still have six games against their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox, following Thursday night’s series opener in New York. However, outside of these matchups, they will face teams like the Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins—teams they have performed well against historically—and seven games against the Chicago White Sox.
After a Sunday night game at Boston on September 14, none of their final 13 opponents currently have a winning record. This stretch includes games only against the Twins, Orioles, and White Sox. Some fans are concerned about a late-season collapse by the Yankees but facing so many non-contenders may reduce that risk.
Other teams also face easier paths based on their schedules. The Chicago Cubs’ remaining strength of schedule is .483 (29th). After finishing a five-game set with Milwaukee, only seven of their last 35 games are against teams with winning records—all occurring during the final two weeks of play. Their schedule features multiple games against lower-ranked teams such as the Angels, Giants, Rockies, Braves (who have struggled recently), Nationals, Rays, and Pirates before closing out at home versus St. Louis.
The San Diego Padres also benefit from an easier run-in; their strength of schedule stands at .484 (28th). They will play seven times against Colorado and three times versus Chicago’s American League team—opponents who have struggled this season—before facing tougher competition like Milwaukee near season’s end.
On the other hand, some contenders must navigate much more difficult paths. The Cincinnati Reds have one of baseball’s toughest remaining slates (.519; third-hardest). Their current West Coast trip includes matchups with Arizona and Los Angeles and continues with series against top clubs including Toronto and Milwaukee as well as playoff-positioned Mets, Padres, and Cubs.
The Boston Red Sox’s upcoming challenges include six more games versus New York but also late-season series with division leaders Toronto and Detroit. Additionally, they must play Oakland—a team that has improved significantly since midseason—six times down the stretch.
For Philadelphia Phillies fans hoping for another World Series run after years without a championship appearance since 2009 (https://www.mlb.com/phillies/history/postseason-results), their team faces a moderately tough finish (.504; ninth-hardest). Key road series loom against Milwaukee and Los Angeles in September along with several meetings versus divisional rival Mets before ending with home contests against Miami and Minnesota.
With just over a month left in regular season play for MLB contenders such as these six clubs—including both those favored by easier opposition and those bracing for tougher challenges—the outcome could depend as much on future scheduling as past performance.
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