Welcome to September! Ranking the MLB playoff races that will rule the final month

"With each postseason expansion throughout MLB's history, the value of division races has diluted. In the wild-card era, you can finish in second place -- or even third or fourth -- and still win the World Series. Does that make September less exciting? There's no doubt it brings more teams and more fans into the mix. And a big game is still a big game, even if there is slightly less tension in a Red Sox-Yankees or Mets-Phillies series than there otherwise might be if both teams already know they're going to make the playoffs."

"Thus, we're mostly left with wild-card races and battles for seeding to occupy our time and scoreboard watching. That still offers plenty of fun, still makes September the best month on the baseball calendar, and there's still a lot of sweating going on when your closer walks two batters in the ninth trying to protect a one-run lead. The 12 postseason slots aren't completely locked up, so if you're a fan of the Mets or Mariners, you can't breathe easily just yet -- not until a playoff spot is clinched and the champagne uncorked."

"What's at stake: This is the best rivalry going on in the majors right now. The teams don't like each other, the fans don't like each other, and there's still that element of David trying to knock out Goliath as the Padres seek their first division title since 2006 and their first World Series title ever. The teams have met three times in the NL Division Series since 2020 -- with the Dodgers winning in 2020 and 2024 and the Padres victorious in 2022 -- and with another rematch possible, home-field advantage could be key."

Postseason expansion has diluted the value of division races, because wild-card berths allow teams finishing second, third or fourth to still win the World Series. Expansion brings more teams and fans into contention and increases late-season engagement. Most September drama now centers on wild-card races and seeding battles rather than only division titles. High-leverage moments, such as a closer walking batters in the ninth to protect a one-run lead, still create intense excitement. The 12 postseason spots are not fully decided, leaving teams like the Mets and Mariners unable to relax. The NL West features the most compelling rivalry and potential home-field implications.

Read at ESPN.com