MLB Playoff Push: The Road Ahead is Paved for Some, a Minefield for Others

As the calendar turns to late August, the Major League Baseball season is a month away from its conclusion. The standings are our guide, showing us where every team has been, but what truly matters now is where they’re going. The final weeks are a pressure cooker, and a team’s remaining schedule can be the difference between celebrating in October and watching from home.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the final stretch, analyzing three contenders with a clear path to the postseason and three whose journey will be an uphill battle.

The Easy Road Ahead

New York Yankees

Remaining SoS (rank): .482 (30th)

The Yankees are in a great position. While their rivalry with the Red Sox will always be a challenge—and they have six more of those matchups on the docket—the rest of their schedule is remarkably friendly. Look beyond the AL East and you'll see a series against the Nationals, a Twins team the Yankees have historically dominated, and a remarkable seven games against the Chicago White Sox.

This is a gift from the schedule-makers. Following a game in Boston on September 14, the Yankees won't face another team with a winning record for the rest of the season. Their final 13 games are against the Twins, Orioles, and White Sox—all teams that are currently out of contention. For a fanbase known to worry about late-season collapses, this lineup of opponents should be a source of calm. It's hard to imagine the Yankees stumbling when they’re facing so many teams with nothing left to play for.

Chicago Cubs

Remaining SoS (rank): .483 (29th)

Now that the Cubs have survived a tough five-game series against the Brewers, it's smooth sailing from here on out. Only seven of their final 35 games are against teams with winning records, and those are all confined to a single week in late September. Until then, their schedule is a true cakewalk.

A West Coast swing against the Angels, Giants, and Rockies is as favorable as it gets. Then, it's back to Wrigley Field for home series against the Braves and Nationals. Even a quick road trip to Atlanta is followed by a manageable homestand against the Rays and a series in Pittsburgh. The Cubs won't play a winning team again until September 18. This gives them a massive opportunity to build momentum and secure a home Wild Card Series. Finishing the season at home against a struggling Cardinals team—who entered Thursday with a 15-25 record since July 1—is the cherry on top.

San Diego Padres

Remaining SoS (rank): .484 (28th)

While the Padres and Dodgers are battling for the NL West, the Padres’ schedule gives them a clear edge in the Wild Card hunt. Their SoS is almost identical to the Dodgers’ (.492), but it’s the specific matchups that favor San Diego. Even with three games left against the seemingly unstoppable Brewers, they still have a total of ten games against the Rockies and White Sox.

Frankly, it’s not out of the question that the Padres could sweep all of those games. They have a chance to stack up wins before the final week of the season, which begins with that critical series against the Brewers. The Padres are a team that has been aggressive in making moves to improve, and their favorable schedule gives them the perfect chance to make those gambles pay off.

The Uphill Climb

Cincinnati Reds

Remaining SoS (rank): .519 (3rd)

The Reds' path to the postseason is the steepest of any contender. They are currently only one-third of the way through a brutal West Coast trip that didn't even follow a day off. This gauntlet continues with matchups against the D-backs and Dodgers.

But it doesn't stop there. The Reds still have series remaining against the AL East-leading Blue Jays and the NL Central-leading Brewers. They also have critical head-to-head matchups against the Mets, Padres, and Cubs—all teams in playoff position. While the Mets series in Cincinnati offers a chance to gain ground, the Reds are going to have to earn every single win to make their first full-season playoff appearance since 2013.

Boston Red Sox

Remaining SoS (rank): .508 (5th)

The Red Sox's schedule is a stark contrast to their rivals in the Bronx. While the Yankees get to cruise against losing teams, the Red Sox will be running the gauntlet. Not only do they have six more games against the Yankees, but their final week of the season includes matchups against two of the three AL division leaders in Toronto and Detroit.

Adding to the difficulty is a six-game series against the Athletics. While Oakland isn’t a playoff contender, they’ve been playing like a winning team since the All-Star break, powered by one of the most exciting offenses in the game right now. The time to face the A's was in the first half of the season—not when a playoff spot is on the line.

Philadelphia Phillies

Remaining SoS (rank): .504 (9th)

The Phillies are in a race against the clock to return to the World Series, and their schedule will test their mettle. The two teams standing most firmly in their way on the NL side of a potential playoff bracket are the Brewers and Dodgers, and the Phillies have road series against both in September.

If they hope to earn a first-round bye, they'll have to prove their worth against the league’s elite. Those seven remaining games against the Mets, who are fighting for a Wild Card spot themselves, won’t be easy either. The Phillies will have to survive this difficult stretch before getting a small break in the final week of the season with home series against the Marlins and Twins.