18 teams in the postseason hunt

With 10 postseason spots at stake, as we speak there are at least 18 Major League teams that can fairly consider themselves contenders.

With less than six weeks left in the regular season, that is 60 percent of the field. And that is competitive balance.

• 2016 MLB standings

True, there are division races that seem a trifle one-sided. But in those cases, there is compensating drama in the Wild Card races. The Wild Card is doing what it was supposed to do, which is to maintain the postseason chances of more teams, thus keeping alive the hopes of more fans.

Our standard for being in postseason contention, beyond being in a race for a division title, is trailing by five games or less in the Wild Card race.

AL East

There are four postseason candidates here, and three of them — Toronto, Boston and Baltimore — are grouped within two games of the lead.

This has the makings of a ferocious race, in which no team has demonstrated either a likelihood of folding or an ability to pull away from the pack. The Yankees aren’t out of it, either, particularly as a potential Wild Card entry, although they are increasingly depending on a new generation of Bronx Bombers.

AL Central

The Indians have a healthy lead, and with their pitching, that is a perfectly logical situation for them.

But the Tigers and Royals are solidly in the race for a Wild Card berth. The Tigers made a move earlier this month, but have faded slightly. But they have a potent lineup and starting pitching that can be exceptional. The …

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