MLB playoff odds Sept. 13: Pirates regain share of NL Central lead

Taking a look at the latest MLB post-season odds from Cool Standings and Baseball Prospectus.

Sep 13, 2013, 2:53 PM UTC

Justin K. Aller

Most of the playoff contenders were in action Thursday, causing some changes in the postseason odds in both the American League and the National League.

Let’s check in on the playoff odds in the AL:

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			CoolStandings.com			Baseball Prospectus
Team	Wins	Losses	Div	WC	POFF	Div	WC	POFF
Red Sox	89	58	99.9	0.1	99.9	99.9	0.1	100
Tigers	84	62	98.7	1.0	99.8	99.6	0.3	99.9
Athletics	85	61	90.2	9.5	99.7	83.9	15.8	99.6
Rangers	81	64	9.8	68.9	78.7	16.1	69.5	85.6
Rays	79	66	0.1	45.2	45.3	0.1	67.6	67.7
Yankees	79	68	<0.1	23.0	23.0	0	16.4	16.4
Indians	78	68	0.9	34.5	35.4	0..4	21.7	22.1
Orioles	77	69	<0.1	5.3	5.3	0.0	4.4	4..4
Royals	77	69	0.4	12.4	12.9	0	4.2	4..2

Tampa Bay picked up an important victory over the Red Sox, improving their postseason odds five percent. New York collected their third victory over Baltimore in the past four days, causing the Orioles’ playoff odds to fall eight percent since Monday.

Cleveland earned a win over the Chicago White Sox, keeping the Indians 1 1/2 games behind the Rays. Oakland also picked up a win on Thursday, increasing their odds of winning the AL West by 3 percent.

Now on to the National League:

Team	Wins	Losses	Div	WC	POFF	Div	WC	POFF
Braves	88	58	99.9	<0.1	99.9	100	0	100
Dodgers	86	60	99.9	<0.1	99.9	100	0	100
Cardinals	85	61	54.1	45.6	99.7	50.4	49.3	99.7
Pirates	85	61	34.3	65.3	99.6	36.7	63.1	99.8
Reds	83	64	11.5	86.4	98.0	12.8	84.9	97.8
Nationals	77	69	<0.1	2.7	2.7	0.0	2.7	2.7

The Braves and the Dodgers both won against last-place opponents, lowering Atlanta's magic number to six and the Los Angeles' magic number to five. The Nationals finished off a four-game sweep over the New York Mets, keeping their faint playoff dreams alive.

The NL Central race saw the biggest shakeup; the Cardinals lost at home to the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Pirates won against the Chicago Cubs. St Louis' odds of winning the division fell 13 percent thanks to the two outcomes, and the teams are now tied for the NL Central lead.