AAA's Top MLB Contenders Heading Into September
by AAA Sports
Friday, Aug 28, 2026With September right around the corner, we're getting to the point of the MLB season where the contenders start separating themselves from everyone else. There are still plenty of teams fighting for a spot in October. But, these six clubs have put themselves in a strong position to make some noise down the stretch. American League -- Tampa Bay Rays (79-54) -- The Rays currently sit at the top of the AL East and have been one of the best teams in baseball all season long. Tampa Bay doesn't always have the biggest names in the league. But, this season, superstars have been created and there's lots of hope within the organization. Junior Caminero has been a huge part of that success, becoming one of the most dangerous young hitters in baseball. Yandy Diaz has also continued to give the Rays steady production at the plate. The pitching has been stellar as well. But, the big question remains whether Tampa Bay can finally turn regular season success into a deep October run. New York Yankees (75-58) -- You can never really count the Yankees out when it comes to postseason baseball. NYY hasn't been able to get over the hump lately. But, this is another roster that has enough talent to make a serious run. Aaron Judge is expected to return from injury before the postseason arrives. Ben Rice has also had a really strong season and has given New York another dangerous bat in the lineup. The Yankees are still trying to chase Tampa Bay in the AL East, so September should be full of meaningful games in the Bronx. Houston Astros (67-67) -- While it hasn't been a pretty season, the Astros are currently the top team in the AL West Division, giving the squad lots of hope. Sitting around .500 this late in the year means there's very little room for error. Yordan Alvarez is on pace to win the MVP in the American League with his ridiculous hitting statistics. Houston definitely has some work to do before the end of the season. But, if the Astros find a way into the postseason, they're not a team that many would like to see if the bats get hot. National League -- Los Angeles Dodgers (80-54) -- No surprise here. The Dodgers are once again one of the favorites to bring home the Commissioner's Trophy. Shohei Ohtani has put together another outstanding season, while Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages continue to give LA one of the deepest lineups in baseball. The pitching staff is incredible and anything short of a deep postseason run would probably be considered a disappointment for this team. Atlanta Braves (79-55) -- Atlanta is right there with Los Angeles and Milwaukee as one of the top teams in the National League. Matt Olson has been a major power threat in the middle of the lineup, while Chris Sale looks like he's back in his prime on the mound, touching 100 in his last start against LA. The Braves already know what it takes to win a World Series and have enough talent on both sides of the ball to make another run at the Commissioner's Trophy. Milwaukee Brewers (83-51) -- Milwaukee might not always be the first team people talk about when discussing World Series favorites. But, it's pretty hard to ignore the best record in baseball. Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio have been the key pieces for the Brewers this season offensively, while the Miz contonues to deal on the mound. Milwaukee always seems to produce great pitching and with home-field advantage, it would be set up tremendously when October rolls around. AAA's Final Thoughts: There's still plenty of baseball left to be played. But, once September arrives, every series starts to mean a little bit more. These three teams from each league are our top contenders to do damage when it's playoff time.
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