Preview/Prediction

With roughly two weeks to go in the 2013 MLB schedule, there are still postseason berths up for grabs in the American League, and a handful of teams are still very much in contention. 

Obviously, the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics have all essentially booked their trips to the playoffs, but beyond that trio, there's much to be decided in the final days of the regular season. 

Few awards in baseball are as overlooked—and disrespected—as the Gold Glove.

Its critics will claim that the award is meaningless, that defense cannot be evaluated by statistics and that the voting, by-and-large, is nothing more than a glorified popularity contest.

To be sure, past winners have an advantage over those who have never one before. History has proven that voters tend to favor those who have won before over a player looking for his first Gold Glove, even if the numbers show the newcomer having a better season than the old guard.

There are just over two weeks left in the 2013 MLB regular season, and while the playoff picture is becoming more and more clear, there is still a lot to be decided between now and October.

In the National League, the Braves, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds and Dodgers look like safe bets to earn postseason spots, and the Nationals are still on the fringe of contention. However, the NL Central title remains a three-way race and home-field advantage is still very much up for grabs.

Envious of how Cuban stars have guided several of their MLB rivals into playoff contention, the San Francisco Giants continue to make a strong push for free-agent slugger Jose Dariel Abreu.

As the season winds down and rumors start to float about what kind of moves might be made heading into next season, it’s time to take a look at what the Dodgers might do prior to the 2014 season.

While we’re not overlooking the end of this year—the team has a legitimate chance to win the World Series for the first time in 25 years—front offices are always prepared to act the moment the season ends, so a quick primer on what might happen is useful.

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot in the American League. If they are able to advance to the postseason, they will have a rough road to the World Series.

The Rays’ winning formula of great starting pitching and defense has been challenged this year due to injuries to the rotation. The team hopes those worries are behind them for 2013 with a full stable of arms finally available.

The Texas Rangers are on the cusp of the playoffs as the MLB season is reaching its end. Their potential road to the 2013 World Series would include possible series against several different AL and NL teams.

At 77-66, the Baltimore Orioles are 1.5 games back from a Wild Card spot. If they can make up that ground in the final 19 games of the season and make it to the postseason, it would be their second straight playoff birth after 14 years of disappointment.

Chris Sale showed up Max Scherzer on Monday when the Chicago White Sox took on the Detroit Tigers.

The two AL Cy Young candidates faced off in a terrific pitching matchup, but it was Sale who led his team to victory with a gem of a game.

Major League Baseball has released its full 2013 postseason schedule.

According to Mark Newman of MLB.com, the Wild Card games will be Oct. 2. The National League Divisional Series will begin the next day (Oct. 3), while the ALDS will begin Oct. 4.