Preview/Prediction

If the season were to end today, the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies would make the playoffs.

Of course, we still have a month left. Most of the above teams will make the playoffs, as end-of-August division leaders almost always do. But there are still plenty of questions revolving around these playoff contenders and a few teams that remain in striking distance heading into September.

What will the future hold for 10 of baseball's playoff contenders? Let's find out.

Yes, I know it is way too early for a 2011 MLB season preview.

The Phillies are making a colossal playoff push and are looking to become the first National League team since the St. Louis Cardinals of the early 1940s to reach the World Series three consecutive years.

With this in mind, I still couldn't wait. So, here, sports fans, is your extremely premature Philadelphia Phillies preview for the 2011 season. 

NEW YORK-- So far in the month of August, the Mets have been a classic .500 ballclub. They haven't gone on a winning streak or losing streak, but they have been just at or around .500.

Every day this month, the Mets have either been a game over, a game under, or exactly even. Entering today, they're one under at 64-65.

The last time the Mets spent an entire month at no better than one over and no worse than one under was April 1970. Meaning it's been over 40 years since the Mets have had a month this average.

After watching the Phillies' embarrassing Bad News Bears impersonation earlier this week—resulting in a four-game sweep at the hands of the 58-70 Houston Astros—fans and analysts alike were quick to dispense advice on how to save the season going forward.

It turns out the best plan of attack moving forward might be to look at recent history, specifically 2007.

It is almost September. And taking the 2010 Mets season into consideration? La-di-da. Either way, the September roster expansion is looming. Based on some of the more productive members of the Mets farm system, there are indeed some guys I’d like to see before seasons end. Here are five guys that will, or at least should get recalled for the last month of the season.

NEW YORK-- The Mets won their opening game against the Astros last night, but got out-hit nine to three. Once again, they couldn't produce any offense against a mediocre starting pitcher.

Normally, when Johan Santana takes the hill, the Mets offense doesn't do any better. They'll try to finally support him tonight, as the Mets face Brett Myers in the middle game of the weekend series.

As of late, Tim Lincecum has not been at the top of his game.

Around this time last year, Tim Lincecum was an NL Cy Young candidate in which he later won. But right now, Lincecum is not pitching like he used to... so what's wrong?

The two time defending Cy Young award winner is certainly not where he was last year, but why? Lincecum has the stuff and we know what he can do with it, he's just not showing us at the moment.

As August comes to an abrupt close with prized rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg requiring Tommy John surgery, I begin to predict what the New York Yankees are thinking with their own cherished talent.

I have devised a list of who I think have the best chances of being called up come September first.

Please enjoy and thank you for reading.

Note: All Statistics are through August 27th.

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Today, Andy Pettitte will pitch a bullpen session in Chicago. There are two possible outcomes for this situation.

Good outcome: Pettitte could return in mid-September and be the horse he was before the injury, when was on his way to a Cy Young-type season. 

Bad outcome: He could feel a "pull" in his groin, and the Yankees could be stuck with the pitchers they have, or get someone off waivers.

We all know Stephen Strasburg as the phenom call-up by the Nationals back in June. But there's a new problem he faces.

Stephen Strasburg has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. This is not exactly what the Nationals had planned for.