Momentum. This time of year, every contender is looking for it. The magical elixir that can spark a deep October run.
So, one line of thinking goes, it can be bad (or at least dangerous) to secure a playoff spot too early. Shore up a division title, pop your champagne, then coast across the finish line—it's a recipe for complacency and an early postseason exit.
Certainly there are historical examples to bolster this thesis. Consider the 2001 Seattle Mariners, who won an MLB-record 116 games, squeaked past the Cleveland Indians in the division series and were knocked out of the ALCS in five games by the New York Yankees.
But it's far too simplistic to say an early clinch equals lost momentum. Just last year, the Boston Red Sox punched their postseason ticket 11 days before the end of the regular season, and things worked out pretty swell for them.
It remains to be seen which team will hoist the Commissioner's Trophy this year. One thing's certain right now, though: The Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals—the three clubs that have nailed down their divisions entering play Tuesday—will all benefit from a little coasting.
Let's take a closer look at each squad and why a bit of calm before the playoff storm will do them good.
Los Angeles Angels
Unfortunately for the Halos, their biggest injury victim—top starter Garrett Richards—is lost for the season. Other Angels, though, need time to mend their bumps and bruises.
Rookie Matt Shoemaker, who has helped fill the Richards-shaped void in the Angels' rotation, is battling a rib-cage strain. Skipper Mike Scioscia told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times that while Shoemaker probably won't pitch again in the regular season, he is "very encouraged he'll be ready" for the division series.
Outfielder/designated hitter Josh Hamilton and second baseman Howie Kendrick are also battling injuries, though both could return before the playoffs, DiGiovanna reports.
Then there's Albert Pujols, the man tasked with protecting Mike Trout in the young star's inaugural postseason. Pujols left a game Sept. 15 with a sore hamstring. He was in the lineup the next day and dismissed it as merely a cramp, per Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today.
Still, expect the big fella to see a lighter workload over the final week.
Baltimore Orioles
Like the Angels, the Orioles are missing key players who will need more than a week to get back. Third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Matt Wieters are both out with season-ending injuries. And Chris Davis, who was hit with a 25-game amphetamine suspension on Sept. 12, won't be available to return until eight games into the playoffs.
On the other hand, shortstop J.J. Hardy—who recently missed a week of action with back spasms, per MLB.com's David Wilson—could use more down time to be ready when the October bell rings.
And the O's can use these final games to align their rotation, which features at least five possible playoff starters: Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, Kevin Gausman and Miguel Gonzalez.
Manager Buck Showalter has indicated he'll tweak things based on who the O's face in the ALDS, which has yet to be decided. "We'll look at it some," Showalter told MLB.com's Wilson. "We already have. I've got an idea of who pitches well against [likely ALDS opponents] Detroit and Kansas City."
Washington Nationals
It's not quite accurate to say the Nationals have nothing left to play for. Yes, they've locked up the National League East.
But, entering play Tuesday, their 91-64 record put them three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL's best record and home-field advantage through the NLCS. A comfortable cushion, though they'll need to keep winning to secure the top spot. (The same applies to the Angels, who enter Tuesday 2.5 games ahead of the Orioles for the AL's No. 1 seed.)
Still, Washington has guys who could use a breather, most notably third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who landed on the disabled list July 22 with a hamstring strain.
Zimmerman returned Sept. 20 but said he "won't be 100 percent" until next year, according to CSN Washington's Mark Zuckerman.
A week of limited action and extra treatment won't change that—but it can't hurt.
Unless you're worried about that whole momentum thing.
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