I don’t know if it’s a byproduct of interleague play every day or something else, but there are really only five contenders for five National League playoff spots. And that’s really been the case all year, with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks switching status in July.

Barring another miracle run in this MLB season, the NL teams are left battling for position. The AL, plenty streaky in its own right, still has much left to decide.

First 4

1. (3/8/11/12/10/11/5/2/4/4) Braves: The Marlins might have ended their 14-game winning streak, but Atlanta came out of it with the best record in baseball and a division lead big enough to fall in their next 14 and not lose it.

2. (1/3/12/13/24/24/23/20/27/25) Dodgers: How does a team that goes 6-1 against the Cardinals and Rays drop? When other teams have double-digit winning streaks. They can handle being passed for a week. After all, this was a last place team until late June. Now they are in first by 7.5 games.    

3. (2/5/5/6/9/7/9/10/11/5) Tigers: Sweeping four games in Cleveland just as it seemed the Indians might make a move was impressive, as was the 12-game winning streak. Losing 3 of the next 4 against the Yankees and White Sox was not.

4. (7/12/7/3/2/4/8/4/2/3) Rangers: After winning 2 of 3 in Oakland to cap last week, they were a perfect 8-0 in Anaheim and Houston.

Middle of the majors 

5. (8/9/4/5/5/8/7/7/7/12) Red Sox: The Rays gave them some breathing room.

6. (4/6/¾/1/¼/6/6/9) Pirates: Getting swept in Colorado is no way to head into a huge series in St. Louis. Will this be the beginning of the end for their division dreams? Or will they strengthen their 3-game hold?

7. (6/2/1/1/3/9/2/3/5/15) A’s: Now they know what it’s like to lose a big lead (6 games) in a short amount of time. How will they respond? 

8. (10/14/21/17/18/17/12/19/26/23) Royals: They passed Cleveland, and a week ago the Indians held a wild card spot, so Kansas City has to be taken seriously as a contender now. Bet they’re glad they didn’t sell at the deadline.

9. (11/4/2/2/4/3/1/1/1/1) Cardinals: Losing 3 of 4 to the Dodgers and 2 of 3 to the Cubs isn’t helping them catch the Pirates, but at least they haven’t lost their grip on a playoff position.

10. (12/11/10/9/8/2/3/5/3/2) Reds: Sitting comfortably in that second NL wild card spot all year. Could they be a sleeper pick come October?

11. (9/1/6/7/11/19/18/14/13/17) Rays: A trip to Los Angeles and Arizona for interleague games didn’t end well (0-5).

12. (13/10/8/10/7/6/6/11/8/13) Orioles: Someone in the AL East is bound to get hot. The Orioles’ division-best 6-4 in their last 10 does not qualify.

13. (5/7/9/11/6/13/17/27/12/7) Indians: A week ago they had surged into a wild card spot and within 3 of the Tigers with a 4-game series in Cleveland looming. They got swept by Detroit then lost 2 of 3 to the Angels and they might not really be in contention again.

14. (15/15/20/21/22/18/22/22/22/22) Mariners: Gain a spot on the belief they’ll never honor A-Rod like they just did Ken Griffey Jr.

15. (16/20/27/25/23/22/21/21/20/30) Twins: If some of these American League teams seem too high, take another look at the NL standings. Ouch. And hey, Minnesota is 7-3 in its last 10.

16. (14/13/14/8/13/12/13/9/14/6) Yankees: Mariano Rivera won’t go limping into retirement, so don’t worry about that 3-game blown save skid.

17. (24/19/17/18/12/5/10/13/16/20) Blue Jays: A 54-64 record would not be last place in any other division.

18. (18/24/22/14/19/23/24/24/23/21) Angels: You have to admire Albert Pujols’ straightforward response to the PED accusations. Baseball fans can only hope he’s right about the future. And Jack Clark should keep his rage focused on that Don Denkinger World Series call.

19. (17/16/13/16/14/10/11/8/9/10) Diamondbacks: The Dodgers are 21-3 since the All-Star break and 38-8 since being 9.5 behind Arizona on June 21. L.A. is now 7.5 up, and that’s all you really need to know about the Diamondbacks this week.

20. (26/23/18/19/16/15/14/15/10/8) Rockies: They’re on a roll after getting a taste of the basement. Sweeping the Pirates earns them a bump.

21. (25/21/23/23/26/28/29/29/25/24) Mets: Second place is not out of the question.

22. (19/18/15/15/15/21/19/17/19/14) Nationals: Every week, there is nothing more frustrating than writing the Washington entry. Such a disappointment.

23. (21/17/19/22/25/25/25/23/24/27) Cubs: Only playing spoiler to the Cardinals this year. Well, that’s what rivalries are all about.

24. (23/25/25/26/28/27/26/25/28/26) Brewers: Within one game of the putting the Cubs in the place everyone expected them to be this year.

25. (22/26/30/30/17/16/15/18/17/18) Padres: Not that expectations were high, but this season has got to be a disappointment in San Diego.

26. (28/27/16/20/21/20/20/16/18/19) Phillies: We let them out of the Final 4 doghouse, but it’s not like they been impressive of late. It’s just no one else has been either.

Final 4

27. (27/28/24/24/20/14/16/12/15/11) Giants: You know what’s killed this team? The Central division. Based on what they did to the Reds and Cardinals in last year’s playoffs, 9-21 is small payback.

28. (20/22/26/27/27/30/30/30/30/29) Marlins: We’ll use a 5-game losing streak as a good enough reason to drop them back where they belong.

29. (30/29/28/29/30/29/28/26/21/16) White Sox: Alex Rios was impressed by the energy in the Rangers’ clubhouse. Confirms our suspicions about the lack of it in Chicago’s.

30. (29/30/29/28/29/26/27/28/29/28) Astros: Losing their last 6, and 9 of their past 10, drops them to last place here again. Will they stay this time? With a .316 winning percentage, I don’t think we have a choice.