AL Central: 3 storylines to watch down the stretch
The American League Central is the most lopsided division in baseball, as the Kansas City Royals prepare to wrap up August with an almost insurmountable lead.
With the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox occupying the basement thanks to underachieving performances, it's the surprising Minnesota Twins who are in position to end a five-year playoff drought, while a pair of Cleveland Indians try to nail down a historic batting title.
Here are three storylines to watch in the AL Central in September:
Royals' quest for 100 wins
The Royals still have plenty to play for despite holding a commanding lead in the division. After sneaking into the wild-card game a season ago, the Royals are hoping to clinch home-field advantage for the duration of the playoffs by claiming the AL's best record. Kansas City enters the stretch run with a 7 1/2-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays for tops in the junior circuit.
The Royals can also pad their history by becoming only the second team in the franchise's 47-year existence to reach triple-digit wins. They need to go 22-13 down the stretch to hit 100, and 25-10 to best the 1977 team's franchise-record 102. With 28 of their remaining 35 games coming against teams under .500, they have a shot.
Can the Twins actually make the postseason?
The Minnesota Twins have overachieved all season and sit just a half-game back of a wild-card spot heading into the stretch run. Despite stumbling to start the month, the Twins have rattled off wins in seven of their last eight games. It's remarkable to think that this team, with a mediocre offense and a pitching staff that ranks as one of the worst in the AL, is in the postseason picture.
The Twins' biggest test will come in the first two weeks of September, with the Royals and AL West-leading Houston Astros lined up for nine of 12 games. Sandwiched between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels - both better teams on paper - the Twins will have their work cut out for them. But playing with house money means the team from Minneapolis has nothing to lose.
Kipnis, Brantley shooting for batting title
The Cleveland Indians will have a pair of opportunities to claim their first batting title in more than half a century. Jason Kipnis (.325) and Michael Brantley (.320) currently sit first and third in average in the AL, and one of the two may well become the first Indians player to win the award since Bobby Avila in 1954. Should either player claim the award at their current average or lower, it would be the lowest number to win the title since Rob Carew's .318 in 1972. The duo will have to hold off Nelson Cruz (.321) and Prince Fielder (.316) down the stretch to take the honors.