MLB: Which last-place team(s) will make the playoffs?

• gorocks99

  

  Some favorites heading into the season are in last place (or tied for last place) in their divisions past the quarter pole. Who, if any, will make the playoffs?
  
  Yankees (5.5 GB)
  Red Sox (5.5 GB)
  Angels (8 GB)
  Phillies (5 GB)
  
  Personally I think the Phils make it, and that's it. I'd love to say Red Sox, but who knows when they'll get back their IR guys and how their pitching will hold up outside of Lester and Beckett.
• hasbeen

  

  Yankees and maybe the Phillies.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I'm going Phillies. Uncharacteristic of them to be where they are, and I don't see the Braves and Nationals holding on.
• karen lotz

  

  Yanks don't have enough pitching.
  
  I'd probably rank them Philly, Boston, New York, LAA in order of likeliness.
• BR1986FB

  Phillies
• Mooney44Cards

  

  Phillies have an awful awful offense, and the Nationals and Braves are both pretty good. I don't see the Phillies making it.
• justincredible

  

  I don't think any of them make it. And that is alright by me.
• DeadliestWarrior34

  

  The Twins
• Tiger2003

  

  Phillies bet nobody would have guessed that.
  
  But I really believe when Howard gets back the offense will start going and whenever Utley gets back it will get even better. The Phillies have been without Utley in the line up before for an extended time but never Howard and it is showing.
• justincredible

  

  Tiger2003;1179398 wrote:Phillies bet nobody would have guessed that.
  
  But I really believe when Howard gets back the offense will start going and whenever Utley gets back it will get even better. The Phillies have been without Utley in the line up before for an extended time but never Howard and it is showing.

  When do they get back?
• Tiger2003

  

  justincredible;1179512 wrote:When do they get back?

  
  Howard is in Florida right now. Their is not for sure date on his return but they did say don't be surprised to see him in the lineup in a couple of weeks. Utley it still with the team. He was not made the trip yet to Florida to play in some games. He is taking BP and Ground balls before the games. I'm a little lost because he said he feels better then last year and at this time last year he was back in the lineup.
• gorocks99

  

  Since I posted the poll on May 22:
  
  Yankees: 20-6
  Red Sox: 15-12
  Angels: 20-7
  Phillies: 12-16
  
  And now, only one of the teams remains in last place:
  
  Yankees (0 GB, first place in AL East)
  Red Sox (5.5 GB, fourth place AL East)
  Angels (5 GB, second place AL West)
  Phillies (8 GB, last place NL East)
  
  I feel like any of New York, Boston, LAA could make the playoffs. Moreso NYY and LAA (although if Baseball Prospectus is to be believed, the Red Sox numbers suggest they should be about 3-4 games better than they currently are). Funny how a month changes things.