LEADING OFF: 9 of 16 playoff spots open going into last week

A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday:

FINAL WEEK

Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres are headed to the playoffs, so are DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees. But going into this last week, a lot of postseason spots are still wide open.

San Diego and the Yankees clinched berths in the expanded 16-team field Sunday. Yet overall, only seven slots are claimed.

Tampa Bay, Oakland, the White Sox and Minnesota also have earned AL spots, and Cleveland, Toronto and Houston have the inside track on the three remaining positions.

But the NL playoff picture is a scramble -- only the Dodgers and Padres are in so far. Atlanta and the Cubs hold division leads, Miami and Philadelphia are the break-even point. With six spots in play, it should be an entertaining week with Cincinnati, Milwaukee and San Francisco all at .500.

Brandon Woodruff (2-4, 3.45) and the Brewers begin a three-game series at Cincinnati. Reds righty Luis Castillo is 3-5 in 10 career starts against the Brewers, including 1-3 over the past two seasons.

HARPER HURTING

The Philles might have to continue their playoff push without Bryce Harper in the lineup.

The star slugger exited Sunday’s 6-3 loss to Toronto with lower back stiffness. He left after striking out with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

Manager Joe Girardi said Harper’s back bothered him earlier this season. It’s too early to tell whether the outfielder will be able to play as Philadelphia, trying for its first playoff spot since 2011, opens a series in Washington.

“He’ll get a lot of treatment and we’ll keep our fingers crossed,” Girardi said.

Harper has 11 homers and 28 RBIs for the Phillies, who hit the road for the final seven games.

The Phillies are one game behind Miami for second place in the NL East and have the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-9-of-16-playoff-spots-open-going-15582597.php