2017 | MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL – USA • It’s a surprise to many that the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees were leading their divisions on Memorial Day (2017).
Since Major League Baseball (MLB) division play began in 1969 records show that teams leading their division or in a wild-card position on Memorial Day have a better than average chance of making the playoffs.
American League LEADERS-May 29, 2017:
East: YANKEES (PREDICTIVE- won wildcard)
Central: TWINS (did not make playoffs)
West: ASTROS (PREDICTIVE-won division)
Wildcard #1: RED SOX (PREDICTIVE-won division)
Wildcard #2: ORIOLES (did not make playoffs)
National League LEADERS-May 29, 2017:
East: NATIONALS (PREDICTIVE-won division)
Central: BREWERS (did not make playoffs)
West: DODGERS (PREDICTIVE-won division)
Wildcard #1: D-BACKS (PREDICTIVE-won wildcard)
Wildcard #2: ROCKIES (PREDICTIVE-won wildcard)
Here’s how predictable Memorial Day standings were in 2016:
American League LEADERS on Memorial Day 2016
East: RED SOX (PREDICTIVE-WON DIVISION)
Central: TWINS (DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS)
West: ASTROS (DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS)
Wildcard #1: BLUE JAYS (PREDICTIVE-WON WILDCARD)
Wildcard #2: BALTIMORE (PREDICTIVE-WON WILDCARD)
National League LEADERS on Memorial Day 2016
East: NATIONALS (PREDICTIVE-WON THE DIVISION)
Central: CUBS (PREDICTIVE-WON THE DIVISION)
West: GIANTS (PREDICTIVE-MADE PLAYOFFS AS WILDCARD)
Wildcard #1: PIRATES (DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS)
Wildcard #2: METS (PREDICTIVE-WON WILDCARD #1)
2016’s Memorial Day standings were quite predictive of who would make the playoffs. There were 10 postseason playoff slots available, and 70% of the Division leaders on Memorial Day 2016 made the playoffs.
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Division standings
Wild card standings
May 29, 2016