Reprints Online

As we round into the second half of the 2006 season, many fans begin to look ahead in hopes that their team can either catch fire or hold their lead and qualify for the postseason. In the National League, it appears that the postseason picture is beginning to take shape. One team is all but cemented in its place, another has history on its side and the rest have different factors in their favor that will aid in their quest to play into October.

NL East Winner:

New York Mets

Why they'll win the division: In short, the Mets will win the division because they've simply dominated it so far in 2006. As of this writing, they hold a 12-game lead on the second-place Phillies and they're not showing any signs of slowing down. They have very good pitching, timely hitting and a team "chasing" them that isn't showing many signs of life. The only word of caution that needs to be heeded by the Mets is that sometimes teams that "coast" into the postseason can be surprised in the first round of the playoffs, especially if they meet a team that's been battling to qualify. Regardless, the Mets have time to worry about that possibility.

NL Central Winner:

St. Louis Cardinals

Why they'll win the division: The Cardinals are going to win the NL Central for a few reasons. First, they have the best team, and in a 162-game season, there are very few anomalies that can play above their heads for that long. Second, they're getting hot at the right time, winning seven in a row as of this writing, while their "competition," the Reds, continue to fade after a hot start. The Cardinals also have slightly better pitching and hitting than their divisional competition. The Cardinals won't clinch too early, but they will clinch.

NL West Winner:

San Diego Padres

Why they'll win the division: The Padres not only have history on their side, but they'll also be pushed throughout the season. The Padres have never failed to qualify for the postseason after leading the division at the All Star break, which is where they are in 2006. They also play in a mediocre division where no team is a threat to go off on a tear in the second half. However, their lead is slim, and the Dodgers will remain within striking distance through the rest of the season, forcing the Padres to keep the pedal to the metal through the last week of the season.

Wild Card:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Why they'll win the Wild Card race: The Dodgers will qualify for the postseason more because of what their competition doesn't have than what the Dodgers bring to the table. The Reds, who currently lead in the Wild Card standings, have a tough second-half schedule and lack the consistent pitching needed to hold their lead. The Phillies, Brewers and Astros are too inconsistent and/or inexperienced in general to mount serious challenges, and the Dodgers will continue to press the Padres for the NL West crown as that division will remain competitive throughout the season.

This is how things should shape up in 2006, and the next time we revisit this subject, we'll analyze how the rest of the postseason will unfold.

About the Author

By Jay Nault sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells baseball tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/ , concert tickets, theater tickets and more. Please link to this site when using this article.