The stretch run is here in the American Association with the postseason opening two weeks from tonight: Wednesday, September 8. Last Sunday saw the first two postseason berths get locked up by the two best teams in the AA this year: Milwaukee and Lake Country.

With six more spots up for grab, we’ll look at each remaining team’s magic number to clinch…or tragic number till the clock hits midnight.

Chicago Dogs

Playoff Placement: 6th place, East, 23.0 games back, 12.0 games out of playoffs

Tragic Number: 1

The Dogs did well to rally back from 7-0 down to make it a game, but a 9-8 loss last night in Cleburne has the Dogs on the verge of their playoff fate (finally) being sealed as the first AA team eliminated. That’s not a shock with their 29-59 record. If they lose one more game, they cannot catch Cleburne.

Cleburne Railroaders

Playoff Placement: 4th place, East, 11.0 games back, 4.5 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: 8

Cleburne and Gary SouthShore tied their season series 6-6, so that muddies the tiebreaker picture…except that it doesn’t, as the RailCats had a cancellation, so they will finish with one less game than the Railroaders (and therefore can’t finish tied). Cleburne moved their magic number to single digits with their win and RailCats loss last night. Five more at home with Chicago give them a great chance to quickly whittle that number down.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Playoff Placement: 3rd place, East, 5.5 games back, 4.0 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: 9

Fargo-Moorhead and Sioux City tied their season series 6-6, so tiebreakers are murkier there (and they would come into play here). Worth noting: if Sioux Falls drops below the X’s, then the winner of the current Sioux Falls-Fargo-Moorhead series would hold the tiebreaker. A lot can happen here, especially with 7 of their last 10 against Milwaukee starting on Friday.

Gary SouthShore RailCats

Playoff Placement: 5th place, East, 15.5 games back, 4.5 games out of playoffs

Tragic Number: 8

Everything I said for Cleburne applies here, just on the other side. The RailCats missed a great chance to trim things last weekend by losing two of three at Chicago, then fell another game further back of the Railroaders last night. Realistically, their hopes are on life support…and Cleburne still has five more at home against Chicago this week, which really doesn’t help.

Kane County Cougars

Playoff Placement: 3rd place, East, 3.5 games back, 12.0 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: 1

A win and a RailCats loss last night has the Cougars in line to clinch the third East Division bid tonight. Had they been able to play one more inning on August 9 in Gary, a 5-0 lead wouldn’t be wiped out (and canceled), they would’ve won the season series, and tonight’s win at Lake Country would’ve been the clincher. Oh well, it just delays the party a little longer.

Kansas City Monarchs

Playoff Placement: 1st place, West, 4.5-game lead, 9.5 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: 4 (playoffs), 9 (division title)

The Monarchs shaved off a game last night and continue to inch closer to locking up the West’s first playoff bid. That’s not much of a concern, but the division crown still is somewhat in doubt. They’re in good shape being 4.5 games ahead of Winnipeg, but they still have six more with the Goldeyes, including four in Kansas City to finish the season. That very well may not be resolved until the final weekend.

Lake Country DockHounds

Playoff Placement: 2nd place, East, 2.5 games back, 13.0 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: N/A

Lake Country locked up their playoff bid on Monday night. There’s not really much more to say here unless they can catch Milwaukee for the division lead, though that hasn’t happened at any point since June 22.

Lincoln Saltdogs

Playoff Placement: 6th place, West, 13.0 games back, 5.0 games out of playoffs

Tragic Number: 8

Lincoln has slowly sunk further out of contention as a brutal schedule has started to wear them down. Their one ace in the hole: a four-game series at fourth-place Sioux Falls to end the season. The other problem: they’re 3.5 games behind fifth place Sioux City and don’t own the tiebreaker with the X’s. They’ve hung in admirably, but the playoff push is just about dead.

Milwaukee Milkmen

Playoff Placement: 1st place, East, 2.5-game lead, 15.5 games clear of playoff cut line

Magic Number: 10 (division title)

The Milkmen punched their ticket to the postseason on Monday night. Next on the list is the division crown, which requires a little more work to be done. The Milkmen have one more game than Lake Country remaining and do not hold the tiebreaker, giving them a bit more work to do. Oddly, they only face Lincoln and Fargo-Moorhead (twice apiece) in the final two weeks of the season.

Sioux City Explorers

Playoff Placement: 5th place, West, 9.5 games back, 1.5 games out of playoffs

Tragic Number: 11

The X’s have slowly trimmed down their deficit against Sioux Falls from 6.5 games on July 30 to the current 1.5-game margin, which is the closest the X’s have been to the playoff field since early July. They’re very much in the race, but after the current trip to Gary, Sioux City finishes with Kane County, then a very difficult trip to Kansas City and Lake Country. That’s not helpful, nor is the fact that they do not hold the tiebreaker against Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls Canaries

Playoff Placement: 4th place, West, 8.0 games out, 1.5 games above playoff cut line

Magic Number: 11

An 8-15 record since July 31 has the Canaries precariously holding onto their playoff spot over the steadily-gaining Explorers. However, the schedule does help them out a lot more than it does Sioux City: after their current series in Fargo, the Birds go to Fargo then finish with manageable series with Cleburne and Lincoln at home, which very well could be meaningless games for both sides.

Winnipeg Goldeyes

Playoff Placement: 2nd place, West, 4.5 games back, 5.0 games above playoff cut line

Magic Number: 9

On the surface, they’re definitely fine, but the circumstances line up for this to possibly be a rocky ride to the finish. After their current series with Kansas City, the Goldeyes have to host Lake Country, then finish with a tough seven-game trip (and they’re not a good road team) to Fargo and Kansas City…oh, plus they have a suspended game to finish with the RedHawks they’re currently losing 11-1. Plus, they don’t have the tiebreaker against Sioux City. Right now, yes, they’re fine…but this could be a situation to monitor. On the other hand, though, they have the opportunities against the Monarchs to make a late push for the top.

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