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As the calendar rolls into June, MLB's division leaders have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. However, come playoff time, which of these teams will actually see the postseason?
So far, the 2017 MLB season has been one of the best in recent memory. A bevy of young superstars have taken over the league, while established veterans have produced some one-of-a-kind moments (Edinson Volquez. . . looking at you).
In addition to some awesome moments early on in the season, the typical cellar-dwellers have surprised to take control of major divisions.
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Bryce Harper is off to a blazing start and looks to have finally become the superstar he was destined to be. Mike Trout was on his way to a third Most Valuable Player award, but he is sidelined with a thumb injury.
But let's get back to the basics. Let's take a look at who the top dog is in each division, because come October, the standings will probably look a lot different.
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American League East: New York Yankees (32-22)
Where did this team come from? After looking to rebuild with a mix of veterans and young talent, the Yankees came into the year as nothing more than fringe Wild Card contenders.
Well, they've completed flipped that narrative, as the team owns the American League's second best record.
Aaron Judge, a Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate, is one of the reasons for the team's impressive start. Luis Severino and Michael Pineda have been revelations for the starting staff, making up for Masahiro Tanaka's awful start.
The question remains: Can they hold off the suddenly hot Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox, the preseason favorites to win the division? That remains to be seen.
If the youngsters can keep it up, along with steady production from veterans like Matt Holliday and Brett Gardner, what's stopping them from winning the East?
It will all come down to one thing: the strength of the starting staff.
If this team continues to roll come the trade deadline, they might add a top-flight starter. If they do, the road to the AL East crown could be a smooth one.
Chances: Very good
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American League Central: Minnesota Twins (29-24)
Like the Yankees, the Minnesota Twins weren't expected to contend for the divisional crown. More than a third of the way through the season, though, the Twins find themselves at the top.
Despite having the league's 20th ranked offense in terms of runs scored, Minnesota has been elevated by the likes of Miguel Sano and Ervin Santana. Sano, the 24-year-old slugger and sleeper MVP candidate, already has 13 home runs and 43 RBI.
Santana has experienced one of the best starts in his 13-year career, as the 34-year-old currently sports a 2.44 ERA and 0.926 WHIP.
Outfielder Max Kepler has also done his part, with a .269 average and .810 OPS.
However, this Twins team lost a whopping 103 games just a season ago. Even if Santana keeps up his solid pace, he may still be trade bait.
Minnesota starters not named Santana or Jose Berrios have a combined ERA of 5.31.
While the team may continue its solid play, the reigning American League champions lurk not too far behind – the Cleveland Indians.
If not for the Indians' underwhelming start to the year, Minnesota would be an afterthought.
It's reasonable to think that the Indians will pick things up sooner than later, and ultimately make the Twins fight for a Wild Card spot.
Chances: In the middle
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American League West: Houston Astros (42-16)
Right now, the Houston Astros are baseball's best team, and it's hard to argue against it. This team is on pace to break the all-time wins record of 116. Yeah, they're that good.
They sport baseball's best offense in terms of runs scored (319) and second best average (.276). On the mound, Houston's starters have combined for the game's second best ERA at 3.49.
Dallas Keuchel looks unhittable and back to his ace form, as the right-hander has gone 9-0 with a sparkling 1.67 ERA. Lance McCullers hasn't been too shabby as the team's No. 2 starter, with a 2.71 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 69.7 innings.
In the midst of an 11-game win streak, the Astros have found themselves atop nearly every expert's power rankings. Even if the team played .500 ball for the rest of the season, they'd still be on pace for 94 wins.
In other words, they've built quite the cushion for themselves.
The Astros are not only the AL's most dangerous team, but one of baseball's most complete teams. It's not a question of if they make it to the playoffs, but how far they will go once there.
Chances: Basically guaranteed
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National League West: Colorado Rockies (36-23)
The NL West has long been controlled by the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2017 season, though, has brought something entirely new.
After years of finishing in the cellar of the division, the Colorado Rockies have sprung to the top of the division behind a top-five offense and a surprisingly effective starting staff.
Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon have carried the offense that ranks fourth in the majors in average (.267) and third in runs scored (300).
The starting rotation, normally one of baseball's worst, has combined for a 4.26 ERA, 12th best in baseball.
There's no reason to think that the offensive production will slow down.
But the biggest threat to the Rockies' grip on the division lies in Chavez Ravine: the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles is currently right behind the Rockies with a 35-24 record.
It appears for that the rest of the season it will be a three-team race between the Rockies, Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks sit just two games behind the first-place Rockies and the Dodgers are just a mere game behind.
While the Rockies are in first, there are simply too many good teams in the division to declare them the shoo-in for the crown. Either way, the NL West is shaping up to be one of the most exciting divisions in baseball.
Chances: 50/50
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National League Central: Chicago Cubs (29-27)
On June 6 last season, the Chicago Cubs were 40-16. On that same date this season, the team is just two games over .500. For most of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have had control of first place in the NL Central.
After blowing away the competition last season, the Cubs offense hasn't been the same juggernaut it was, as the team is in the middle of the pack this year.
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Kyle Schwarber is hitting .165, Anthony Rizzo is at a clip of .236 and Jake Arrieta's ERA sits at 4.60. So, a lot is going wrong for the team that many had as favorites to repeat.
Aside from the Brewers holding down first place for most of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals are still just three games behind despite a 27-29 record.
Despite the struggles, it's safe to say that the Cubs still field the Central's best roster. Can we really expect the Brewers to make it far in October if they even get there?
The Cubbies are riding a four-game win streak, so maybe their fortunes are starting to turn. It won't be the smooth road that it was last season to the playoffs.
However, we can expect this team to catch a hot streak sooner than later. When that happens, the division will be theirs for the taking.
Chances: 95 percent
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National League East: Washington Nationals (36-20)
Of all the divisions we've gone through, it seems as though the Astros and Washington Nationals have the best shots at taking home the division crown early on.
The Nationals finally appear to have fully realized their potential, as the team has played exceptionally well this year.
The team is 8-2 in its last 10. Bryce Harper looks ready for another MVP run, while Ryan Zimmerman is turning in one of the best seasons of his career.
The team really has no competition in the NL East due to the lack of a true threat. The Atlanta Braves currently sit in second place with a record of 24-31.
It's safe to say that the Nationals have a pretty firm grip on the division.
With the Chicago Cubs' lackluster start to the year, is this the season the Nationals finally make a run in the playoffs? Could it culminate in an NLCS showdown with the Dodgers?
Barring an absolutely catastrophic collapse, the Nationals will have the division crown locked up by mid-July.
Chances: Basically guaranteed
