Am I beginning to see a case for MLB going "least-bad", like the NFL did last year?

So Houston's Justin Verlander went down after three innings today with a calf injury.

The Yankees are leaking parts all over the track.

I'm beginning to sniff a scenario where a 6 or 7 seed in one of the leagues getting through, beating the Dodgers or the like (because Rob Manfred), and winning the Series or something absurd like that.

Well, take this as an excuse for me doing the standings after the last Sunday in August (except for the Atlanta-St. Louis game, scheduled to be the Sunday nighter, but rain may have other ideas...):

American League:

AL East:  The Yankee freefall, somewhat leveled off, still has cut the lead over Toronto to 7.5.  9 over the Blue Jays, 10.5 over the Orioles!

AL Central:  Guardians are 2 up on the Twins, 5 up on the White Sox.

AL West:  Houston 11.5 up on Seattle, Texas is 23 back and pretty much gone.  The Oakland A's have been eliminated from the division.  The Angels' Tragic Number for the division is eight.

#1 Seed:  Houston is 3 1/2 up on the Yankees, no one else need apply.

Wild Cards:  Tampa Bay is 1/2 up on Seattle, 1 1/2 up on the Rays.

1. HOU (82-47)
2. NYY (78-50)
3. CLE (AL Central leaders, 67-59)
4. TB (70-57)
5. SEA (70-58)
6. TOR (68-58)
7. BAL (OUT, 67-60)
8. MIN (OUT, 65-61)

First round:  TOR@CLE, SEA@TB (Reminder for those not recalling:  Best of 3, higher seed hosts all.)

National League:

NL East:  NY Mets are setting up for another LOLMets September.  They are up 2 1/2 on the Barfs and 9.5 on the Phillies, who are SIXTEEN OVER .500!  Nationals have been eliminated for the division a couple of days now, even faster than the Oakland F's.

NL Central:  Cardinals are 5 1/2 up on the Brewers. 

NL West:  The Dodgers...  Yeah...  19 1/2 on the Padres.

#1 Seed:  Dodgers are 7 1/2 up on the Mets and 9 up on the Braves, should they overtake the Mets.

Wild Cards:  Braves are 7 up on Phillies, 9 1/2 on the Padres, 11 on the Brewers.

1. LAD (88-38)
2. NYM (82-47)
3. STL (NL Central leaders, 73-54)
4. Cobb County (79-49)
5. PHI (72-56)
   
6. SD (70-59)
7. MIL (OUT, 67-59)

First Round:  SD@STL, PHI@"ATL" 

Best Record In Baseball:  Dodgers 7 1/2 up on the Mets and Astros.

Magic Numbers:

Dodgers, Playoffs:  16

Dodgers, Division:  Also 16, San Diego (2nd in the NL West) and Milwaukee (current 7 seed in the NL) have the same number of losses.

Houston, Playoffs:  21

Tragic Numbers:

Oakland (AL West) and Washington (NL East) both ALREADY ELIMINATED from the divisions.

Colorado, NL West Division:  1.

Arizona, NL West Division and Anaheim, AL West Division:  8.

Miami, NL East Division:  9.

Closest to total elimination:  Washington is 9, Oakland 14.