Around Labor Day, it looked like the Major League Baseball playoff race would be a big snoozefest.
September had other ideas.
The standings in both the American and National leagues have tightened in a hurry, and a lot of the action over the final week will take place in Ohio .
Here’s a look at some things to watch as MLB’s regular season comes to an end and October baseball arrives:
What are the biggest storylines?
The NL wild-card race remained tight Wednesday morning with the New York Mets holding a one-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets looked well-positioned for a playoff spot Sept. 1 but have a 7-13 record this month, which allowed the Reds and D-backs to climb into the race. Arizona was a seller at the trade deadline after a disappointing fi