The second of three head-to-head blocks has further defined the playoff races. With about 1/3 of the season remaining, far less is not known than known.

In the unknown column, firmly sits the Mays division, which continues to be mighty, emerging from it’s head-to-head battles with all six teams still .500 or above. Mega City and Wheeling sit in the division cellar, but also on the outside looking in for final playoff spot. While seven games out, it’s hard to think either is “out of it,” yet. The Gimps are especially dangerous having under-performed all year, but added ace Zac Gallen and one of the world’s best bats, Freddie Freeman. At the top, Cannon and Bellagio remain nose-to-nose with Ohio and Merrimack still jammed within four games.

The Williams remains a two-horse race, Shoreline can’t shake Arizona for the division title and potential top seed. The #1 seed plays the winner of the play-in tourney from the National Conference, which is a highly advantageous spot. Like Wheeling and Mega City, Nortwoods is still in contention, but on the outside looking in for a play-off berth.

Deck chairs shuffle in the DiMaggio, but it looks like nothing will be decided until the play-in tourney. SF finally shook off its season-long slumber and surged (ssssss) into a tie a top the division with Wassau. Montana also played well to get back into the playoff race, while Galesburg and Tuscany struggled. The Wizards look like the odd-man out of the play-in barring another hot streak like they had early in the season. Tuscany, a disaster in late and one-run games, looks to have systemic problems that will make a run through the tourney unlikely at best.

Ancaster is all but assured of a playoff bid and promotion to the premiere league with a 15-game lead and no sign of let up.

Hebron, Hawaii and Northwest will battle to avoid regulation. Only one will survive and it should go down to the wire as only 2 games separate all three. Mudville, Norfork, South Carolina and Charlotte are all in contention for the most ping-pong balls for the next year’s draft.

Miscelleanous:

• Bellagio’s Kyle Schwarber has already crushed 40 bombs. Could he top 60?
• Ancaster has 3 of the top 4 starting pitchers in ERA, but not the names you might suspect: Luis Castillo, Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Wells and Jose Berrios is also in the top ten. The Royals “pitching lab” seems to have the secret sauce for maxing its pitchers.
• Wheeling’s Esteury Ruiz has 79 stolen bags. Will he top 100? He’s no Rickey, nobody is, but he is this year’s biggest robbery threat by far as he has twice as many as the next closest contender.
• Wheeling’s Tanner Scott is a perfect 100% in 19 for 19 in save situations. All of Tuscany’s closers are lower than 60% success rate.

On to Block 5 and the final trade deadline for the season at month’s end.