Pythagorean Records: 8/27 Edition

The next time I do this will be after the regular season. There are 11 games left in the season, so I think it's better to just wait the extra half week. As a reminder, prospect tracker will not be appearing until the end of the regular season as well.

. Team W L RS RA pW pL Difference pW% . San Jose 70 59 675 611 70 59 0 0.54544840467542 . Stockton 67 62 682 691 64 65 3 0.49400238677095 . Visalia 67 62 635 647 63 66 4 0.49143584492114 . Modesto 66 63 639 670 62 67 4 0.47834029839083 . Bakersfield 61 68 591 636 60 69 1 0.46647784780476

San Jose's play has improved over the past week despite another starter going down to injury recently. I still believe they'll win the North overall title, and the upcoming series against Stockton will be key in determining who gets it. The other four teams in the division are starting to separate a little bit. Stockton's winning streak ended, but they still put themselves in good position to win the second half title and win the playoffs. Last week, Visalia was one game ahead of Bakersfield, Stockton and Visalia. Now, four games separate those teams, and Bakersfield needs to turn it around quickly to take over Stockton.

. Team W L RS RA pW pL Difference pW% . Lake Elsinore 76 53 692 565 76 53 0 0.59171296357631 . Rancho Cucamonga 70 59 664 598 71 58 -1 0.54775034671179 . High Desert 68 61 785 727 69 60 -1 0.53505881199958 . Lancaster 52 77 662 777 55 74 -3 0.42724024244889 . Inland Empire 48 81 620 723 55 74 -7 0.43014680154073

San Jose's real lead over Stockton and Visalia is smaller than Lake Elsinore's actual lead, but it's the Storm's expected lead that's smaller than San Jose's. Lake Elsinore has obviously struggled scoring runs lately, but a big part of the reason Rancho Cucamonga is approaching them in the standings is their own very good play. Rancho Cucamonga and High Desert should continue running neck and neck for the rest of the season, and as long as Lancaster doesn't take them for the second half title, they should both make the playoffs. Inland Empire and Lancaster are comparable in the standings, but the difference is Inland Empire's winning percentage has been even in both halves while Lancaster's has improved in the second.