Ranking contenders' schedules from easiest to hardest

We're into the home stretch of the baseball season, and the races for October are tighter than ever. No less than 18 teams are within at least four games of a playoff berth, meaning September is sure to give us some spectacular contests. But who has the greatest advantage? As the final month of the season begins, we ranked each contending team by the strength of their remaining schedule, from easiest to hardest.

18. Chicago Cubs

They're just tuning up for October at this point, and even a few tough September series against the Giants, Cardinals, and Astros probably won't slow the North Side juggernaut down.

17. New York Mets

The slipping Mets need a break to stay in the race, and the schedule gods gave them a big one. They have more games against losing teams than any other NL wild card contender, and get series against three of the six worst teams in baseball. The path to October is there, if they want to take it.

16. Texas Rangers

If they can just weather the storm of early September, the Rangers' last two weeks should be a breeze. After Sept. 14, Texas plays just three road games in Oakland, and its final six games are at home against Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. By then, the AL West could be iced.

15. Washington Nationals

They'll be playing nearly half their games against losing clubs down the stretch, so the Nats should have no trouble holding off the Marlins and Mets in the division race, assuming their health holds up.

14. Kansas City Royals

A nine-game winning streak has propelled the defending champs back into the playoff picture, and now they get a pretty decent schedule down the stretch. Aside from six games against each of Cleveland and Detroit, it's all sub-.500 opponents.

13. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh's best chance to make some gains in the wild-card race will come in the form of an 11-game road trip to Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee. A season-ending series against the Cardinals could also have massive implications.

12. San Francisco Giants

Series against the Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers will decide the standings, but the sliding Giants can get out of their slump with September matchups against San Diego, Arizona, and even Colorado.

11. Houston Astros

Ten of their last 16 games are against the A's and Angels. Those other six games down the stretch will be against the Mariners, and those are shaping up to be the difference-makers. Plus they still have to face the Rangers, Indians, and Cubs.

10. Miami Marlins

The Marlins have more home games than any other National League wild-card contender, though a bunch of games against Washington and the Dodgers will push the Fish in September.

9. Detroit Tigers

The good news: Their final series will be against a Braves team that will likely just want to go home. The bad news: They have seven games left against the first-place Indians, against whom they're 1-11 on the season.

8. Cleveland Indians

The Tribe still have to play 23 in-division games, but three of those are against the lowly Twins and seven come against the Tigers, against whom they're 11-1 on the season.

7. St. Louis Cardinals

While they get some breaks against the Reds and Brewers, the Cardinals still have to make one more west coast trip in September - where they'll face a possible wild-card game opponent in the Giants. Also, there's those six games left against the Cubs that could derail the machine.

6. Seattle Mariners

The M's have a tough road if they're going to end baseball's longest playoff drought. Although four season-ending games against Oakland will help, Seattle still has to face Texas and Houston multiple times, along with a possible wild-card battle with the Blue Jays.

5. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays seem to play a lot better at Rogers Centre, so they can't be thrilled about a ton of inter-division road games and a September west coast trip. Like every year, playing in the AL East gives you no favors on the scheduling front.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

The road beckons for the Dodgers, who get 16 of their final 29 away from Chavez Ravine and will visit the Yankees. As usual, their fate is probably going to come down to - what else - Dodgers-Giants on the last day of the season.

3. Boston Red Sox

Nineteen of Boston's final 29 games will be played away from Fenway Park, and 23 of them will be against AL East opponents. Even the "break" against the Padres is hazardous because it's in San Diego - which means risk Big Papi in the field or lose him for three games down the stretch.

2. Baltimore Orioles

Much like their division rival Red Sox and Blue Jays, the Orioles will face 19 teams with a record at or above .500. On top of that, only six of their final 29 games will be played against non-AL East opponents. Buckle up, Baltimore.

1. New York Yankees

If the Baby Bombers want to shock the world, they'll have to get through maybe the toughest September schedule out there. Only the seven games against Tampa Bay save the Yankees from facing an entire month of playoff contenders.