September is the most exciting time of the baseball season. The tension rises, pressure becomes a daily part of the lives of players and the wear and tear of the vigorous MLB schedule begins to take its toll.
Here are five teams, which are a combined 22-39-7 over/under this month, that seem to be running out of offensive firepower down the stretch:
Statistics used are from games scheduled between Sept. 1- Sept. 15.
Cincinnati Reds
September offensive stats: 36 runs scored, 10 home runs, .221 team batting average
September record: 6-7, 1-10-3 over/under
Up next: at Cubs, vs. Dodgers, vs. Milwaukee
Cincinnati has a comfortable 11-game lead in the NL Central heading into action Sunday, but its offense is cooling off. The team has averaged 2.77 runs per game in September, going 6-7 over that stretch. The Reds’ 36 runs scored and .221 team batting average are the lowest totals in the bigs this month.
Atlanta Braves
September offensive stats: 44 runs scored, 10 home runs, .237 team batting average
September record: 9-5, 4-10 over/under
Up next: at Marlins, at Phillies, vs. Marlins
Atlanta slugger Jason Heyward belted his team-leading 27th homer on Saturday, but the Braves are last in the majors with a .231 average with runners in scoring position this season. Only one year removed from a late-September collapse, you have to wonder if the pressure of making the playoffs is taking its toll once again. The good news for bettors is Atlanta continues to be a profitable under bet this season (63-78-5 O/U).
Oakland Athletics
September offensive stats: 55 runs scored, 18 home runs, .225 team batting average
September record: 10-4, 6-7-1 over/under
Up next: At Tigers, at Yankees, at Rangers
The Athletics could use all the room they can get with a 10-game road trip through Detroit, New York and Texas beginning Tuesday. Oakland trails the Rangers by two games in the AL West and has a 2.5-game advantage over the Angels for a wild card spot. The A’s continue to hit for power, but their team batting average is plummeting this month, putting even more strain on their young pitching staff.
Toronto Blue Jays
September offensive stats: 54 runs scored, 11 home runs, .221 team batting average
September record: 5-8, 7-5-1 over/under
Up next: at Yankees, at Rays, at Orioles
It’s been a nightmare season on the injury front for the Blue Jays. Brett Lawrie, J.P. Arencibia and slugger Jose Bautista have missed significant time with injuries and the team has struggled to put runs on the board without them. Toronto has called up many of its top prospects for the remainder of the season and that’s reflected in its weak offensive statistics this month.
Los Angeles Dodgers
September offensive stats: 37 runs scored, 10 home runs, .227 team batting average
September record: 6-7, 4-7-2 over/under
Up next: at Nationals, at Reds, at Padres
The Dodgers have fallen way behind the Giants in the NL West and are now in a dog fight for a wild card spot. The blockbuster trade with Boston that brought Adrian Gonzalez to L.A. has failed to spark the offense. Slugger Matt Kemp went 0-for-4 Saturday and is 3-for-32 in his last eight games.