MLB Standings: Boston Sinks Further While Playoff Races Heat Up

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is coming down the home stretch.

The end can't come soon enough for the Boston Red Sox, who are suffering through their worst season in recent memory. After watching a litany of stars leave town including Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Kevin Youkilis, Boston fans are left with a shell of their former team and a manager who is self-described as miserable.

The team is dead last in the AL East after being swept over the weekend by the Toronto Blue Jays, a full 15.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees.

In other places, the prospects for a glorious October seem very real. The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles are fighting it out for a spot in the postseason and will commence a three-game series on Tuesday.

One of the best races is taking place in the AL West, where the Texas Rangers are leading the Oakland Athletics by only 3.5 games.

However, it's the Los Angeles Angels who are finally making their long-awaited charge, trailing Oakland by 2.5 games for the top-spot in the Wild Card standings. The two teams start a crucial four-game set at Angel Stadium on Monday.

In the National League, the division races are all but over with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals just needing to avoid a total collapse.

For a full look at the MLB Standings, click here.

For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.