The 2014 Major League Baseball season is in the final month of play, and with just 20 games remaining, time is running out for wild card potential teams.

More importantly, outright division leaders are trying to get the No. 1 seed in search of home field advantage.

The National League division races have been far more closer than the American League in the second half of this season. The three division leaders in the NL are the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals.

Incredibly, those three teams are separated by just three wins. Conversely, the three American League teams are separated by nine wins.

The Los Angeles Dodgers currently have the best record in the NL at 82-62. Dee Gordon now leads the Dodgers with 157 hits and 12 triples this season. The 26-year-old infielder is having a breakout season for the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzales continues to hit the long ball effectively, with a team-leading 22 home runs and 100 runs batted in this season. Gonzales had exactly 22 home runs and 100 runs batted in last season with the Dodgers.

There's no doubt who will be winning this year's NL Cy Young award. Clayton Kershaw is having a fantastic season in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers lead their division, the NL West, by four games over their heated rivals, the San Francisco Giants. It's unlikely the Dodgers will lose their division lead, but another team is lurking right behind them.

That team is the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are currently 81-61, with a seven game lead in their division. The Nationals are chasing the Dodgers for the No. 1 spot in the National League.

Formerly the Montreal Expos, this franchise has only made the postseason one time since moving to Washington in 2005. This will mark the third consecutive season the Nationals will have a winning record, and most likely the second time in three seasons the Nats will make the playoffs. So, things are looking up for Nationals fans.

This Nationals offense ranks eighth overall in runs scored, much in part to Anthony Rendon, who has a team-leading 102 runs scored and 36 doubles this season. Having four pitchers with double-digit victories doesn't hurt, either. Those four pitchers include Doug Fister, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman and Tanner Roark.

The third division leader is the defending NL champion Cardinals. The Cardinals (80-65) lead the NL Central by five games over the Pittsburgh Pirates and are currently riding a three-game win streak.

This team remembers how last year ended in losing to the Boston Red Sox in six games, and they're determined to return to the World Series. The Cardinals have made the playoffs seven of the last 10 seasons and the World Series two of the last three years. It's championship or bust for this team.

The Cardinals rank No. 29 overall in home runs hit; only the Kansas City Royals have hit less this season so far. Dominican-born shortstop Jhonny Peralta leads the team with 35 doubles and 20 home runs hit. Pitcher Adam Wainwright has been terrific this year posting a 17-9 record and 156 strikeouts. Lance Lynn also has 156 strikeouts for the Cardinals this season

The Cardinals, Nationals and Dodgers are all fighting for the No. 1 seed in the National League. Getting home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs is very important. The remaining 20 games will be must-watch baseball.

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