If The NL Did Not Have Divisions in the 2017 MLB Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are attempting to set a single season record for wins. 
This prompted me to take a look at how the rest of the National League was doing this season.
Let’s take a look at how Major League Baseball shakes out right now (9/4/2017) in the current standings.

EAST                                                          CENTRAL                                      WEST
                                  Record       GB                             Record      GB                                       Record       GB
Washington              82-54        —        Chicago         75-61        —          Los Angeles         92-44        —    
Miami                         67-69        15         Milwaukee    72-65        3.5        Arizona                 79-58        13.5
Atlanta                       60-75        21.5      St. Louis        69-67        6.0        Colorado              72-64        20    
New York                   58-78        24        Pittsburgh     65-72        10.5       San Diego            62-75        30.5
Philadelphia              52-84        30        Cincinnati      58-79        17.5       San Francisco      54-85       39.5


The only pennant race in the Central Division where four teams are within shouting distance of first place.
The East Division is a lost cause. 

The West Division, though Arizona has the best record of any second place team, is a true 10.5 games over .500 and would be winning the Central Division and only 3.5 games behind Washington in the East division, they are getting left in the dust by the Dodgers. Arizona will probably have to settle for a Wildcard spot in this season’s playoffs.

Let’s take a different look at the National League.
These would be the National  League standings if there were no divisions.


                             Record      GB        Games Relative To True .500
Los Angeles        92-44        —                    +24
Washington        82-54        10                     +14
Arizona                79-58         13.5                 +10.5
Chicago               75-61          17                     +7
Colorado             72-64         20                   +4
Milwaukee          72-65         20.5                +3.5
St. Louis              69-67         23                    +1
Miami                  67-69         25                    -1
Pittsburgh           65-72         27.5                 -3.5
San Diego           62-75         30.5                -6.5
Atlanta                 60-75         31.5                 -7.5
New York             58-78         34                   -10    
Cincinnati            58-79         34.5                -10.5
San Francisco     54-85         39.5                -14.5
Philadelphia        52-84         40                   -16

The Division system is hurting Arizona this year.

Instead of being the third best team in the National League, and in striking distance of the number two spot, they will probably make the playoffs as a Wildcard team and be forced to play a one-game wildcard playoff game against Colorado or Milwaukee - the winner of which will move on to play the Dodgers.

If there were no divisions in the league setup and the number of playoff teams remained at six, Arizona would avoid the one-game playoff scenario and play in the divisional round of the playoffs.

They also are still in contention for a First Round bye in the playoffs, if that bye was awarded it as it usually would be to the top two teams in each league.

I am in favor of getting rid of the one-game wildcard playoff.
Looking at the 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks season - and the season the Dodgers are having - seems to support finding another and much better alternative.