It’s coming down to the wire, and six teams remain very much alive in the chase for the two spots in the one-game American League wild-card playoff. Check here every morning for the standings, schedule and scoop on the jam-packed AL wild-card race:
1. Rays (83-68)
Where they stand: Up one game for first wild card
LastāØ night: Beat ą¶£Rangers, 4-3, in 12 innings after both teams scored in the 11th
Today: vs. Raāngers, 7:10 p.m., Moore (15-3) vs. Dašrvish (12-9)
Games remaining: 11 (vs. TEX – 1; vs. BAL – 4; at Yankees – 3; at TOR – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 63.3 (+11.5)
Skinny: Down to their last out in extra innings, the Rays rallied to tie on an RBI single by David DeJesus and won it an inning later on Desmond Jennings’ single. The dramatic victory broke a tie atop the wild-card standings, and manager Joe Maddon thinks itĀ could provide some autumn momentum.
2. Rangers (82-69)
Where they stand: šØUp a halšf-game for second wild card
Last night: Lšost to Rays, 4-3, in 12 innings with Joe Nathan blowing thš e save
Today: at Rays,Ā 7:10 āp.m., Moore (15-3) vs. Darvish (12-ź¦æ9)
Games remaining: 11 (at TB – 1; at KC – 3; vs. HOU – 3; vs. LAA – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 48.4 (-10.6)
Skinny: The Rangers are simply hurting for offense. Adrian Beltre is the lone intimidating stick left in the middle of the lineup following the departuā¦res of Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli and the Biogenesis suspension of Nelson Cruz.
3. Indians (82-70)
Where they stand: š Half-ą¦game out of second wild card
Last night: Lost to Royals, 7-2, mustering just five hits against six pitš¦©chers
Today: vs. Astros, 7:05 p.m., Jimenez (12-9) vs. Keuchel (6-9š§)
Games remaining: 10 (vs. HOU – 4; vs. CWS – 2; at MIN – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 55.3 (-13.2)
Skinny: After dropping two of three in Kansas City, the Indians return home to conceivably feast on the Astros (101 losses and countź§ing). Ubaldo Jimenez has a 2.51 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning in 19 starts since June 1.
4. Orioles (81-70)
Whereš® they stand: One game out of second wild card
Last night: Beat Red Sox, 5-3, in 12 innings at Fenway after Chris Davis’ two-run single
Today: at Red Sox, 7:1ā0 p.m., Lackey (9-12) vs. Tillman (16-6)
Games remaining: 11 (at BOS – 1; at TB – 4; vs. TOR – 3; vs. BOS – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 16.6 (+6.3)
Skinny: And here come the Birds, who improbably can move into playoff position Thursday night if they finish a sweep in Boston and get some help from the Ranāgers and Indians.
5. Yankees (80-72)
Whereź§ they stand: 2.5 gamesź©² out of second wild card
Last night: Beat Blue Jays, 4-3,š with a four-run eighth inning and four-out save by Mariano Rivera
Today: at Blź§ue Jays, 7:07 p.m., Redmond (3-2) vs. Kuroda (11-11)
Games remaining: 10 (at TOR – 1; vs. SF – 3; vs. TB – 3; at HOU – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 6.0 (+2.3)
Skinny: A gutsy, come-from-behind victory in Toronto — Vernon Wells had the go-ahead double — lets the Yankees live to fight another day, and they send their most reliable pitcher to the mound in Hiroki Kuroda.
6. Royals (80-72)
Where they stand: 2.5 games out of wild card
Last night: šBeat Indians, 7-2, with jšourneyman Bruce Chen notching the win
Today: Off
Games remaining: 10 (vs. TEX – 3; at SEA – 3; at CWS – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 10.5 (+3.8)
Skinny: A series win against the divisionš-rival Indians kept the Royals in this thing, but they will need to dent the Rangers over the weekend to remain relevant in the final week.
Playoff chances according toā Coolstandings.com, based on millions of simulations of the remaining schedule.