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. Rangers (82-68)
Where they stand: Tied for the wild cards, half-game up for playoff spot
Last night: Beat Rays, 7-1, with three RBIs apiece from Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus
Today: at Rays, 7:00 p.m., Archer (9-7) vs. Holland (9-9)
Games remaining: 12 (at TB – 2; at KC – 3; vs. HOU – 3; vs. LAA – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 59.0
Skinny: The Rangers’ plummet in the standings has put pressure on manager Ron Washington to save his job by clawing into the postseason.
2. Rays (82-68)
Where they stand: Tied for the wild cards, half-game up for playoff spot
Last night: Lost to Rangers, 7-1, with Joe Maddon hooking starter Jeremy Hellickson in the third
Today: vs. Rangers, 7:00 p.m., Archer (9-7) vs. Holland (9-9)
Games remaining: 12 (vs. TEX – 2; vs. BAL – 4; at Yankees – 3; at TOR – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 51.8
Skinny: Such is the reality in this race, on top of the heap one day, back in the jumble the next. The live-armed, 24-year-old Chris Archer makes the biggest start of his career.
3. Indians (82-69)
Where they stand: Half-game out of wild card
Last night: Beat Royals, 5-3, rallying from a 3-0 deficit
Today: at Royals, 8:10 p.m., Chen (7-3) vs. Salazar (1-2)
Games remaining: 11 (vs. KC – 1; vs. HOU – 4; vs. CWS – 2; at MIN – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 68.5
Skinny: The playoff odds tell the story. Another win against the credible Royals and the Indians will be sitting pretty entering their feather-soft closing 10-game slate.
4. Orioles (80-70)
Where they stand: Two games out of wild card
Last night: Beat Red Sox, 3-2, by scoring against untouchable closer Koji Uehara in the ninth
Today: at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., Peavy (11-5) vs. Chen (7-7)
Games remaining: 12 (at BOS – 2; at TB – 4; vs. TOR – 3; vs. BOS – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 10.3
Skinny: An enormous win against division-leading Boston was punctuated by Chris Davis’ 51st home run of the season.
5. Yankees (79-72)
Where they stand: 3.5 games out of wild card
Last night: Lost to Blue Jays, 2-0, as R.A. Dickey outdueled Andy Pettitte
Today: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., Happ (4-6) vs. Hughes (4-13)
Games remaining: 11 (at TOR – 2; vs. SF – 3; vs. TB – 3; at HOU – 3)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 3.7
Skinny: The Yankees are tied for eighth place in the 15-team American League. Phil Hughes, likely on his way out of town, is enlisted for the final stand.
6. Royals (79-72)
Where they stand: 3.5 games out of wild card
Last night: Lost to Indians, 5-3, wasting an electric, one-run major league debut by Yordano Ventura
Today: vs. Indians, 8:10 p.m., Chen (7-3) vs. Salazar (1-2)
Games remaining: 11 (vs. CLE – 1; vs. TEX – 3; at SEA – 3; at CWS – 4)
Percentage chance to make playoffs: 6.7
Skinny: Bruce Chen, the well-traveled southpaw, once started for the playoff-bound Braves in late September … of 1998.
Playoff chances according to Coolstandings.com, based on millions of simulations of the remaining schedule.