MLB

AL wild-card cheat sheet: Sept. 20

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 (83-69)

Where they stand: Tied for wild-card lead

Last night: Beat Rays, 8-2, with four home runs among their 16 hits

Today: at Royals, 8:10 p.m., Santana (9-9) vs. Perez (9-5)

Games remaining: 10 (at KC – 3; vs. HOU – 3; vs. LAA – 4)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 61.9 (+13.5)

Skinny: Not only did the Rangers regain a share of the lead for the first wild-card spot, they clinched the season series with the Rays, 4-3, meaning if the teams finish tied, the one-game wild-card playoff would be contested in Texas.

2. Rays (83-69)

Where they stand: Tied for wild-card lead

Last night: Lost to Rangers, 8-2, as Matt Moore absorbed his fourth loss of season

Today: vs. Orioles, 7:10 p.m., Price (8-8) vs. Hammel (7-8)

Games remaining: 10 (vs. BAL – 4; at Yankees – 3; at TOR – 3)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 48.8 (-14.5)

Skinny: The seesaw atop the standings dropped the Rays back down into a tie, but they send ace David Price to the bump Friday night for the start of a four-game set with the Orioles, their final games of the season at Tropicana Field.

3. Indians (83-70)

Where they stand: Half-game out of wild card

Last night: Beat Astros, 2-1, in 11 innings on a walk-off single by the immortal Matt Carson

Today: vs. Astros, 7:05 p.m., McAllister (8-9) vs. Oberholtzer (4-3)

Games remaining: 9 (vs. HOU – 3; vs. CWS – 2; at MIN – 4)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 65.4 (+10.1)

Skinny: The Indians needed extra innings to do it, but they initiated a four-game set with the Astros in winning fashion (Ubaldo Jimenez delivered seven stellar innings and the bullpen went four scoreless) and kept pressure on the leaders.

4. Orioles (81-71)

Where they stand: Two games out of wild card

Last night: Lost to Red Sox, 3-1, as John Lackey threw a two-hitter in Boston’s playoff clincher

Today: at Rays, 7:10 p.m., Price (8-8) vs. Hammel (7-8)

Games remaining: 10 (at TB – 4; vs. TOR – 3; vs. BOS – 3)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 11.3 (-5.3)

Skinny: The Orioles were unable to finish off a sweep at Fenway Park — two out of three ain’t bad — and now hit the road to face the division-rival Rays with plenty of work to do.

5. Royals (80-72)

Where they stand: Three games out of wild card

Yesterday: Off

Today: vs. Rangers, 8:10 p.m., Santana (9-9) vs. Perez (9-5)

Games remaining: 10 (vs. TEX – 3; at SEA – 3; at CWS – 4)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 9.9 (-0.6)

Skinny: The Royals were the only contender with a rest day on Thursday, saving up strength for a three-game home series with the Rangers in which Ned Yost’s crew likely needs a sweep.

6. Yankees (80-73)

Where they stand: 3.5 games out of second wild card

Last night: Lost to Blue Jays, 6-2, with Joba Chamberlain allowing a back-breaking three-run homer

Today: vs. Giants, 7:05 p.m., Sabathia (13-13) vs. Lincecum (10-13)

Games remaining: 9 (vs. SF – 3; vs. TB – 3; at HOU – 3)

Percentage chance to make playoffs: 2.7 (-3.3)

Skinny: A game effort by Hiroki Kuroda (6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 7 K) was not enough as the Yankees mustered just five hits in sliding four games behind the wild-card leaders in the loss column. They’re staring at odds in the neighborhood of 40-1, based on the Coolstandings calculations.

Playoff chances according to Coolstandings.com, based on millions of simulations of the remaining schedule.