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 (81-66)
Where they stand: In dead heat for wild card, 1.5 games up for playoff spot
Yesterday: Lost to A’s, 1-0, as Yu Darvish was outdueled by Bartolo Colon
Today: vs. A’s, 3:05 p.m.. Perez (9-4) vs. Parker (11-6) Games remaining: 15 (vs. OAK – 1; at TB – 4; at KC – 3; vs. HOU – 3; vs. LAA – 4) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 62.2
Skinny: As the Rangers try to avoid a sweep by the division-leading A’s, the season series is tied at nine games apiece, with Texas being outscored by an oh so slim 76-74 margin.
2. Rays (81-66)
Where they stand: In dead heat for wild card, 1.5 games up for playoff spot Last night: Beat Twins, 7-0, with a rain-delayed combined four-hitter
Today: at Twins, 2:10 p.m., Hernandez (3-1) vs. Price (8-8) Games remaining: 15 (at MIN – 1; vs. TEX – 4; vs. BAL – 4; at Yankees – 3; at TOR – 3) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 60.6
Skinny: Rays ace David Price — who has a 2.74 ERA in his past 10 starts — tries to lock down the sweep, meaning he will miss the upcoming series with the Rangers, the current co-wild card leader.
3. Indians (80-68)
Where they stand: 1.5 games out of wild card (2 back in loss column) Last night: Clubbed White Sox, 8-1, behind the resurgent Ubaldo Jimenez
Today: at White Sox, 2:10 p.m., Sale (11-12) vs. McAllister (7-9) Games remaining: 14 (at CWS – 1; at KC – 3; vs. HOU – 4; vs. CWS – 2; at MIN – 4) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 54.4
Skinny: Jason Giambi, batting .185 as a part-time DH/unlikely sage, is knocking on the door of his ninth postseason appearance, with a fourth different team (A’s, Yankees, Rockies).
4. Yankees (79-70)
Where they stand: Three games out of wild card (4 back in loss column)
Yesterday: Lost to Red Sox, 5-1, as CC Sabathia labored through six innings
Today: at Red Sox, 8:00 p.m., Buchholz (10-0) vs. Nova (8-4) Games remaining: 13 (at BOS – 1; at TOR – 3; vs. SF – 3; vs. TB – 3; at HOU – 3) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 8.6
Skinny: Last time the Yankees played Sunday night at Fenway, Alex Rodriguez’s beaning by Ryan Dempster led to a galvanizing team win. They will look to repeat the feat after another loss to the Red Sox on Saturday — plus wins by the Rays and Indians — nearly halved their playoff odds from 15.5 percent.
5. Royals (78-70)
Where they stand: 3.5 games out of wild card Last night: Beat Tigers, 1-0, as Ervin Santana and three reliever combined on shutout
Today: at Tigers, 1:08 p.m., Scherzer (19-3) vs. Guthrie (14-10) Games remaining: 14 (at DET – 2; vs. CLE – 3; vs. TEX – 3; at SEA – 3; at CWS – 4) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 10.9
Skinny: The Royals erased Prince Fielder at the plate with the tying run — a 7-6-2 putout in your scorecards — to keep their October dream on life support.
6. Orioles (78-70)
Where they stand: 3.5 games out of wild card
Yesterday: Lost to Blue Jays, 4-3, despite Manny Machado’s 14th homer and 50th double
Today: at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m., Buehrle (11-8) vs. Gonzalez (9-7) Games remaining: 14 (at TOR – 1; at BOS – 3; at TB – 4; vs. TOR – 3; vs. BOS – 3) Percentage chance to make playoffs: 3.5
Skinny: The Orioles rank last in the American League with 370 walks. Four of the top five teams in the category (Red Sox, Rays, A’s, Indians, Tigers, in order) are in playoff position.
Playoff chances according to Coolstandings.com, based on millions of simulations of the remaining schedule.