MLB standings: Playoff picture entering Wednesday, Sept. 21
While the AL East and NL West are still up in the air, focus is on the wild card spots in each league.
Days left in the season: 12
Tuesday’s big mover: San Francisco. The movement wasn’t all good for the Giants, despite a 2-0 win at Dodger Stadium that created a three-way tie for the NL wild card with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.
Tuesday’s big loser: Baltimore. Back-to-back losses to the Red Sox have left the Orioles five games out in the AL East. Toronto’s blowout win in Seattle also dropped the Orioles to second place in the wild-card race.
Oh oh, it’s magic: Brandon Guyer’s two-out hit drove in the game-winner as the Cleveland Indians pulled off their 11th walkoff victory of the season, edging the Kansas City Royals 2-1 to lower their magic number for claiming the AL Central crown to six. The Texas Rangers trimmed theirs to two by topping the Los Angeles Angels 5-4.
Today’s can’t-miss game: Blue Jays at Mariners, 3:40 p.m. ET: This getaway matinee carries plenty of significance for both wild-card contenders, who will be sending out their top right-handers in Aaron Sanchez and Felix Hernandez.
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AL East
Red Sox (87-64) – Magic number: 8
Blue Jays (83-68) – 4 GB
Orioles (82-69) – 5 GB
Yankees (78-72) – 8.5 GB
AL Central
Indians (87-63) – Magic number: 6
Tigers (80-70) – 7 GB
Royals (77-74) – 10.5 GB
AL West
Rangers (90-62) – Magic number: 2
Astros (80-71) – 9.5 GB
Mariners (79-72) – 10.5 GB
AL Wild Card
Blue Jays (83-68) – +1 game – Magic number: 10
Orioles (82-69) – Magic number: 11
Tigers (80-70) – 1.5 GB
Astros (80-71) – 2 GB
Mariners (79-72) – 3 GB
Yankees (78-72) – 3.5 GB
Royals (77-74) – 5 GB
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NL East
Nationals (88-63) – Magic number: 4
Mets (80-71) – 8 GB
NL Central
Cubs (96-55) – Clinched division
NL West
Dodgers (85-66) – Magic number: 7
Giants (80-71) – 5 GB
NL Wild Card
Mets (80-71)
Giants (80-71)
Cardinals (80-71)
Tiebreak scenarios: The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, with the Mets and Cardinals both holding that advantage over the Giants. The Mets and Cardinals split their season series, so it would come down to division winning percentage. Entering Wednesday, the Cardinals (36-30) have the advantage on the Mets (33-32). If all three teams finish tied, the Mets and Cardinals would face off in St. Louis for the top seed, with the loser playing playing a home game against the Giants for the second spot.
Marlins (76-75) – 4 GB
Pirates (75-75) – 4.5 GB
GALLERY: MLB photo of the day