MLB standings: Playoff picture entering Monday, Sept. 26

Days left in season: 7

Sunday’s big mover: Boston. The Red Sox have won 11 in a row, a stretch that began with their playoff hopes in doubt. Now, they have put the AL East on ice – their magic number is two – and have caught Texas for the best record in the AL, though the Rangers hold the tiebreaker. A few more wins, and the road to the World Series runs through Fenway Park.

Sunday’s big loser: Detroit. Did Saturday's ninth-inning meltdown carry over into Sunday? Well, the Royals jumped them for nine runs in four innings. In 18 hours, they went from a half-game up to 1 ½ back in the race for the second wild card.

Magic matters: The AL Central title is right in front of the Indians Monday night – beat the Tigers in Detroit, and they’re division champs for the first time since 2007.

Today’s can’t-miss game: Seattle at Houston, 8:10 ET. It’s a wild-card elimination series, with the Mariners 2 ½ behind the Orioles and the Astros three back. Both teams finish against patsies – the Mariners with four against the A’s, the Astros with three against the Angels. This series determines which team has hope come the final weekend.

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AL East

Red Sox (92-64) – Magic number: 2

Blue Jays (86-69) – 5.5 GB

AL Central

Indians (90-65) – Magic number: 1

Tigers (83-72) – 7.0 GB

AL West

Rangers (92-64) – Clinched division

Mariners (82-73) – 9.5 GB

NL East

Nationals (91-64) – Clinched division

Mets (83-73) – 8.5 GB

NL Central

Cubs (99-56) – Clinched division

NL West

Dodgers (90-66) – Clinched division

Giants (82-74) – 8.0 GB

AL Wild Card

Blue Jays (86-69) – +1.5 game 

Orioles (85-71) –

Tigers (83-72) – 1.5 GB 

Mariners (82-73) – 2.5 GB

Astros (82-74) – 3.0 GB

Yankees (79-76) – 5.5 GB

NL Wild Card

Mets (83-73) -- +1.0

Giants (82-74) -- 

Cardinals (81-74) -- 0.5 GB

Pirates (77-78) – 4.5 GB

Marlins (77-78) – 4.5 GB

GALLERY: TEAMS CELEBRATING POSTSEASON BERTH