Jonathan Crighton
Staff Writer
The dominoes have
started to fall in the American League.
The Rangers clinched a
postseason berth on Sunday night with an 8-7 win over the Angels in Game 2 of a
doubleheader in Texas and they brought two other teams into the playoffs with
them: the Orioles and the Yankees. Now, as the entire league heads into the
final series of the regular season, several teams need some luck.
The AL West and East
titles still remain up for grabs. The A's (91-68), who play the Rangers (93-66)
for three games to end their scheduled season, are still in striking distance
in athe West at two games back, while the Yankees and Orioles are tied at 92-67
atop the East.
But by virtue of the
Rangers' clinching their postseason berth, Baltimore and New York are both in
the playoffs, one way or the other. One will win the AL East; the other club
will be the first AL Wild Card.
The Rangers are closest
to home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs, but that's not decided yet.
The West winner will also have home-field advantage in the Division Series.
Oakland is in a commanding position for the second Wild Card, but the AL West
remains the A's goal. The A's need a sweep to take the division.
For either
the Rays or Angels, both 88-71, to make it, everything would have to go their
way. Their elimination numbers are at one, so they have to win their final
three games, while the A's would have to drop all of theirs. Tampa Bay is
hosting Baltimore for its final series, while the Angels are in Seattle.
In the National League,
the Central-champion Reds (96-63) clinched home-field advantage in the Division
Series with a 4-3 win over the Pirates.
The magic number for the
Cardinals (86-73) to clinch a Wild Card spot is at two -- not impossible for
the Dodgers (84-75), the only other team alive in the NL Wild Card hunt.
St. Louis is playing the
Reds. Los Angeles is playing the Giants, and San Francisco would surely relish
knocking LA out of the race, but the Dodgers have a bit of wiggle room compared
to the AL Wild Card contenders because they're one game closer.
The Braves (93-66), who
have at least the top Wild Card spot locked up, are in Pittsburgh. Atlanta
could still force a tie for the East title with Washington (96-63), but it's
another win-out situation. One Braves loss or one Washington win seals the East
for the Nationals, who are home against the Phillies.
The magic number for
Detroit (86-73) to clinch the AL Central is one. That puts the White Sox
(83-76) in the same situation as the Rays and Angels, essentially: Chicago's
lone hope is to sweep its final series, against the Indians, and hope the
Royals can sweep the Tigers.
