Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge going for history as AL playoff picture continues to form
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques breaks down the storylines to watch in the AL as the MLB seasons winds down.
Sports Pulse
The American League playoff picture is coming down to the wire.
With the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays battling atop the AL East, all eyes are on the second and third AL wild card spots between the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros. Since none of those teams can catch the Yankees or Blue Jays, the first wild card spot is essentially locked by whichever team fails to win its division.
A similar situation will play out in the AL Central with the Tigers and Guardians; one of those teams will win the division, and the other will be among the three teams vying for the final postseason spots.
With only three games remaining in the season, the Red Sox and Tigers begin a series at Fenway Park on Friday in a matchup with huge postseason implications, while the Guardians and Astros battle with teams outside the playoff picture.
Here’s everything you need to know about the AL wild card race:
AL wild card standings
Top three teams make the postseason
New York Yankees (91-68)*Boston Red Sox (87-72)Detroit Tigers (86-73)Houston Astros (85-74): 1 GB* = clinched postseason berthAL wild card tiebreakersEntering play Friday, the Tigers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Red Sox. However, the Red Sox could nullify that with a sweep of the Tigers, which would even the season series 3-3. Under this scenario, the Red Sox would hold position over the Tigers via the second tiebreaker (intradivision record).The Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tigers — which also applies to the AL Central postseason race ― as well as the Astros. The Red Sox own the tiebreaker over the Guardians.The Red Sox and Tigers both own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Astros.Latest MLB postseason oddsBoston Red Sox remaining scheduleFriday vs. Tigers, 7:10 p.m. ETSaturday vs. Tigers, 4:10 p.m. ETSunday vs. Tigers, 3:05 p.m. ETDetroit Tigers remaining scheduleFriday at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. ETSaturday at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m. ETSunday at Red Sox, 3:05 p.m. ETCleveland Guardians remaining scheduleFriday vs. Rangers, 7:10 p.m. ETSaturday vs. Rangers, 7:15 p.m. ETSunday vs. Rangers, 3:10 p.m. ETHouston Astros remaining scheduleFriday at Angels, 9:38 p.m. ETSaturday at Angels, 9:38 p.m. ETSunday at Angels, 3:07 p.m. ET