The A.L. Wild Card is very tight. Things didn't change much from Wednesday to Thursday, keeping six teams within 2.5 games of each other. Here are all their records in the Wild Card race that has everybody on the edge of the seats, probably even N.L. supporters.
The Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of their meeting against the Texas Rangers, who are second in the A.L. Wild Card race. The Rays took the first and third games of the series and they have a chance to make it three out of four on Thursday. Another victory would give the Rays a two-game cushion in the Wild Card race. Both teams have traded blows and the Rangers simply could not close out on Wednesday.
The Rangers were extremely lucky because the Cleveland Indians also lost. Had the Tribe won their game, Texas would have been in third place in the Wild Card standings, on the outside looking in. The Kansas City Royals gave the Indians a run for their money, defeating them for the second time this week, 7-2. The victory kept the Royals in the heat of the race and allowed them to keep up with the hottest team in the Wild Card.
The Baltimore Orioles are winners of three straight games. Chris Davis is hitting bombs, leading his team to victory. If the Orioles make the playoffs, A.L. MVP anybody? Davis has now hit 51 home runs, driving in 134 RBI, all while hitting .292. That is a monster year and his production could not come at a better time. Davis has driven in a run in nine of the last 12 games the O's have played.
Though the New York Yankees have not played like a postseason team throughout the year, they are still alive. Their 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays allowed them to remain close in the Wild Card standings. Had they lost, then the Yankees would have been 3.5 games behind the second-place Rangers.
How far is your team? Probably closer than they should be on Thursday morning...
A.L. Wild Card Standings:
Tampa Bay Rays: 83-68 (1 Game Up)
Texas Rangers: 82-69 (2nd Place)
Cleveland Indians: 82-70 (0.5 GB)
Baltimore Orioles: 81-70 (1.0 GB)
Kansas City Royals: 80-72 (2.5 GB)
New York Yankees: 80-72 (2.5 GB)