The New York Yankees are doing what many believed was impossible. With about two weeks of baseball left in the year, the Yankees find themselves making a playoff run in 2013. They might be far behind in the A.L. East, but the A.L. Wild Card is within reach as the Tampa Bay Rays forgot how to win a professional baseball game.
The Yankees are trailing by just a game as they played great baseball in Baltimore against the Orioles. They took three out of four games in Camden Yards, moving up in the A.L. Wild Card, surpassing the Orioles and Cleveland Indians. They are playing well and receiving help from the Rays, who have gone 4-6 in a stretch where the Yankees are 6-4. For New York, it's been timely winning. This three-game win streak is coming at the right time.
Any security the Rays had back in August is gone. Their pitching is inconsistent and their offense is struggling heavily. In September, the Rays have played 14 games, scoring three or more runs just six times in this stretch. You can have the greatest pitching on Earth, but you have to supply some type of run support. The Rays will now catch a break as they play the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees have a tough schedule ahead as they look at a three-game series in Fenway Park against the first-place Red Sox.
If the Yankees and Rays still can't decide who will take the final spot of the Wild Card, they meet in the final week of baseball for a three-game series in Yankee Stadium.
However, who's to say the Yankees or Rays are going to take the A.L. Wild Card's last spot? The Royals have been red hot. In fact, in the last 10 games, the Royals have been the better team of those competing. Kansas City has won seven of their last 10 games, sitting in a tie with the Orioles for the third spot in the Wild Card.
Here are the standings as six teams are officially still alive because of the Wild Card.
A.L. Wild Card Standings
Texas Rangers 81-64
Tampa Bay Rays 79-66 (2 GB)
New York Yankees 79-68 1 GB (of Rays)
Cleveland Indians 78-68 1.5 GB
Baltimore Orioles 77-69 2 GB
Kansas City Royals 77-69 2 GB
