The Wild Card standings are chaotic as we enter the last 10 days of the MLB regular season. There are still plenty of teams alive in the standings, especially in the American League. Here's a look at those teams within striking distance entering the penultimate weekend of the baseball season.
National League Wild Card
We start with the easiest one of the two leagues. The N.L. only has three teams with a realistic chance of making the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are sure bets as they are first and second, respectively. However, the Washington Nationals are still within striking distance, especially if either the Pirates or Reds slip. The Nationals are playing highly motivated ball and they are finally winning at a rate expected at the beginning of the season.
That's all in the N.L. The Arizona Diamondbacks are 9.5 games back with their elimination number from the Wild Card sitting on one.
American League Wild Card
There is still plenty of time for an upset in the A.L. Wild Card. Entering Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers are leading by just half a game. After playing each other in a four-game series, the Rays and Rangers danced on top of the division. One day, the Rays would take the lead, while the Rangers bounced back the following evening to win and take a hold of the Wild Card's top spot. Together, the Rays and Rangers are preventing the Cleveland Indians from advancing into the two top spots of the Wild Card. The Indians remain just half a game back and they have played much better baseball than the Rangers, not to mention their schedule is fairly easy entering the final week of the season.
Also making a run in the A.L. Wild Card are the Baltimore Orioles, who are probably not going to make it are just two games back in the standings, holding on to the fourth spot. The Kansas City Royals are playing great baseball at the end of the season and are still within striking distance. The final team with a chance in the A.L. Wild Card are the New York Yankees. They have a true uphill battle ahead, but if they win every single game next week, who knows what can happen?
Here is a visual breakdown of the A.L. and N.L. Wild Card standings:
A.L. Wild Card Standings:
Rays: 83-69 (1st Place)
Rangers: 83-69 (2nd Place)
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Indians: 83-70 (0.5 GB)
Orioles: 81-71 (2.0 GB)
Royals: 80-72 (3.0 GB)
Yankees: 80-73 (3.5 GB)
N.L. Wild Card Standings:
Pirates: 88-65 (1st Place)
Reds: 87-66 (2nd Place)
Nationals: 82-71 5 GB
