The A.L. Wild Card standings are pointing to a dramatic finish if all of the top teams keep winning. After Wednesday's results, only three teams remain alive in the Wild Card standings; Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers. Nobody wants to lose their place, so everybody has elevated their game in the final days of the 2013 season. How close is the race?
The Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees have all been eliminated. After making the race so exciting in the final weeks of the season, neither of these three teams could keep up. The Yankees are 3-7 in thei last 10, the Orioles went 4-6 and the Royals went 5-5 in the same time span. The Rangers, Indians and Rays are holding tight as only a game separates the other and each team has responded by going on winning streaks.
The Rangers, who trail both the Rays and Indians, have won three straight games. It sure helps to play the Houston Astros in the final week of the season and especially when trying to make a playoff run. However, the Indians and Rays are both hanging tough, going on six-game winning streaks and keeping pace with each other in the Wild Card standings.
The Rangers' magic number is four, but they would rather think about winning. Who knows, they still have a chance of winning the Wild Card, but they will need a little bit of luck. There are only four games remaining in the season and the Rays would have to lose two games, while the Rangers will have to win their last four against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Indians have been cruising, going 17-6 in the month of September, overtaking the second place in the A.L. Wild Card. The team looks confident and the set off on a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, which should not be too challenging.
The Rays will take on the disappointing Toronto Blue Jays to close out their season, but they have a chance to sweep their division rival, the Yankees, on Thursday evening.
Can the Rays hang tough and remain in first place? Will the Rangers make a comeback or will the Tribe prove too strong at the end of the season?
