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MLB Standings Update: AL Wild Card Set Up To Be A 'Wild' Finish

With only ten days left in the regular season, lo and behold we have seen a couple of races develop where it looked like their would be no drama at all.

In the American League the Wild Card race is suddenly a dogfight, and the San Francisco Giants in the National League are determined not to give up their world championship status without a fight.

Let's take a look and see how things are shaking out with a week and a half to go. As always, we will give you the upcoming schedule for all teams still in contention...though that list gets shorter and shorter.


AL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Detroit 89 64 .581 0 Won 1
Cleveland 75 75 .500 12.5 Won 3
Chicago 74 78 .486 14.5 Won 1
Kansas City 67 87 .435 22.5 Lost 1
Minnesota 59 92 .390 29 Lost 8

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:15 AM EDT)


The Tigers are in, and the Indians are, believe it or not, still alive for the Wild Card (see below). Detroit currently has the second-best record in the American League, and if the season ended today would be facing the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs.

Detroit begins a series at Kansas City against the Royals on Tuesday, while the Indians play a make-up game against the Mariners on Monday before opening a home series vs. the White Sox on Tuesday with a day/night doubleheader.


AL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
New York 91 60 .602 0 Lost 1
Boston 87 65 .572 4.5 Lost 2
Tampa Bay 85 67 .559 6.5 Won 2
Toronto 77 75 .506 14.5 Won 1
Baltimore 62 89 .410 29 Lost 1

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:18 AM EDT)


The Yankees have a magic number of 7 to clinch a playoff spot, while Boston and the Tampa Bay Rays are in a sudden duel for the Wild Card spot in the AL (see below).

New York currently has the best record in the league, and if the season ended today would be facing Texas in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Yankees are home to Minnesota on Monday, while the Red Sox are hosting Baltimore. Tampa Bay begins a series in New York on Tuesday.



AL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Texas 88 65 .575 0 Won 2
Los Angeles 83 69 .546 4.5 Won 1
Oakland 69 84 .450 19 Lost 1
Seattle 63 89 .414 24.5 Lost 2

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:22 AM EDT)





The Rangers currently have the worst record of a division leader in the AL, and if the season ended today would open the playoffs in New York. (The reason that the Yankees, with the best record, would not be playing the Wild Card winner in the first round is that a team cannot play another team in its own division in the first round, and as the Red Sox at present hold the Wild Card lead, they could not play the Yankees first.)

Texas has a magic number of 6 to win the West, while the Angels are still alive for the Wild Card as well as their division.

The Rangers are at Oakland to face the Athletics beginning Tuesday, while the Angels begin a series in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays on Monday.


American League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Boston 87 65 .572 0 Lost 2
Tampa Bay 85 67 .559 2 Won 2
Los Angeles 83 69 .546 4 Won 1
Toronto 77 75 .506 10 Won 1
Cleveland 75 75 .500 11 Won 3
Chicago 74 78 .486 13 Won 1
Oakland 69 84 .450 18.5 Lost 1
Kansas City 67 87 .435 21 Lost 1
Seattle 63 89 .414 24 Lost 2
Baltimore 62 89 .410 24.5 Lost 1
Minnesota 59 92 .390 27.5 Lost 8

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:26 AM EDT)


Toronto and Cleveland are both mathematically alive for the Wild Card, although the "tragic number" for elimination is 1 for each club.

Boston's magic number to win the Wild Card stands at 9, but the way the Rays are coming on, don't be shocked if Tampa Bay makes Boston pay for their slow start so many months ago. And the Angels are hovering in the wings, ready to pounce should the Red Sox and the Rays falter down the stretch.

Now for the Senior Circuit:

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NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Milwaukee 90 63 .588 0 Won 3
St. Louis 83 69 .546 6.5 Won 1
Cincinnati 74 79 .483 16 Lost 3
Pittsburgh 68 85 .444 22 Lost 3
Chicago 67 86 .437 23 Lost 1
Houston 52 100 .342 37.5 Won 1

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:29 AM EDT)


The Brewers have been pushed a bit by the Cardinals, yet still Milwaukee's magic number is 4 to win the Central. St. Louis is still alive for the NL Wild Card (see below).

Milwaukee has the second-best record in the NL, and with the same situation as in the American League (best record and Wild Card leader from the same division), if the season ended today the Brewers would host the Wild Card-leading Braves in the opening round.

The Brewers begin the week in Chicago to face the Cubs on Monday, while St. Louis finishes a series in Philadelphia, also on Monday. The Cardinals then come home to face the Mets beginning Tuesday.


NL East Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Philadelphia 98 53 .649 0 Lost 1
Atlanta 87 66 .568 12 Lost 1
New York 73 80 .477 26 Won 1
Washington 72 79 .476 26 Won 1
Florida 69 84 .450 30 Lost 1

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:35 AM EDT)


The Phillies have clinched the NL East, while Atlanta is the Wild Card leader. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch the best record in the National League is 2, and if the season ended today, the Phillies would be hosting the Diamondbacks in the opening round.

Philadelphia finishes a series with St. Louis on Monday and then hosts the Nationals starting Tuesday, while Atlanta begins a series in Florida on Monday vs. the Marlins.


NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Arizona 88 65 .575 0 Won 1
San Francisco 83 70 .542 5 Won 8
Los Angeles 76 76 .500 11.5 Won 3
Colorado 70 82 .460 17.5 Lost 4
San Diego 65 88 .424 23 Lost 1

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:39 AM EDT)


Arizona continues to hold on in the est, with a magic number of 5 to clinch the division. If the season ended today the Diamondbacks would face the Phillies in the opening round. The Giants, meanwhile, have won eight straight to stay alive in both the division and Wild Card races, but they are running out of time.

Arizona begins the week at home on Monday vs. the Pirates, while San Francisco will be in LA to face the Dodgers beginning Tuesday.


National League Wild Card Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta 87 66 .568 0 Lost 1
St. Louis 83 69 .546 3.5 Won 1
San Francisco 83 70 .542 4 Won 8
Los Angeles 76 76 .500 10.5 Won 3
Cincinnati 74 79 .483 13 Lost 3
New York 73 80 .477 14 Won 1
Washington 72 79 .476 14 Won 1
Colorado 70 82 .460 16.5 Lost 4
Florida 69 84 .450 18 Lost 1
Pittsburgh 68 85 .444 19 Lost 3
Chicago 67 86 .437 20 Lost 1
San Diego 65 88 .424 22 Lost 1
Houston 52 100 .342 34.5 Won 1

(updated 9.19.2011 at 11:42 AM EDT)


Only three teams are left alive for the National League Wild Card. Right now the Braves' magic number to clinch is 7 over the Cardinals and 6 over the Giants.

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And there we have it as the last full week of the season dawns. Be sure to check back on Friday for another update, as the season will head into its final two series for each club still in contention.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.