Labor Day has come and gone, the official end of summer is here. The push for the playoffs is just beginning. The race for the 2 Wild-Card spots in the AL is heating up with each game a must-win.
Last season, MLB initiated a second wild-card to the playoffs. With the introduction of the second Wild-Card comes a one-game playoff to determine the opponent to the Division winner in the Division Championship series. Teams that may have not have had an opportunity, have the chance to compete. The competition is fierce. A one-game playoff has all the makings of an epic battle. With under 30 games left in the regular season, the Wild-Card spots in the AL are up for grabs.
In the AL East, the Red Sox are boasting a 5.5 game lead over Tampa Bay to stay on top of the division. Busting out of a rare slump, David Ortiz went 2-3 with a HR in Sunday’s game against the White Sox to complete a series sweep. On Monday, the Red Sox will get set to square off against the Detroit Tigers who hold a 7.5 game lead in the Central. Detroit and Boston are at the top of the stats column. Detroit leads in every category that counts except for walks and stolen bases. Doug Fister will be on the hill for Detroit, while John Lackey will look to shut-down a Detroit team that is batting .295 lifetime against him.
The Tampa Bay Rays hold a three-game lead over Baltimore for a Wild-Card spot. On Monday, the Rays start a four-game series against the Angels. The Rays offense has been struggling lately only scoring 5 runs in their four game losing streak. Rays starters have combined for a 2.50 ERA in those four loses. The Angels seemingly out of playoff contention look to play spoiler. With Hellickson optioned to the Minors due to his recent poor outings, lefty sensation Matt Moore is scheduled to make his first start with the Rays on Sept. 3rd, after being on the DL since July 31st.
The Oakland A’s begin a three-game series against their division opponent the Texas Rangers. Coming off a sweep of the Rays, Oakland is only one game behind the Rangers for the 1st place spot in the West.“I don’t want the [Wild Card] game,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “You try not to get too caught up in it, but you can’t help it. Everybody is, and once you get into September, it feels like the finish-line is in sight.” The Rangers will bring 26-year old lefty, Holland (9-6, 3.00 ERA) to the mound, while Oakland counters with Dan Straily (7-7, 4.41ERA). The A’s and Rangers face eachother 6 times in the next couple of weeks. Each game will be intense with both team focused on taking the division.
The New York Yankees will try to rebound after the devastating loss to the Orioles on Sunday. The Bombers bullpen imploded and salvaged the series for the Orioles. The Yankees will look to under-achiever Phil Hughes to muster a win against the White Sox Monday. Yankees called up young arms, Dellin Betances, lefty Cesar Cabral and Brett Marshall when rosters expanded today to help them with their fight for a playoff spot.
Since the Wild Card was instituted in 1994, five Wild-Card teams have won the World Series, most recently the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.
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