Playoff Picture: Pirates pull within 1 game of Cardinals in NL Central
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Every night we take a look around the league and recap pennant and wild card races in baseball.
Here's a look at how Thursday's slate affected the playoff picture in the majors:
American League
- The Orioles have previously clinched the AL East.
AL Central | Record | GB | Games Left |
---|---|---|---|
Tigers | 89-70 | - | 3 |
Royals | 87-72 | 2 | 3 |
- The Tigers and Royals were both victorious, so Detroit's magic number remains at two to clinch the division title.
- The Angels previously clinched the AL West title. Los Angeles' magic number is one to clinch the best record in baseball and home advantage throughout the playoffs.
AL Wild Card | Record | GB | Games Left |
---|---|---|---|
Royals | 87-72 | 1 | 3 |
Athletics | 86-73 | - | 3 |
Mariners | 84-75 | 2 | 3 |
Indians | 83-76 | 3 | 3 |
- The Royals, Mariners and Indians all won, but the A's fall one game off the pace for the top wild-card spot after getting walked off by Adrian Beltre and the Rangers.
If the playoffs started today...
Wild Card: Athletics at Royals
Division Series: Wild Card at Angels, Tigers at Orioles
National League
- The Nationals previously clinched the NL East. Washington's magic number is one to clinch home advantage throughout the playoffs.
NL Central | Record | GB | Games Left |
---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 88-71 | - | 3 |
Pirates | 87-72 | 1 | 3 |
- The Pirates routed the Braves to pull within one game of the Cardinals for the division lead. Pittsburgh is surging, winning nine of its last 11 games heading into a three-game series in Cincinnati, while St. Louis heads to Arizona for three contests with the lowly Diamondbacks.
- The Dodgers previously clinched the NL West.
NL Wild Card | Record | GB | Games Left |
---|---|---|---|
Pirates | 87-72 | 1.5 | 3 |
Giants | 86-73 | 1 | 3 |
- The Giants blew a 6-0 lead to the Padres but recovered to steal a victory. San Francisco remains in the hunt for home advantage in the play-in game with the win.
If the playoffs started today...
Wild Card: Giants at Pirates
Division Series: Wild Card at Nationals, Cardinals at Dodgers