MLB Playoff Picture: 3 things to know from Tuesday

Every night we look around the league and identify the three things you need to know about the playoff races. Here's what happened Tuesday:

Contenders get timely HRs

A trio of long-ball juggernauts did what they do best to maintain their leads in the playoff race. Ryan Goins homered in extras to sink the streaking Indians and give the MLB home run-leading Blue Jays their 25th win in 31 games. Toronto's dramatic win came moments after timely hitting and Brett Gardner's homer spoiled Rick Porcello's career-high 13 strikeouts and kept the Yankees' deficit in the East at 1 1/2 games. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, Joc Pederson added to the Dodgers' NL-leading homer total with a clutch solo drive in the seventh to help Zack Greinke win his duel with Madison Bumgarner. It was the fading Giants' fourth straight loss, and drops them to 5 1/2 back in the division and 6 1/2 behind the Cubs for the wild card.

Texas takeover

The surging Rangers rallied for late runs against the Padres to close the gap in the West to three games after Houston's 7-5 loss to Seattle. The win improves Texas to a staggering 21-10 since July 29, the date reports broke that the Rangers had acquired Cole Hamels. After Wednesday's finale in San Diego, the Rangers finish the season with 27 out of 30 games against their division. With seven of those versus the Astros, it's more than likely the West will be won in Texas.

Still scrappin'

Three bubble teams in the AL did what they needed to do to keep pace among the postseason favorites. Miguel Sano kept the Twins in the hunt with a pair of hits off Chris Sale and a game-tying homer in the seventh to beat the White Sox and remain one game back of the Rangers for the second wild card. The Angels stopped their four-game losing streak to climb back to .500, while the Rays hammered the reeling Orioles behind J.P. Arencibia's six RBIs. The defending AL East champion Orioles now sit 6 1/2 back of the final playoff spot with 30 games left and four teams between them and Texas.

If the playoffs started today: