Playoff percentages: Twins, Rockies close to locking down WC spots
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
American League
The American League wild-card game appears all but settled.
With Minnesota's second straight win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, the Twins all but guaranteed their ticket to October. They now have a 90 percent chance of reaching the playoffs.
The Twins also gained a game on the Yankees for home-field advantage in the wild-card game due to New York's loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, but still sit 5 1/2 back and are almost assured of traveling to the Bronx.
Both the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers will need a miracle if they hope to extend their respective seasons. The Angels saw their playoff odds shrink to 4.2 percent after losing a fifth straight game, while the Rangers sit at 3.8 percent after falling to the Oakland Athletics.
| Team | Result | Playoff Pct | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twins | W 7-3 vs. Tigers | 90% | +14.1% |
| Angels | L 3-0 vs. Astros | 4.2% | -5.6% |
| Rangers | L 4-1 vs. Athletics | 3.8% | -6.6% |
National League
The Milwaukee Brewers endured another heartbreaking defeat to the Chicago Cubs, falling in extra innings for a second straight day. The loss dropped the Brewers two games back in the wild card, and their playoff percentage to 11.2.
Milwaukee's loss was both the Colorado Rockies' and the St. Louis Cardinals' gain, as both clubs picked up wins Friday night. The Rockies hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals for the second wild-card spot.
| Team | Result | Playoff Pct | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockies | W 4-1 vs. Padres | 61.7% | +8.1% |
| Cardinals | W 4-3 vs. Pirates | 27.9% | 3.2% |
| Brewers | L 5-4 vs. Cubs | 11.2% | -12.7% |
Visit Baseball Prospectus for playoff percentages for each team.