Breaking down remaining schedules for 9 teams in AL wild-card race
The American League wild-card race is shaping up for a historic finish, as nine teams are within 3 1/2 games of a playoff position heading into play Tuesday.
With such a logjam in the standings, the final seven weeks of the regular season will have no shortage of excitement.
Here's a look at the schedule down the stretch for each of the nine teams in the wild-card race, including their key injuries, wild-card odds, and the strength of their opponents.
New York Yankees
Record: 62-55 (No. 1 WC)
Home remaining: 25
Road remaining: 20
Off days: 3
Wild-card odds: 59 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 41-33
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 14
Key injuries: Starlin Castro, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Matt Holliday, Clint Frazier
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankees | Mets | 1 | 1-0 | .457 |
| Mets | Yankees | 2 | 1-0 | .457 |
| Red Sox | Yankees | 3 | 7-5 | .568 |
| Tigers | Yankees | 3 | 1-2 | .449 |
| Yankees | Mariners | 3 | 3-1 | .492 |
| Yankees | Indians | 3 | 2-2 | .552 |
| Yankees | Red Sox | 4 | 7-5 | .568 |
| Orioles | Yankees | 3 | 7-5 | .496 |
| Rangers | Yankees | 3 | 1-2 | .487 |
| Rays | Yankees | 3 | 8-5 | .492 |
| Yankees | Orioles | 4 | 7-5 | .496 |
| Yankees | Twins | 3 | 1-2 | .509 |
| Blue Jays | Yankees | 3 | 6-7 | .483 |
| Yankees | Royals | 1 | 4-2 | .508 |
| Yankees | Rays | 3 | 8-5 | .492 |
| Yankess | Blue Jays | 3 | 6-7 | .483 |
Los Angeles Angels
Record: 61-58 (No. 2 WC)
Home remaining: 22
Road remaining: 21
Off days: 4
Wild-card odds: 31.3 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 30-26
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 14
Key injuries: Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Huston Street
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | Angels | 2 | 1-1 | .603 |
| Orioles | Angels | 3 | 2-1 | .496 |
| Angels | Rangers | 4 | 4-5 | .487 |
| Angels | Astros | 3 | 4-6 | .610 |
| Angels | Athletics | 3 | 7-6 | .437 |
| Rangers | Angels | 3 | 4-5 | .487 |
| Athletics | Angels | 3 | 7-6 | .437 |
| Mariners | Angels | 3 | 9-4 | .492 |
| Angels | Astros | 3 | 4-6 | .610 |
| Angels | Rangers | 3 | 4-5 | .487 |
| Angels | Indians | 3 | 0-3 | .552 |
| Astros | Angels | 3 | 4-6 | .610 |
| White Sox | Angels | 4 | 3-0 | .391 |
| Angels | Mariners | 3 | 9-4 | .492 |
Minnesota Twins
Record: 59-57 (1/2 GB)
Home remaining: 21
Road remaining: 25
Off days: 3
Wild-card odds: 20.2 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 29-27
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 19
Key injuries: Hector Santiago, Glen Perkins, Phil Hughes
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twins | Indians | 3 | 5-8 | .552 |
| Twins | Diamondbacks | 3 | 0-0 | .559 |
| White Sox | Twins | 5 | 7-4 | .391 |
| Blue Jays | Twins | 3 | 0-0 | .483 |
| Twins | White Sox | 3 | 7-4 | .391 |
| Twins | Royals | 3 | 8-4 | .508 |
| Rays | Twins | 3 | 1-2 | .492 |
| Royals | Twins | 4 | 8-4 | .508 |
| Twins | Padres | 2 | 1-1 | .441 |
| Twins | Blue Jays | 4 | 0-0 | .483 |
| Yankees | Twins | 3 | 2-1 | .530 |
| Tigers | Twins | 4 | 5-7 | .449 |
| Indians | Twins | 3 | 5-8 | .552 |
| Twins | Tigers | 3 | 5-7 | .449 |
Kansas City Royals
Record: 60-58 (1/2 GB)
Home remaining: 22
Road remaining: 22
Off days: 4
Wild-card odds: 26.9 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 32-32
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 24
Key injuries: Salvador Perez, Trevor Cahill
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | Royals | 2 | 2-2 | .437 |
| Royals | Indians | 3 | 5-4 | .552 |
| Royals | Rockies | 3 | 0-0 | .559 |
| Indians | Royals | 3 | 5-4 | .552 |
| Royals | Rays | 3 | 3-1 | .492 |
| Twins | Royals | 3 | 4-8 | .509 |
| Tigers | Royals | 3 | 7-6 | .449 |
| Royals | Twins | 4 | 4-8 | .509 |
| Royals | White Sox | 3 | 7-6 | .391 |
| Indians | Royals | 4 | 5-4 | .552 |
| Blue Jays | Royals | 3 | 2-1 | .483 |
| White Sox | Royals | 3 | 7-6 | .391 |
| Yankees | Royals | 1 | 2-4 | .530 |
| Royals | Tigers | 3 | 7-6 | .449 |
| Royals | Diamondbacks | 3 | 0-0 | .559 |
Baltimore Orioles
Record: 59-60 (2 GB)
Home remaining: 23
Road remaining: 20
Off days: 5
Wild-card odds: 9.5 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 34-29
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 19
Key injuries: J.J. Hardy
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariners | Orioles | 2 | 1-0 | .492 |
| Orioles | Angels | 3 | 1-2 | .513 |
| Orioles | Athletics | 3 | 2-2 | .437 |
| Red Sox | Orioles | 3 | 7-6 | .568 |
| Orioles | Mariners | 3 | 1-0 | .492 |
| Orioles | Blue Jays | 4 | 9-3 | .483 |
| Orioles | Yankees | 3 | 5-7 | .530 |
| Indians | Orioles | 3 | 1-3 | .552 |
| Blue Jays | Orioles | 3 | 9-3 | .483 |
| Yankees | Orioles | 4 | 5-7 | .530 |
| Orioles | Red Sox | 3 | 7-6 | .568 |
| Orioles | Rays | 4 | 6-6 | .496 |
| Pirates | Orioles | 2 | 2-0 | .492 |
| Rays | Orioles | 3 | 6-6 | .492 |
Seattle Mariners
Record: 59-61 (2 1/2 GB)
Home remaining: 17
Road remaining: 25
Off days: 6
Wild-card odds: 8.2 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 29-33
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 18
Key injuries: Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, David Phelps, Drew Smyly
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariners | Orioles | 2 | 0-1 | .496 |
| Rays | Mariners | 3 | 3-0 | .492 |
| Braves | Mariners | 3 | 0-0 | .448 |
| Yankees | Mariners | 3 | 1-3 | .530 |
| Orioles | Mariners | 3 | 0-1 | .496 |
| Mariners | Athletics | 3 | 7-6 | .437 |
| Mariners | Astros | 3 | 5-8 | .610 |
| Mariners | Angels | 3 | 4-9 | .513 |
| Rangers | Mariners | 4 | 8-4 | .487 |
| Astros | Mariners | 3 | 5-8 | .610 |
| Mariners | Rangers | 3 | 8-4 | .487 |
| Mariners | Indians | 3 | 1-2 | .552 |
| Athletics | Mariners | 3 | 7-6 | .437 |
| Angels | Mariners | 3 | 4-9 | .513 |
Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 59-61 (2 1/2 GB)
Home remaining: 20
Road remaining: 22
Off days: 6
Wild-card odds: 14.7 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 29-37
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 23
Key injuries: Matt Andriese, Alex Cobb
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays | Rays | 3 | 6-7 | .483 |
| Rays | Mariners | 3 | 0-3 | .492 |
| Rays | Blue Jays | 3 | 6-7 | .483 |
| Cardinals | Rays | 3 | 0-0 | .517 |
| Royals | Rays | 3 | 1-3 | .508 |
| White Sox | Rays | 3 | 2-1 | .391 |
| Rays | Twins | 3 | 2-1 | .509 |
| Red Sox | Rays | 3 | 6-7 | .568 |
| Rays | Yankees | 3 | 5-8 | .530 |
| Rays | Red Sox | 3 | 6-7 | .568 |
| Rays | Cubs | 2 | 1-1 | .530 |
| Orioles | Rays | 4 | 6-6 | .496 |
| Yankees | Rays | 3 | 5-8 | .530 |
| Rays | Orioles | 3 | 6-6 | .496 |
Texas Rangers
Record: 57-60 (3 GB)
Home remaining: 23
Road remaining: 22
Off days: 3
Wild-card odds: 9.6 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 26-27
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 19
Key injuries: Keone Kela, Jake Diekman
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | Tigers | 2 | 3-1 | .449 |
| Rangers | White Sox | 4 | 1-2 | .391 |
| Angels | Rangers | 4 | 5-4 | .513 |
| Athletics | Rangers | 3 | 6-3 | .437 |
| Astros | Rangers | 3 | 5-8 | .610 |
| Rangers | Angels | 3 | 5-4 | .513 |
| Braves | Rangers | 3 | 0-0 | .448 |
| Rangers | Yankees | 3 | 2-1 | .530 |
| Rangers | Mariners | 4 | 4-8 | .492 |
| Angels | Rangers | 3 | 5-4 | .513 |
| Mariners | Rangers | 3 | 4-8 | .492 |
| Athletics | Rangers | 3 | 6-3 | .437 |
| Rangers | Astros | 3 | 5-8 | .610 |
| Rangers | Athletics | 4 | 6-3 | .437 |
Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 57-61 (3 1/2 GB)
Home remaining: 21
Road remaining: 23
Off days: 4
Wild-card odds: 7 percent
Record vs. remaining teams: 22-32
Remaining games vs. teams with winning records: 28
Key injuries: Aaron Sanchez, Russell Martin, Devon Travis, Troy Tulowitzki, Miguel Montero
Remaining schedule:
| HOME | ROAD | GAMES | H-H | OPP WPCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays | Rays | 3 | 7-6 | .492 |
| Cubs | Blue Jays | 3 | 0-0 | .530 |
| Rays | Blue Jays | 3 | 7-6 | .492 |
| Blue Jays | Twins | 3 | 0-0 | .509 |
| Blue Jays | Red Sox | 3 | 3-7 | .568 |
| Orioles | Blue Jays | 4 | 3-9 | .496 |
| Red Sox | Blue Jays | 3 | 3-7 | .568 |
| Blue Jays | Tigers | 3 | 1-2 | .449 |
| Blue Jays | Orioles | 3 | 3-9 | .496 |
| Twins | Blue Jays | 4 | 0-0 | .509 |
| Blue Jays | Royals | 3 | 1-2 | .508 |
| Blue Jays | Yankees | 3 | 7-6 | .530 |
| Red Sox | Blue Jays | 3 | 3-7 | .568 |
| Yankees | Blue Jays | 3 | 7-6 | .530 |
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
(Wild-card odds courtesy: Fangraphs)