MLB Postseason Picture: Yankees one win away from AL East title
It’s September, so the baseball games matter a little more. That’s why every day between now and the start of the postseason we’ll keep you updated on baseball’s postseason picture.
The New York Yankees will have two reasons to celebrate with more one win. After shutting out the Angels on Tuesday night, the Yankees sit at 99 wins and have a magic number of one to clinch the AL East title.
Beat the Angels again on Wednesday and there’s reason to celebrate. The Yankees would be the first team to 100 wins and the second to clinch a division title. The Astros are also sitting at 99 wins after Tuesday’s action.
Elsewhere, the Brewers are making strides in two NL playoff races, two teams are closer to elimination and there are a couple good games worth watching Wednesday.
Magic Number Countdown
YANKEES: The Yankees beat the Angels 8-0 and can now clinch the AL East title with a win Wednesday or a Tampa Bay Rays loss to the Dodgers.
BRAVES: Nothing moving for the Braves. Atlanta’s magic number remains at three after losing to the Phillies and the Nationals beating the Cardinals.
ASTROS: The Astros won again, but so did the A’s, so Houston’s magic number is down to three. The Astros can also win their 100th game on Wednesday against the Rangers.
TWINS: The Twins won their second straight. The Indians won their second straight. So only one step up for Minnesota here. The Twins’ magic number is now seven.
Key Races
NL CENTRAL: The Brewers gained more ground on Tuesday. They won their fourth straight and ninth game in their last 10. Both the Cubs and Cardinals lost, so this was extra clutch for the Brewers, who are now two back from the division title.
NL WILD CARD: Over in the wild-card race, the Brewers also moved into a tie with the Cubs for the second spot. The Nationals won, which increased their lead for the top spot to two games.
AL WILD CARD: Tampa Bay’s second straight loss gives the A’s a two-game lead in the wild-card chase. The Indians are also now within a half-game of the Rays for the second wild-card spot.
Games to Watch
• Nationals at Cardinals (1:15 p.m. ET) — It’s two teams in the thick of the postseason chase, with Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright on the mound.
• Angels at Yankees (6:35 p.m. ET) — Not only can the Yankees clinch, but CC Sabathia is making the final regular season home start of his career for the Yankees.
Elimination Watch
• No eliminations on Tuesday night. The San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox are next on the next on the chopping block. They happen to be playing each other right now too. Both teams have an elimination number of three.
• Teams whose postseason dreams are already over: Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres.
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Mike Oz is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @mikeoz
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