AL Central plot lines dominate the action, as just a single game separates the Tigers and White Sox in the standings. Elsewhere, seeding is very much in play, and the AL wild card is far from settled ...
Playoff picture page | Friday's scoreboard | Three-day schedule
1. Rays at White Sox, 4:05 pm ET
Lots of intrigue in this one. The White Sox have pulled to within one game of the first-place Tigers. The Rays, three games behind the A's, still have a puncher's chance at the second wild-card berth. It's also hard to find a better match-up of young arms, as Matt Moore opposes Chris Sale.
2. Tigers at Twins, 4:05 pm ET
Detroit has fought to a draw with the Twins this season (8-8 against Minny in 2012), but they'll be trotting out super-ace Justin Verlander in the hopes of keeping some distance between them and the second-place White Sox. The Twins will counter with P.J. Walters, who was effective in his last start, which, it so happens, came against Detroit.
3. Red Sox at Orioles, 7:05 pm ET
The O's have a pretty firm grip on a wild-card spot, but they, of course, have designs on overtaking the Yankees in the AL East. They're just one game out of first, and they'll host the Red Sox, againt whom the O's are 11-5 this season. Rookie Steve Johnson, who has been outstanding across 33 1/3 innings this season, takes up the cause for the hosts.
There was a time when you might have spotted this series on the schedule and thought it would be a showdown for the AL West title. That's not the case, thanks in large part to the disappointing Angels. However, the Angels are just two games behind the A's for the second wild-card berth. The Rangers are trying to hold off the Yankees (and the Orioles) for top overall seed in the AL. Ervin Santana opposes Derek Holland.
Speaking of top seeds, the Nationals have the same record as the Reds following Friday's play. But thanks to a 5-2 head-to-head record, they own the tie-breaker. The Cards, meantime, can take another step toward cinching the second NL wild-card bid. Two sub-3.00-ERA starters will go at it, as Jordan Zimmermann takes on Kyle Lohse.
Magic numbers
NL East: Nationals, 2
AL West: Rangers, 3
AL WC1: Orioles, 3
NL WC2: Cardinals, 3
AL WC2: A's, 4
AL East: Yankees, 5
AL Central: Tigers, 5
Grim reaper watch
The Brewers, despite a robust second half of the season, will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention if they fall to the Astros or if the Cardinals top the Nationals.
The following teams are already done: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Royals, Indians, Twins, Mariners, Mets, Marlins, Pirates, Cubs, Astros, Padres, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Phillies.
Playoff chances, via coolstandings.com
AL East champion
Yankees 84.6%
Orioles 15.4%
AL Central champion
Tigers 71.9%
White Sox 28.1%
AL West champion
Rangers 88.8%
A's 11.1%
Angels 0.1%
AL wild card
Orioles 78.3%
A's 76.2%
Yankees 15.2%
Angels 14.5%
Rangers 10.9%
Rays 5.0%
NL East champion
Nationals 99.0%
Braves 1.0%
NL wild card
Braves 99.0%
Cardinals 96.8%
Dodgers 3.1%
Nationals 1.0%
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