Let’s take a break from the Cubs’ playoff push to look at the American League playoff races.
The Orioles and Rays have clinched playoff spots. One of them will be the A.L. East champion and the other the top wild card, and obviously there are major differences between those two spots. The A.L. East champion gets home field throughout the A.L. playoffs. The top wild card team hosts a wild card series next week.
The Orioles currently lead by 2½ games. They finish with a four-game series against the Red Sox in Baltimore. The Rays have today off and then wrap things up with a three-game set vs.