Hannah Brewitt

Rangers Sweep Blue Jays, Gain Serious Ground in AL Wild Card Race

<a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb">MLB</a> playoffs are just around the corner. We&#8217;re tracking how the AL postseason picture is shaping up.
A new postseason structure was introduced before the 2022 season to expand the playing field. Six American League teams will make the playoffs at the end of the 162-game regular season, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye and the third seed competing in a best-of-three wild card series. In the wild-card round, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed. 
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<h2>AL Playoff Picture on September 14 </h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 95px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 1 &#8211; Baltimore Orioles</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">First-Round Bye</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 2 &#8211; Houston Astros </td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">First-Round Bye</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 3 &#8211; Minnesota Twins </td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 6 &#8211; Seattle Mariners (WC No. 3)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 4 &#8211; Tampa Bay Rays (WC No. 1)</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 5 &#8211; Texas Rangers  (WC No. 2)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/player-props" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SportsGrid&#8217;s Best Daily MLB Prop Picks</a>
Last week, the AL East took over the playoff picture. The AL West is back in control this week with three of six postseason contenders. 
As it stands, the defending champion <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/article/al-playoff-predictions-astros-and-orioles-in-the-spotlight">Houston Astros</a> would lock down the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye, and the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/article/rangers-dominate-blue-jays-in-pivotal-match">Texas Rangers</a> and Seattle Mariners secure coveted wild card spots. All three teams are virtually tied at the top of the standings. Fans can expect a thrilling race to the finish as September draws close.
The <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/article/al-east-odds-update-orioles-steal-top-spot-from-rays">Baltimore Orioles</a> held their spot at the top of the AL East, now a single game ahead of the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/video/should-we-be-worried-about-the-rays-in-the-postseason">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. Elsewhere in the division, the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/video/the-challenges-of-the-wild-card-blue-jays-playoff-hopes-hang-in-the-balance">Toronto Blue Jays</a> were muscled back out of the playoff picture. Entering the season&#8217;s final two weeks, the club is just 1.5 games behind the Rangers. 
Rounding out the division leaders, the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/article/mlb-playoff-dark-horses-potential-sleepers-to-watch">Minnesota Twins</a> lead the AL Central. They will likely make the postseason despite having a worse record than every team above (including the wild-card contenders). To say this season&#8217;s AL Central is one of the worst divisions in MLB history wouldn&#8217;t be an exaggeration. The 2023 AL Central is on pace to produce the worst combined record of MLB&#8217;s divisional era. 
<h2>AL Winner Odds on September 8</h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 95px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 1 &#8211; Houston Astros +250</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 5 &#8211; Texas Rangers +700</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 2 &#8211; Baltimore Orioles +350</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 6 &#8211; Toronto Blue Jays +1000</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 3 &#8211; Tampa Bay Rays  +500</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 7 &#8211;  Minnesota Twins +1100 </td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 4 &#8211; Seattle Mariners +500</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 8 &#8211; Boston Red Sox +2000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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While it looked like the American League East would produce three playoff contenders for most of the season, the AL West has taken over the playoff picture.

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