MLB playoff races: Top storylines as Yankees pull even with Jays atop AL East, Guardians look to finish Tigers

The marathon is nearing its finish for the MLB regular season with four games left for the majority of the majors. And other than the tight grips the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have on the National League, there’s plenty up for grabs.

Here are the top storylines entering Thursday in a chaotic finish for the MLB playoffs:

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There’s a chance the Yankees get the No. 1 seed

We are indeed in strange times when the New York Yankees can give a hearty “thank you” to their nemesis Boston Red Sox.

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Aaron Judge hit home runs No. 50 and 51 as the Yankees took care of business in the Bronx on Wednesday night in blowing out the Chicago White Sox, 8-1. The Yankees’ 90th victory of the season pulled them into a tie for the AL East lead with the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost their second straight game to the Red Sox at home.

Toronto holds the tiebreaker with New York and its next four games — one vs. Boston and three against Tampa Bay — are at home. So the Yankees will need some more Jays missteps to get out of the wild-card spot, but it’s certainly possible.

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Manager Aaron Boone could get a moment to exhale, even if it’ll last for only a couple of days before the ALDS starts.

Why not 62 for Cal?

Let’s hit pause for a moment on the Seattle Mariners’ incredible playoff push, which reached new heights Wednesday night when they clinched the AL West. Let’s gaze at Cal Raleigh’s historic season. He hit home run No. 60 on Wednesday night, which puts him two back from tying Aaron Judge’s single-season record in the American League.

So we should expect Raleigh to keep hacking away, especially with one more game left against the Colorado Rockies and a three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers and their erratic bullpen.

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Guardians’ rocket rise could push Tigers completely out of playoff picture

On July 8, Detroit had the best record in baseball.

Entering play Thursday, the Tigers are looking at the grim prospect of playing their final game of the entire season this weekend. That’s how remarkable the Cleveland Guardians’ surge has been in taking control of the AL Central and how stunning Detroit’s collapse has been.

The Guardians went up a full game on the Tigers after winning 5-1 on Wednesday. They’ll go for a sweep Thursday. And even if the Tigers avoid the broom for their third straight series, the Guardians own the season tiebreaker.

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Cleveland has won 12 of its past 13 games while Detroit is 2-11 in its past 13 games and currently on an eight-game losing streak. On Sept. 4, the Tigers led the division by 11 games.

After Thursday’s series finale, Cleveland will host Texas for its final three games of the regular season. That means Detroit will need help regaining control of the division. If the Guardians take care of business, the Tigers better hope the Houston Astros keep tripping up. Detroit owns the tiebreaker if it comes down to that final wild-card spot with Houston.

Adding to Detroit’s woes: their final series of the regular season is at Fenway Park against the playoff-bound Red Sox, who are looking to make a move of their own in the wild-card standings.

Do the Mets, Reds and Diamondbacks want to make the playoffs?

With four games to go, three teams are vying for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The New York Mets currently hold that spot, but both the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks sit a game behind New York.

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With a possible trip to the playoffs on the line … every team faltered Wednesday. The Mets were blown out by the Chicago Cubs and both the Reds and D-Backs lost heartbreakers in extras.

All three teams are in action again Thursday. Of that group, the pressure is highest on the Mets, who need to finish with a better record than both the Reds and Diamondbacks to make the playoffs. Cincinnati and Arizona hold tiebreakers over New York for that final spot. The Mets can’t afford to end the season tied with either club.

The Reds sit on the other side of the pendulum. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over both New York and Arizona. The Reds only need to end the year tied with those teams to secure a playoff spot.

The only other team still in the playoff hunt in the NL are the Miami Marlins, but their path is nearly impossible at this point. The Marlins sit four games out but finish the season with a three-game series against the Mets. There’s a scenario where Miami could still earn the right tiebreakers to get in, but one misstep would get the team eliminated.

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Despite being fewer games out, both the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals have already been eliminated from the playoffs. They can’t win the appropriate tiebreakers to secure a spot, no matter how well both teams finish out the season.

What to watch Thursday

Pirates vs. Reds: 12:40 p.m. ET
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks: 3:40 p.m. ET
Marlins vs. Phillies: 6:05 p.m. ET
Tigers vs. Guardians: 6:40 p.m. ET
White Sox vs. Yankees: 7:05 p.m. ET
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays: 7:07 p.m. ET
Mets vs. Cubs: 7:40 p.m. ET
Rockies vs. Mariners: 9:40 p.m. ET

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