The Cleveland Indians are in the driver seat in the AL Wild Card Race. While they may not overtake the #1 Wild Card Spot by Thursday, they can guarantee to be in a playoff position if they can simply win 3 out of the next 4 games. After Thursday, the Tribe has the easiest path to the Post Season out of any of these 6 clubs when it comes to Strength Of Schedule!  Cleveland last made the playoffs in 2007, when they blew a 3 – 1 ALCS to the Boston Red Sox.

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024

2013 WILDCARD Race Breakdown in AL

Team                         W –  L   GBL Games Left Upcoming in Sequence

Tampa Bay Rays       81 – 67     –   (4 vs TEX, 4 vs BAL, 3 @ NYY, 3 @ TOR)

Texas Rangers           81 – 67     –   (4 @ TB, 3 @ KC, 3 vs HOU, 4 vs LAA)

Cleveland Indians     81 – 68   0.5  (3 @ KC, 4 vs HOU, 2 vs CWS, 4 @ MIN)

Baltimore Orioles     79 – 70   2.5  (3 @ BOS, 4 @ TB, 3 vs TOR, 3 vs BOS)

New York Yankees   79 – 71   3.0  (3 @ TOR, 3 @ SF, 3 vs TB, 3 vs HOU)

Kansas City Royals  78 –  71   3.5  (3 vs CLE, 3 vs TEX, 3 @ SEA, 4 @ CWS)

The American League Wild Card spots #1 and #2 are  considerably up for grabs. 

To make it an even tighter race, the teams trailing Tampa and Texas can all make up ground in their own individual series this week when those clubs play each other 4 times.

This is a perfect storm for these 4 clubs to narrow the gap.

What I am going to do is make in make a grid based on how the teams will do based on the Rays and the Rangers series.

KC Royals Win the 1985 World Series – Now Sit in a 28 Year Playoff Drought (Longest in the MLB)

The Rays have really struggled down the stretch, but will now be facing Texas at home for a 4 games series, if they can win 3 games out of it, they will put some distance between them and potential other suitors for the Post Season. This series versus Texas could potentially make or break their year.  Out of all these 6 teams, this club has the best and deepest Starting Pitching right now. The Rays have stiff competition in the Rangers, Yankees and Orioles all receiving a crack to knock them off their perch in the next few weeks in different series.  Although, some may say, Texas is not that much of an opponent as of this very minute.

Possible outcomes for the series between TB and TEX MON – 16th – THU 19th.

TB or TEX goes 4 – 0 – the other team goes 0 – 4.

TB or TEX goes 3 – 1 – the other team goes 1 – 3.

TB and TEX  both go 2 – 2.

Cleveland is @ Kansas City for a 3 game series MON – 16th – WED – 18th, and then host Houston on Thursday 19th.

If Cleveland goes 4 – 0 (85 – 68 overall) Guaranteed to be 1.5 Games ahead of Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 3.5 Games ahead of playoff bar if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The Indians will be 2.5 Games above the playoff bar if Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3/3-1 in the 4 game set.

If Cleveland goes 3 – 1 (84 – 69 overall) Guaranteed to be 0.5 Games above the playoff bar of both Texas + Tampa (for 2 – 2 series tie).  Will be 2.5 Games above the playoff bar if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The Indians will be 1.5 Games above the playoff bar Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If Cleveland goes 2 – 2  (83 – 70 overall) Guaranteed to be 0.5 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( for 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 1.5 Games above the playoff bar if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The Indians will be 0.5 Games above the playoff bar if Texas or Tampa goes 1 – 3/ 3 – 1.

If Cleveland goes 1 – 3  (82 – 71 overall) Guaranteed to be 1.5 Games behind ( 2 – 2 series tie) Texas and Tampa.  Will go 0.5 Games games above the playoff bar if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The Indians will be only 0.5 Games behind Texas or TPA if that series goes 1- 3/3-1.

If Cleveland goes 0 – 4  (81 – 72 overall) Guaranteed to be 2.5 Games behind ( 2 – 2 series tie) Texas and Tampa.  Will remain 0.5 behind either club (TEX or TPA) should either club fall victim to a sweep.  The Indians will be only 1.5 Games behind the playoff bar if Texas or TPA if that series goes 1- 3/3-1.

Baltimore is OFF MON – 16th and @ Boston for a 3 game series TUES 17th – THU-19th.

If Baltimore goes 3 – 0 (82 – 70 overall) Guaranteed to be 1.5 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 1.0 Game ahead if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The O’s will be deadlocked with either Texas or Tampa to the loser of the series that goes 1 – 3.

If Baltimore goes 2 – 1 (81 – 71 overall) Guaranteed to be 2.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will be deadlocked with either TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The O’s will be only 1.0 Game behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If Baltimore goes 1 – 2 (80 – 72 overall) Guaranteed to be 3.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 2.0 Games Back of the playoff bar if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The O’s will be only 2.0 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If Baltimore goes 0 – 3 (79 – 73 overall) Guaranteed to be 4.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 2 Games back if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The O’s will be only 3.0 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

New York is OFF MON 16th and @ Toronto for a 3 game Series WED 17th – THU – 19th

If New York goes 3 – 0  (82 – 71 overall) Guaranteed to be 1.5 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will lead by 0.5 Games if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The NYY will be only 1.5 Games behind Texas or Tampa for the playoff bar if that series goes 1 – 3.

If New York goes 2 – 1 (81 – 72 overall) Guaranteed to be 2.5 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will trail by 0.5 Games if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The NYY will be only 1.5 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If New York goes 1 – 2  (80 – 73 overall) Guaranteed to be 3.5 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie)  .  Will go to a 1.5 Games deficit if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The NYY will be only 2.5 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If New York goes 0 – 3  (79 – 74 overall) Guaranteed to be 4.5 Games behind ( 2 – 2 series tie) Texas and Tampa.  Will go to a 2.5 Games deficit if TEX or TPA falls victim to a sweep.  The NYY will be only 3.5 Games behind Texas or Tampa if that team goes 1 – 3 in their series.

Kansas City is @ Cleveland for a 3 game series Mon 16th – Wed 18th – Off THU 19th.

If Kansas City goes 3 – 0 (81 – 71 overall) Guaranteed to be 2.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will be deadlocked with either club if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The Royals will be only 1.0 Game behind Texas or Tampa for loser of the series that goes 1 – 3.

If Kansas City goes 2 – 1 (80 – 72 overall) Guaranteed to be 3.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will be 1 game behind with either TPA or TEX if  either of those clubs fall victim to a sweep.  The Royals will 2.0 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

If Kansas City goes 1 – 2 (79 – 73 overall) Guaranteed to be 4.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 2.0 Games Back of the playoff bar if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The Royals will be only 3.0 Games behind the loser of the Texas or Tampa series that goes 1 – 3.

If Kansas City goes 0 – 3 (78 – 74 overall) Guaranteed to be 4.0 Games behind Texas and Tampa ( 2 – 2 series tie).  Will go 3.0 Games Back of the playoff bar if TPA or TEX falls victim to a sweep.  The Royals will be 4.0 Games behind Texas or Tampa that goes 1 – 3.

These are just to show how the 4 outside contenders can gain on either Texas or Tampa, this doesn’t factor in the other 3 teams also outside the playoff bar right now.

The Texas Rangers are in danger of missing the playoffs outright for the 1st time in 4 years. The club is currently on a 6 game losing streak, and has gone 2 – 11 in their last 13 games overall. It could also be said that they have the toughest opponents for any of the 6 competing teams for the 2 Wild Card Spots.  Texas has really missed suspended Slugger Nelson Cruz, plus the losses of veterans Michael Young, Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton this season, has to amount to less leadership in that clubhouse.

** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .

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