Baltimore entered last Friday night just 1 game behind the playoff bar. They were swept in a 4 game series down in Tampa Bay, in a wraparound series, that included a devastating 18 inning loss among the tough defeats. The club also lost Manny Machado to injury yesterday. The magic number to eliminate the team is just 3.  The guys end the regular season with 6 straight at Camden Yards.  The only real meaningful resolutions will be if Chris Davis can crack 4 Home Runs, to tie Ken Griffey Jr. (56 HRs) for the most HRs by a LHB in the AL for the last 52 years?

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       87 – 69     –   ( 3 @ NYY, 3 @ TOR)

Cleveland Indians     86 – 70     –   ( 2 vs CWS, 4 @ MIN)

Texas Rangers           85 – 71    1   (2 vs HOU, 4 vs LAA)

Kansas City Royals  83 –  73   3.0  (2 @ SEA, 4 @ CWS)

New York Yankees   82 – 74   4.0   (3 vs TB, 3 @ HOU)

Baltimore Orioles     81 – 75   5.0  ( 3 vs TOR, 3 vs BOS)

We have had some clarification occur over the last week in the AL Wild Card Race as the Rays and Indians have both won 4 straight in their goal to make the playoffs.

The Yankees went 3 – 3 for the week, including a heart – wrenching loss to the Giants late on Sunday,  It must have pained them even more to see the Rays come back in the late innings versus the Orioles.

Had Baltimore won that game, the Yankees would start the series in New York versus the Rays tonight with a chance to cut their deficit to them by 3 games via a sweep.

The Bronx Bombers then waltz into Houston, where they might win their last 3 games.  However, with Tampa’s come from behind win yesterday, it makes their Magic number versus the Yanks to 3. 

Manny Machado’s Gruesome Injury – Sept.23/2013

The Twins can certainly rain down on Cleveland’s Post Season chances by winning a 4 game series versus them this weekend. They are 6 – 9 versus the Tribe in 2013. The Twins are without Joe Mauer, and have traded long time Veteran Justin Morneau away. It will be a tall order. But if it one thing we know, Ron Gardenhire will make his team compete until their bitter end this year.  The Twinkies are 66 – 90 , and are in the midst of their 3rd straight losing season after making the playoffs 6 out of the 9 previous years.

Cleveland has the easiest schedule on the docket, playing The White Sox (62 – 94) at home for 2, before hitting the road to Target Field – to end the year with 4 games versus the Twins (66 – 90).  The Tribe should be able to hit the 90 Win plateau.

My prediction is they will go 5 – 1, as they are 50 – 18 this campaign versus teams under .500.  The team would win 91 games and take the #1 position, hosting the Rays next week in the Wild Card Game @ Progressive Field.

Tampa Bay has 3 games at Yankee Stadium, and then head to Toronto for 3 games.  I fully believe they will go 3 – 3.  The Rays are 36 – 39 on the road, and I think they will lose 2 out of 3 in New York, before beating the Blue Jays 2 out of 3.

The Rays will enter the Post Season with the Wild Card #2 slot.

The Royals win 1 of the next 2 in Seattle, before taking 3 out of 4 versus the White Sox.  This club ends with 87 Wins and 75 Losses.  This is a great year for the franchise, however it will fall just short of the playoffs.

Texas will go 1 -1 versus the Astros in the next 2 contests, and I believe the Angels will wax the Rangers with pride, taking 3 out of 4 this weekend.  The club finishes 87 – 75 – and out of the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

I think nothing will make the Yankees happier – than trying to bite the Rays in the backside in their 3 game set.  I totally believe they will win the series, and then kick the crap out of the Astros for 3 straight.

The club will win 87 Games, like KC and TEX, 3 games below the playoff bar.

Baltimore is going to win 4 out of their last 6 – ending up with 85 wins overall.  Can Chris Davis smack 4 more HRs – to tie Ken Griffey JR, for the most HR’s by  a LHB  since 1961 (Maris) for a single year in the AL?

Its MO Rivera’s last week in the Major Leagues. The Yansk are hoping the last series will be meaningful versus the Houston Astros, but they deeply need the Rangers and Indians to fall flat on their face with easier schedules. It has been a lifelong dream of Rivera to play Outfield as a position player. Will we see #42  start the game versus Houston at Minute Maid Park on the grass? New York has made it the Post Season in all but one  year since 1995 (2008), (10 ALCS’s and 7 World Series Appearances – 5 Wins)  – but are likely to miss again in 2013.  They also have strung together winning records every year since 1992, the longest such streak in the MLB.

*** 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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