It's All Down to This

It all comes down to this. The moment that we’ve been waiting for. We STILL do not know who will get the AL Wild Card, and there’s only one game left! If you’ve had your head in the sand this month, the three teams fighting for the spots are the Cleveland Indians, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Texas Rangers.

The surprise here is Cleveland. At the end of August, the Rangers weren’t even in the wild card race because they were first in the AL West. It was the Oakland Athletics that had a three and a half game lead over the Baltimore Orioles, and the Rays were a half-game ahead of the A’s. Cleveland was four games out. 

Now, as they are 20-6 in September, the Indians have a game lead over Texas and Tampa Bay. But it is not over. Despite an amazing month of September, the Rays have won 7 of their last 10, and the Rangers have won 8 of their last 10, including 6 in a row. Cleveland has won 9 in a row, and the Rays have lost two in a row. 

Cleveland is on the road, as they play their final game against the 66-95 Minnesota Twins. Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.38 ERA, 2.88 WAR), takes on Scott Diamond (6-12, 5.54 ERA, -1.0 WAR), and one of the worst pitching rosters in the Major Leagues. Minnesota is 8-19 in the month of September, and 4-12 at home. 

The Rangers, who have the home field advantage IF they tie with the Rays by the end of the season to have a one-of-two wild-card play-in games, have their final game at home against the Angels. It’ll be Yu Darvish (13-9, 2.82 ERA, 269 K’s, 5.7 WAR), takes on Jason Vargas (9-7, 4.01 ERA, 1.8 WAR). The Angels have a 16-11 record in September, while the Rangers, choking as they usually do, have an 11-15 record. The Rangers, however, are 10 games above .500 when playing at home. 

The Rays are playing right now, actually. They are on the road against the Blue Jays, and are only 39-41 on the road. They have lost their last two in a row against a Toronto team that has shut down top players like Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Currently, they are up 2-0 in the top of the first.

If either the Rangers or the Rays lose, the Indians clinch the wild card spot. If all three lose, then Cleveland makes it, and the Rangers and Rays will play against each other before taking on the Indians. If they all win, the same thing applies. Basically, all Cleveland has to do is win. If they lose and both Texas and Tampa Bay win, then there’s a three-way tie, and they would probably have to go with the matchup records. That would be quite exciting though. 

Cleveland has the best chance, especially playing the Twins, while the Rangers probably have the hardest (especially when the Rays are already winning). I want the Indians to lose and the Rangers and Rays win, just because a three-way tie would be great. 

It’s all down to this day. Whoever said that one game doesn’t matter is wrong. It’s all down to this. Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com for any questions/comments/concerns.

-Evan Boyd