AL wild-card race: Yankees extend lead with win over Blue Jays, Red Sox lose series vs. Orioles

The Yankees have retaken the lead with back-to-back home runs from Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Judge. It's Judge's second home run of the night.

The Blue Jays have taken the lead against the Yankees. If all the current results hold, the Jays, Red Sox, and Mariners will be entangled in a three-way tie for the second wild card spot heading into the final weekend.

The Orioles have taken a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox. Remember, a Boston loss would force them into a tie with the Mariners for the second wild card spot. Additionally, a Blue Jays win over the Yankees would lead to a three-way tie.

Games close early

There are four games going on right now with playoff implications. Here are score updates on each:

Red Sox 1, Orioles 0, bottom third

Yankees 1, Blue Jays 1, bottom second

Rays 0, Astros 0, bottom third

Phillies 0, Braves 1, top second

The book on Kluber

We're heading to the bottom of the first (the Yankees lead 1-0 on an Aaron Judge home run), so let's check in on what you should expect from Corey Kluber.

Kluber has a more expansive arsenal than Ray in that he's thrown three pitches more than 25 percent of the time and an additional pitch more than 10 percent of the time. Those offerings include his curve, his cutter, his sinker, and his changeup.

Kluber's curve, which serves as his primary pitch, has been his top weapon this year. Batters have hit just .189 against it with four extra-base hits (and only one home run). The curve also has a whiff rate exceeding 41 percent.

The book on Ray

We're closing in on the first pitch. That means it's time to break out the scouting report on Toronto lefty Robbie Ray.

Ray has two pitches -- a mid-90s fastball and a slider -- that he throws a combined 90 percent of the time. As you'd expect, his slider usage is count-dependent. If he's ahead, particularly in two-strike counts, he'll break it out. If he falls behind, though, he leans on the fastball to try to get back into the at-bat.

Ray's slider, by the way, has a 46 percent whiff rate this season. In other words, batters nearly have a coin flip's chance of making contact when they swing -- the keys, for Ray, are making sure he gets into counts where he can throw the slider.

Tonight's playoff implications

Before the games can get going, let's break down what matters for whom.

The Yankees enter with a game lead over the Red Sox for the top wild card spot. A Yankees loss and a Red Sox win would tie them up. A Yankees win will secure their one-game shield as they head into their final series of the year.

A Red Sox loss would leave them tied with the Mariners for the time being. Conversely, a Red Sox loss and a Blue Jays win would create a three-way tie for the final wild card spot.

There's also some AL West drama to be had. The next Astros win or Mariners loss will clinch the West for Houston.

As for the NL …

A Braves win clinches the East for them. (The same is true of the next Phillies loss, but since they're playing one another it's irrelevant.)

A Giants win and a Dodgers loss would mean the Giants would, at worst, have to play a tiebreaker game to determine the NL West champion. (The loser of that game would then play the Cardinals in the Wild Card Game.)