Playoff Snapshot: AL Central race reset

With a week left in the season, the White Sox and Tigers are tied atop the American League Central, while the National League wild card race seems to be all but sewn up.

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Sep 26, 2012 at 10:12 am ET • 3 min read

The Braves joined the playoff party on Tuesday -- and that wind you felt was a sigh of relief after last season's collapse -- while the Brewers and Dodgers lost ground and look to be just about out of the wild card race. In fact, the Braves are closer to the National League East title than any team outside of the NL wild card is to the second spot. In the American League, the Angels are just two games behind the Athletics for the final wild card spot, while the White Sox and Tigers are all square in the AL Central.

Playoff picture page | Tuesday's scoreboard | Three-day schedule

Wednesday's five biggest games…

1. Royals at Tigers, 7:05 p.m. ET

The Tigers pulled even with the White Sox on Tuesday, but have a tough task ahead in facing the Royals' Jeremy Guthrie. The 33-year-old right-hander was awful in Colorado, but has thrived in Kansas City. The Royals have won each of his last nine starts and he's gone 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA in that span. The Tigers skipped Rick Porcello after rain canceled the team's game last Friday. He hasn't pitched since Sept. 16. The Royals beat him on Aug. 30, getting two runs off of him on eight hits in five innings.

2. Indians at White Sox, 8:10 p.m. ET

There will be plenty of scoreboard watching at U.S. Cellular Field, as the White Sox take the field an hour after the Tigers start in Detroit. Rookie Hector Santiago hasn't made a start since Sept. 9, but has made two relief appearances since. His last came Sept. 21 when he threw 2/3 of an inning against the Angels. Indians right-hander Justin Masterson is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season.

3. Yankees at Twins, 1:10 p.m. ET

CC Sabathia looked to be back in top form in his last start, striking out 11 in eight scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Twins right-hander Samuel Deduno gave up seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in his last start. He's never faced the Yankees. Because of the day game, a win by the Yankees could tighten the screws on the Orioles.

4. Blue Jays at Orioles, 7:05 p.m. ET

The Blue Jays haven't had much trouble scoring against Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, scoring five against him in 6 1/3 innings on Sept. 5. He made his big-league debut in relief against the Blue Jays in May, and they touched him up for a run on four hits in 3 1/3.

5. A's at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. ET

Going into the season, Jarrod Parker and Martin Perez were two of the game's top pitching prospects, and now they're starting against each other in a pennant chase. Parker vexed the Rangers in his only start against Texas, holding them to just a single hit in eight scoreless innings on June 4. Perez allowed four runs (three earned) in four innings in his last start, his first since being recalled from the minors.

Magic Numbers

NL East: Nationals 4
NL WC2: Cardinals 4
AL West: Rangers 5
AL WC1: Orioles 6
AL East: Yankees 7
AL WC2: Athletics 7

Grim Reaper Watch

Once considered a contender, the Pirates' elimination number is at just one entering Wednesday's game in New York. A loss, or a win by the Cardinals, officially ends the team's playoffs hopes. The Phillies and Diamondbacks have an elimination number of just three and could see their hopes dashed soon.

The following teams have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs: Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners, Marlins, Mets, Royals and Padres.

Playoff chances, via coolstandings.com

AL East champion

Yankees 88.6%
Orioles 11.1%
Rays 0.3%

AL Central champion

Tigers 52%
White Sox 48%

AL West champion

Rangers 91.4%
Athletics 8.3%
Angels 0.3%

AL Wild Card

Athletics 72.6%
Orioles 71.5%
Angels 24.6%
Rays 12.3%
Tigers <0.1%
White Sox <0.1%

NL East champion

Nationals 96.6%
Braves 3.4%

NL Wild Card