The New York Yankees' mission is clear: win their game against the Boston Red Sox Wednesday night and there won't be any tiebreakers necessary, nor the high-wire-act of having to win a play-in game. A Yankees win clinches the A.L. East title regardless of what the Baltimore Orioles do in their Wednesday game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Yankees, Orioles underway in season-ending tilts
The American League East winner could be determined Wednesday... or it could go to a Thursday tiebreaker.
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In addition, a win for New York would give them the best record in the American League and a division-series matchup with the winner of the play-in game, which in that case would be between the Orioles, the second-place A.L. East team, and the Texas Rangers, who were sent to that game when they lost their afternoon contest to the Oakland Athletics; the A's, in winning, clinched the A.L. West.
The Orioles’ only path to a division title is a win over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, combined with a Yankees loss. If that happens, Baltimore would host a division tiebreaking game Thursday against the Yankees, with seeding for division series still up for grabs.
As of this writing, the only definitive A.L. playoff game set is the A.L. Central champion Detroit Tigers hosting... someone... Saturday at Comerica Park. That game is now set for 6 p.m. ET.
The Yankees currently trail the Red Sox 1-0 in the first inning and the Rays and Orioles are scoreless, also in the first inning. Stay with this StoryStream for updates on both games.
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