MLB Playoff Picture: How The Division And Wild Card Races Look On Saturday

AL East
After Friday night's action, the Rays have taken a half-game lead over the Yankees. In the Rays' nine remaining games, they'll have the opportunity to beat up on the lowly Mariners, Orioles, and Royals. Meanwhile, the Yankees have eight games to play -- five against their desparate rivals, the Red Sox, and three in Toronto against a decent Blue Jays team.

AL Central
Minnesota has clinched the division.

AL West
The Rangers can clinch the division with a win over the A's on Saturday.

AL wild card
The Red Sox are mathematically alive, and they actually control a large part of their own destiny, as they play five of their remaining eight games against the wild card-leading Yankees. Their odds are very slim, but not entirely impossible.

NL East
It's still mathematically possible for the Braves to win the division, but with a seven-game lead and eight games to play, the red-hot Phillies would suddenly have to forget how to play baseball.

NL Central
Similar situation here. The Reds have a seven-game lead over the Cardinals with eight left to play.

NL West
The Giants won Friday night and held on to their half-game lead over the Padres. This division will likely be decided in the final three games of the season, when the Giants host the Padres.

NL wild card
This is technically a three-team race, since the Rockies are four games back, but this is almost certainly a two-team race between the Padres and Braves. Both teams have stumbled lately. The Padres currently hold a half-game lead.

Neither team's remaining schedule is a complete cakewalk, as the Padres play two more against the Reds and three against the Giants, and the Braves end the season with a three-game series against the Phillies. If the Braves can't put up wins against the Nationals (two games) and the Marlins (three games), they're in trouble.