Ben Francisco hardly got into a game during his half-season in Toronto. Nevertheless, he’s starting in right field for the Tampa Bay Rays as they squaring off against the White Sox in Chicago, facing elimination. The Rays have handed the ball to David Price, while the White Sox, currently two games behind the Tigers in the AL Central, are starting Jose Quintana. The Tigers are in Minnesota with Anibal Sanchez and Liam Hendriks on the mound.
Meanwhile, the Orioles and Yankees are tied atop the AL East in an effort to avoid the wildcard play-in game. The Jays currently lead New York 2-1 in the fifth inning. Joe Saunders has thrown three shutout innings for the Orioles as they host the Red Sox. Matt Wieters has led the offensive attack for the Orioles and they have currently scored five runs off former Blue Jay Zach Stewart.
Here are the current standings in the American League, where no team has clinched a playoff spot.
AL East:
BAL 91-67
NYY 91-67
AL Central:
DET 85-73
CWS 83-75 (2 GB)
AL West:
TEX 92-65
OAK 90-68 (2.5 GB)
AL Wildcard:
BAL/NYY 91-67
OAK 90-68 (1 GB of 1st Wildcard spot)
LAA 87-70 (2.5 GB of 2nd Wildcard Spot)
TAM 87-71 (3 GB of 2nd Wildcard Spot)
In the National League, Yadier Molina’s Cardinals are 2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Red Sox for the 2nd wildcard spot.
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