The MLB playoff push is our daily look back and ahead at the post-season picture as teams position themselves for a World Series run.
Latest on the Blue Jays: For the second straight game, the Blue Jays rolled out a lineup full of bench players, and for the second straight game fell to the Orioles at a rainy Camden Yards on Thursday.
Now Toronto kicks off the last regular-season series of 2015 in Tampa Bay against the struggling Rays. Mark Buehrle takes the mound needing to throw 8 2/3 innings to reach the 200-inning mark for the 15th consecutive season. News also broke that David Price will not play until Game 1 of the ALDS, meaning John Gibbons may have to get creative to piece together nine frames of pitching on Sunday.
With the Jays sitting their regular starters, the Kansas City Royals pounced on the opportunity to draw level with Toronto atop the American League standings. Should the teams finished tied after these final three games, the Blue Jays will boast home-field advantage throughout the playoffs due to a better head-to-head record.
*Note: Blue Jays atop American League due to head-to-head tiebreaker.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
ALDS
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees OR Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
Last night: Blue Jays send out reserves in rainy loss to Orioles
Next up: Game 1 vs. Rays
Pitching matchups: Mark Buehrle vs. Erasmo Ramirez
Kansas City Royals
Last night: Royals beat White Sox to pull even with Blue Jays atop AL
Next up: Game 1 vs. Twins
Pitching matchup: Chris Young vs. Ervin Santana
Texas Rangers
Last night: Rangers beat Angels to grab wild-card spot, near AL West title
Next up: Game 2 vs. Angels
Pitching matchup: Martin Perez vs. Jered Weaver
New York Yankees
Last night: Yankees beat Red Sox, return to playoffs after 2-year absence
Next up: Game 1 vs. Orioles
Pitching matchup: Luis Severino vs. Wei-Yin Chen
Los Angeles Angels
Last night: Rangers beat Angels to grab wild-card spot, near AL West title
Next up: Game 2 vs. Rangers
Pitching matchup: Martin Perez vs. Jered Weaver
Houston Astros
Last night: Off day
Next up: Game 1 vs. Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup: Dallas Keuchel vs. Rubby De La Rosa
Minnesota Twins
Last night: Twins rally past Indians, inch closer to wild-card spot
Next up: Game 1 vs. Royals
Pitching matchup: Chris Young vs. Ervin Santana
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
NLDS
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates OR Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets
St. Louis Cardinals
Last night: Off day
Next up: Game 1 vs. Braves
Pitching matchup: Jaime Garcia vs. Julio Teheran
New York Mets
Last night: Eickhoff dominates as Phillies complete sweep of Mets
Next up: Game 1 vs. Nationals
Pitching matchup:Noah Syndergaard vs. Gio Gonzalez
Los Angeles Dodgers
Last night: Anderson pitches Dodgers to series split with Giants
Next up: Game 1 vs. Padres
Pitching matchup: Alex Wood vs. Casey Kelly
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last night: Off day
Next up: Game 1 vs. Reds
Pitching matchup: Francisco Liriano vs. Keyvius Sampson
Chicago Cubs
Last night: Cubs keep home wild card hopes alive with win over Reds
Next up: Game 1 vs. Brewers
Pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta vs. Ariel Pena
