The American League West remains up for grabs, along with the second AL Wild Card spot, and the No. 1 seed in the AL playoffs. The host for the National League Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser will also be determined by Sunday's results.
In the AL, the Rangers, Astros, Angels, Yankees, Royals and Blue Jays all have something to play for, while in the NL, the Pirates and Cubs still have designs on being the Wild Card hosts.
Texas showdown -- LAA @ TEXBaseball can't get much crazier than it did at Globe Life Park on Saturday, when the Rangers held a 10-6 lead before the Angels scored five runs in the top of the ninth for an 11-10 victory. The Halos became the first team since the Cardinals on June 25, 2012, to win a road game it trailed by four in the ninth, according to ESPN.
The comeback prevented the Rangers from clinching the AL West, while the Angels remained one game behind the Astros for the final Wild Card spot.
So what will these teams do for an encore? Texas, needing a win or an Astros loss to claim the division, has the luxury of starting Trade Deadline acquisition Cole Hamels. The left-hander is 6-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 outings with the club, though he gave up six runs his last time out, against Detroit. In dire need of a win, the Angels are turning to right-hander Garrett Richards, who will start on three days' rest for the first time in his career.
Win and in -- HOU @ ARIThe Astros have a number of postseason scenarios in the air, and they can't be eliminated from contention Sunday. But first thing's first: Houston has already clinched at least a tie for the second AL Wild Card and can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Chase Field in an Interleague matchup against the D-backs.
The AL West crown and both AL Wild Card spots are in play for the Astros.
If the Rangers beat the Angels, they win the division, regardless of what Houston does. However, the Astros can force a one-game tiebreaker to decide the division if they beat Arizona and the Rangers lose. The tiebreaker would be played Monday in Arlington, by virtue of the Rangers winning the season series against the Astros, 13-6. The loser of a potential tiebreaker could have home field in the AL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser, but only if the Yankees also lose on Sunday.
The Astros can clinch the second AL Wild Card outright if they win, or if the Angels lose.
It doesn't end there. The Astros could tie the Angels for the final Wild Card spot if they lose and the Angels win. In that scenario, a one-game tiebreaker would be played Monday in Houston, based on the Astros winning the season series over the Angels, 10-9. The winner of that game would travel to face the Yankees in the Wild Card Game.
The Astros could also host the AL Wild Card Game if they beat the D-backs and the Yankees lose to the Orioles. In this scenario, the Astros and Yankees finish with an identical 87-75 record and the tiebreaker goes to Houston by virtue of winning the season series, 4-3.
A Yankees win over the Orioles, however, would clinch home-field advantage for the Bronx Bombers in the AL Wild Card Game.
Ks for Kershaw -- SD @ LADThe Dodgers have already clinched home-field advantage in the NLDS against the Mets heading into Clayton Kershaw's final tuneup in advance of his expected Game 1 start on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw, who has a shot at his fourth Cy Young Award in five years, has a personal milestone at stake Sunday. With 294 strikeouts, Kershaw needs six more to become the first big leaguer to reach the 300 mark since Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson in 2002, as well as the second Dodger to do so, after Sandy Koufax (1963, '65-66).
Kershaw might not have much time to collect those K's, however, as manager Don Mattingly has said he will be limited to three or four innings.
Bring it back to Pittsburgh -- CIN @ PITPNC Park already has hosted the first two NL Wild Card Games, and the Pirates could make it three in a row, with a win over the Reds or a Cubs loss in Milwaukee.
J.A. Happ wasn't one of the biggest names moved before the Trade Deadline, but the left-hander has come up huge for the Bucs, going 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 10 starts. He will take the ball against Reds rookie Josh Smith, who owns a 7.22 ERA over eight big league games (six starts).
The Cubs can still host the NL Wild Card Game if they beat the Brewers and the Pirates lose. Chicago owns the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series against Pittsburgh, 11-8.
Here's Johnny -- KC @ MINThe Royals' 5-1 win over the Twins on Saturday eliminated Minnesota from postseason contention and moved Kansas City closer to clinching the AL's best record, which would guarantee it home-field advantage throughout the postseason, including the World Series.
The Royals now are one game ahead of the Blue Jays, who do hold the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series, 4-3. Right-hander Johnny Cueto will take the mound for the AL Central champs at Target Field as he looks to notch his fourth consecutive quality start. Overall, Cueto has a disappointing 4.95 ERA in 12 outings for the Royals.
However, if the Royals lose and the Blue Jays beat the Rays at home, Toronto would secure the top seed in the AL.
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http://m.mlb.com/news/article/153134778/much-still-at-stake-on-final-day-of-mlb-season