"The Rays (nine games back of a Wild Card spot), Royals (seven games back) and even the Rangers (4.5 games back) are all extreme long shots, meaning that if anyone is going to shake up the AL playoff field, it will be a team that wasn't even included in our poll from two weeks ago: the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland has won 11 of its last 12 games, and the 80-71 Guards now sit 2.5 games back of Boston for the final Wild Card spot."
"A lot has changed in the AL Wild Card scene in the two weeks since MLBTR's last poll about the race. At the time, there were three clubs within two games of catching the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot, and aside from an outside chance of Houston losing the AL West the rest of the playoff field looked more or less set."
Mariners have surged to overtake the Astros in the AL West while the Red Sox have slumped, making Boston's postseason spot uncertain. The Rays, Royals, and Rangers are all long shots for the Wild Card. The Cleveland Guardians have won 11 of 12 and stand 2.5 games behind Boston for the final Wild Card spot at 80-71. Starting pitchers Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, and Joey Cantillo have excelled since the All-Star break, with Kyle Manzardo and Jose Ramirez leading the offense. The Guardians' bullpen has performed strongly (even without Emmanuel Clase), posting the lowest FIP and second-lowest ERA since August. Cleveland also controls its fate in the AL Central with upcoming games against Detroit.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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