AL wild-card race could see a dubious record set

Here is a positive sign for Royals fans as their team fights for a playoff spot.

Of the seven teams in contention for the second wild-card spot in the American League, none has played better over the last 10 days than the Royals.

It’s not much to brag about since the Royals were just 6-4 in that span, but it illustrates just how loony this race has been. No team has been able to get hot and take charge. The Twins have the second spot at the moment, but they are 4-6 over the last 10 and on pace to win 84 games.

In 2016, the Orioles and Blue Jays were tied for the top wild-card spots and each team won 89 games. A year earlier, the Astros won 86 games and were the second wild card.

Since baseball expanded the playoff field to include two wild card teams in 2012, the Astros’ 86 victories are the fewest for a team to make the playoffs.

So we could see a record-low number of wins for a second wild-card team this season.

But will a team begin to separate from the pack this week? Here is how each team stacks up :

Yankees 77-65

This week’s games: 3 at Rays, 4 vs. Orioles

Last week: 4-2 (2-1 vs. Orioles; 2-1 vs. Rangers)

Season run differential: Plus-152 (750-598)

Playoff chances: 99.0 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 96.1 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 94.0 percent/86.0 percent

Two weeks ago: 97.0 percent/89.3 percent

Twins 74-69

This week’s games: 2 vs. Padres, 4 vs. Blue Jays

Last week: 3-4 (1-2 vs. Rays; 2-2 vs. Royals)

Season run differential: Minus-10 (705-715)

Playoff chances: 46.6 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 43.1 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 46.9 percent/42.0 percent

Two weeks ago: 38.9 percent/31.2 percent

Angels 73-70

This week’s games: 3 vs. Astros, 3 vs. Rangers

Last week: 3-3 (2-1 vs. A’s; 1-2 vs. Mariners)

Season run differential: Plus-4 (635-631)

Playoff chances: 22.3 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 27.0 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 18.7 percent/28.4 percent

Two weeks ago: 13.8 percent/20.6 percent

Royals 71-71

This week’s games: 3 vs. White Sox, 4 at Indians

Last week: 4-3 (2-1 vs. Tigers; 2-2 vs. Twins)

Season run differential: Minus-64 (626-690)

Playoff chances: 5.8 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 11.7 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 4.8 percent/9.5 percent

Two weeks ago: 10.2 percent/16.7 percent

Rangers 71-71

This week’s games: 4 vs. Mariners, 3 at Angels

Last week: 3-3 (2-1 vs. Braves; 1-2 vs. Yankees)

Season run differential: Plus-33 (693-660)

Playoff chances: 22.3 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 27.0 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 10.9 percent/6.6 percent

Two weeks ago: 7.9 percent/5.4 percent

Orioles 71-72

This week’s games: 3 at Blue Jays, 3 at Yankees

Last week: 1-5 (1-2 vs. Yankees; 0-3 vs. Indians)

Season run differential: Minus-41 (684-725)

Playoff chances: 3.4 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 4.3 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 10.9 percent/12.7 percent

Two weeks ago: 7.6 percent/8.6 percent

Mariners 71-72

This week’s games: 4 at Rangers, 3 at Astros

Last week: 2-4 (0-3 vs. Astros; 2-1 vs. Angels)

Season run differential: Minus-37 (736-699)

Playoff chances: 5.2 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 5.8 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 8.4 percent/8.7 percent

Two weeks ago: 14.8 percent/15.1 percent

Rays 71-73

This week’s games: 3 vs. Yankees, 3 vs. Red Sox

Last week: 3-3 (2-1 vs. Twins; 1-2 vs. Red Sox)

Season run differential: Minus-12 (620-632)

Playoff chances: 4.3 percent (Baseball Prospectus); 4.9 percent (FanGraphs)

Last week’s playoff chances: 5.7 percent/6.3 percent

Two weeks ago: 11.0 percent/12.9 percent

This story was originally published September 11, 2017 at 8:23 AM with the headline "AL wild-card race could see a dubious record set."