The Twins' playoff opponent remains unknown thanks to twist-filled AL wild card race
The American League race remains up in the air after Thursday night, with the Minnesota Twins not likely to know their playoff opponent until the final day of the season.
The Seattle Mariners kept their wild card dreams alive by beating the Texas Rangers, while the Toronto Blue Jay maintained their hold on the second wild card spot by beating the New York Yankees 6-0.
The Houston Astros, who did not play Thursday, hold the third wild card spot, but are just a game behind the Blue Jays and a game ahead of the Mariners with three games left to play.
As things stand, the Twins will be playing the Astros in the best-of-three series at Target Field. Considering the Astros could roll out Justin Verlander in Game 1, it's likely the least attractive option for the Twins out of all the possibilities.
Things aren't decided in the AL West either, with the Texas Rangers two games ahead of Houston and three ahead of Seattle, with the Rangers and Mariners playing their remaining three games against each other.
Here's how things stand in the wild card race and AL West after Thursday, with the first wild card spot already secured by the Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto would lose a tiebreaker with Seattle but win one with Houston. Seattle would also win the tiebreaker over Houston.
And here is the AL West.
The Astros play their final series at the Arizona Diamondbacks – who are also fighting to secure a NL wild card spot; the Rangers and Mariners play each other; while the Blue Jays are hosting the already playoff-bound Rays.
The Blue Jays could lose out in the event of a three-way tie if the Astros overhaul the Rangers to win the AL West, putting them level with the Mariners and Rangers. If the Blue Jays, Mariners and Astros end up tied, it would be Houston that loses out.
Raised on the Isle of Man, Adam has 15 years experience as a reporter and editor at regional and national level in the U.K. and the U.S. He moved to Minnesota in 2014 and became a writer for Bring Me The News. He is now the co-owner and editor of Bring Me The News and Bring Me The Sports, mixing in some occasional sports writing with his other editorial duties. He lists his three great loves as his family, Liverpool F.C. and baked beans (the British kind).