Live updates: Royals, Tigers play in key games for Twins' playoff hopes

The Twins need the Royals and Tigers to lose once or twice to have any shot of making the playoffs.

Sep 25, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman José Tena (8) turns a double play ahead of Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (44) during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

How big is Thursday for the Minnesota Twins? It's so big that if the Royals and/or Tigers lose and the Twins beat the Marlins, the Twins will be back within one game of the final wild-card spot with three days left in the regular season.

It could go the other way, too. If both the Tigers and Royals win and the Twins lose, the Twins will be three games back wtih three games to go. That would put Minnesota on life support and require the Twins to sweep the Orioles Friday-Sunday and have the Royals or Tigers get swept Friday-Sunday.

With that, we're keep tabs on how Thursday's afternoon games featuring the Tigers-Rays and Royals-Nationals go. Let's dive in....

2:34 p.m. — Royals and Tigers seal victories

Just about a minute apart, the Royals closed out a 7-4 win over the Nationals and the Tigers sealed a 4-3 win over the Rays. The Twins are now in deep, deep trouble. They need to go 4-0 to finish the season and have either KC (at Atlanta) or DET (vs. the historically bad White Sox) go 1-2 this weekend. Their playoff hopes are on life support.

2:28 p.m. — Tigers take a dramatic late lead

It's all falling apart for the Twins here. The Tigers, who just refuse to lose, have scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 4-3 lead over the Rays. Unbelievable.

2:18 p.m. — Royals take three-run lead in ninth

Two walks by Kyle Finnegan, a sac bunt, and a pinch-hit two-run single from Adam Frazier gave the Royals a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth, and they added another to make it 7-4. That hurts a lot for the Twins.

1:50 p.m. — Tigers cut into the deficit

An RBI triple from Colt Keith followed by a single from Kerry Carpenter have made it a 3-2 game going to the bottom of the sixth in Detroit.

1:36 p.m. — Royals, Nats tied late; Tigers trail the Rays

The Royals and Nationals are tied 4-4 going to the seventh inning. The Tigers trail the Rays 3-0 in the top of the sixth.

12:56 p.m. — Nationals tie it up!

Luis Garcia Jr. has slugged a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 4-4.

12:48 p.m. — Royals take 4-1 lead

It could've been worse. The Royals had the bases loaded and nobody out while leading 4-1 and they wound up leaving the bases juiced. We go to the bottom of the third...

12:44 p.m. — Rays take a 2-0 lead on the Tigers

Brandon Lowe has come through with a two-out, two-run single to put the Rays up 2-0 in the top of the third inning.

12:43 p.m. — Royals take the lead, about to blow it open?

Kansas City started the third inning with a walk and four consecutive singles. They've taken a 3-1 lead and have loaded the bases with nobody out. Uh oh...

12:20 p.m. — Homer ties things for Kansas City

The Royals answered back in the top of the second with a solo homer off the bat of Hunter Renfroe.

Ownage is ownage. 🤷‍♂️ Hunter Renfroe hits his fourth career homer against Patrick Corbin and this game is tied up! #Royals

Watch on Bally Sports Kansas City and the Bally Sports app. pic.twitter.com/SU9LrB0jlY

— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) September 26, 2024

12:15 p.m. — Nationals strike first

Washington has taken a 1-0 lead on the Royals with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning.