MLB Playoff Picture: 3 things to know from Thursday

Every night, we look around Major League Baseball and identify three things you need to know about the playoff races. Here's what happened Thursday:

Orioles win battle of birds to tie up AL wild card

The Baltimore Orioles walked into Toronto's Rogers Centre on Tuesday trailing the division-rival Blue Jays by one game for the top AL wild-card spot, and, after losing Game 1 of the series, recovered to take two consecutive contests. Baltimore received an impressive outing from right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who allowed a lone hit over 6 2/3 innings to help the Orioles blank the Blue Jays 4-0 on Thursday. Baltimore finishes off the season in New York against the Yankees, while Toronto does battle with the division-champion Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Tigers may have nightmarish schedule ahead

Mother Nature rained on the Detroit Tigers' parade Thursday when their game against the Cleveland Indians was postponed after six inches of rain filled Comerica Park in less than 24 hours. Because of the washout, Detroit could potentially play five games in five cities in five days. The Tigers head to Atlanta for three games with the Braves, and if there's any chance their postseason is still alive - or if the game affects the Indians qualifying for best record in the AL - they'll travel back to Comerica to play a makeup game against the Indians, which could then be followed by a one-game wild card in a different city. What a nightmare that would be for Detroit.

Luck on Cardinals' side in walk-off win

The St. Louis Cardinals may have pulled a fast one on Thursday in a 4-3 walk-off win over the Cincinnati Reds, as Yadier Molina's game-winning hit appeared to be a ground-rule double, which could have changed the final outcome of the game. Reds manager Bryan Price didn't issue a challenge on Molina's hit in enough time, according to MLB's rule on game-ending challenges, which ended up working out in St. Louis' favor. The Cardinals earned the win and prevented themselves from falling farther out of contention for an NL wild-card spot, after the San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies.

If the playoffs started today:

x - clinched playoff berth
y - clinched division
z - clinched division and best record in league

Race to clinch the division: