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Playoff Picture: Martin's blast lifts Pirates to season-high 5th straight win

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

Every night we take a look around the league and recap pennant and wild card races in baseball.

Here's a look at how Friday's slate affected the playoff picture in the majors:

American League

  • The Orioles previously clinched the AL East.
AL Central Record GB Games Left
Tigers 85-68 - 9
Royals 83-69 1.5 10
  • Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander returned to vintage form, hurling 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the Royals in a 10-1 blowout at Kauffman Stadium. 
  • The Angels previously clinched the AL West.
AL Wild Card Record GB Games Left
Athletics 84-69 0.5 9
Royals 83-69 - 10
Mariners 83-70 0.5 9
Indians 79-74 4.5 9
Yankees 79-74 4.5 9
  • Jon Lester (7 IP, 5 H, ER, 7 K) helped the Athletics take back control of the first wild-card spot with a 3-1 win over the Phillies.
  • Dustin Ackley, Mike Zunino and Kyle Seager homered for the Mariners as they routed the Astros 10-5 to move within a half-game of the Royals.
  • The Indians fell 5-4 in 10 innings to the Twins to put their playoff hopes on life support.
  • The Yankees marched to a third straight victory with a 5-3 decision over the Blue Jays but may have lost Jacoby Ellsbury to a potential season-ending hamstring injury.

If the playoffs started today...

Wild Card: Royals at Athletics

Division Series: Wild Card at Angels, Tigers at Orioles

National League

  • The Nationals previously clinched the NL East
NL Central Record GB Games Left
Cardinals 86-68 - 8
Pirates 83-70 2.5 9
Brewers 79-75 7 8
  • The Cardinals stayed 2 1/2 games up with a 2-1 nailbiter over the Reds to lower their magic number to seven to clinch a second consecutive division title.
  • Russell Martin's three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted the Bucs to a 4-2 victory over the Brewers. The Pirates have now won a season-high five straight games and 12 of their last 14.
NL West Record GB Games Left
Dodgers 88-66 - 8
Giants 84-69 3.5 9
  • The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with a 14-5 rout of the Cubs combined with the Brewers' loss to the Pirates. L.A. also increased its lead on the Giants, who fell 5-0 to the lowly Padres.
NL Wild Card Record GB Games Left
Giants 84-69 1 9
Pirates 83-70 - 9
Brewers 79-75 4.5 8
  • The Pirates closed the gap to one game on the Giants for the top wild-card spot, while the Brewers continue fall further off the pace.

If the playoffs started today...

Wild Card: Pirates at Giants

Division Series: Wild Card at Nationals, Cardinals at Dodgers

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