Skip to content

MLB Playoff Picture: 3 things to know from Friday

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Every night we look around the league and identify the three things you need to know about the playoff races. Here's what happened Friday.

Giants drop 7th straight

Bruce Bochy's squad is fading out of the playoff picture after the Colorado Rockies handed the San Francisco Giants a seventh consecutive loss. Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado delivered back-to-back homers in the first inning and Jorge De La Rosa tossed seven scoreless frames in the 2-1 Rockies victory. The Giants now trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 7 1/2 games in the National League West and are eight games off the wild-card pace.

Yankees gain on Blue Jays

Alex Rodriguez, Brian McCann and Greg Bird homered to lift the New York Yankees over the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 and pull the Bronx Bombers within a half-game of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. Chris Davis launched two homers to inspire a 10-2 Baltimore rout of Toronto, helping New York gain a full game on the Blue Jays in the division. Jacoby Ellsbury left the contest with flu-like symptoms, though, and is questionable to play Saturday.

Pirates snap 4-game slide

The Pittsburgh Pirates took full advantage of their opportunity to gain ground in the National League Central by pounding the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals 9-3 in the opener of a three-game set at Busch Stadium. Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup after missing a game with a tight Achilles, but left-hander J.A. Happ ended up stealing the show by tossing seven shutout frames. The win moves Pittsburgh 5 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the division and helps the Pirates maintain their four-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot.

If the playoffs started today:

SERIES AWAY HOME
AL WC Rangers Yankees
NL WC Cubs Pirates
ALDS TEX OR NYY Royals
ALDS Astros Blue Jays
NLDS CHC or PIT Cardinals
NLDS Mets Dodgers

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox