MLB playoffs: Updated American League Wild Card standings | Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays deadlocked

New York Yankees' Gio Urshela (29) celebrates his two-run home run, which scored Brett Gardner (11), with Aaron Judge, center, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Baltimore.
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And down the stretch they come.

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At this point, it’s clear the American League Wild-Card race will come down to the final week of the regular season.

On Wednesday, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays all picked up wins.

So here’s how the current standings look:

Blue Jays (82-64): --

Yankees (82-64): --

Red Sox (83-65): --

Oakland A’s (78-67): 3.5

Seattle Mariners (78-68): 4

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Here are the games of note Thursday which will impact the AL wild-card race:

A’s @ Kansas City Royals (2:10 p.m. ET)

Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles (5:05 p.m. ET)

The Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mariners are off Thursday.

As for the Yankees, who can jump atop the wild-card standings with a win Thursday, they are in control of their own destiny. After series against three bottom-feeders (Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers), New York finishes up with three-game series against the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays.

By the way, the San Francisco Giants became the first MLB team to clinch a playoff spot with Monday’s 9-1 win over the San Diego Padres.

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with Tuesday’s 8-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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