American League playoff race: What each team needs to clinch

The American League playoff race is white hot with five teams still competing for the final two spots. Here’s a look at the teams and what each of them needs in the season’s final 10 days.

Just when everything seemed to fall into place in the American League playoff race, things went pretty crazy over the past few days. The Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians have sewn up their divisions, respectively while the Boston Red Sox have assured themselves of a playoff spot. But the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals all have a reasonable shot at clinching a wild card spot.

As the past few seasons have taught us, anything can happen in baseball’s final week. Just look at the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, the 2012 Oakland Athletics or the 2013 Indians. (Sorry, Rangers fans. I know all three of those teams create a little bitterness for you guys.)

Baseball history has also proven that the hot teams heading into the playoffs usually have some pretty good success. That makes it so much more important for these contending teams to finish the regular season strong.

So to break it all down, let’s look at each team that hasn’t made the playoffs yet and what they need for the final 10 days.