MLB: Orioles still in playoff picture, Tigers stumble

Omnisports

September 3, 2016 9:15 AM

The Baltimore Orioles are still one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the final AL wild card spot after Saturday's MLB action.

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The MLB American League playoff picture is a jumbled mess of colours, and the Baltimore Orioles are right in the middle of the unfinished canvas.

The Orioles beat the New York Yankees 2-0 on Saturday on the strength of starting pitcher Kevin Gausman's near-flawless display. Gausman tossed six scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out eight to improve to 7-10 with a 3.58 ERA on the season.

However, Baltimore's spot in the postseason remains tenuous at best. The Orioles are third in the AL East, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. The win — coupled with a Detroit Tigers loss — kept Baltimore one game ahead of the former for the final wildcard spot.

The Tigers went down 5-2 to the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays lost out to the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5, while the Red Sox thrashed the Oakland Athletics 11-2.

The San Francisco Giants edged the Chicago Cubs 3-2, the Texas Rangers got the better of the Houston Astros 12-4 in a local affair, the Cincinnati Reds beat the St Louis Cardinals 9-1, and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4.

The Philadelphia Phillies went down to the Atlanta Braves 6-4, the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 11-3, the Cleveland Indians beat the Miami Marlins 8-3, and the New York Mets got the better of the Washington Nationals 3-1.

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-4, and the two Los Angeles' sides were both victorious, with the Dodgers beating the San Diego Padres 5-1 and the Angels trumping the Seattle Mariners 10-3.

LIVELY LINDOR

Cleveland's Francisco Lindor reached base five times in the win over the Marlins. The 22-year-old shortstop went four for four with a run, RBI and a walk to help the Indians stay ahead of the Tigers in the AL Central.

MIGHTY MONCADA

Yoan Moncada got his first MLB hit and RBI in his maiden start.

BUMGARNER BOSSES

Giants ace Madison Bumgarner struck out 10 batters in six innings while allowing just two runs to outduel Jake Arrieta and beat the Cubs, improving to 14-8 with a 2.51 ERA on the season.

TIGERS MEET ROYALS

When the Tigers need a win the most, they just cannot seem to get one against the Royals. Daniel Norris (2-2, 3.86 ERA) will try to change that while facing off against Edinson Volquez (10-10, 5.01 ERA) on Sunday.

Omnisports

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