AL wild-card race looks like a mess. It could be lots of fun

The American League's middle standings have become a mediocre mess, potentially leading to an intriguing playoff race. Seven teams are vying for the final AL wild-card spot, all with records below .500. Baltimore Orioles, trailing slightly at 61-63, would secure a playoff berth if the season concluded Sunday. Close behind are Texas Rangers (61-64), Toronto Blue Jays (61-65), Detroit Tigers (60-64), Minnesota Twins (60-65), Cleveland Guardians (60-65), Seattle Mariners (59-66) and Houston Astros (63-62) with a narrow edge in the AL West.

Many of these teams have made significant trades during the month, including the Blue Jays sending outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Astros, Orioles trading former No. 1 pick Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox, and the Tigers shipping ace Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers and reliever Casey Mize to the Padres. Only three MLB teams in history have made the postseason with a losing record, all during seasons with shorter-than-normal schedules.

The 1981 Kansas City Royals (50-53) qualified thanks to a split-season format due to a players' strike, while the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers did so in 2020 with a 29-31 record during a shortened, expanded playoff field of 16 teams.