Whither the AL East?

BALTIMORE, Maryland July 20, 2013- The Orioles tagged along on the spectacular pitching of Wei-Yin Chen and beat Texas in the heat at Arlington, 3-1.  Nick Markakis knocked in a run and robbed the Rangers' Adrian Beltre of a home run with a memorable leaping grab at the right field wall to lead the Orioles.  Boston won, beating the Yankees, and Tampa Bay whacked Toronto, leaving the AL East Race like this: (1) Red Sox 59-39; (2) Tampa Bay 56-41; -2.5; (3) Orioles 54-43; -4.5; (4) Yankees 51-45; -7; (5) Toronto 45-50; -12.5.

The Wild Card is even more muddled.  Remember in looking at these numbers that the top two teams get a wild card berth and play each other in a one-game play-off.  The team with the better record gets to play in their stadium.  (1) Tampa Bay 56-41; +1.5; (2) Texas 54-42; (3) Orioles 54-43 -.5; (4) Cleveland 51-45; -3; (4 tie) Yankees 51-45; -3; (6) Angels 45-49;  -8; (7) Toronto 45-50; -8.5; (8) Kansas City 44-49;  -8.5; Seattle 44-52; -12.5.  If you are thinking that if the Orioles, with Miguel Gonzalez on the mound, can beat Texas tonight, they would be in the playoffs were the season to end this way, you would be correct.