Wild card races

Four teams face off for two wild card spots.

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Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester held up for six innings as the Boston Red Sox played the Baltimore Orioles in the season's final game at Camden Yards.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston's Marco Scutaro claps his hands as he passes Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters at home plate to tie the score at two each on a fourth inning balk by Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Alfredo Simon.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy watches a tie-breaking fifth-inning home run hit by Boston's Dustin Pedroia (not pictured) to make the score 3- 2.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia passes Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy on a tie-breaking, fifth-inning home run to make the score 3-2.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, right, high-fives teammate Adrian Gonzalez after hitting a tie-breaking, fifth-inning home run.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway makes a fifth- inning tag out at home on Baltimore Orioles Mark Reynolds.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters tags out Red Sox's Marco Scutaro at home in the eighth inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro (10), left, chases a loose ball as Orioles' Chris Davis (19), right, slides into 2nd base for a 2 out double to get the winning rally started.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) watches Orioles Nolan Reimold (not pictured) game tying RBI double sail over his head in the bottom of the 9th inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Baltimore Orioles' Nolan Reimold (14), right, rounds third base to score the game winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox designated hitter Ryan Lavarnway (60), left, waits for a throw as Orioles' Nolan Reimold (14), right slides home with the bottom of the 9th game winning run.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Baltimore Orioles Nolan Reimold (14), center, is mobbed by his team after scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Boston Red Sox lose to the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 to get knocked out of the play offs in the season's final game at Camden Yards in Baltimore MD.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (28) walks off the field after The Boston Red Sox lose to the Baltimore Orioles.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Aviles (3) sits alone in the dugout after the Boston Red Sox lose to the Baltimore Orioles 4-3.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 28, 2011

New York Yankees player Curtis Granderson, left, laughs with on-deck batter Nick Swisher after scoring on a first inning error by Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist on a ground ball by Robinson Cano.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder B.J. Upton makes a diving catch on a second inning fly.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

New York Yankees player Mark Teixeira hits a second inning grand slam.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price wipes his eyes after giving up a second inning grand slam to New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Sean Rodriguez stretches out to complete a triple play, getting Russell Martin out at first base in the sixth inning in St. Petersburg, Fla.

James Borchuck / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (55) of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the first inning at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Md.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 28, 2011

Dustin Pedroia (15) of the Boston Red Sox hits a single during the third inning.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 28, 2011

Shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) of the Baltimore Orioles throws to first base for a double play during the third inning.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 28, 2011

The Red Sox warm up before batting practice, at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 27, 2011

Houston Astros starting pitcher Henry Sosa throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Houston.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Houston Astros third baseman Jimmy Paredes reaches for a base hit by the St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese during the first inning.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

The St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese, left, lies on the ground after being tagged out at home plate by Houston Astros catcher J.R. Towles during the first inning.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Left fielder Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals leaps at the wall to make a catch on a fly ball by Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros in the first inning.

Bob Levey / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

The Houston Astros' J.R. Towles, right, hits a sacrifice fly to score Carlos Lee from third base as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina awaits the pitch during the second inning.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

The Houston Astros' Jimmy Paredes (38) is congratulated by third base coach Dave Clark after hitting a two-run triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Houston.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

The St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Theriot, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

St. Louis Cardinals trainer Barry Weinberg, left, looks at the right arm of Albert Pujols after Pujols was hit by a foul ball while batting during the seventh inning.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

The St. Louis Cardinals' Allen Craig (21) celebrates his three-run home run with Albert Pujols as Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero watches during the eighth inning.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Edwin Jackson fields a ground ball hit by the Houston Astros' Carlos Lee during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Houston. Jackson threw to first for the final out of the game. The Cardinals beat the Astros 13-6 and are tied with the Atlanta Braves for National League wild card.

David J. Phillip / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Roy Oswalt throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta .

John Bazemore / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Derek Lowe of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by Ryan Howard after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves.

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Chase Utley leaps over the Atlanta Braves' Michael Bourn as Bourn steals second base in the third inning of their MLB National League baseball game at Turner Field in Atlanta.

TAMI CHAPPELL / REUTERS

Sept. 27, 2011

Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez chases a foul ball from the Atlanta Braves' Martin Prado into the seats in the sixth inning.

John Bazemore / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves makes a running catch against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Hunter Pence of the Philadelphia Phillies hits against the Atlanta Braves.

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Carlos Ruiz of the Philadelphia Phillies slides safely in to third base against Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Scott Cunningham / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann watches from the dugout in the ninth inning of their MLB National League baseball game as the Braves lose to the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field in Atlanta.

TAMI CHAPPELL / REUTERS

Sept. 27, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivers to the New York Yankees during the first inning of Tuesday’s game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Hellickson allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira tags out B.J. Upton of Tampa Bay on a pick-off throw from Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon during the first inning of their American League game in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay continued its improbable bid for the AL wild card with a 5-3 victory over the Yankees on Tuesday night.

STEVE NESIUS / REUTERS

Sept. 27, 2011

Infielder Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees fouls off a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays.

J. Meric / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Zobrist celebrates with Johnny Damon after Zobrist hit a second-inning, two-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Bartolo Colon.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

New York Yankee Russell Martin hits a third-inning home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

New York Yankee Brett Gardner steals second base as Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Reid Brignac waits for the throw during the third inning.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Tampa Bay’s Matt Joyce follows the flight of his seventh-inning, three-run home run off New York Yankees relief pitcher Rafael Soriano.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

First baseman Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees takes the throw at first as Johnny Damon of the Tampa Bay Rays gets back safely.

J. Meric / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Infielder Reid Brignac of the Tampa Bay Rays hugs B.J. Upton after he scored against the Yankees.

J. Meric / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Rays catcher Kelly Shoppach and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth celebrate with the team after the Rays defeated the Yankees 5-3.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Nick Markakis of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after scoring a run with teammate Adam Jones during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox edged the Orioles to enter the final day of the season in a tie for the AL wild card with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Erik Bedard wipes his face between pitches in the third inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Centerfielder Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles hangs on the wall after Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox (not pictured) hit a two-run home run in the third inning.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury, center, points to teammate Marco Scutaro after both scored on Ellsbury's home run in the third inning.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Ryan Lavarnway of the Boston Red Sox for the last out of the fifth inning.

JOE GIZA / REUTERS

Sept. 27, 2011

Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold looks on as fans try to catch a two-run home run ball hit by Boston's Marco Scutaro in the sixth inning.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Orioles third baseman Chris Davis, left, and relief pitcher Jason Berken react after Berken gave up a two-run home run to Boston Red Sox's Marco Scutaro.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

A member of the Baltimore police detains a fan who ran onto the field and interrupted play in the seventh inning.

Patrick Semansky / AP

Sept. 27, 2011

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox throws to first base after failing to tag out Matt Wieters during the eighth inning.

Rob Carr / Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2011

Boston's Ryan Lavarnway, left, walks away from home plate with teammates David Ortiz, second from left, and Adrian Gonzalez after Lavarnway drove the two in on a home run in the fourth inning. At right is Orioles catcher Matt Wieters.

Patrick Semansky / AP

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