Pittsburgh: St Louis clinched their third straight National League Central title by splitting a double-header at nearest rivals Pittsburgh on Wednesday, completing the NL play-off line-up.
The Cardinals moved four games above the Pirates with three games of the regular season to play. Pittsburgh are 2-1/2 games clear of the Chicago Cubs. Those two teams will face each other in the one-off wild card game, with only the hosting right to be decided.
Toronto also sealed a division title, claiming the American League East crown by routing Baltimore in the opening game of a double-header. The New York Yankees are second in the AL East, but missed another chance to seal a wild-card berth when they lost to Boston.
In the tightly contested AL West, Texas stayed 2-1/2 games clear by defeating Detroit, while Houston moved back into second place — and a provisional hold on the wild card — by edging Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels dropped down to third with a narrow loss to Oakland.
Minnesota, who are a game behind the Angels in the wild card race, split a double-header against Cincinnati, who were officially eliminated from contention.
Pittsburgh temporarily delayed St Louis’ ascension to an 11th division title in 22 years by winning the opening game 8-2, thanks chiefly to Francisco Cervelli’s grand slam.
However, it was Jason Heyward’s grand slam that proved decisive in the second game as the Cardinals cruised to an 11-1 win.
Heyward’s shot off Bobby LaFromboise, who replaced an ineffective Charlie Morton (9-9), gave St Louis an early six-run lead. Tyler Lyons (3-1) had little trouble making it hold up as the Cardinals reached the 100 wins in a season for the ninth time.
Their season-long run atop baseball’s most competitive division — and the ease in which the team did it — is all the more stunning considering a series of injuries to key players.
Toronto didn’t have to wait to the second game for their division clincher, as the Blue Jays trounced Baltimore 15-2.
The Blue Jays needed only one win to seal the deal and the suspense ended quickly as they built a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning before adding four unearned runs in the fifth.
In the night game, Baltimore won 8-1.
Texas’ Adrian Beltre hit the first of three Rangers home runs as the AL West leaders moved closer to a postseason berth by beating Detroit 6-2.
Robinson Chirinos and Mike Napoli also homered for the Rangers, with all three coming off Matt Boyd (1-6) in 2 2-3 innings.
Houston’s Colby Rasmus hit a broken-bat RBI single to cap the Astros rally from a three-run deficit to a 7-6 win at Seattle.
A day after being passed by the Angels in the division and the wild card race, the Astros moved back in front of Los Angeles. Houston are half a game ahead going into their final series of the season beginning on Friday in Arizona.
