MLB Standings: New York Yankees & Houston Astros Fighting for Top Wild Card Spot In American League

By Damon Salvadore Oct 01 2015, 12:22 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays have officially clinched the American League East division. For the first time since 1993, Blue Jays fans will be watching their team in the postseason. Although the New York Yankees can't win the division, they can still get a wild card spot.

The Yankees are currently 86-72. That's good enough for the top wild card spot in the AL at the moment. Unfortunately for the Bronx Bombers, they are presently on a three-game losing streak. Having the top wild card spot is critical because it means you have home-field advantage in the one game playoff against the No. 5 seed.

Closing the gap on the Yankees is the Houston Astros. The Astros surrendered their American League West lead to the Texas Rangers, but will most likely still make the playoffs. Dallas Keuchel has been in the AL CY Young conversation all year long. The Astros haven't made the playoffs since they lost the 2005 World Series to the Chicago White Sox. The Astros have won four of their last five games, and they will finish their season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game series.

At the top of the American League we have a close race. The Kansas City Royals were the No. 1 seed for almost the entire season, but a recent slump now has them in the No. 2 spot. Johnny Cueto's struggles have definitely been an ongoing concern for the Royals since the midseason trade from the Cincinnati Reds. The surging Blue Jays now own the No. 1 seed in the AL.

When Mike Trout injured his wrist, the Los Angeles Angels looked dead. Not so fast. There are some angels in the outfield after all. The red-hot Angels have won seven of their last eight games, and are just one game behind the Astros for the second wild card spot. Trout now has a career-high 41 home runs and he leads the majors in slugging percentage, .589. Albert Pujols is having a fantastic season with 38 home runs, and he leads the Angels with 91 RBI.

Even the Minnesota Twins are still in this. The Twins have won four of their last five games, and could get a wild card spot as well. They don't control their own destiny, so the Twins will need the Angels, Astros and Yankees to lose down the stretch to open the playoff door. The Twins have to play the Royals in their final three game series.

If the season were to end today the Yankees and Astros would face off in a one game wild card match in New York City. The Royals and Rangers would collide in a series with the Royals having home field advantage. The winner of the Yankees-Astros game would then face the Blue Jays in the American League Division Series