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Playoff Watch Thread 9/28

The M’s did their job today. Will everyone else?

MLB: Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
Not today, rookie. (please)
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

After a delightful midday game that featured some moments of stress but an altogether thoroughly satisfying end to the season series with Houston, Mariners fans are left with a gap in our evening. Don't you dare try and fill it with outdoor activities or time with your loved ones, however, because the teams in front of the M’s are about to play. First off, here are the standings as of this moment (3:45ish PT).

MLB.com

Also helpful is this chart of the remaining schedules for all the playoff hopefuls, via Tim Booth.

The two games of import are Baltimore at Toronto (4:07 PT) and Cleveland at Detroit (4:10 PT).

Baltimore will have their longtime stalwart Chris Tillman on the mound, who struggled mightily in his last start and didn't make it past the second inning. Toronto will send out Francisco Liriano, because what is dead may never die.

Today's Lineups

BALTIMORE ORIOLES TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Adam Jones - CF Ezequiel Carrera - LF
Chris Davis - 1B Josh Donaldson - 3B
Manny Machado - 3B Edwin Encarnacion - 1B
Mark Trumbo - RF Jose Bautista - RF
Trey Mancini - DH Russell Martin - C
Matt Wieters - C Troy Tulowitzki - SS
J.J. Hardy - SS Michael Saunders - DH
Jonathan Schoop - 2B Kevin Pillar - CF
Nolan Reimold - LF Ryan Goins - 2B
Chris Tillman - RHP Francisco Liriano - LHP

FiveThirtyEight Projection: 53% Toronto.


Cleveland at Detroit features a battered Ohio team that, while still strong, chose to rest many starters yesterday. Tonight they face Michael Fulmer, the likely AL Rookie of the Year, and will roll out Zach McAllister, who has been slightly above average (FIP- 94) in just over 50 innings this year.

Today's Lineups

CLEVELAND INDIANS DETROIT TIGERS
Rajai Davis - LF Ian Kinsler - 2B
Jason Kipnis - 2B Cameron Maybin - CF
Francisco Lindor - SS Miguel Cabrera - 1B
Carlos Santana - 1B Victor Martinez - DH
Jose Ramirez - 3B J.D. Martinez - RF
Lonnie Chisenhall - RF Justin Upton - LF
Coco Crisp - DH Nick Castellanos - 3B
Tyler Naquin - CF James McCann - C
Roberto Perez - C Jose Iglesias - SS
Zach McAllister - RHP Michael Fulmer - RHP

FiveThirtyEight Projection: 61% Detroit.

Go Toronto. Go Cleveland.

And above all, Go M’s.