Standings Update: 8/17/14

Aug 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) celebrates his three-run home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Indians Gaining Ground in Standings

With the Indians victorious against the Orioles again on Saturday evening – a 6-0 bludgeoning fueled by a Carlos Santana 3-run home run in the first, a Michael Brantley 2-run home run in the fifth, and seven dominant innings from Carlos Carrasco – they gained ground once again in the AL Central and AL Wild Card races. They also got some help on Saturday…

Aug 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) pitches in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

In Detroit, where the Tigers and Mariners continue to trade blows. The Tigers were victorious in a gorgeous 4-2 pitcher’s duel headlined by a pair of Cy Young Award winners. It was the first time David Price and Felix Hernandez had ever faced each other and they did not disappoint. The difference, though, was a two run seventh highlighted by RBI singles by J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos. That wasn’t the only help the Indians received on Saturday, because… The Twins defeated the Royals thanks to a three run seventh inning of off Yordano Ventura. Kurt Suzuki homered in the eighth to put the game out of reach. The Twins brought on their closer, Glen Perkins, in the ninth to put the proverbial nail in the coffin. The loss by the Royals allowed both the Indians and Tigers to gain ground in the AL Central. They weren’t the only team to gain ground on Saturday though… As both the Yankees and Blue Jays bounced back from tough losses on Friday night. In Tampa, the Yankees used an RBI single from Derek Jeter in the top of the ninth to secure a 3-2 victory. Meanwhile, Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista supplied the power in a 3-run seventh innings to push the Blue Jays past the White Sox in Chicago. Both teams kept pace with the Indians in the Wild Card and continue to give their fans hope of a possible playoff run. These series will all continue today. Full standings for the AL Central and AL Wild Card can be seen below.