MLB Standings Watch: Red Sox show promising signs of improvement

Aug 23, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman

(20) hits a ball into a double play which a run scored against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Toronto Blue Jays won 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

AL East Standings

Playoff Outlook

AL East: Toronto Blue Jays (70-55)
AL Central: Kansas City Royals (77-48)
AL West: Houston Astros (70-57)
Wild Card: New York Yankees (69-56)
Wild Card: Texas Rangers (64-60)

The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees continue to flip-flop at the top of the division, but whichever team falls short should have no trouble holding on to a playoff spot as a Wild Card. The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are only 2.5 games back of the second Wild Card, so there is still a chance that there could be three AL East teams in the postseason this year. Sadly, the Red Sox won’t likely be one of them, as they sit 8 games back of a playoff spot.

The Kansas City Royals have a commanding 13-game lead in the Central division, but the Minnesota Twins are still hanging in the playoff race at only half a game back of the Rangers for the second Wild Card.

The Angels’ recent slide has helped Houston build a 4.5 game lead out West, but one of the Wild Cards will likely come from a team in that division. Even if the Angels and Rangers can’t catch the Astros, it should still be an interesting battle between those two teams for the final playoff spot.