MLB Playoff update: Red Sox, A's clinch home field, Cardinals clinch NL Central

The Detroit Tigers will be the American League's # 3 seed and will open the playoffs at either Boston or, more likely Oakland.

While the Tigers were losing to the Marlins in Miami, the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland A's were winning their games to clinch the top two spots in the American League for the first round of the playoffs in the American League Division Series (ALDS). Those spots include home field advantage in the first round. Oakland pulls two games ahead of Detroit, and remains two games behind Boston. The A's would need to win their final two games in Seattle and need Boston to lose their last two in Baltimore for Oakland to claim the top seed.

Here are the remaining scenarios for each playoff contender:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Boston Red Sox- clinched home field for the League Division Series (ALDS). Need one win or one Oakland loss to clinch home field throughout the playoffs. Top seed will host the wild card playoff winner in the ALDS

Oakland A's- clinched home field for the LDS. With two wins and two Boston losses, would take the top seed in the AL. Otherwise, they host the Tigers starting Oct. 4 in Oakland.

Detroit Tigers- clinched AL Central, will open the LDS on the road.

Tampa Bay Rays- lost in Toronto to fall into a tie with the Indians for the two wild card playoff spots. Need a combination of two wins or Texas losses to clinch a wild card spot. Would open at Cleveland if the two teams tie for the two wild card spots.

Cleveland Indians- won their eighth consecutive game to pull into a tie with the Rays for the two wild card spots. Need any combination of two wins or losses by Texas to clinch wild card.

Texas Rangers- beat the Angels for their fifth consecutive win. Remain one game behind Tampa Bay and Cleveland for the wild card. Rangers would host the Rays or play Cleveland on the road in the event of a two way tie.

In a three way tie in which the Indians, Rays and Rangers all finish the regular season with the same record, there would be a two game playoff prior to the wild card playoff game. The Rays would play at Cleveland with the winner hosting the wild card game. The loser would play at Texas with the winner of that game playing at the winner of game one in the wild card playoff game.

Schedule:

Extra play off qualifying games: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, if necessary

AL Wild Card game- Oct. 2

ALDS: Wild card winner at Team #1 -- Oct. 4-5

ALDS: Tigers at Team #2 -- Oct. 4-5

ALDS: Team #1 at Wild Card winner -- Oct. 7-8

ALDS: Team #2 at Detroit -- Oct. 7-8

ALDS: Wild card winner at Team #1 -- Oct. 10, if necessary

ALDS: Tigers at Team #2 -- Oct. 10, if necessary

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Atlanta Braves- clinched the NL East and home field for the NLDS. Tied with St Louis for best record in the National League, and hold the tie breaker.

St. Louis Cardinals- clinched the NL Central and home field for the NLDS. Need best record in the league to host the wild card winner- PIttsburgh or Cincinnati. Otherwise, host the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Los Angeles Dodgers- clinched the NL West, will open on the road at St Louis or Atlanta.

Pittsburgh Pirates- Clinched NL Wild card spot, will play Cincinnati in the wild card playoff. Need to win one of remaining two vs Reds to take home field in the wild card game.

Cincinnati Reds- Clinched NL wild card, will play Pittsburgh in the wild card playoff game. Need to win remaining two games vs Pirates at Cincinnati to play the wild card game at home.