MLB playoff race 2017: J.D. Martinez, Diamondbacks crush Dodgers for 11th straight win

With the Detroit Tigers struggling something fierce as we head down the stretch, we Tigers fans need something else to entertain ourselves. The minor league season is over and we don’t want to watch football, so we’re turning to the next best thing: other baseball. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be checking in on our old friends as they make a push towards the 2017 postseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks 13, Los Angeles Dodgers 0 (box)

J.D. Martinez made history on Monday by becoming the 18th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. Martinez’s first homer came off Rich Hill in the fourth inning to put Arizona up 2-0. He added a solo shot to make it 3-0 in the seventh, and the D’Backs offense rolled from there. Former Tiger Robbie Ray also had a big night. He took a perfect game into the sixth inning and finished with 14 strikeouts in 7 ²⁄₃ shutout innings.

Martinez: 4-5, 4 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI, SO
Ray: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 14 SO

Los Angeles Angels 11, Oakland Athletics 9 (box)

Justin Upton doubled, walked, and scored a run for the Angels in a wild win over the A’s. Los Angeles was paced by the lower half of their order; Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun, and Andrelton Simmons combined for eight of their 14 hits.

Upton: 1-5, 2B, R, BB, SO

Pittsburgh Pirates 12, Chicago Cubs 0 (box)

Alex Avila went 0-for-2 but drew a pair of walks as the Cubs were blown out by the Pirates. Justin Wilson did not pitch for Chicago. He has struggled since arriving on the North Side, with a 5.56 ERA in 11 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Avila: 0-2, 2 BB, 2 SO

Houston Astros 6, Seattle Mariners 2 (box)

Dallas Keuchel went 7 ²⁄₃ strong innings for the Astros, who have won four straight after a rough month of August. Justin Verlander (/sob) will make his Astros debut on Tuesday. The game will be televised on MLB Network.

AL PLAYOFF PICTURE

Cleveland Indians 5, Chicago White Sox 3 (box)

The Indians actually had to break out the closer in this one, as their offense was only able to muster four runs off of the corpse of James Shields. The Tribe have won 12 straight.

Kansas City Royals 7, Detroit Tigers 6 (box)

Hey, at least the Tigers made it interesting.

New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 4 (box)

The Yankees are a good baseball team now within 2 ¹⁄₂ games of the division lead, but instead all we get to hear about is who Aaron Judge is dating.

Toronto Blue Jays 10, Boston Red Sox 4 (box)

Rick Porcello was torched for seven runs on 10 hits, but at least he has that 2016 Cy Young Award to keep him warm. Thanks a lot, Tampa.

Texas Rangers 8, Atlanta Braves 2 (box)

Nice win for the Rangers, who move to 69-68 on the year.

Tampa Bay Rays 11, Minnesota Twins 4 (box)

The Twins are somehow still above .500 and a half game ahead of the Angels in the AL Wild Card race. Here’s hoping they have to play a tiebreaker game against someone and lose because a clear hit-by-pitch goes uncalled in a key spot in extra innings.

LOL IS THIS REALLY BASEBALL (NL PLAYOFF PICTURE)

Cincinnati Reds 5, Milwaukee Brewers 4 (box)

Yes, the Brewers are still in a playoff race. Their closer, former Tigers prospect Corey Knebel, was named the NL Reliever of the Month for August. But hey, at least we used Joakim Soria in key spots in the 2014 ALDS, right?

Colorado Rockies 4, San Francisco Giants 3 (box)

Future Tiger Carlos Gonzalez (shut up, it’s happening) doubled and walked twice in a much needed Rockies win. They are currently 1 ¹⁄₂ games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Wild Card race.

Washington Nationals 7, Miami Marlins 2 (box)

BUH GOD GIANCARLO STANTON

St. Louis Cardinals 2, San Diego Padres 0 (box)

Carlos Martinez struck out 10 in a shutout against the Padres. He might even face a real major league lineup in his next start.

New York Mets 11, Philadelphia Phillies 7 (box)

I almost forgot this game, which seems about right.