AL wild-card race: Twins stop losing skid; Mariners routed by Yanks

Race for the second AL wild-card berth remains tight

After a four-game losing streak that dropped them four games back in the race for the American League's second wild card, the Minnesota Twins (73-60) are back on track after sweeping a three-game series from the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners (71-61), who began the series with a one-game lead over the Twins, dropped two of three games to the New York Yankees, including a 12-1 blowout loss in the series finale.

Mariners' playoff hopes in jeopardy after latest Yankees loss

The Mariners now find themselves one game behind the Twins and two games out of a wild-card berth. After winning 14 of their previous 17 games, Seattle has now lost three straight, and their playoff hopes are in jeopardy. The Mariners have 30 games remaining in their schedule, including a four-game series at home against the Twins at the end of the month.

Twins regain momentum heading into final stretch

Meanwhile, the Twins have regained some momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. After losing four straight games to the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, the Twins have now won four straight. The Twins have a favorable schedule remaining, with just four games left against teams with a winning record. The Twins also have nine games remaining against the Detroit Tigers, the worst team in the American League.

Race for the second wild-card berth could come down to the final weekend

With both the Twins and Mariners playing well, the race for the second wild-card berth could come down to the final weekend of the regular season. The Twins and Mariners are scheduled to play a four-game series in Minneapolis from September 29th to October 2nd. The winner of that series could clinch a wild-card berth, while the loser could be eliminated from contention.

The AL wild-card race is one of the most exciting in baseball, and it's sure to come down to the wire. The Twins and Mariners are both playing well, and they both have a chance to reach the playoffs. The race is sure to be decided by key injuries, and the little things could make a big difference.