MLB Wild-Card, Division Races Tighten Across Multiple Cities

The Houston Astros, once holding a four-game division lead in the American League West, have lost eight of their past 12 games and are now tied for first place with the Seattle Mariners, entering a challenging three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are enduring a steep decline, having lost six straight games and falling to 1 1/2 games behind in the NL wild-card race, as Jacob deGrom returns to Citi Field pitching for the Texas Rangers in an interleague series. In the American League East, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, separated by just half a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays, prepare for a crucial final series, with the Red Sox looking to build on recent victories and the Yankees seeking to avoid a losing streak. The Baltimore Orioles, despite being out of playoff contention, are on a hot streak with nine wins in their last 11 games and aim to impact the division race as they face the Blue Jays, who lead the AL East. Key pitching matchups include Orioles' Trevor Rogers against Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito for the Red Sox versus the Yankees, and deGrom for the Rangers against the Mets' Jonah Tong. The Orioles' strong pitching staff, leading MLB with a 2.36 ERA in September, has been instrumental in their recent success, while the Braves are confronting injuries and speculation about their manager Brian Snitker's future amid a disappointing season.