Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Erasmo Ramirez covers his face as he walks back to the dugout after the final out in the seventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros on September 20, 2014, in Houston. Ramirez gave up a three-run home run to Astros' Jake Marisnick during the inning. David J Phillip / AP Photo
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Erasmo Ramirez covers his face as he walks back to the dugout after the final out in the seventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros on September 20, 2014, in HShow more

American League wild cards waiting to be won



Would anyone like an American League wild card? We have two shiny ones just laying around, waiting for someone to claim them.

Unlike the National League – where the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates appear well-placed to slot in behind the division winners and reach the post-season – the final AL play-off places are still a jumble with one week of games to go.

The Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals are within a half-game of each other in the wild-card standings, setting up what should be an exciting finish. In reality, though, they seem to be stumbling over each other in a race to avoid the play-offs. None were better than 4-6 in their last 10 games as of Saturday.

Oakland and Seattle are out of the AL West, having been left in the dust by the Los Angeles Angels. Even so, they have failed to stake their claim to a wild card. In the last week, the Athletics have been swept at home by last-place Texas and been poor against lowly Philadelphia, while the Mariners have struggled against Houston and failed to make headway in series against Oakland and Los Angeles.

The Royals are the most disappointing. They had overhauled the Detroit Tigers to take the AL Central lead, only to stumble badly and allow the Tigers back into first. Their final seven games are on the road and, while they avoid the Angels, unlike Oakland and Seattle, one of the season's feel-good stories could yet end up on the familiar scrap heap of broken dreams.

pfreelend@thenational.ae

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Credits

Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5