Results and Updated Standings as the MLB Playoff Race Heats Up

Major League Baseball's playoffs are always riddled with contenders, pretenders and at least one shocking underdog.

This year's group is no different. The Yankees, Rangers, Braves and Giants were all expected to be here. Baltimore and Oakland, on the other hand, were not.

Magic numbers have been set. Each franchise knows what needs to be done at this point.

Keep it right here for updates on all of Wednesday's impact games.

American League

NY Yankees 4, Toronto 2 - F

The Yankees used a solid start from winning pitcher Andy Pettitte to earn the victory in the afternoon session of Wednesday's doubleheader.

New York's offense collected seven hits, and the team overcame two errors to gain a half-game lead on the Orioles.

Yankees: 84-63 (first in AL East)

Blue Jays: 66-80 (fifth in AL East)

Detroit 6, Oakland 2 - F

Justin Verlander earned his 15th win of the season, but Jose Valverde made things interesting in the ninth inning. The Tigers closer allowed two runs before finally closing the door. 

Miguel Cabrera continued his AL MVP chase with his 41st home run in the seventh inning.

Tigers: 79-69 (second in AL Central, third in AL wild card)

Athletics: 84-64 (second in AL West, first in AL wild card)

NY Yankees 2, Toronto 1 - F

Cody Eppley earned his first win of the season in relief as three Yankee relievers picked up starter David Phelps. Wednesday night's win capped a great day for New York, after taking the afternoon session of the double-header as well.

Ichiro's single in the eighth inning gave the Yankees the win.

Yankees: 85-63 (first in AL East)

Blue Jays: 66-80 (fifth in AL East)

Tampa Bay 13, Boston 3 - F

The Rays earned a big win over their division rival Wednesday evening. Chris Archer's first win of the season was helped by 15 Tampa Bay hits. They're doing their best to keep pace with Baltimore and New York in the rugged AL East.

Rays: 79-70 (third in AL East, fourth in AL wild card)

Red Sox: 68-82 (fourth in AL East, sixth in Al wild card)

Kansas City 3, Chicago White Sox 0 - F

Chris Sale only allowed three runs, but the White Sox offense was stymied by three Royals pitchers. Bruce Chen hurled 6.2 shutout innings and was eventually picked up by closer Greg Holland. The loss is a setback for Chicago as Detroit won on Wednesday.

Royals: 67-81 (third in AL Central, seventh in Al wild card)

White Sox: 81-67 (first in AL Central)

Texas 6, LA Angels 2 - F

The Rangers turned a solid seven-inning start from Derek Holland into their 88th win of the season Wednesday night. Their offense banged out 10 hits, including a Geovany Soto two-run blast in the ninth inning.

Rangers: 88-60 (first place in AL West)

Angels: 81-68 (third place in AL West, second in AL West)

Baltimore 3, Seattle 1 - F

The Orioles and Mariners battled into extra innings again on Wednesday, and Baltimore was able to get the job done. The score was knotted at one until Adam Jones' two-run shot in the top of the 11th.

Jim Johnson put two runners on in the bottom half of the frame, but Kyle Seager was caught stealing to close the contest.

Orioles: 85-64 (second in Al East, first in AL wild card)

Mariners: 70-80 (fourth in AL West)

National League

Washington 3, L.A. Dodgers 1 - F

Jordan Zimmerman earned the Nationals their 90th win of the season on Wednesday with a stellar pitching performance. Tyler Clippard earned the save, and the offense was paced by 10 hits.

Nationals: 90-57 (first in NL East)

L.A. Dodgers 76-72 (second in NL West, second in NL wild card)

Milwaukee 3, Pittsburgh 1 - F

Marco Estrada pitched seven excellent innings and even had an RBI as he picked up his fourth win of the season. The Pirates tried to get back into it in the ninth inning with an Andrew McCutchen home run, but closer John Axford slammed the door for the Brew Crew.

Brewers: 76-72 (third in NL Central, second in NL wild card)

Pirates: 74-74 (fourth in NL Central, fourth in NL wild card)

L.A. Dodgers 7, Washington 6 - F

Ronald Belisario earned his seventh win of the season in relief, following up a solid Josh Beckett start for Los Angeles. The Dodgers had 13 hits. Star players Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp combined for five RBI.

Dodgers: 77-72 (second in NL West, second in NL wild card)

Nationals: 90-58 (first in NL East)

Atlanta 3, Miami 0 - F

Kris Medlen just keeps winning for the Braves. The right-hander is now 9-1 with a 1.51 ERA this season, after leading Atlanta to another win Wednesday evening.

The Braves offense didn't have a standout performance, but they didn't need to with pitching like this.

Braves: 86-64 (second in NL East, first in NL wild card)

Marlins: 66-84 (fifth in NL East)

Philadelphia 3, NY Mets 2 - F

Ryan Howard kept Philadelphia's late-season momentum going with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth off of Jon Rauch.

Jeremy Horst earned his second win of the season and Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door in the final half inning.

Phillies: 75-74 (third in NL East, fourth in NL wild card)

Mets: 66-82 (fourth in NL East)

Cincinnati 6, Chicago Cubs 5 - F

The Reds are one game closer to taking the NL Central crown, after their 11-inning win over the Cubs. Logan Ondrusek picked up the win in relief, and Joey Votto supplied three RBI to give his squad the victory.

Reds: 90-59 (first in NL Central)

Cubs: 58-91 (fifth in NL Central)

St. Louis 5, Houston 0 - F

Lance Lynn continued his excellent 2012 season by picking up his 16th win Wednesday night. David Freese and Yadier Molina got St. Louis' scoring started with early home runs, and the team never looked back against the struggling Astros.

Cardinals: 79-70 (second in NL Central, first in NL wild card)

Astros: 48-101 (sixth in NL Central)

San Francisco 7, Colorado 1 - F

The Giants rode Matt Cain's nearly flawless start to victory Wednesday evening. Cain earned his 15th win of the season. Pablo Sandoval paced the offense with a 3-5 performance, including his ninth home run of the season.

Giants: 86-63 (first in NL West)

Rockies: 58-90 (fifth in NL West)

On Deck for Thursday

*All times ET

Oakland at Detroit 1:05

Houston at St. Louis, 1:45  

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 2:20

Colorado at San Francisco, 3:45

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 4:05

Toronto at New York Yankees, 7:05

L.A. Dodgers at Washington, 7:05

Boston at Tampa Bay, 7:10

Philadelphia at New York Mets, 7:10

Chicago White Sox at Kansas City, 8:10

Texas at L.A. Angels, 10:05

AL Standings

AL East	W	L	PCT	GB
NY Yankees	85	63	.574	-
Baltimore Orioles	85	64	.570	0.5
Tampa Bay Rays	79	70	.530	6.5

AL Central	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago White Sox	81	67	.547	-
Detroit Tigers	79	69	.534	2

AL West	W	L	PCT	GB
Texas Rangers	87	60	.592	-
Oakland Athletics	84	64	.568	3.5
L.A. Angels	81	68	.544	7.5

AL Wild Card	W	L	PCT	GB
Baltimore Orioles	85	64	.570	-
Oakland Athletics	84	64	.568	-
L.A. Angels	81	68	.544	3.5
Detroit Tigers	79	69	.534	5
Tampa Bay Rays	79	70	.530	5.5

NL Standings

NL East	W	L	PCT	GB
Washington Nationals	90	58	.608	-
Atlanta Braves	86	64	.573	5

NL Central	W	L	PCT	GB
Cincinnati Reds	90	59	.604	-
St. Louis Cardinals	79	70	.530	11

NL West	W	L	PCT	GB
S.F. Giants	86	63	.577	-
L.A. Dodgers	77	72	.517	8.5
Arizona Diamondbacks	73	74	.497	11.5

NL Wild Card	W	L	PCT	GB
Atlanta Braves	86	64	.573	-
St. Louis Cardinals	79	70	.530	-
L.A. Dodgers	76	72	.513	2
Milwaukee Brewers	75	72	.514	2
Philadelphia Phillies	75	74	.503	3.5
Pittsburgh Pirates	74	74	.500	4
Arizona Diamondbacks	73	74	.497	4.5
San Diego Padres	71	77	.480	7