Latest Scores and Standings from Final Day of MLB Playoff Push

The late-season baseball playoff drama rolls into the final day of the regular season. 

The Nationals took care of all of the National League drama by winning their early game over the Phillies, 5-1. This guaranteed them the National League's top spot in the postseason, and it set that side of the playoff ladder. 

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 3 at 10:20 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Finally, the American League playoff picture has been settled. Here's what ESPN had to say:

"

The Orioles just lost. Meaning? The Bronx Bombers officially clinched the AL East title: es.pn/SDTIyy

— ESPN (@espn) October 4, 2012"

---End of Update---

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 3 at 7 p.m. ET by Richard Langford

I'll let ESPN's John Kruk break this improbable news. 

"

A's are the AL West camps!!!! Amazing...and well deserved...

— John Kruk (@JohnKruk_ESPN) October 3, 2012"

The A's plated six runs in the bottom of the sixth to wrestle the lead from the Rangers and they cruised the rest of the way, winning 12-5. 

UPDATE: Wednesday, October 3 at 5:30 p.m. ET by Richard Langford

ESPN's Jayson Stark hit us with some game times and possible scheduling information. 

"

Game times: Orioles-Yankees at 7:10 pm ET in Balt tomorrow if there's AL East tie. NL WC game Friday in Atl at 5 ET. AL WC at 8:37 somewhere

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 3, 2012"

What a great time of year for baseball. I can't wait to get all this playoff action started. 

---End of update---

The MLB highlights that side of the bracket with this tweet. 

"

NL #postseason matchups: No. 1 seed @nationals play at @cardinals-@braves winner Sunday; No. 2 seed @reds play at @sfgiants Saturday.

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2012"

The Cardinals and Braves will battle in the Wild Card Game on Friday. The winner of that contest will take on the Nationals in the Division Series, which begins on Sunday. 

The Reds and the Giants will battle in the other Division Series, which begins on Saturday. 

The American League still has a few things to settle. Both the American League West and East is up for grabs. There is also the little matter of Miguel Cabrera's chase for the Triple Crown.  

*All times p.m., ET

Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 0 - F 

With nothing to play for but a touch of momentum, the Atlanta Braves came out and gave the Pirates a bitter ending to their disappointing stretch run. 

It was not that long ago when the Pirates were in a position to be preparing a the Wild Card Game, but alas, it was not meant to be. They will have to use memories of their four hits and zero runs from this game to carry them for the offseason. 

Meanwhile, things went swimmingly for the Braves. They used eight pitchers to earn the shutout, and only one worked more than a single inning. 

Atlanta 94-68 (N.L. wild card)

Washington 5, Philadelphia 1

Congratulations to the Washington Nationals. With this win, they enter the playoffs as the National League's top dog. 

The Nats used four pitchers to earn this one-run win, and they now turn all eyes towards the postseason. 

Washington 98-64 (N.L. East Winner, Home-Field Advantage)

Oakland 12, Texas 5 - F

The magic A's have done it! After an improbable run, they wrestled away the A.L. West division crown on the last day after the Rangers held the division since Day 3 of the season. 

Oakland trailed 5-1 entering the sixth in this one, but that was no problem for this resilient bunch. They plated six runs in the sixth to take the lead and they never looked back.  

Oakland: 94-68 (AL West winner)

Texas: 93-69 (AL wild card winner)

NY Yankees 14, Boston 2 - F

The Yankees had already won the AL East before this one went final, but trouncing your biggest rival one more time never hurts.

Robinson Cano had six RBI and two home runs, Curtis Granderson hit two home runs as well and Hiroki Kuroda turned in a solid seven-inning start to earn the Yankee victory.

NY Yankees: 95-67 (AL East winner, No. 1 seed in AL playoffs)

Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 1 - F

The Orioles loss makes the result of the Yankees game irrelevant. Baltimore, instead of winning the AL East, will face the Texas Rangers in Friday's wild-card contest.

Evan Longoria hit solo home runs in each of his first three at-bats, making Jeremy Hellickson's job on the mound much easier. Hellickson wound up earning his 10th win of the season.

Baltimore: 93-69 (A.L. wild card winner)

LA Dodgers 5, San Francisco 1 - F

Not much to say here, other than Clayton Kershaw's clinching of the NL's ERA crown. He allowed one run in eight innings, while striking out eight, but that won't change the Dodgers' playoff fortunes.

San Francisco: 94-68 (NL West winner)

Detroit 1, Kansas City 0 - F

The Tigers already had the AL Central sewn up, but Wednesday's game had another meaning for their squad. Miguel Cabrera managed to cement his Triple-Crown season, the first such winner since 1967.

They will play Oakland in their postseason opener.

Detroit: 88-74 (AL Central winner)

St. Louis 1, Cincinnati 0 - F

It took until the eighth inning, but Matt Carpenter's single handed the Cardinals the win.

St. Louis will play the Braves in the NL wild-card play-in game, while the Reds face off with the Giants in their opening series.

St. Louis: 88-74 (NL wild card winner)

Cincinnati: 97-65 (NL Central winner)

American League Standings

Here are the standings for races yet to be decided

AL East	W	L	PCT	GB
NY Yankees	95	67	.586	-
Baltimore Orioles	93	69	.574	1.5

AL West	W	L	PCT	GB
Oakland Athletics	94	68	.580	-
Texas Rangers	93	69	.578	1

AL Wild Card	W	L	PCT	GB
Baltimore Orioles	93	68	.578	-
Texas Rangers	93	69	.578	0.5