Over the past few years, as fans have adjusted to Major League Baseball’s expanded playoff format, a theme has emerged: There is almost always hope. Sure enough, as baseball was wrapping up the final weekend of August, there were 10 teams within 3.5 games of a playoff spot in the American League entering Monday. If that turns out to be the case, six teams are fighting for one spot. Among the contenders, the two hottest teams over the last 20 games heading into Monday were the Kansas City Royals and the Yankees. Even with their surges, though, they were the furthest from a playoff spot, with the Royals 3.0 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the final spot and the Yankees 3.5 games back.

Source: thestar August 29, 2016 13:18 UTC