There are just two weeks left in the MLB regular season. But there’s still plenty left to be decided. Here’s a rundown of some key items to watch out for before Oct. 2:
Control of the AL East…
Both the Orioles and Rays clinched playoff spots Sunday. Yet control of the division is still up for grabs—their head-to-head matchup didn’t offer much in the way of separation. They split the series, and Baltimore currently sits two games ahead of Tampa Bay, keeping the hold on the division it first grabbed on July 20. But two weeks is enough time for plenty of movement there. The Orioles have the easier schedule down the stretch: They have just one series remaining against a winning opponent compared to two series left for the Rays. (Baltimore has three games against the Astros while Tampa Bay has six against the Blue Jays.) The Orioles also may have a boost coming soon in the form of injured players returning to the field. While first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has been sidelined recently with a shoulder ailment, he still has not been sent to the IL, indicating that he should be back before the end of the season, barring a setback. And lights-out reliever Félix Bautista is working toward a return, too. (The righty was diagnosed with a partial tear of his UCL in August, but rather than immediately opting for surgery, he’s continued to work out and has not yet been ruled out from returning this season.)
