MLB: Detroit Tigers v Baltimore Orioles preview and watch on BBC

MLB’s six division winners are guaranteed a place in the post-season while six teams earn wildcard spots.

The Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers occupy two of the three spots for the American League, but the Orioles are coming under increasing pressure having lost eight of their last 11 games, giving them a 85-68 record.

The Tigers are finishing the season strongly though, winning nine of their last 11 to improve to 80-73 and close the gap on the Orioles, Kansas City Royals (82-71) and Minnesota Twins (80-73).

Only Aaron Judge (53) and Shohei Ohtani (51) have hit more home runs this season than Baltimore’s Anthony Santander (42) while team-mate Gunnar Henderson, who also played in this year’s All-Star Game, is seventh on the list (37).

Riley Greene leads the Tigers for homers (24), scoring two in a 4-2 win over the Orioles when the teams met in Detroit last Sunday. Pitcher Tarik Skubal is Detroit’s other All Star and is second in the league for both Earned Run Average (2.48) and Strikeouts (221).