The Tampa Bay Rays are going to the playoffs.

Amazing.

Tampa Bay clinched its berth with a 7-2 win over the Twins on Saturday.

Boston's magic number for a playoff berth remained at two even though the Twins lost, because the New York Yankees have passed Minnesota in the wild card standings. The Yankees are 6 1/2 games behind the Red Sox, and need a complete Boston collapse to catch the Red Sox..

The Red Sox could clinch a berth today with a win in Toronto, and a Yankees loss against the Orioles.

Here is how the AL race looks:

Angels: 95-59 (8 games left)
Rays: 92-61 (9 games left)
Red Sox: 90-64 (8 games left)
White Sox: 85-69 (8 games left)
Yankees: 84-71 (7 games left)
Twins: 83-72 (7 games left)
Blue Jays: 83-72 (7 games left)

In the playoffs so far: Angels and Rays.

AL's best record (and home field advantage throughout the playoffs): The Angels lead Tampa Bay by 2 1/2, and Boston by 5.

Tampa Bay beat the Angels in their season series, 6-3 (5-1 home; 1-2 in Anaheim).

Rays' magic number to clinch the AL East: 6. If Tampa Bay and Boston tie, Boston is the wild card because of Tampa Bay's 10-8 edge in head-to-head games.

That means the Rays can go 5-4 in its remaining games, and Boston would have to win all 8 of its remaining games.

After today's game with the Twins, Tampa Bay plays 4 games at Baltimore (which is 3-11 against the Rays), and 4 games at Detroit (which is 0-3 vs. Tampa Bay).

As for the Red Sox, they have received contributions from unexpected sources this season. See today's column on Jed Lowrie.

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