This MLB season has gone by too fast.  That’s what happens when you only get a limited amount of baseball action because of COVID-19.  There were four American League Wild Card Games held on Tuesday, and the final layout for a run on the championship is beginning to come into focus.

The MLB Wild Card Race Heats Up

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks is one of the two relievers from the active list over the course of the actual season who has not saved a game.  Some say that timing is a key aspect when it comes to having results in baseball. Fairbanks obtained his first save in the season in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 1.

Manager Kevin Cash was responsible for that, as he put late-inning relievers Diego Castillo and Nick Anderson in the game and they grabbed seven outs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

In fact, Fairbanks is the first pitcher in 29 years to hold zero saves over the course of the regular season. Before him, there was Bob Walk for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1991, according to Stats LLC.  This season has been very promising for the Rays, as the team has 12 different pitchers getting saves.  As well, four of those 12 started at least one game.

The Yankees Are Impressing

The New York Yankees is the team we expected it was. All season, they have dealt with injuries, considering Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela and DJ LeMahieu, all of whom are on the injured list.  Despite the injuries, the team scored more runs than any other AL club, with a total of 315.  They have the second place in home runs (94), first place in walks (251) and also first place in OPS (.789).

The Yankees’ marks don’t stop there.  They have the best batting champion in the league, LeMahieu, with .364 and the best home runner, Luke Voit, with 22.  The Yankees are alive and kicking, and they even outsmarted the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, Shane Bieber, with seven runs.

The White Sox Love Abreu

The Chicago White Sox must be aware of the value of José Abreu, who became the first Cuban player to have achieved a home run in playoffs.  Sometimes, the baseman has been neglected as young talent has arrived in the league.  Abreu is indeed an example of leadership and production and is an irreplaceable member of the team.

When the White Sox signed Abreu back in October 2013, they knew he was destined for greatness.  For the 26-year old Latino, the magic didn’t happen overnight.  However, Abreu has been vital for the club’s success and professional development. For the club, there is no one like him.

White Sox ace Lucas Giolito lost his bid for a perfect game in seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics.  The A’s had hit .216 and scored an average of 3.8 runs per game in their previous 15 games.

Astros Hang On By A Thread

Houston Astros first-year general manager James Click had success when his team won in a 4-1 victory against the Minnesota Twins in Game 1.  Zack Greinke got four innings, while five innings on a mixed four-hitter went to one of the most prolific young members, left-handed Framber Valdez.

In Minneapolis, a reduced number of fans cheered and celebrated their team’s homers just like previous seasons.  The same thing happened in Cleveland and Tampa Bay. The audience was actually comprised of team employees and family member scattered around the ball parks. Maybe, over the course of the postseason, more people could be allowed.

Tampa Bay left-handed pitcher Blake Snell had no rival in the five innings for the sixth time since 2018, when he received the Cy Young award. He put up another no-hitter and is now tied with Saint Louis Cardinals Jack Flaherty for the most of MLB since the start of 2018.