HOUSTON — With Ryan McMahon going 3-for-4 with three RBI out of the nine hole, the Yankees finished off a seven-game roadtrip with five wins by beating the Astros 8-4 Thursday night in the rubber match between two contending rivals that don’t like one another.
Next up for the Yankees, who are second in the AL East, is a last series of the season with the first-place Blue Jays, whose division lead is three games.
Heading into three games this weekend at Yankee Stadium, the Blue Jays lead the season series 7-3 but the Yankees took two of three when they played in New York in April.
Elsewhere Thursday, Bobby Witt Jr., hit a tie-breaking homer in the bottom of the eighth in a 4-3 Royals win over the Angels that pulled them to two games of the Mariners for the last AL wild card.
The Rays also got to within two games of the Mariners with a 4-2 home victory over the Guardians for a three-game sweep and seven-game winning streak.
In Pittsburgh, the NL West-leading Dodgers ran into Paul Skenes and lost 5-3 to the Pirates, who swept the three-game series. The Dodgers, who have dropped five of six, are two games up on the second-place Padres.
In Milwaukee, the Phillies blanked the Brewers 2-0 in a rubber match between division leaders. The Phillies are six games up on the Mets in the NL East, the Brewers 5.5 ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules for the contenders through Thursday, Sept. 4, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Friday, Sept. 5:
AL EAST
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (81-59)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Yankees by 3 games.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 20
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Games remaining: 23 (12 home, 11 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Yankees (3)
Sept. 9-11: Astros (3)
Sept. 12-14: Orioles (3)
Sept. 15-18: at Rays (4)
Sept. 19-21: at Royals (3)
Sept. 23-25: Red Sox (3)
Sept. 26-28: Rays (3)
NEW YORK YANKEES (78-62)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 3 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Rangers by 6.5 games for third wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 16
Games remaining: 22 (12 home, 10 road).
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 9-11: Tigers (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Red Sox (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Twins (3)
Sept. 18-21: at Orioles (4)
Sept. 23-25: White Sox (3)
Sept. 26-28: Orioles (3)
BOSTON RED SOX (78-63)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 3.5 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Lead Rangers 6 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 16
Games remaining: 21 (9 home, 12 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Athletics (3)
Sept. 12-14: Yankees (3)
Sept. 16-18: Athletics (3)
Sept. 19-21: at Rays (3)
Sept. 23-25: at Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 26-28: Tigers (3)
TAMPA BAY RAYS (71-69)
Standings: Fourth in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 10 games. Tied for fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Mariners by 2 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 22
Games remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 road).
Rays schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Guardians (3)
Sept. 9-11: at White Sox (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Cubs (3)
Sept. 15-18: Blue Jays (4)
Sept. 19-21: Red Sox (3)
Sept. 23-25: at Orioles (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Blue Jays (3)
AL CENTRAL
DETROIT TIGERS (81-60)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals by 9.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 13
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Remaining games: 21 (9 home, 12 road).
Tigers schedule:
Sept. 5-7: White Sox (3)
Sept. 9-11: at Yankees (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Marlins (3)
Sept. 16-18: Guardians (3)
Sept. 19-21: Braves (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Guardians (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Red Sox (3)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (71-69)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Tigers by 9.5 games. Tied for fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Mariners by 2 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 21
Remaining games: 22 (9 home, 13 road).
Royals schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Twins (3)
Sept. 8-11: at Guardians (4)
Sept. 12-14: at Phillies (3)
Sept. 16-18: Mariners (3)
Sept. 19-21: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 23-25: at Angels (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Athletics (3)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (69-70)
Standings: Third in AL Central. Trail first-place Tigers by 11 games. Seventh in AL wild-card standings. Trail Mariners by 3.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 20
Remaining games: 23 (13 home, 10 road).
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Rays (3)
Sept. 8-11: Royals (4)
Sept. 12-14: White Sox (3)
Sept. 16-18: at Tigers (3)
Sept. 19-21: at Twins (4)
Sept. 23-25: Tigers (3)
Sept. 26-28: Rangers (3)
AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS (77-64)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 3.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL West: 19
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 17
Remaining games: 21 (6 home, 15 road).
Astros schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 9-11: at Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Braves (3)
Sept. 15-17: Rangers (3)
Sept. 19-21: Mariners (3)
Sept. 23-25: at Athletics (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Angels (3)
SEATTLE MARINERS (73-67)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 3.5 games. Third in AL wild-card standings. Lead Rangers by 1.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 21
Remaining games: 23 (13 home, 10 road).
Mariners schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Braves (3)
Sept. 8-10: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 11-14: Angels (4)
Sept. 16-18: at Royals (3)
Sept. 19-21: at Astros (3)
Sept. 23-25: Rockies (3)
Sept. 26-28: Dodgers (3)
TEXAS RANGERS (72-68)
Standings: Third in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 5.5 games. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Mariners by 1.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 21
Remaining games: 21 (12 home, 9 road).
Rangers schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Astros (3)
Sept. 8-10: Brewers (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Mets (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Astros (3)
Sept. 19-21: Marlins (3)
Sept. 23-25: Twins (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Guardians (3)
NL EAST
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (81-59)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Mets by 6 games.
Magic number to clinch NL East: 17
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11
Remaining games: 22 (13 home, 9 road).
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Marlins (3)
Sept. 8-11: Mets (4)
Sept. 12-14: Royals (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Dodgers (3)
Sept. 19-21: at Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 23-25: Marlins (3)
Sept. 26-28: Twins (3)
NEW YORK METS (75-65)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 6 games. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Giants by 4 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 19
Remaining games: 22 (9 home, 13 road).
Mets schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Reds (3)
Sept. 8-11: at Phillies (4)
Sept. 12-14: Rangers (3)
Sept. 16-18: Padres (3)
Sept. 19-21: Nationals (3)
Sept. 23-25: at Cubs (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Marlins (3)
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (86-55)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 5.5 games.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: 17
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 8
Remaining games: 21 (9 home, 12 road).
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Pirates (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 12-14: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 16-18: Angels (3)
Sept. 19-21: at Cardinals (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Padres (3)
Sept. 26-28: Reds (3)
CHICAGO CUBS (80-60)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 5.5 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Giants by 10 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 14
Remaining games: 22 (12 home, 10 road).
Cubs schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Nationals (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Braves (3)
Sept. 12-14: Rays (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Pirates (3)
Sept. 18-21: at Reds (4)
Sept. 23-25: Mets (3)
Sept. 26-28: Cardinals (3)
CINCINNATI REDS (70-70)
Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 16 games. Fifth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 18
Remaining games: 22 (10 home, 12 road).
Reds schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Mets (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Padres (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Athletics (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Cardinals (3)
Sept. 18-21: Cubs (4)
Sept. 23-25: Pirates (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Brewers (3)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (70-71)
Standings: Fourth in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 16.5 games. Tied for sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 5.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 17
Remaining games: 21 (9 home, 12 road).
Cardinals schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Giants (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Mariners (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Brewers (3)
Sept. 15-17: Reds (3)
Sept. 19-21: Brewers (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Giants (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Cubs (3)
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (78-62)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 2 games.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 21
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 16
Remaining games: 22 (10 home, 12 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Orioles (3)
Sept. 8-10: Rockies (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Giants (3)
Sept. 15-17: Phillies (3)
Sept. 18-21: Giants (4)
Sept. 23-25: at Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Mariners (3)
SAN DIEGO PADRES (76-64)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 2 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Trail Cubs by 4 games for first wild card. Lead Giants by 5.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 18
Remaining games: 22 (13 home, 9 road).
Padres schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Rockies (3)
Sept. 8-10: Reds (3)
Sept. 11-14: Rockies (4)
Sept. 16-18: at Mets (3)
Sept. 19-21: at White Sox (3)
Sept. 22-24: Brewers (3)
Sept. 26-28: Diamondbacks (3)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (71-69)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 7 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 4 games for third NL Wild Card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 19
Remaining games: 22 (12 home, 10 road).
Giants schedule:
Sept. 5-7: at Cardinals (3)
Sept. 8-10: Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 12-14: Dodgers (3)
Sept. 15-17: at Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 18-21: at Dodgers (4)
Sept. 22-24: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 26-28: Rockies (3)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (70-71)
Standings: Fourth in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 8.5 games. Sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 5.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 17
Remaining games: 21 (12 home, 9 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 5-7: Red Sox (3)
Sept. 8-10: at Giants (3)
Sept. 12-14: at Twins (3)
Sept. 15-17: Giants (3)
Sept. 19-21: Phillies (3)
Sept. 23-25: Dodgers (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Padres (3)
POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Blue Jays (1), Tigers (2) byes
Mariners (6) at Astros (3)
Red Sox (5) at Yankees (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Brewers (1), Phillies (2) byes
Mets (6) at Dodgers (3)
Padres (5) at Cubs (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all Wild Card Series games (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1).
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Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].
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