What to Expect

Heading into the last games of the regular season many things are left undetermined, especially for the AL East.

After last nights stellar pitching performance in Tampa, the Orioles remain one game back of the Yankees.

Tampa Bay's James Shields not only had a career night, he also pitched for a franchise record. James Shields gave the Rays one of the best pitching performances they have had this year, and in their franchise's history. Shields struck out 15 batters last night, and didn't walk a single batter in a complete game. Unfortunately for Shields, not everything went this well for the Rays.

Two of the Oriole's greatest success stories paired up last night, to provide the Orioles with a much needed victory.

Miguel Gonzalez started the year in the Red Sox organization. After being cut before the regular season started, Gonzalez was left contemplating what to do with his career. Gonzalez was set to move back to Mexico and pitch for a Mexican league, until the Orioles gave him a call. Gonzalez then was given an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues due to the Orioles' starting pitching struggles. Gonzalez took that opportunity and ran with it. He has had a spectacular season, getting 9 wins and only 4 loses in 15 starts. Last night Gonzalez pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just 2 hits and no runs. Setting up Matusz, O'Day, and Johnson to pitch a scoreless rest of the game. Johnson also recorded his league leading 51st save last night.

Gonzalez would need a little help from the offense of course, which would not come easily. As I said above, Shields pitched a spectacular complete game, making only one mistake. Unfortunately for him, that mistake came against red-hot Chris Davis. Shortly after finding out that he had been named Co-AL player of the week, Davis hit his 7th home run in 6 games. That was Davis' 33rd home run of the season, passing Jones for the team lead.

The team improved to 74-0 when leading after the 7th inning, and to 29-8 in one run ball games.

Looking ahead to tonight and to the playoffs leave several questions to be answered.

Currently the Orioles would have the top Wild-Card spot, which (due to season series records) would leave Baltimore traveling to either Oakland or Texas (depending on which teams wins the head to head match up tonight) for a one game Wild Card match up.

If the Orioles win and the Yankees lose, there would have to be a one game playoff to determine who wins the AL East. This playoff game would be held Thursday in Baltimore. The winner of that game would win the division, while the loser would have to travel to Texas or Oakland on Friday.

ESPN and MLB analysts both agree that the Orioles are in a better spot than the Yankees should they have to go through this series of one game playoffs. The Oriole's do not have to rely on one great starting pitcher, rather a relatively solid starting rotation to carry them through these games. Should the Yankees have to pitch their ace in a playoff on thursday, they would be left helpless in a wild card game (Should they lose).

No matter what, the Orioles have one thing on their mind. Chris Tillman vs. Jeremy Hellickson. The Orioles want to win tonight, and let what ever happens happen. Manager Buck Showalter continues to preach his one game at a time mentality, while admitting that their ultimate goal is to win the AL East.