KYLE STOWERS

With an additional wild card in each league, we could have expected the following this year:1. Teams at the top of the standings would be even more secure in their postseason chances down the stretch. Perhaps that's because adding a third wild card in each league hasn't really lowered the bar for making the postseason. The Toronto Blue Jays, currently on pace for 87 wins, hold the third wild card in the American League at the moment. TRIVIA TIMEIf there had been a third wild card in each league last year, which teams would have qualified?

So far, the impact of baseball's expanded postseason is marginal.

Justin Verlander pitched three scoreless innings before departing because of right calf discomfort, and the Houston Astros used five relievers to close out a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Anthony Santander hit one of the Orioles’ five homers and drove in four runs, and Baltimore outslugged the Boston Red Sox 15-10.