The Kansas City Royals drifted out of the American League wild card race with five straight losses but have apparently not given up on the season and can clinch a series win in the finale of a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday. The Royals dropped the series opener to cap their slide but rebounded for victories on Saturday and Sunday.

The time is now for the Baltimore Orioles, whose hopes to win the American League East hinge on their four-game series against the first-place Boston Red Sox beginning Monday at Camden Yards. Baltimore took two of three at Boston last week but only managed to split its four-game set against last-place Tampa Bay and sits three games behind the Red Sox with 13 remaining.

The New York Mets are surging at just the right time as the defending National League champions push for a wild-card spot, and an advantageous schedule is helping their cause. The Mets open a three-game home series Monday against the last-place Atlanta Braves holding the top wild-card position, looking for their 21st victory in 28 contests, and New York does not face a team with a winning record the rest of the regular season.

The Washington Nationals' magic number to clinch the National League East has been stuck at six for the last few days with the team struggling to get around the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets squeezing out wins. The Nationals will try to shave one off their magic number when they visit the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

The Texas Rangers' magic number to clinch the American League West is five, but they are not exactly looking like a contender at the moment. The Rangers will try to shave a game off their magic number and turn things back in a positive direction when they host the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is trying to strike a balance of rest versus rust as his team prepares for the postseason with weighty expectations. The National League Central-champion Cubs have struggled since clinching their first division crown since 2008, but they hope to get back to their winning ways when they host the last-place Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series beginning Monday. 

The St. Louis Cardinals haven’t missed the postseason since 2010, and they’re trying to make sure that streak stays alive. The Cardinals look to continue their push for one of the National League wild-card berths when they open a three-game road series against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. 

After failing to complete a three-game sweep in Seattle, the Houston Astros look to recharge and continue their quest for a wild-card spot in the American League when they begin the second half of their six-game road trip Monday with the opener of a series against the Oakland Athletics. Houston dropped a 7-3 decision to the Mariners on Sunday to remain three games behind Toronto for the second wild card but has a chance to close the gap as it plays its next seven contests against AL West bottom-

The Seattle Mariners have their best chance to make up ground in the American League wild-card race when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Mariners, who avoided being swept by Houston thanks to a 7-3 victory on Sunday, have won nine of 11 to close within two games of the fading Blue Jays for the second wild-card spot.

The Arizona Diamondbacks visit the San Diego Padres on Monday for the first of six games between the bottom two teams in the National League West looking to avoid a last-place finish. The Diamondbacks have won five of their last seven contests behind a surging offense and own a one-game lead for fourth place over the Padres, who were swept of a three-game set at Colorado over the weekend.

Los Angeles sends ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound Monday as the Dodgers open a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who are battling for a spot in the postseason with 13 games to play. The Dodgers lead the National League West by five games over the Giants, who are one game back of the New York Mets for the top wild card spot and just a game ahead of St. Louis.