Jays' Josh Donaldson Homers, Scores Game-Winner Over Twins; Anthony Rizzo Leads Cubs' Rout Of Phillies

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 26, 2017

American League

Thanks to the Yankees and especially the Toronto Blue Jays and Josh Donaldson, the AL wild card race has become tighter and more interesting.

Josh Donaldson

New York took game two of their series with Seattle in New York, 6-3, while the Blue Jays managed to hold on for a 10-9 win over the Twins, who are currently in possession of the second wild card spot. The Yanks hold the top position, with a 3 1/2 game bulge.

Donaldson was an integral part of Toronto's victory, going 3-for-5, swatting his 23rd home run and scoring what turned out to be the winning run, scampering home from third on a wild pitch.

Toronto had an 8-3 lead after six, but the Toronto bullpen - one of the worst in baseball - gave up a grand slam to Max Kepler in the eighth, and Roberto Osuna managed to pick up his 34th save, despite allowing two hits and two unearned runs in the top of the ninth.

What Toronto's win and Minnesota's loss did was 1) give the Yankees a larger lead in the wild card top position, 2) Enable the Angels and Orioles to gain ground. LA topped Houston, 7-6, and the Orioles shut out Boston, 7-0. The Angels are tied with Seattle, 1/2 game behind the Twins; Baltimore is just two games out, along with the Rangers. Tampa Bay is three games behind. In the middle of it all is Kansas City, who lost to the Indians, 4-0. The Royals are 1 1/2 behind the Twins.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has opened up a 6 1/2 game lead on Minnesota and is eight games up on the Royals, apparently on their way to a second straight AL Central crown.

The Blue Jays and Twins close out their three-game series Sunday at 1:07 pm ET, with plenty of other intriguing action across the league.

National League

Rizzo: 2 HR, 5 RBI

A three-game series in Philadelphia against a last place team is probably just what the Chicago Cubs would have wanted at this point in the season, and, so far, it's turning out all right as the Cubs pounded the Phillies, 17-2, smashing seven home runs in the process.

Both Tommy La Stella and Anthony Rizzo belted two bombs. Going 3-for-5 with five RBI, Rizzo smacked a three-run homer in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and reached on an infield single in the seventh, driving in another run.

Rizzo has 30 home runs on the year and upped his RBI total to 90, tops on the Cubs.

The win came in game two of the series after Chicago lost game one, 7-1, on Friday, but kept the Cubs three games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central and 4 1/2 better than the third place Cardinals. Both Milwaukee and St. Louis were winners Saturday.

Game three of the series is scheduled for Sunday, 1:35 pm ET at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park.