The Indians defeat the Twins, 5 – 1, behind a strong combined pitching performance by Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson to clinch the first wild card spot in the American League. The Indians finished the season 15-2 to ensure this outcome and will host the 2013 American League Wild Card Game in two days. A one-game playoff will be needed to determine their opponent, however, as the Rays defeat the Blue Jays, 7 – 6, hanging on for a nail-biting win after scoring six runs and chasing starter Todd Redmond in the 1st; the Rangers then win their 7th straight, defeating the Angels, 6 – 2, to match the Rays’ 91-71 record, forcing an extra game to be held.

The Tigers pitchers, with 13 combined K’s in the season finale, ending the season with 1,428, to establish the major league record for strikeouts by a team, surpassing a mark set by the 2003 Cubs. Detroit’s starting rotation features Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Anibal Sanchez, who all have each struck out 200+ batters this season.

The Rangers move the start of their game to 11:05 AM local time to avoid a poor weather forecast and beat the Angels, 7 – 4 for their 6th straight win as they benefit from five Angels errors. Joe Nathan pitches the 9th inning in a driving rainstorm to nail the win; for the Angels, Erick Aybar ties a team record with three doubles. With the Rays’ 7 – 2 loss to the Blue Jays, who get homers from rookies Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar, Texas is now tied with Tampa Bay for the second American League wild card spot with one game left. The Indians, 5 – 1 winners over the Twins behind Scott Kazmir, now have a one-game lead as they hold on to the first spot.

The Cardinals clinch the NL Central title with a 7 – 0 win over the Cubs, but they also announce that cleanup hitter Allen Craig will not be available for at least the first round of the postseason because of a foot injury.

The Indians beat up the Twins, 12 – 6, for their eighth straight win to pull into a tie with Tampa Bay for the top wild card spot in the American League. The Rays blow a 3 – 0 lead to lose, 6 – 3, to the Blue Jays, while the Rangers stay one game back of the pair with a 5 – 3 win over the Angels.

Commissioner Bud Selig announces his intention to retire upon the completion of his contract, scheduled to expire at the end of next year. The 79 year-old chief executive of baseball has held the position since 1992, first on an interim basis, before being named permanently to the post nearly six years later.

Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, with two out in the ninth inning, emerge from the dugout to take out legendary closer Mariano Rivera, giving the sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium one last chance to cheer their beloved reliever. The unexpected visit to the mound, the brainchild of manager Joe Girardi, who asked permission from the umpires to implement the unorthodox move, triggers an emotional encounter between the remaining Core Four teammates that renders Mo speechless as he weeps from the adulation of his friends and fans.

There are some wild games in the American League, but at the end of the day, the wild card standings are unaffected. Tampa Bay shuts out New York, 4 – 0, at New Yankee Stadium as Mariano Rivera tosses 1 1/3 inning in his last-ever appearance at home. Cleveland retains its hold on the second wild card by surviving a 9th-inning scare, which sees a comfortable 6 – 1 lead turn into a 6 – 5 win over the Twins as embattled closer Chris Perez fails once again, and Texas keeps pace at one game back as Jurickson Profar hits a walk-off homer in the 9th for a 6 – 5 win over the Angels.

For the third straight year, the Astros set a new team record for losses as they bow to the Rangers, 7 – 3, extending their current losing streak to 12 games and pushing their season’s total to 108. Houston lost 106 games in 2011 and 107 in 2012, after never topping 97 losses in its first 49 seasons. The Rangers have taken advantage of their cross-state rivals’ ineptitude to stay alive in the American League wild card race as rookie Martin Perez records his 10th win of the year.