The 2012 American League playoff race became a little less cloudy last night when the Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels in the back end of a doubleheader. While three of the five playoff spots have been clinched, there is still divisions and seedings to settle in the remaining three games of the regular season.

The New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers all clinched a playoff berth by virtue of the Rangers win over Los Angeles last night. Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics clinched at least a tie for the second wildcard spot after defeating the Seattle Mariners yesterday afternoon.

Let’s take a look at what Monday’s action brings as the season draws to a close.
 

Both New York and Baltimore have clinched playoff berths. The only thing left to decide here is who is going to get a bye in the wild card and who will have to play an extra game in order to see action in the ALDS. 

Common sense would seem to indicate that New York has the upper-hand here. They will be going up against the Boston Red Sox, while Baltimore has to travel to Tampa to take on a Rays' team that is still in wild card contention. 

This one is clear cut. A combination of one win by Detroit or loss by Chicago clinches the division for the Tigers. Neither team is mathematically alive in the AL Wild Card race. 

The Los Angeles Angels are now eliminated from AL West contention after their loss Sunday night. This division now comes down to a three-game series between the Texas Rangers and homestanding Oakland Athletics. A single win by Texas would give them the division title. Meanwhile, Oakland could capture the crown if they were able to sweep Texas. A one-game playoff in the AL West is impossible. 

One more win by the Oakland Athletics and this race is over, at least in terms of who gets in. Additionally, one more loss by both the Tampa Bay Rays and L.A. Angels and the race is over, no matter what happens between Oakland and Texas. 

It gets incredibly convoluted if Oakland is swept and either/both Tampa Bay and L.A. sweep their final series. In each scenario, Oakland would have the upper hand because they have won the season series against both the Rays and Angels. In the case of a one-game playoff against either, the game would be played in Oakland. Either way, the Athletics have essentially clinched a 163th game, no matter what happens in the final three games of the regular season. 

A three-team playoff for the American League Wild Card would even be more confusing. A likely scenario would be Tampa Bay taking on Los Angeles Thursday with the winner traveling to Oakland to take on the A's on Friday. 

If Oakland were to sweep Texas and either/both Tampa Bay and L.A. sweep, we would be looking at essentially the same scenario with Texas taking the A's place in the two or three team playoff for the final wild card spot. 

If Oakland takes two of three against Texas and Baltimore loses two of three against Tampa, those two teams would take on one another in Oakland. 

Get it? Good because I am as confused as all get out. 

Let's take a gander at the final three games of the regular season in terms of matchups and probables for Monday's action.