MLB announces playoff times (and notes)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If the Orioles and Yankees finish tied for first place in the American League East, a one-game playoff will begin Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. at Camden Yards. For this scenario to unfold, the Orioles must win tonight and the Yankees must lose to the Red Sox. The American League wild card game will start at 8:37 p.m. on Friday. The Orioles would host it if they win tonight and the Yankees defeat the Red Sox. Game 1 of the AL Division Series will begin at 6:07 p.m. Saturday in Detroit. The Orioles would have to win tonight and defeat the Yankees on Thursday. All of these games will air on TBS. MASN will run pregame and postgame shows as long as the Orioles are playing. Click here for more information. NOTES: According to Elias, Chris Davis is only the fifth player since 1900 with a six-game home run streak that began Sept. 1 or later, joining Willie Mays (1955), Jose Cruz Jr. (2001), Travis Hafner (2005) and Frank Thomas (2006). Davis has hit in a career-high 11 straight games, batting .436 with two doubles, seven home runs, 13 RBIs, 12 runs scored and a 1.526 OPS. The Orioles threw their 10th shutout last night, a total they hadn't reached since 2004. The Orioles won last night despite not having a plate appearance with a runner in scoring position, which hadn't happened to them since Sept. 14, 2008, when Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar each homered twice and Lou Montanez homered once. Adam Jones is the first Oriole to play 162 games since Miguel Tejada in 2006. The only other Orioles to reach that total are Cal Ripken Jr. (10 times), Brooks Robinson (four), Rafael Palmeiro (twice), B.J. Surhoff (twice), Bobby Grich and Eddie Murray. Jim Johnson is 2-0 with a 0.80 ERA and 20-for-21 in save chances against the American League East this season.