Gerrit Cole worked in and out of multiple jams over six innings and drove in two runs to lead the Bucs to an 8-2 win over the Cubs that moved them a game ahead of Cincinnati for the first Wild Card, as the Reds lost to the Mets. The Pirates also remained two games behind St. Louis in the NL Central with a Cardinals win over the Nationals.

The Tigers clinched a playoff spot for the third straight season on Tuesday night with a victory over the Twins, but the reigning American League champs weren’t quite ready to let loose with a wild celebration.

Joe Maddon is baseball’s best manager. That was on display again on Tuesday, when he moved Matt Joyce — who was hitting .073 this month — up in the order to the leadoff spot, and Joyce homered in his first at-bat as the Rays beat the Yankees, 7-0, at Yankee Stadium. Tampa Bay holds the top AL Wild Card spot.

Clinging to slim postseason hopes, every game at this point in the season critical, the Yankees fell behind early on Tuesday night and never recovered, taking a 7-0 loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Adrian Beltre’s first home run since Aug. 28 lifted the Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Astros at the Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday. The victory allowed the Rangers to remain two games behind the Rays and one game behind the Indians in the AL Wild Card race.

Michael Bourn left Tuesday’s game against the White Sox in the ninth inning after sustaining a mild sprain in his right wrist on a slide in the fifth.

The Rays further bolstered their playoff chances with a fifth consecutive win on Tuesday night, denying the Yankees, 7-0, to remain one game ahead of the Indians for the top spot in the American League Wild Card race.

In just his ninth career start, Michael Wacha almost hurled the 11th no-hitter in franchise history as the Cardinals took a 2-0 win over the Nationals at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Indians have overcome the odds all season long to put themselves in position for a postseason run. Cleveland did it again on Tuesday night, when Jason Giambi defied his age once again with a miracle blast into Progressive Field’s right-field stands.

Reds manager Dusty Baker announced the expected after Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Mets, confirming that Mat Latos will take the mound for Wednesday’s rubber match against New York. Latos will now be available for two potentially even bigger games — a potential tiebreaker on Monday or the Wild Card game on Tuesday.

The Orioles — who snapped a streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons last year — were officially eliminated from postseason contention with Tuesday’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to Toronto. Baltimore’s sixth consecutive defeat, which tied a season high, brought a frustrating end to a season that started with so much promise.

Bad nights are going to happen and they’re never pleasant to endure. It happened for the Reds on Monday, and coming in the final week of the season with playoff scenarios still very much at stake, it was as welcome as gum on a shoe. Starting pitcher Mike Leake was chased early, and the four second-inning runs he allowed were enough to give the Reds a 4-2 loss to the Mets at Great American Ball Park.

The Orioles’ postseason hopes officially ended Tuesday night, as the slumping club tied its season high with a sixth consecutive loss, a 3-2, 10-inning defeat to the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez would like to see more from his offense, which remained relatively quiet until Andrelton Simmons made all the necessary noise with a two-out, ninth-inning single that ended Tuesday night’s much-needed 3-2 win over the Brewers in walk-off fashion.

Maybe it’s the pressure. After the first 26 outs appeared so easy, the 27th out was elusive yet again on Tuesday night, when Michael Wacha became the third pitcher this season to lose a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning.

Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier’s sprained left ankle now allows him to hit and field, but noticeable hesitation as he rounded second base during workouts Tuesday showed he’s not ready for game action.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a productive day on Tuesday, participating in a wide-range of pregame activities, and will likely make his return to the lineup on Wednesday night against the Rockies.