By all accounts, Max Scherzer has passed his final test to be cleared to pitch Wednesday’s regular season finale against the Royals. The biggest hurdle left is whether the Tigers need him for it.

Oakland pulled off the improbable Monday, in less than a year’s time completing its transformation from a team rebuilding to one ready to construct a postseason roster by way of a Wild Card-clinching 4-3 victory over the Rangers.

The Rangers have assured themselves of a playoff spot, but they have still not clinched a division title after losing to the A’s, 4-3, in Monday’s series opener in Oakland.

Dustin Pedroia has likely taken his final swing of 2012. The Red Sox’s second baseman underwent an X-ray on his left ring finger on Monday that revealed an avulsion fracture.

The Astros will reveal the team’s new uniforms, logos, color schemes and mascot for the 2013 season at a launch party at 5 p.m. CT Nov. 2 on the field at Minute Maid Park. Admission to the party is free, but it does require an entrance voucher, which are available at Astros.com.

Hector Santiago twirled a gem and the White Sox backed him up during an 11-0 drubbing in Cleveland, but Detroit’s win in Kansas City eliminated Chicago from postseason contention on Monday night.

Hal Steinbrenner is buckling up for what promises to be a wild finish to the division race, as his Yankees hope to hold off the Orioles and achieve their goal of winning the American League East.

Miguel Cabrera regained the league lead in homers with his 44th and the Tigers used a five-run sixth en route to a 6-3 win over the Royals on Monday night to secure their second straight AL Central title.

Now that the Tigers have clinched their second straight American League Central title, the race for Miguel Cabrera’s potential Triple Crown is going down to the final couple of days.

The Rays did their part to keep their slim playoff hopes alive Monday night. Alex Cobb hurled seven strong innings and Tampa Bay used three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge out Baltimore, 5-3, at Tropicana Field. But in Oakland, the A’s defeated the Rangers to officially eliminate the Rays from postseason contention.

Wei-Yin Chen allowed four runs, three of which were unearned in the seventh inning, and the Orioles’ rally in the ninth fell short in a 5-3 loss to the Rays on Monday night. The defeat dropped Baltimore one game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.

Astros right-hander Lucas Harrell put an exclamation point on his fine rookie season by throwing six scoreless innings in his final start of the year to lead Houston to a 3-0 win over the Cubs on Monday night at Wrigley Field.

Reds manager Dusty Baker still had his smile, his wrist bands and his toothpicks as he returned to the bench on Monday. Baker missed 11 games after being admitted to a Chicago hospital Sept. 19 to be treated for an irregular heartbeat. He suffered a minor stroke upon his discharge.

With the offseason rapidly approaching, Blue Jays manager John Farrell is still finding himself having to speak out against reports suggesting he could be headed to Boston at the end of the year.

Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, the only publicized candidate to become the next Indians manager other than interim skipper Sandy Alomar Jr., is set to formally interview with the club on Friday.

Only one spot out of 10 — the second National League Wild Card — remains up for grabs, although the next few days will include plenty of jockeying for position in both leagues.

Mark Teixeira had proven that he was ready to return to the Yankees’ lineup by sprinting around the bases, but fortunately for him, all that was needed on Monday was a slow trot.