With less than a month remaining in the 2012 MLB season, the standings show both Bay Area teams with a shot at the postseason. The San Francisco Giants are atop the NL West, while the Oakland Athletics control their own destiny for the AL Wild Card.
The Giants open Wednesday with a 4.5-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers. They have built their lead over the last 10 contests, separating themselves from L.A. by two more games over that span.
Oakland is tied for the Wild Card lead in the AL, but it has its eye on the division-leading Rangers. The A's are four games back of Texas with 27 left to play. Winning the division title would allow the Athletics to avoid a one-game playoff and give them home-field advantage in the Division Series.
For more on the Giants, head to McCovey Chronicles. For the A's, check out Athletics Nation.
