Three more teams -- the Cardinals, Marlins and Yankees -- were eliminated from postseason consideration and two other tiebreaker possibilities may soon follow as the playoff picture came more into focus Tuesday night.

With their victory over Cleveland, the Red Sox joined the Angels, Cubs and Rays in the playoff field. Eight teams, including the White Sox, Twins in the American League and the Phillies, Mets, Brewers, Astros, Dodgers and Diamondbacks in the National, are in the running for the final four postseason spots.

Though many of the possible scenarios have fallen by the wayside as teams have been eliminated, there are four tiebreaker scenarios involving the AL Central, NL East, NL West and NL Wild Card, but only the latter has more than one possible pairing.

With Florida and St. Louis exiting the Wild Card picture and Houston facing an elimination number of two after losing to Cincinnati, there are four tiebreaker possibilities involving the National League Wild Card race. Milwaukee figures in three of those remaining possibilities.

The Mets maintained their one-game lead in the NL Wild Card by virtue of their win over the Cubs and the Brewers' come-from-behind victory over the Pirates.

The possibility of a White Sox-Twins tiebreaker is still in play after Minnesota beat Chicago 9-3 at the Metrodome to move to within 1 1/2 games of the White Sox for the AL Central lead.

That half-game difference between the teams could force Chicago to make up a Sept. 13 rained-out game against Detroit.

If the White Sox and Twins are within a half-game of one another following Sunday's games, the Tigers would play the White Sox on Sept. 29 at U.S. Cellular Field. Following that game, if Chicago and Minnesota are tied, the two teams would play a one-game tiebreaker on Sept. 30 at U.S. Cellular Field for the division crown.

The Mets trimmed a game off the Phillies' lead in the NL East and now trail by 1 1/2 games with five to play.

Should the Phillies and Mets finish the regular season tied for the division lead they would play a tiebreaker game on Sept. 29 at Philadelphia if Milwaukee or Houston is the Wild Card winner. If the Mets and Phillies finish tied with both teams assured of a playoff berth, the Mets win the NL East by virtue of their 11-7 record vs. the Phillies this season. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch at least the Wild Card is three. The number is four to clinch the division crown.

The Dodgers spanked San Diego 10-1 to cut their magic number to clinch the NL West to three following Arizona's loss at St. Louis. Should the Diamondbacks and Dodgers wind up tied, their tiebreaker game would be played Sept. 29 at Dodger Stadium.

The Rays reduced their magic number to clinch the American League East to two with a sweep of the Orioles at Camden Yards. Tampa Bay also moved to within two games of the Angels for the best record in the American League as a result of Los Angeles' loss at Seattle.

The AL West champion Angels' magic number to clinch home field throughout the playoffs is four.

The format difference for the Division Series could give a team a decided edge in how to space its starting pitching. The AL team with the best record could start at home with Game 1 on Oct. 1, have an off day on Oct. 2, play Game 2 on Oct. 3, and have a travel day on Oct. 4 before playing Games 3 and 4 on the road on back-to-back days.

The AL team starting on Oct. 2 would play consecutive days in its own city to catch up with the other series, take a day off, and then play on consecutive days in the opposing city. With a travel day, that's five days to play four games. In both series, there would be another travel day prior to Game 5.

The AL club that finishes with the best record must make its selection of a starting date one hour after completing either the game that determines which team will finish with the best record or the game that determines the matchups in the Division Series.