MLB: Cleveland Indians 2, Houston Astros, 1 - Sept. 18, 2014

Cleveland Indians' Michael Bourn slides past home plate after being tagged out while trying to score against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the Indians head to the site -- Minnesota's Target Field -- where they clinched a spot in the postseason in 2013, they are, somehow, some way still mathematically alive in the chase for a playoff berth in 2014.

You find a spider in your house. You squish it with your shoe and place a glass over it. You come back a few days later, remove the glass and it scurries away, still hanging on. The Indians are that defiant spider that is somehow still breathing, despite being left for dead several times this season, the most recent after a three-game sweep in Detroit.

They eked out a 13-inning win in Houston on Thursday night to stay afloat. They now sit five games behind the Tigers in the division and four games in back of the Athletics for the second Wild Card spot.

Give Tribe those last three outs vs KC and they're 3.5 back of both KC/OAK, with three still to play vs the Royals. pic.twitter.com/MjiRzLGhnp — Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) September 19, 2014

For all intents and purposes, let's assume the Indians finish off the final three outs of a suspended game against the Royals that will take place at Progressive Field on Monday. That positions Cleveland 4 1/2 games behind Detroit in the division and 3 1/2 games behind both Kansas City and Oakland in the Wild Card chase.

Indians remaining schedule:

Fri: @ Minnesota (Trevor Bauer pitching)

Sat: @ Minnesota (T.J. House)

Sun: @ Minnesota (Corey Kluber)

Mon: vs. Kansas City (bottom of the 10th inning of Game 1, followed by Carlos Carrasco starting Game 2)

Tue: vs. Kansas City (Danny Salazar)

Wed: vs. Kansas City (Trevor Bauer)

Thurs: OFF

Fri: vs. Tampa Bay

Sat: vs. Tampa Bay

Sun: vs. Tampa Bay

Note: With the off-day, the Indians could skip House and pitch Kluber on regular rest against the Rays in the series opener. They will have options for that final series.

Step one: Tigers vs. Royals this weekend

Detroit and Kansas City play each other three times at Kauffman Stadium this weekend. A sweep, one way or the other, would probably be the most favorable outcome for the Tribe, with the preference being a sweep by the Tigers. That would all but eliminate the Indians (and the Royals) from contention in the division, but it would greatly benefit Cleveland if it takes care of Minnesota this weekend.

Either way, the Indians need to walk away from Target Field with at least two -- and likely three -- wins.

Step two: De-crown the Royals

Barring an Indians collapse in Minnesota, the series against the Royals at Progressive Field next week could involve more pressure and higher stakes than any game in Cleveland since last October's Wild Card Game. A sweep either way could determine the fate of both teams. The Royals wrap up the regular season with a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The Indians are 8-7 (three outs from 9-7) against the Royals this season.

Step three: Keep an eye on Oakland

The A's are in a free-fall. They are 11-25 over their last 36 games, including a slew of losses to the Astros, White Sox and Rangers. They finish the season with three against the Phillies, three against the Angels (who already clinched the American League West) and three at Texas.

Step four: Take it to Tampa

In 2005, after Grady Sizemore lost a ball in the high Kansas City sun, the Indians sputtered to the finish line, losing their grip on the AL Wild Card spot after six losses in seven games against the Royals, Rays and White Sox. Here's a chance at redemption. The Indians took two of three from Tampa at Tropicana Field in early May. The teams have not squared off since.

Will the Indians complete another improbable September run? The task is taller this year, as the club has dug itself a later, greater hole. Still, there will be meaningful baseball right down to the end of the regular-season slate. There have been times this season when that seemed implausible.