Two opponents with competing ideologies will test their mettle in front of an audience of millions across the country tonight.

That describes the presidential debate tonight in Denver, sure. But for baseball fans, it's the story of the American League East.

The Baltimore Orioles face the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg (first pitch at 7:10 p.m.), while the division-leading New York Yankees host their season finale against the Boston Red Sox (first pitch at 7:05 p.m.). The latter game will air on ESPN in the Baltimore area.

A Yankees loss and Orioles win would tie the division lead and force a game 163 between the two in Baltimore, with the winner declared division champ and loser sent to face either Texas or Oakland at home, as The Baltimore Sun reports.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are preparing for the first debate ahead of the general election in November. For Romney, who still finds himself behind in most major polls, the first debate is his "last best chance to turn things around," former George W. Bush adviser Mark McKinnon told the Denver Post this week.

More than 50 million people are expected to tune into the debate, which starts at 9 p.m. will be moderated by broadcaster Jim Lehrer (the former "PBS NewsHour" anchor) and aired live on all major networks and news channels.

Which of the two contests are you keeping your eye on? Will you be flipping back and forth between the news and the games? Checking your phone obsessively? Tell us in the comments.