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Each recreation on the ultimate scheduled day of the MLB common season begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, with the hope that some form of loopy, compelling situations play out, much like what occurred on the ultimate day of the 2011 common season.
That definitely is feasible in 2021. Fingers crossed.
Let’s check out the playoff berths/hierarchy nonetheless in play heading into the ultimate three days of the regular-season schedule.
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Nationwide League West
Earlier than we speak about situations for the NL West, we’ve to speak about WHY profitable the division is so darn vital. The division winner strikes on to the best-of-five NLDS, which begins Oct. 8, and may have home-field benefit all through the playoffs. The West runner-up would be the first NL wild-card group, which means they host the win-or-go-home one-game wild-card “collection” on Oct. 6. In the event that they win that one, they’d transfer to the NLDS in opposition to … the NL West winner, which would be the group with MLB’s greatest document. And in the event that they win that collection, regardless of that they’d have a significantly better regular-season document than both Milwaukee or Atlanta, they wouldn’t have home-field within the NLCS as a result of they’re a wild-card group.
The one-game wild-card collection is a scary thought, and it’s hardly a good reward for a group that’s been one of many absolute best in baseball all season. Perhaps “truthful” is a poor selection of phrases. However the fact is that this: The Giants and Dodgers have the most effective two data in baseball, however one in every of them may very nicely be eradicated on Day 2 of the 2021 postseason. What sort of playoff system is that, the place a 102-win group goes immediately right into a do-or-die recreation and a sub-90 win group (the Braves) will get the cushion of taking part in a best-of-five collection? That they’d need to play a Cardinals group that simply rattled off a 17-game profitable streak to clinch the second NL wild-card spot isn’t precisely interesting, both.
Now, on to the state of affairs, which is fairly primary. Listed below are the data:
SFG 104-54, —
LAD 102-56, 2 video games again
Each groups are taking part in nice proper now — they’re each 8-2 of their previous 10 — as they’ve all season. The Giants end at residence with three in opposition to the Padres, who’re simply taking part in spoiler after a disastrous previous month; the Dodgers end with three at residence in opposition to the Brewers, who’re already locked into the No. 2 seed within the NL playoffs.
The group with the most effective document wins the division, clearly. In the event that they’re tied, they’ll play a tiebreaker contest, a Sport 163 that may rely as a regular-season recreation. That recreation would be Oct. 4, and the Giants would host, due to their 10-9 benefit within the regular-season collection in opposition to the Dodgers.
So, yeah. The Dodgers want the Giants to lose two video games in opposition to the Padres to have any shot. One win ensures the Giants a tie, two ensures the division title.
AL wild card
As of Friday morning, with three video games every remaining for the 4 groups nonetheless in play for the 2 AL wild-card spots, there are 24 totally different situations nonetheless in play — together with a four-way tie at 91-71 (although that’s removed from possible). The explanation for thus many situations is that this: Not one of the 4 groups performs one another, so all 4 may go 3-0 or all 4 may go 0-3 or any mixture in between.
There are not any tiebreakers in figuring out precise playoff berths; if two (or extra) groups are tied for the final spot within the postseason, there might be a tiebreaker recreation (or video games). Now, if two groups tie for the No. 1 wild-card seed, each are in and home-field benefit for the wild-card recreation is decided by head-to-head document this season.
First, listed here are the standings …
NYY 91-68, +2
SEA 89-70, —
BOS 89-70, —
TOR 88-71, 1 again of second WC spot
So the Yankees are at the moment WC1, with the Pink Sox and Mariners tied for WC2.
MORE: Why the Blue Jays would be the scariest team to face in October
The Yankees are clearly in nice form, as they need to be after happening the highway and sweeping the Pink Sox, then taking two of three in Toronto in one other big collection. They host Tampa Bay — the Rays have already clinched the AL’s No. 1 seed, however at 98 wins they’ve a shot at 100 for the primary time in franchise historical past, they usually aren’t going to roll over — within the ultimate three video games, and even one win ensures the Yankees a minimum of a spot in a possible tiebreaker recreation. If the Yankees go 2-1, they’re in as the highest wild-card group.
The Pink Sox are within the technique of freely giving their seat on the desk. They’re tied with the Mariners for the second wild-card spot, however it positive seems like they’re not making the postseason. Getting swept at residence by the Yankees was unhealthy sufficient, however to comply with that up by going to Baltimore and shedding two of three to an Orioles group that has 107 losses this season? That ought to rattling close to be disqualifying by itself. The Sox end with three on the Nationals, one other group lengthy since out of rivalry, however even the Unhealthy Information Bears would give Boston bother proper about now.
On the opposite facet of the coin, the Mariners are taking part in nice baseball, having gained 10 of 11 — together with seven Ws in opposition to the A’s, which knocked Oakland out of the playoff image — to climb right into a tie for the second wild-card spot. Not gonna lie, that felt like an impossibility for many of the season. However right here they’re, they usually end with three at residence in opposition to the Angels. They’ll have face Shohei Ohtani, the hitter, however he gained’t take the mound within the collection. Contemplating that he’s allowed two or fewer runs in 9 of his previous 11 begins, that’s in all probability good for Seattle. The Mariners, as you in all probability know, haven’t made the postseason since 2001, the longest present streak in baseball.
The Blue Jays had essentially the most opportunistic final-week schedule, internet hosting a group they had been chasing (the Yankees) after which internet hosting the AL’s worst membership. However they misplaced two of three to New York and just about have to comb the Orioles, then hope the Yankees, Mariners and Pink Sox stumble.
Let’s take a look at a few situations — not all 24 as a result of who has time?
First, let’s say the standings after Sport 162 look precisely just like the standings do now, with the Yankees on prime, the Mariners and Sox tied and the Jays a recreation again. Toronto’s eradicated, after all, and the Yankees are WC1. The Mariners and Pink Sox would play a tiebreaking Sport 163 in Boston; the Sox get homefield benefit as a result of they gained the season collection, 4-3. Simple sufficient.
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In our subsequent state of affairs, let’s say the Yankees lose two of three to the Rays and the M’s and Sox each sweep, so these three groups are tied at 92-70. Let’s simply take it straight from MLB.com.
The three groups would select/obtain A, B and C designations. Membership A would host Membership B. The winner of that recreation could be one Wild Card membership, whereas the loser would then play Membership C on the highway to find out the opposite. The winners of the 2 video games would face one another within the Wild Card Sport.
The subsequent one we’ll take a look at appears perhaps essentially the most believable. On this one, the Yankees end with the most effective document, and the M’s, Sox and Jays all end tied. Once more, immediately from MLB.com.
The three tied groups would select/obtain A, B and C designations. Membership A would host Membership B on Monday, Oct. 4. The winner of that recreation would then host Membership C on Tuesday to find out the second Wild Card spot. The AL Wild Card Sport could be pushed again from Tuesday on this state of affairs.
And, as a result of everybody loves chaos, let’s say the Yankees are swept by the Rays, the Jays sweep the Orioles and the Pink Sox and Mariners each go 2-1. Everybody could be 91-71. You understand how this works … straight from MLB.com.
If the Yankees, Pink Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners had been to all wind up tied for these two spots, we’d have a mini-tournament on our palms. The golf equipment would select/obtain their A, B, C and D designations. On Monday, Oct. 4, Membership A would host Membership B and Membership C would host Membership D. The winners of these two video games could be the Wild Card groups and would face one another within the ballpark of whoever had the superior head-to-head document.
Would not that be enjoyable?
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