Since 2012, the second wild card has been added to the game. Baseball fans have been cheering for tiebreaker chaos. There are multiple spots in the playoffs that still need resolution.
Since 2012, tiebreakers have been required on three occasions. The Rangers and Rays fought for the second wild card spot in the American League in 2013. The 2018 National League Central title was won by the Brewers against the Cubs, and the NL West title went to the Dodgers against the Rockies by the Dodgers. Both teams advanced to the wild-card round.
We have a good chance of winning a fourth tiebreaker competition this year. Both AL wild cards and the possibility of tiebreakers between four teams are all in play on the final day. The NL West title is still in play thanks to Saturday's extra-inning loss by the Giants to the Padres and Saturday's victory by the Dodgers (Julio Urias winning his 20th game).
Every Sunday game starts at 3:05 or 3:10 pm ET. ET so that no team has an advantage over the other teams. It's difficult to keep track of all the stakes. We're breaking down the details: Who is in with a win? Who needs help? Which teams have the best chance of creating chaos on the field?
Here are the facts.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CREDIT
New York Yankees 9170 -
Boston Red Sox 91 70 -
Toronto Blue Jays 90 71 1
Seattle Mariners 90 71
Okay, let's see what could happen:
1. If both the Yankees or Red Sox win, the Wild-Card game at Fenway Park on Tuesday will be between the Yankees/Red Sox and the Mariners and Blue Jays. (The Red Sox won the season series 10-9.
2. To earn a spot in the wild-card round on Tuesday, if there is a tie between two teams for the second wild-card, they will play a tiebreaker match Monday. The home team is the one with the best head-to-head record. Scenario in play: Yankees @ Blue Jays, Mariners At Yankees, Blue Jays AT Red Sox, Mariners At Red Sox.
3. If three teams tie for two wild-card slots, the teams are awarded A, B, and C designations. These designations are based on their combined head-tohead winning percentage. Club A hosts Club B Monday and the winner is one wild card team. The loser travels to Club C to determine which wild-card team is second (in this scenario the wild-card game has been pushed back to Wednesday). The team with the highest percentage wins its designation. Scenarios with winning percentage in play
BOS-TORNYY
BOS-NYY-SEA
4. Teams are awarded the same A, C, and B designations if there is a tie for the second wild-card. Club A hosts Club B Monday, and Club C hosts Club B Tuesday. The wild-card game is rescheduled for Wednesday. Scenarios are played in order of winning percentage. This means that the team with the highest percentage can choose between winning two games at their home and one on the road.
TOR-NYY-SEA
BOS-SEATOR
5. If there is a tie for two wild card spots, which would mean that the Blue Jays or Mariners win and the Yankees or Red Sox lose, teams will be given the A, B and C designations. Club A hosts Club C, and Club D hosts Club B. The two winners advance to the wild-card round. FiveThirtyEight estimates that this has a 8% chance of occurring. This order of selection is Boston, Toronto and New York, with Seattle being the home games. The Yankees would then have to decide whether they want to play at Boston or Toronto. What fun would that be!
MLB playoff tracker: Which teams are in, who could clinch next, and the complete postseason schedule for the World Series. Story
These are the Sunday games that matter:
Rays (Michael Wacha), at Yankees (Jameson Taillon).
The Yankees won eight of nine games, but needed only one win to earn a wildcard. They lost 4-3 on Friday, and then lost 12-2 Saturday to boos from the Yankee Stadium crowd. They are still in with a win and will be guaranteed at least a tiebreaker on Monday.
After Saturday's loss, Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner stated that "Here we go into Game 162, without knowing what the future looks like." It's not ideal. It's still possible. It makes sense, given the way this season has been, that it would be down to the last day. It seems about right.
The Yankees originally had Luis Severino scheduled to start in what would have been a game in the bullpen. But manager Aaron Boone announced Saturday they would shift back over to Taillon. Taillon had suffered an ankle injury on Tuesday, but he threw a good bullpen session Friday.
Boone will manage this game like a bullpen game with a quick hook for Taillon if he is struggling. Taillon's seven previous starts have produced a 6.75 ERA and seven home runs in 28 innings. The Yankees would prefer to not have to play Monday. This means that they will start Gerrit Cole rather than saving him for the wild card game.
The No. 1 seed has been secured by the Rays. The Rays have already secured the No. 1 seed. This means that they will play the division series winner. The best thing they can look forward is playing in as many tiebreakers as possible to ensure that the ALDS teams have a lot of pitchers. Kevin Cash will have three days to rest before Game 1 on Thursday. However, he won't let any of his top relievers run out of gas.
The Blue Jays have the chance to keep their playoff hopes alive if they beat the Orioles, a team that has outscored them by 60-24 in five of their previous meetings. David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire
Red Sox (Chris Sale), at Nationals (Joan Adon).
After controlling their destiny, the Red Sox lost two of three games to the Orioles. However, they have since rebounded and won the first two games against Nationals. It has had a slow start to its eight games, especially considering that five of them were against the O's or Nationals. The offense's totals have been.226/.303/.389.
Despite their offensive woes, the Red Sox are heavy favorites in this game. Sale will make his ninth appearance since his Tommy John surgery and face Adon, a 23-year old right-hander who will be making his debut in the major leagues. Sale is 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA. He has topped out at six innings, 90 pitches so far. Adon spent the majority of 2021 at Class A Wilmington where he had a 4.97 ERA over 17 starts. He then made two starts at Triple-A and one at Double-A. Adon is the Nationals' No. According to MLB.com, he is the 22nd most promising prospect. Nationals manager Dave Martinez stated that Adon is one of the team's young, up-and coming players. Martinez seems to be giving the Red Sox a little gift.
The Red Sox will have Nathan Eovaldi available for a tiebreaker if they need him. However, Cole and the Yankees obviously hope that his next start is in the wild-card match.
Blue Jays (HyunJin Ryu), Orioles (Bruce Zimmerman).
Two of the three losses by the Blue Jays to the Yankees occurred during the week, before the Blue Jays beat the Orioles twice in order to remain alive. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run on Saturday, breaking his 13-game streak of not hitting a home run. This was part of a five-homer attack on Baltimore's pitching. Guerrero's 47th run was his second home run, tied with Eddie Mathews as the most by a player younger than 22 years old.
Ryu has allowed 15 runs in his three previous starts. He also threw 8.1 innings. Ryu was on the IL for a 10 day stretch due to a neck strain. Ryu will be in Toronto in a win-or-lose situation and Ryu will have to keep his distance. However, Toronto's bullpen depth is not its strength.
It will be interesting to watch how Charlie Montoyo reacts if Ryu isn't able to last. Jose Berrios would be your starter on three days rest. However, you'd like to have Robbie Ray available for a tiebreaker on Monday and Robbie Ray available on Tuesday. You must first make it to Monday.
Angels (Reid Detmers) at Mariners (Tyler Anderson)
As it attempts to end the longest period of postseason drought in any of North America's four major sports leagues (MLB/NFL, NBA, NHL, NHL), Seattle was tied with Boston for second wild card. They suffered a 2-1 defeat on Friday, with runners on first and third in seventh innings. In the ninth, they failed to score both times.
Anderson is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA over 12 starts since being traded to the Pirates in a deadline deal. This is a classic five-and dive start, even though Anderson is pitching well. The Mariners' 19-9 record has been led by Casey Sadler and Paul Sewald, as well as Drew Steckenrider, the Mariners' relievers. They also have an 11-2 record in their 13 previous games to reach Sunday. If the team continues to win, they'll have to pitch again Monday and Tuesday. This trio must keep turning zeroes, given the Mariners' inability to offense. Rookie Logan Gilbert will be available to start Monday. Marco Gonzalez might be on short rest Tuesday (they skipped Yusei Kakuchi's last start).
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
San Francisco Giants 106 55
Los Angeles Dodgers 105 56 1
This race is fittingly down to its final day. This one is a bit easier: If the Giants lose, and the Dodgers win on Monday, we play a tiebreaker at San Francisco. The Giants won the series 10 to 9.
These are the Sunday games that matter...
The Giants will win their last game Sunday to secure their first NL West title since 2012. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Padres (Reissknehr) at Giants(Logan Webb).
On Saturday, the Giants made the right decision and started Kevin Gausman, their ace. You can think of it this way: Gausman could have been saved by the Giants and they could have tried to win the division without him. But which game do the Giants have the best chance at winning: the Padres, or the Dodgers. He will be able to rest for Game 1 of the Division Series on Thursday if the team defeats the Padres. It didn't work out. San Francisco fans have good news: The Giants are still the champions of the division, with a win Sunday. They've also lost just one game in a row since September began.
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Webb is 6-0 and has a 2.52 ERA in the second-half, so the Giants remain in good hands. However, the Padres scored four runs in his four innings in two starts. As rookie Knehr makes the fifth start of his career, the Padres' staff is exhausted. His 4.85 ERA is just one of his best, and he has only allowed 20 hits in 26 innings. He also has 18 walks.
If the Giants end up in a Monday tiebreaker it would be Alex Wood's turn and Anthony DeSclafani taking regular rest to prepare for a wild-card game Wednesday.
Brewers (Brett Anderson) at Dodgers (Walker Buehler)
The Dodgers had been tied for first on Sept. 3, and were up by half-game on Sept. 1. These are the only days they have been in first place since April 28, but here they are, with a chance of winning the division if it gets to Game No. 163. Justin Turner scored a big three-run homer off Corbin Burnes in Saturday's first inning. The win was triggered by the Dodgers pulling Burnes after two innings. This was Burnes' final tuneup before the playoffs.
Buehler was in the thick Cy Young race up until two disappointing September outings against the Giants in September. But he looked back to his former self, delivering seven scoresless in his last match against the Padres. The No. 2 seed is locked in for the Brewers. The No. 2 seed is locked in, but the Brewers would love to defeat the Dodgers to get into the wild-card round, where they would face off against the Cardinals in the much-feared coin-flip competition. Craig Counsell did not use any of his top relief pitchers Friday and Saturday, except Brent Suter for four pitches Friday. He may be willing to let Josh Hader and co out of the bullpen. He may let them rest even more.
Max Scherzer would be available to pitch Monday for the Dodgers on four days rest. Urias, the newly-minted 20-game winner, would likely start Monday's wild-card game on either four days rest or Game 1 in the division series if they win. Scherzer will start the wild-card playoff if there is no tiebreaker.
