All of the playoff scenarios for the final day of the MLB regular season
Welcome to the final day of Major League Baseball’s regular season, when every detail of the postseason picture will come into focus. Maybe.
Because five teams still are alive for three wild-card berths, the regular season could spill over into Monday – and beyond. Adding to the drama is that every game today starts between 3:05 p.m. ET and 3:15 p.m. ET, making for some serious scoreboard watching.
A look at what we know and what still must be decided in each league:
Texas Rangers (95-66): The AL West champions have clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason. They will face the winner of the AL Wild Card Game in the American League Division Series.
Boston Red Sox (93-68): The AL East champions can clinch home-field advantage in the ALDS if they beat the Blue Jays and if the Indians lose to the Royals. If the Red Sox and Indians both win or both lose, the Indians will make up a rainout against the Tigers on Monday to determine home-field in the ALDS. Regardless of the host city, the Red Sox will face the Indians in the ALDS.
Cleveland Indians (93-67): The AL Central champions can clinch home-field advantage in the ALDS if they beat the Royals and if the Red Sox lose to the Blue Jays. If the Indians and Red Sox both win or both lose, the Indians will make up a rainout against the Tigers on Monday to determine home-field in the ALDS. Regardless of the host city, the Indians will face the Red Sox in the ALDS.
Toronto Blue Jays (88-73): They can clinch the top wild card in the AL with a win over the Red Sox. They also can clinch a wild card with a Tigers loss to the Braves. They have clinched at least a tie for an AL wild card, should a tie-breaking scenario be necessary.
Baltimore Orioles (88-73): They can clinch a wild card with a win over the Yankees or a Tigers loss to the Braves. They can clinch the top wild card in the AL with a win over the Yankees and a Blue Jays loss to the Red Sox. They have clinched at least a tie for an AL wild card, should a tie-breaking scenario be necessary.
Detroit Tigers (86-74): They will force the need for the makeup game against the Indians on Monday with a win over the Braves and a loss by the Blue Jays to the Red Sox and/or an Orioles loss to the Yankees. Bottom line: The Tigers need to win and get some help Sunday; if that happens, they still would need to win Monday to force a tie-breaker scenario for an AL wild card.
Chicago Cubs (102-58): The NL Central champions have clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. They will face the winner of the NL Wild Card Game in the National League Division Series.
Washington Nationals (94-67): The NL East champions will have home-field advantage against the Dodgers in the NLDS.
Los Angeles Dodgers (91-70): The NL West champions will face the Nationals in the NLDS.
New York Mets (87-74): They have clinched the top NL wild card and will host the NL Wild Card Game.
San Francisco Giants (86-75): They can clinch the second NL wild card with a win over the Dodgers or a Cardinals loss to the Pirates. A loss to the Dodgers and Cardinals win over the Pirates would force a tie-breaking Game 163 to determine the second NL wild card.
St. Louis Cardinals (85-76): They can force a tie-breaking Game 163 for the second NL wild card with a win over the Pirates and a Giants loss to the Dodgers.
