Going into Sunday’s potentially final day of the MLB regular season, there were several scenarios that could have led to the cancelation of a Monday doubleheader between the Mets and Braves. Instead, we got the absolute chaos scenario.
With the Braves holding a one-game lead over the Mets and Diamondbacks (along with tiebreakers over both teams), Atlanta just needed a win to clinch a playoff spot. The Braves, though, would lose to Kansas City as the Diamondbacks and Mets both cruised to easy wins.
That left us here: a three-way tie for two spots.
With that tie, the Monday doubleheader will happen in Atlanta, and the Diamondbacks are going to need plenty of help. These are the scenarios at play here.
Braves and Mets split the doubleheader
If the Braves and Mets each win a game on Monday, they both will be in as the final two National League wild-card teams. The Braves — holding the tiebreaker over the Mets — will head to San Diego, and the Mets will be off to Milwaukee. Arizona would be eliminated.
Braves sweep the Mets
The Braves would clinch a playoff berth with the win in Game 1. But if they wanted to play spoiler for their NL East rivals, a two-game sweep would eliminate New York and send the Diamondbacks to Milwaukee for Tuesday’s wild-card series.
Mets sweep the Braves
The Mets would clinch a playoff berth with the win in Game 1. And just like above, an additional win in Game 2 would eliminate the Braves. The Mets also hold the tiebreaker over Arizona, so the Mets would head to San Diego in this scenario. Arizona would play the Brewers.
A mutual forfeit??
This almost certainly won’t happen, but the Braves and Mets would be better suited if each agreed to forfeit one game of the Monday doubleheader. This would eliminate the Diamondbacks while both the Braves and Mets would make the postseason as the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds respectively. This would save both clubs from using pitching and traveling a long distance with minimal rest for a playoff series. I wouldn’t count on this happening. But could you imagine?
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