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    • Updated MLB playoff scenarios for Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks and other NL and AL teams
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    Updated MLB playoff scenarios for Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks and other NL and AL teams

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    The Braves and Mets can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday — and avoid a bye in Atlanta on Monday.

    The Diamondbacks can be eliminated on Sunday — or force the Mets to fly to Georgia.

    Or it’s possible that none of this will happen on Sunday – because of course it won’t.

    In any case, there is still one day left in the season – at least for 30 of the 32 teams – none one of the four Wild Card Series matchups beginning in just two days has been determined.

    So is that wild enough for you? Let’s hope! Ahead of the final Sunday of the regular season, here’s a look at all the possibilities.

    The National League wildcard derby

    Believe it or not, there were still some eight different possible scenarios Sunday. The most important thing to remember is that if the Braves win on Sunday, they will be there. But if both the Mets and Diamondbacks win, they’re in not definitely in. Here are all eight possible options:

    Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks all win –If that happens, the Braves will clinch a spot, but the Mets-Diamondbacks race would essentially remain a tie. That means the Mets and Braves would have to play at least one more game of their makeup doubleheader on Monday. If the Mets win Game 1, they’re in. If they lose, there would be a Game 2. In other words, the Mets would still have to win at least one game of the doubleheader to advance.

    Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks all lose – If all three lose, we have exactly the same scenario as above. The Braves secure a spot. The Mets would need to win at least one game of the makeup doubleheader to secure their spot.

    Braves and Mets win, but Diamondbacks lose – In this case, the Diamondbacks will be eliminated and there will be no games in Atlanta on Monday. The Braves would be the No. 5 seed in the Netherlands and would face the Padres (who are seeded fourth). The Mets would be the No. 6 seed and would play the third-seeded Brewers.

    Braves and Diamondbacks win, but Mets lose – In this scenario, the Braves win but still have to host the Mets on Monday. Then a Braves win in Game 1 on Monday would eliminate the Mets and the Diamondbacks would advance. A Mets win in Game 1 on Monday means Game 2 would decide whether the Mets or Diamondbacks advance.

    Braves win, but Mets and Diamondbacks lose – Then we are dealing with exactly the same situation as above. The Mets have to play Game 1 on Monday – and win – or there will be a Game 2.

    Mets and Diamondbacks win, but Braves lose – This is basically your chaos scenario. Both games in the doubleheader would have to be played on Monday. The winner of Game 1 is there. The loser of Game 1 would have to play – and win – Game 2 to advance. If the loser of Game 1 is defeated, the Diamondbacks will be there.

    Mets win, but Braves and Diamondbacks lose – Then the Diamondbacks are eliminated and there will be no games on Monday. The Braves would be the No. 5 seed and the Mets would be the No. 6 seed because the Braves hold the tiebreaker.

    Diamondbacks win, but Braves and Mets both lose – This is the only scenario in which the Diamondbacks could get the win today. They would then have 89 wins, which would force the Mets to fly to Atlanta and sweep the doubleheader Monday. If the Braves won either game, they would advance and the Mets would be eliminated.

    Let’s go. Got it? All we know for sure is that the Dodgers are the No. 1 seed in the Netherlands and the Phillies are the No. 2 seed, so both have a bye for this round. Everything else is completely unknown.

    The most likely NL Wild Card Series matchups are Braves-Padres with all three games in San Diego and Mets-Brewers with all three games in Milwaukee. But “probably” didn’t describe anything about this race. So, in theory, we’ll know on Sunday evening – which undoubtedly means we won’t know until Monday evening.

    The American League Wild Card Scenarios

    Here’s what we know: The Yankees and Guardians are the first and second seeds, respectively, so they have a bye. The Astros and Orioles are the three and four seeds. So they’ll be hosting all three AL Wild Card Series games…against anyone.

    But then there are the Tigers and Royals. They are the final two wildcard teams, but we still don’t know which is number 5 and which is number 6. Here’s how that could turn out.

    Tigers win Sunday – Then they are number 5 and head to Baltimore.

    Royals lose on Sunday – Then they are number 6 and head to Houston.

    Tigers and Royals both lose on Sunday – The Tigers are still the No. 5 seed.

    Tigers lose but Royals win – This is the only scenario in which the Royals would be the No. 5 seed. Kansas City and Detroit would each finish the season at 86-76. But the Royals have the tiebreaker in hand thanks to a three-run ninth-inning rally on Aug. 4 in Detroit that clinched the season series for KC. The Tigers were a very different team back then, but they could still be haunted by their former selves if that’s how Sunday turns out.

    (Photo: David J. Griffin / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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    Eira Gwyneth
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